[RPG] Adventures in Zendikar (play-by-post)

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Mookie
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Post by Mookie » 3 years ago

With the release of Zendikar Rising and the upcoming Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, I've been struck by the inspiration to start up a play-by-post campaign. I've also wanted to do some more DMing / TRPGing for a while, so seems like as good a time as any.

EXPLANATION: Explore Zendikar! Loot ruins, fight monsters, and generally try to survive the hazards of the plane. For each segment, I'll post a prompt for a challenge or obstacle, and you'll respond with an explanation for how you wish to deal with that challenge, plus a card representing that action. I'll rate these cards on a 1-10 scale and depending on the rating, you will either succeed or fail at your action, with appropriate consequences.

PLAYER RESPONSIBILITIES: Each player should keep track of their 'character sheet'. This will consist of the card representing your character, your inventory, quests, status effects, and anything else your character has going on. Posts should generally include (1) a description of your actions, (2) the card representing those actions, and (3) your character information in a spoiler box. Flavor text is always encouraged, but not required.

When you post your submission, you should also include a grade for the previous poster's submission - these scores are used to determine the results of players' actions. The scoring I'll be using is:
Flavor (3 points) - does this action make sense? Does it seem in-character?
Design (3 points) - is the card interesting? Does it mechanically represent your action?
Development (3 points) - is the card balanced? Could I see this card actually being printed?
Luck - it's DND, so there is always a chance of great success... or critical failure. Roll 2d4 and add this value. Two ones represents a critical failure, while two fours represent a critical success.

TO SIGN UP: You're welcome to join at any point in time, even if the game has already started. To do so, post a card corresponding to your character. This card must have the following attributes:
  • A legendary creature, with CMC 3
  • Exactly two colors and not hybrid
  • Rare (and appropriately powerful / complex)
  • Total power and toughness no greater than 6
  • Have no more than one keyword and non-keyword ability
  • Not be crazy overpowered or needlessly complicated
  • This game will be based on Zendikar, but your character doesn't have to be specifically tied to it.
  • I'll encourage players to try to not reuse the same color identities as other players
I'm considering making this game a bit more DND-ish than a straight card creation game, with some persistent attributes such as inventory, buffs/debuffs, and hit points. If anyone has feedback on these rules, let me know.
other rules and mechanics
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You character's base HIT POINTS (HP) are equal to your character card's toughness, plus 10.
Based on the results of your actions, you may end up taking damage. If your character drops to 0 HP, Bad Stuff happens.
Bad Stuff may entail your character getting a nasty debuff. Alternatively, you may always have your character die and create a new character, going through the character creation process again.
Damage will heal naturally over time, at a rate of 1 HP for each challenge you tackle, to a maximum of your base hit points.
It may be possible to get temporary hitpoints to temporarily exceed this base value.

Your character's MANA POOL (MP) is equal to your character card's mana cost.
Your character can't cast spells or take actions which may not be paid using this cost - for example, if you character card costs 1RG, you would not be able to submit a spell that costs or a spell costing 5 mana.
There may be ways to temporarily augment or alter your mana pool to cast spells and take actions you usually wouldn't be able to.

Your character's STRENGTH (STR) is equal to your character card's base attack, plus 5.
This value determines the size of your inventory. You can't carry items with a total weight / CMC greater than your character's strength.
For example, if your character has a strength of 8 and is currently carrying a Jayemdae Tome and a Loxodon Warhammer, you would need to drop one of them to pick up a Darksteel Ingot.
Note that some items may have no mana cost and thus be effectively weightless.
Items will generally stay in your inventory until used or dropped. Some may be reusable, while others may be one-shot items.
(note that most actual magic cards don't directly work as items in a RPG, I likely won't actually give out those specific cards)
sample items (tokens)
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Food (0)
Artifact - Food
2, , sacrifice Food: gain 3 life.

Treasure (0)
Artifact
, sacrifice Treasure: add one mana of any color.

Clue (0)
Artifact
, sacrifice Clue and explain how you use it: you get +2 to any challenge.
Items requiring a mana cost to use may be activated using unspent mana during a round. Equipment needs to be equipped once, at which point it will stay on your character until unequipped.

BUFFS and DEBUFFS will usually take the form of +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters on your character card, although the existence of keyword counters does open up some additional possibilities. These counters will generally go away over time.

