[FOB] Fallen Obalt

[NUMBERS]

This is in the middle of a pretty major rework.

Fallen Obalt
Size: ~264
Major Themes: Crime, Clues, Sacrifice
Minor Themes: Punishment, Cost Reduction, Tribal

Mechanics

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Blackmail
Blackmail — EFFECT if an opponent sacrificed a permanent this turn.
Blackmail — When an opponent sacrifices a permanent, EFFECT.

Criminal Cycling
Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

When you cycle CARD NAME, each opponent investigates. (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

Ravenous
Ravenous (You may cast this spell for its ravenous cost. If you do, sacrifice a permanent as you cast it.)
Special thanks to [mention]spacemonaut[/mention] for the updated wording!

Example Cards

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Forsworn Edict

1B

Sorcery

Each opponent sacrifices a creature.

Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

When you cycle Forsworn Edict, each opponent investigates. (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

Retributive Lightning

2R

Instant

Blackmail — This spell costs less if an opponent sacrificed a permanent this turn.

Deal 3 damage to any target.

"Justice is best served swiftly and smelling of ozone."
-Abliont, Constable Mage

Powerful Revelations

2UU

Instant

Ravenous 1U (You may cast this spell for its ravenous cost. If you do, sacrifice a permanent as you cast it.)

Draw two cards.

"Who can say what is a fair price?"
-Gogugy, Street Merchant

Other Cards

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Get A Clue: Ravenous Growth, Unhallowed Tiller, and Ravenous Beast
Get A Clue: Demur Detective, Unsubtle Blast, Cothyriz, and Spiritual Awakening
Get A Clue: Call The Irregulars, Refuse Magic, Exploit Existence
Get A Clue: Sacrificial Rebuke, Unbridled Rage, Powerful Revelations
Get A Clue: Favored Protector, Forswear Artifice, Vengeful Pyromancer
Get A Clue: Obalt Constable, Shocking Elemental, Retributive Lightning
Get A Clue: Obalt Sneak, Evidence Processing, Obalt Island
Get A Clue: Unwitting Conspiracy, Obalt Inspector, Violent Curiosity
Three Commons: Obalt Brute, Suspicious Murder, and Obalt Fixer

Special thanks to [mention]void_nothing[/mention] for inspiring this posts layout with his Mercadian Mysteries thread.

[NUMBERS]

White

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Favored Protector

1W

Creature - Leonin Wizard

Blackmail — Favored Protector has flash if an opponent sacrificed a permanent this turn.

When Favored Protector enters the battlefield, you may have target creature you control gain protection from the color of your choice until end of turn.

2/2

Obalt Constable

1W

Creature - Human Knight Mercenary

Obalt Constable has First Strike as long as a player controls a Clue.

Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

When you cycle Obalt Constable, each opponent investigates. (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

2/1

Sacrificial Rebuke

2WW

Instant

Ravenous 2W (You may cast this spell for its ravenous cost. If you do, sacrifice a permanent as you cast it.)

Target attacking creature's controller sacrifices it.

"Swords to what now?"
-Enk, Battle Scholar

Call The Irregulars

W

Instant

Create a 1/1 white Soldier creature token.

Investigate. (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

"I hate them."
-Grie, Goblin Fixer

Blue

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Evidence Processing

1U

Enchantment

When Evidence Processing enters the battlefield, investigate. (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

, Sacrifice a Clue: Draw a card.

Refuse Magic

1U

Instant

Ravenous (You may cast this spell for its ravenous cost. If you do, sacrifice a permanent as you cast it.)

Counter target non-creature spell.

"Well, that was rude."
-Gogugy, Street Merchant

Unwitting Conspiracy

U

Instant

Draw a card.

Each player investigates. (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

"Before you know it, they've pulled you in."
-Grie, Goblin Fixer

Obalt Inspector

1u

Artifact Creature - Vedalken Artificer

Flash

When Obalt Inspector enters the battlefield, you may counter target spell with converted mana cost X or less, where X is the number of artifacts you control. (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

1/2

Demur Detective

U

Creature - Spirit Soldier

Flash

When Demur Detective enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a permanent. If you do, draw a card.

Surprisingly reckless.

1/1

Powerful Revelations

2UU

Instant

Ravenous 1U (You may cast this spell for its ravenous cost. If you do, sacrifice a permanent as you cast it.)

Draw two cards.

