[Article] Three Changes

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SecretInfiltrator
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Post by SecretInfiltrator » 4 years ago

(For discussion of the content seen here and here)

Three changes to the game I propose to retroactively always have been that way (since the introduction of the concept that causes them to exist):

Color Indicators

Color indicators should not be just colored circles, but instead or additionally make use of the color symbols. This serves two purposes.

On the one hand this is much more friendly to the colorblind. Frames are more or less discernible for the colorblind (you won't mix up white and black), but an indicator that uses a means other than color to convey that information would be very useful.

On the other hand it solves the devoid issue. Devoid was made a keyword because they couldn't find a meaningful way to represent colorlessness with a color indicator. But just one set after devoid's introduction they introduce a colorless mana symbol that everyone gets. If color indicators used the same symbols as mana symbols, you get to introduce the colorless symbol sneakily one set early - and have an argument to immediately change the cards adding colorless mana without having to errata them by the second set of the block without actually revealing your plan to introduce colorless mana costs.
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Phyrexian Mana

The color of phyrexian mana is kinda hard to distinguish without the ability to see color. Like color indicators they eschew one of the most accessible ways we represent and recognize color: sun, drop, skull, flame, tree - the symbolic encoding of the colors used in mana symbols.

One might argue that you cannot simply use a colored mana symbol since you also want to use the Phyrexian symbol in your symbol for thematic reasons. Fortunately we already do that every now and then with hybrid mana symbols. I hence introduce: Phybrid mana.

A Phyrexian cost symbol actually cannot be paid with mana, but can only be paid with 2 life. But since Phyrexian hybrid mana symbols are hybrids of one colored mana symbol and one Phyrexian mana symbol you can pay either 2 life for the Phyrexian cost or the appropriate color of mana for the mana cost. The change is entirely visible and not functional - unless you count the opportunity to later actually use the Phyrexian cost symbol by itself on some colorless card that can be paid only in blood life.
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Devoid

Remember how I removed the need for devoid to exist with the first change? Well, now that the word is no longer used as a keyword ability it may still be of use (after all some cards still might want to refer to it for compatibility with Eldrazi explicitly over e. g. artifacts and lands which are also colorless but not devoid).

Here is the new definition of devoid as a batch word: Any card that has a colorless mana symbol in its cost or rules text and any card that is defined as colorless by a characteristic-defining ability or color indicator (which now also uses the colorless mana symbol, remember) is devoid.

This is a functional change since previously only cards now using a colorless indicator would be devoid. This change though groups (some) Eldrazi with colorless identity and (some) with colored identity together - which one might actually consider preferable. I wouldn't at all be against now allowing the single devoid legendary creature to helm a Commander deck with any devoid creature in it (the colorless Eldrazi that are not devoid get in anyway).

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Krishnath
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Post by Krishnath » 4 years ago

A brilliant but simple solution to the problem that has stumped WotC and colorblind friendly at that.
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Occo
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Post by Occo » 4 years ago

I really like the suggestions for both Devoid and Phyrexian mana, and while the Color indicator suggestions is nice and seems good on the surface, it has its problems. How will you handle cards like Arlinn, Embraced by the Moon, Garruk, the Veil-Cursed, Ravager of the Fells, or Ulrich, Uncontested Alpha?
Sure, for those 4 you might just throw on both of the symbols, but what about Nicol Bolas, the Arisen? His typeline is already tight on space.

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SecretInfiltrator
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Post by SecretInfiltrator » 4 years ago

Occo wrote:
4 years ago
I really like the suggestions for both Devoid and Phyrexian mana, and while the Color indicator suggestions is nice and seems good on the surface, it has its problems. How will you handle cards like Arlinn, Embraced by the Moon, Garruk, the Veil-Cursed, Ravager of the Fells, or Ulrich, Uncontested Alpha?
Sure, for those 4 you might just throw on both of the symbols, but what about Nicol Bolas, the Arisen? His typeline is already tight on space.
I'd put on all the symbols, but not quite as I imagine, you imagine. I'd make them smaller and set them off against each other similar to their position on hybrid - even the tri-brid alignment would be easily readable there. I'd argue, better than the three colors in a small indicator circle. The space taken up by the color indicator would always be constant by my proposal.

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