When designing cards, you may generally assume that you have your character available, plus the contents of their inventory and anything else that makes sense. For example, if the challenge were 'create a removal spell', a fight spell (using your character card to fight) would be a valid submission. However, a spell that said 'return a creature named Shriekmaw from your graveyard to the battlefield' would not be valid unless your were actually at a location with a dead elemental, even if you had submitted Shriekmaw as a card in a previous round.
other stuff
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There was another play by post game a while ago that I'm using as inspiration for this, since it seemed like a sweet idea. That unfortunately fizzled out, but hopefully this will be a bit more successful.

Exact rules for this are obviously a work in progress and will likely be fleshed out / made up as we go along. I'll attempt to keep this post updated with rules as they come up.
Last edited by Mookie 3 years ago, edited 4 times in total.

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Ginuqu
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Post by Ginuqu » 3 years ago

Something like this?

Roshva, The Dabbler 1ug
Legendary Creature - Merfolk Rogue
You may play the abilities, other than mana abilities, of artifacts and nonbasic lands you do not control while Roshva, The Dabbler is tapped.
She's interested to know how well all your toys and comforting devices work underwater.
1/3

This sounds fun!
sorta mad at magic right now

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Lorn Asbord Schutta
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Post by Lorn Asbord Schutta » 3 years ago

Illenen, Stoic Knight-errant
Legendary Creature — Human Knight (R)
Vigilance
Whenever a spell or ability you control taps a creature or an artifact opponent controls, choose one —
  • Exile Illenen, Stoic Knight-errant. Return it to the battlefield under your control at the beginning of the next end step.
  • Illenen gets +1/+1 and gains first strike until end of turn.
1/3

Hope it is ok in terms of power.

slimytrout
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Post by slimytrout » 3 years ago

Goreteg Stonehorns 1RG
Legendary Creature — Minotaur Shaman (R)
Trample
Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, Goreteg Stonehorns fights up to one target creature you don't control.
"If you see a minotaur with shattered horns, he probably dared to defy Goreteg."
-Sachir, Akoum Expeditionary House

3/3

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Subject16
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Post by Subject16 » 3 years ago

Love these kinds of games, so count me in!

Gumuz of the Dark-Dwellers 1BR
Legendary Creature — Goblin Warlock (R)
Menace
Whenever Gumuz of the Dark-Dweller attacks, exile the top card of your library. You may play that card this turn. At the beginning of your end step, if you haven't played it, put it into your hand and you lose life equal to its converted mana cost.
Searching for power unbridled on behalf of forces unseen.
3/2
Last edited by Subject16 3 years ago, edited 1 time in total.

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Incredium
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Post by Incredium » 3 years ago

Gamwatt, Metallic Mercenary 1ub
Legendary Artifact Creature - Rogue (R)

Flash

Whenever Gamwatt, Metallic Mercenary deals combat damage to a player, that player mills that many cards. For each creature or artifact card milled this way, create a 1/1 colorless construct artifact creature token.

"You guys really should have reconsidered giving an experimental hedron based construct sentience. Honestly, anything weird I do from here on out is pretty much your fault."

2/4


Murder bot go brrrrrrrr

Also yeah this seems pretty fun!

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Mookie
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Post by Mookie » 3 years ago

Good to see the interest! Some interesting card designs here.

@Ginuqu - I'm going to request that you alter your character card, partially due to concerns re: power level, and partially because I have no idea if it actually functions correctly.

@Subject16 - your character card should be CMC 3.

@Lorn Asbord Schutta, @slimytrout, and @Incredium - these all look good.

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void_nothing
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Post by void_nothing » 3 years ago

Lurgyan, Hazard Priest 1BG
Legendary Creature - Vampire Cleric (R)
T: Choose one of the following. Lands you control gain the chosen ability until end of turn -
• Hexproof
• "Sacrifice this land: Target attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn."
• "T, Pay 1 life: Target attacking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn."
• "T, Put this land on the bottom of your library: Put up to one land card from your hand and up to one land card from your graveyard onto the battlefield tapped."
"Don't run from this land's acrimony."
2/2
Psst, check the second page of Custom Card Contests & Games! Because of the daily contests, a lot of games fall down to there.

The greatest (fake) pro wrestling on the internet - Collaborative Create-A-Booster - My random creations (updated regularly)

Important Facts: Colorless is not a color, Wastes is not a land type, Changeling is not a creature type

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Ginuqu
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Post by Ginuqu » 3 years ago

Okay, well...

Roshva, The Dabbler 1ug
Legendary Creature - Merfolk Rogue
Hexproof
, : Untap and gain control of target noncreature artifact or nonbasic land until end of turn. It gains "This permanent cannot be sacrificed." until end of turn.
She's interested to know how well all your toys and comforting devices work underwater.
1/3
sorta mad at magic right now

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RaikouRider
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Post by RaikouRider » 3 years ago

I've always loved running this character for these kinds of games. Let's play him again, this time on a new setting! Would like to add flavor text at a later time if possible.