"Who can say what is a fair price?"
-Gogugy, Street Merchant

Black

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Forsworn Edict

1B

Sorcery

Each opponent sacrifices a creature.

Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

When you cycle Forsworn Edict, each opponent investigates. (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

Obalt Brute

B

Creature - Vampire Mercenary

Lifelink

When Obalt Brute deals combat damage to a player, they investigate. (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

Organized crime thrives on Fallen Obalt.

2/1

Suspicious Murder

BB

Instant

Destroy target creature. It's controller investigates. (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

"Killed in broad daylight, everyone's talking, and we're still no closer to an arrest."
-Aithen, Constable

Obalt Fixer

2B

Creature - Goblin Mercenary

This spell costs less to cast for each Clue an opponent controls.

"Sure we're blatant, but that's our strength."
-Grie, Goblin Fixer

3/2

Red

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Unbridled Rage

2R

Sorcery

Ravenous (You may cast this spell for its ravenous cost. If you do, sacrifice a permanent as you cast it.)

Each opponent sacrifices a non-land permanent.

Unsubtle Blast

R

Instant

Deal 3 damage to target creature. It's controller investigates. (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

"You know that had to come from somewhere."
-Aithen, Constable

Forswear Artifice

R

Instant

Each opponent sacrifices an artifact.

Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

When you cycle Forswear Artifice, each opponent investigates. (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

Vengeful Pyromancer

RR

Creature - Viashino Wizard

Haste

Blackmail — When an opponent sacrifices a permanent, deal 1 damage to any target.

She knows. And for that, you'll pay.

2/1

Obalt Brutalist

2R

Creature - Goblin Soldier

First Strike

Obalt Brutalist has Double Strike as long as a player controls a Clue.

"Do not investigate!"
-Marker Street Murders Case Notes

2/1

Retributive Lightning

2R

Instant

Blackmail — This spell costs less if an opponent sacrificed a permanent this turn.

Deal 3 damage to any target.

"Justice is best served swiftly and smelling of ozone."
-Abliont, Constable Mage

Burn Away Lies

R

Instant

Deal 1 damage to any target.

Investigate. (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

"It may not be the truth, but it's nearly as good!"
-Maryhk, Street Preacher

Green

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Enk's Interrogation

G

Legendary Enchantment

Whenever an opponent casts a non-creature spell, investigate. (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

"Curiosity never hurt no one!"
-Enk, Battle Scholar

Ravenous Growth

G

Instant

Ravenous (You may cast this spell for its ravenous cost. If you do, sacrifice a permanent as you cast it.)

Target creature gets +2/+2. If you paid this cards Ravenous cost, it gets +4/+4 instead.

Unhallowed Tiller

1G

Creature - Human Horror

When Ravenous Tiller enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a permanent. If you do, you may search your library for a basic land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. If you search your library this way, shuffle it.

1/2

Ravenous Beast

G

Creature - Beast Horror

When Ravenous Beast deals combat damage to a player, you may sacrifice a permanent. If you do, deal damage equal to Ravenous Beast's power to that player.

1/1

Original Version

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Ravenous Beast

G

Creature - Beast Horror

When Ravenous Beast deals combat damage to a player, you may sacrifice a permanent. If you do, deal damage equal to its power to that player.

1/1

[NUMBERS]

Multi

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Cothyriz' Pet

{b/g}{b/g}

Creature - Human Horror

Ravenous 0 (You may cast this spell for its ravenous cost. If you do, sacrifice a permanent as you cast it.)
Haste
If Cothyriz' Pet's Ravenous cost was paid, sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.

"Pity the thing. But forsake it all the same."
-Maryhk, Street Preacher

2/1

Amathos, the Ravenous

UBR

Legendary Creature - Horror Wizard

Ravenous {u/r}{b/r} (You may cast this spell for its ravenous cost. If you do, sacrifice a permanent as you cast it.)
Cards in your hand gain Ravenous. Their Ravenous cost is equal to their mana cost as you play them.
You may cast spells for their Ravenous cost as though they had flash.

"My favorite nightmare."
-Cothyriz, Sadistic Aristocrat

3/2

Cothyriz, Sadistic Aristocrat

GB

Legendary Creature - Zombie Wizard

Haste, Lifelink
Sacrifice a permanent: Cothyriz, Sadistic Aristocrat gets +1/+0 and Trample until end of turn.

"It merely must suffer..."
-Cothyriz

2/1

Exploit Existence

2WB

Instant

Ravenous WB (You may cast this spell for its ravenous cost. If you do, sacrifice a permanent as you cast it.)

Target permanent's controller sacrifices it.

'What's yours is nothing.'

Shocking Elemental

{r/g}

Creature - Elemental

Flash (You may cast this spell any time you could cast an instant.)

When Shocking Elemental enters the battlefield, it fights target creature.

"It is given life to die in glorious combat!"
-Tryne, Arena Master

2/1

Obalt Sneak

{g/u}{g/u}

Creature - Merfolk Rogue

Obalt Sneak has flash as long as a player controls a Clue.

Cycling (, Discard this card: Draw a card.)

When you cycle Obalt Sneak, each opponent investigates. (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

2/2

Colorless

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Spiritual Awakening

X

Sorcery

As an additional cost to cast Spiritual Awakening, sacrifice X permanents.
Create X 2/2 colorless Spirit creature tokens.

"Absolution comes in many forms."
-Maryhk, Street Preacher

Land

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Obalt Island

Land

As Obalt Island enters the battlefield, if an opponent controls a Clue, investigate and Obalt Island enters the battlefield tapped. (To investigate, create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

: Add to your mana pool.

[folding_music]

nice cards so far, love how everything locks together. Would this setting have planeswalkers and, if so, would they be part of the sacrifice and clue mini-game or have entirely other abilities that call back to their home planes?

[NUMBERS]

nice cards so far, love how everything locks together. Would this setting have planeswalkers and, if so, would they be part of the sacrifice and clue mini-game or have entirely other abilities that call back to their home planes?

Thank you!

As to planeswalkers... I haven't quite decided. I feel having them is somewhat obligatory, but haven't really come upon enough interesting ideas for them tied into the mini-games or otherwise. For personal knowledge reasons it's most likely that I would try to use custom walkers over the storyline walkers as well.

[zdtsd]

Most of this is pretty good, but Blackmail seems a bit narrow and parasitic. Would something like Revolt but for opponents still make sense? I do like how the three(four?) mechanics work together well and am interested to see how the set turns out.

[NUMBERS]

Most of this is pretty good, but Blackmail seems a bit narrow and parasitic. Would something like Revolt but for opponents still make sense? I do like how the three(four?) mechanics work together well and am interested to see how the set turns out.

I suspect, on further introspection along this line of feedback, that this is probably the correct expansion of the mechanic.

I need to go through and make some updates after having taken some time off from this project.

[M00NSIDIAN]

This is some pretty interesting stuff you're hashing out here. Some of these designs are clever, but I think they need to be re-templated occasionally (not counting things like changing the burn spells to "~ deals" etc., or noting that you pay the ravenous cost of a spell, not a card, for Ravenous Growth) possibly? The land is one I find really cool (though some people will go "wait what" at how it works) but might be subject to this. I'm pretty sure it's fine as is and I'm thinking of the Lake of the Dead templating, which is unnecessary. But I think Favored Protector's blackmail ability needs to read "You may cast ~ as though it had flash [...]" and not what it currently says, otherwise it might not work as you intend it to. Obalt Inspector doesn't need the reminder text because it doesn't investigate in its current form.

I like how you're running all of these permanent-saccing effects in a set with investigate because, while clues are useful, they can feel kind of underwhelming without something else to do with them. You mean my spells are more expensive for a thing I can just pay 2 to draw with once? Meh. Good idea to use them to fuel other things, it adds some flexibility.

Exploit Existence seems really good as an indestructible-piercing Vindicate effect which you can easily play for its ravenous cost with just Call the Irregulars and lose neither lands nor creatures on turn 2. Might need some adjustment.

Other than that... I don't know what else to say except that it's cool and I like any setting that uses the viashino. They're good lizard-people.

[Legend]

I especially like Ravenous. imo it would fit best in Jund. It's likely that Wizards would limit the sacrifice it to nonland permanents because new players would wind up mana screwing themselves, resulting in unfun play and a reduced chance that they'll keep playing. Emerge serves as a good prototype for potential reminder text.

Ravenous brg (You may cast this spell by paying its ravenous cost and sacrificing a nonland permanent.)

[NUMBERS]

[mention]Legend[/mention] I think that's a really good fix!

[mention]M00NSIDIAN[/mention] those are some very good points and catches. I definitely need to find the time to make changes throughout this document, but have been somewhat overwhelmed by other commitments. Hopefully soon I'll have some updates...