Ivan, Silverpaw Outrider 1GW
Legendary Creature - Human Knight {R}
When Ivan, Silverpaw Outrider enters the battlefield, create Sky, Silverpaw Lion, a legendary 2/2 green and white Cat creature token with "Creatures you control named Ivan, Silverpaw Outrider have hexproof."
To protect the people of Kabira and the people of Turntimber, he has trained in the ways of both.
2/2
Last edited by RaikouRider 3 years ago, edited 1 time in total.

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Incredium
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Post by Incredium » 3 years ago

@Mookie about when will the first challenge be posted?

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Mookie
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Post by Mookie » 3 years ago

@void_nothing - I feel like this sort of violates the spirit of 'no more than one keyword and non-keyword ability'. It's technically followed, but that's a lot of options on a modal ability. I won't force you to change it, but will encourage you to do so.
@Ginuqu - looks good, thanks for the tweak!
@RaikouRider - should the token be named Raikou? :P Either way, looks sweet.
@Incredium Right now! I've been tentatively planning to post a new challenge every day (or every other day), but I'm open to feedback if that is too frequent.

Anyway, on to the first challenge!

Story: Our adventure begins, as so many do, in a tavern. Specifically, The Happy Hedron, a small inn near the rebuilt Sea Gate. There aren't many permanent establishments on Zendikar due to the Roil, but this one happens to have been around for a few months. You find yourself relaxing after your last adventure when a kor suddenly bursts in, gasping for breath and lightly wounded. The innkeeper goes to help and you happen to overhear a few words of their conversation. "Ruins." "Treasure." "Attack." ....and "Eldrazi."

This last word brings a hush to the room. The scars left on the land by the Eldrazi are still fresh in the minds of all Zendikari, and the possibility that any remain is.... troubling, to say the least. Other adventurers begin discussing with their party members - plans to investigate these ruins, various prepwork and gear they want to acquire, and, perhaps most importantly, guesses regarding what sort of treasure may have been found.

Challenge: Further investigate OR prepare for an expedition.
Restriction: must be common - you've done this dozens of times already

Bonus challenge: introduce your character! Write a backstory, explain who you are, etc.
Reward: anyone that completes this challenge adds a Food, Treasure, or Clue token to their inventory.
tokens
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Food (0)
Artifact - Food
2, sacrifice Food: gain 3 life.

Treasure (0)
Artifact
Sacrifice Treasure: add one mana of any color.

Clue (0)
Artifact
, sacrifice Clue and explain how you use it: you get +2 to any challenge.
Using Items: whenever you attempt a challenge, you may specify that you are using an item. In this case, these items modify the mana you will have available to create your card. Food and Clue both reduce the mana you have available - if your mana pool is 1UB and you wish to spend 2 on using them, you would have to create a card costing U or B. The payoff is that Clue gives you a bonus to your score, while Food heals you if you have taken damage. On the other hand, using Treasure loosens the restriction on what sort of spell you can make - you can submit a spell you usually wouldn't be able to cast, such as one that costs 1WUB.

Note that these items have CMC 0, and thus don't take space in your inventory. They're also one-shots - you can only use them for a single challenge.

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RaikouRider
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Post by RaikouRider » 3 years ago

A young, average-build human male dressed in green and white light armor, Ivan looked around the well-known Happy Hedron tavern from his table in the corner. The rest of the corner had vacated due to the face of a stunning yet frightening, white-furred lion tilting its head back and forth near the outside window. "You had half a baloth pup this afternoon, Sky," Ivan said, turning his head toward the window as the majestic animal's eyes were fixed on his plate. "This is my lunch." He leaned up against the board next to the window and smiled as he heard a low purr before getting back to his meal.

As a young boy, Ivan was fond of animals thanks to how long he stayed alongside his gruff but loyal druid friends in the Turntimber. Only one of them has survived to this day - the Roil had turned that section of the wood into searing, volcanic wastes, all thanks to the Roil. A year later, he started over with a new community, practicing his art of befriending animals on the Kabira plains. That day, the Silverpaw Knights were born - druids, rangers, and warriors adept in both the ways of the Turntimber and the ways of the Kabira. Sadly, their numbers were reduced greatly when history repeated itself - the Roil caused a nearby sky ruin to crash on top of the small settlement, wiping out all but a few people there.

Not wanting to see history repeated a third time, Ivan settled down at Sea Gate, now a member in standing of the Pelakka Expeditionary House. Though the denizens found the beautiful yet deadly predator unsettling walking alongside Ivan through the streets of Oran, the saddle, riding tack, and barding were some reassurance that the feared and respected animal was well-behaved. The town guard gave the man the stink eye his first few times in town, though they eventually fully tolerated it within city limits.

Sky darted toward the door after the wounded kor barged into the tavern, Ivan immediately standing up and approaching to get a closer look. Those wounds were awful! The word Eldrazi made his heart sink. The Gatewatch had defeated them, or at least sealed them away, years ago! How could they possibly be back this quickly? Feeling he and his lion were about to get dragged into another adventure on behalf of House Pelakka, Ivan pulled out a map he had received from the House. While the accuracy of most maps was dubious at best, thanks to Zendikar reshaping itself with startling frequency, it would at least help him figure out where to begin.

---

Survey the Oran-Rief 2G
Sorcery {C}
Search your library for a land card, reveal that card, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library. If you revealed a basic land card this way, draw a card.
A mostly accurate map is better than no map at all.

---
Sheet
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Ivan, Silverpaw Outrider 1GW
Legendary Creature - Human Knight {R}
When Ivan, Silverpaw Outrider enters the battlefield, create Sky, Silverpaw Lion, a legendary 2/2 green and white Cat creature token with "Creatures you control named Ivan, Silverpaw Outrider have hexproof."
To protect the people of Kabira and the people of Turntimber, he has trained in the ways of both.
2/2

HP: 12/12
STR: 7
Inv: {empty}
Last edited by RaikouRider 3 years ago, edited 1 time in total.

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Subject16
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Post by Subject16 » 3 years ago

Gumuz raised his head in the commotion. Though his blindness could not make out exactly who had barged into the inn, his hearing and soulsight more than made up for it. Nursing his ale a little slower now, he turns his ears towards the newcomer's words. From the sound of them their heavy breathing and the speed of their heartbeat, they must have ran all the way from wherever they came from, more likely out of fear than anything else. Fear could make you do that, abandon everything, shed every part of you you once held as your own just to survive. Gumuz knew that feeling.

A few words caught Gumuz's attention, "Ruins, treasure, attack... Eldrazi." That last word made the whole inn feel cold. Those monstrosities had brought nothing but ruin and pain and sorrow, and not a single person had not felt their touch. The Eldrazi did far more damage than ruining Zendikar's landscape. It robbed the Zendikari of their lives, their families, and their cultures. There was a rumour that the Surrakar are now completely extinct. Gumuz didn't especially care for them, but he could never forgive the Eldrazi for what they had robbed him of; his family, his culture, and his sight. If there are still Eldrazi about, Gumuz will end them.

At first he hadn't been sure why he, a Grotag, was taken in by his Dark-Dweller cousins, but the Eldrazi threat united all goblinkind. No, all Zendikar. The time he spent down in those echoing caverns, and the oracle's rituals had enchanced his hearing, but it was his soulsight that truly mitigated his blindness. The Dark-Dwellers worship powerful forces that live in what they call the deep below, forces that require agents on Zendikar's surface. That's why they picked Gumuz, because he was an outsider to the clan, someone who had actually seen the surface world, and who knew the ways of the top-lurkers.

Gumuz finished his drink, then sighed. It seemed likely that whatever the Eldrazi are after in these ruins, it'll be something powerful, something they can feed on. Something his patrons might find interesting. Fishing into his satchel, Gumuz fetched out a small piece of igneous stone. It hailed from the depths below Valakut, that much Gumuz could tell. Channeling a little mana, he infused the stone with fiery heat, a signal he was seeking guidance. They would know the whereabouts of the ruins. The Roil changes Zendikar's surface, but from the deep below, nothing is ever out of sight.

---

Commune with the Dark 1B
Sorcery (C)
Scry 2, then you draw a card and lose 1 life.
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Subject16 wrote:
3 years ago
Gumuz of the Dark-Dwellers 1BR
Legendary Creature — Goblin Warlock (R)
Menace
Whenever Gumuz of the Dark-Dweller attacks, exile the top card of your library. You may play that card this turn. At the beginning of your end step, if you haven't played it, put it into your hand and you lose life equal to its converted mana cost.
Searching for power unbridled on behalf of forces unseen.
3/2
Current HP: 11/12
STRENGTH: 8 (3+5)
Inventory: Empty

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Ginuqu
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Post by Ginuqu » 3 years ago

Roshva had been a self-appointed warden of Zendikar's wastes and ruins; she was forever dissuading adventurers from entering her waters, undermining those who ignored her pleas by robbing them of their supplies, forcing them to turn back in defeat. It seemed to her that such expeditions were motivated by little other than greed, which she didn't consider justification for trespass on sites she thought sacred. Ridiculous, then, that the mere mention of the word "Eldrazi" in one dark meeting should make her pivot against her principles so absolutely.

It had only been coincidence that the conversation had reached her; she'd been trailing a merry band of Kor-ish women she considered grave robbers, casing out their gear from the far corner of the inn, incognito and swaddled in a soaked robe when some oaf had swept in and babbled maniacally about the tentacled old Great Ones.

She'd made her excuses and retired to a comfortable pool, her head filled with thoughts of daring and danger, and of her lost sisters. They had been swept up in Cosi-ism and she missed them. When the Eldrazi disaster had passed, they'd all vanished. She hoped they were nursing their egos in some remote part of the plane, that they'd survived, that they'd remember her.

At the time she'd thought: How can people assemble so readily and hopefully when I've been left so alone? She had let dark thoughts fill her, masked her damage with righteousness and sabotaged her own chances at healing. Slotting three sharpened pearl knives into her harness, determination rose up. She resolved to forgo all her scorn and self-pity and again become truly involved in the world.

Frame of Mind 2u
Sorcery (C)
Put up to two cards from your hand on the bottom of your library in any order, then draw that many cards plus one.
For the first time in a long while, Roshva allowed her tension and anger to be displaced by hope.
character sheet
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Roshva, The Dabbler 1ug
Legendary Creature - Merfolk Rogue
Hexproof
, : Untap and gain control of target noncreature artifact or nonbasic land until end of turn. It gains "This permanent cannot be sacrificed." until end of turn.
She's interested to know how well all your toys and comforting devices work underwater.
1/3
sorta mad at magic right now

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Lorn Asbord Schutta
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Post by Lorn Asbord Schutta » 3 years ago

A question
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Do we all play as a party, or the players are in some sort of parallel unviverses?
Eldrazi. News certainly dire, but doubtful as well. While Illenen did not consider any ill intent from this alarmed Kor, he knew better then to trust a nervous story. When swayed by emotions people tend to exaggerate the circumstances and some misshapen beast might be elevated to a horrors of - hopefully - past that is gone.

Yet, it warranted a further investigation. The hardened knight kept already all the basic equipment with himself, along some armour and a fine sword. He had to, since he was a freelancer, not willing to enter any kind of organized adventuring structures. Before the Eldrazi's outbreak and a war that followed, there were a few knightly orders, among them the one in which Illenen belonged. They stood fast to those monstrosities, but all that were known to him were decimated at best.

The memories flooded. He and the other of his order joined few groups of warriors and scouts. There were a big pack of spawns coming through the valley, accompanied by drones and processors. The plan was simple - to drown them in projectiles from canyon's edges - but it required a substantial force at the bottom to keep the swarm in one place. The knights did not hesitate. Though ambush was a success, most of order died this day. Illenen was among few to survive. He was haunted by that bloodshed, losing the grip on sanity. After months of torment he finally understood, that either he will get hold of his emotions, or soon he will perish in one way or another. From that day he became more cautious, reserved and farsighted. Moreover, he found a new meaning for his life, as he aims to restore his order. To do this, he has to survive and find more founding, in that order.

Illenen needs to knew more the a few words about the accident and the expedition from which that wounded Kor hails. He decides to course between tables, gathering and exchanging information between diffrent parties.


Gossiping
Instant (C)
Each player scry 1, then reveals the top card of their library. Each player puts the revealed card into their hand.
All who partake in gossiping lose some of their secrets. The trick is to reveal the right ones.

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Lorn Asbord Schutta wrote:
3 years ago
Illenen, Stoic Knight-errant
Legendary Creature — Human Knight (R)
Vigilance
Whenever a spell or ability you control taps a creature or an artifact opponent controls, choose one —
  • Exile Illenen, Stoic Knight-errant. Return it to the battlefield under your control at the beginning of the next end step.
  • Illenen gets +1/+1 and gains first strike until end of turn.
1/3
HP: 13/13
STR: 6 (1+5)
INV: — —
EDIT: Corrected template mistakes.
Last edited by Lorn Asbord Schutta 3 years ago, edited 1 time in total.

slimytrout
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Post by slimytrout » 3 years ago

In the minotaur tribes of Ondu, the day when a bull calf's horns start to grow in is a day of great celebration and feasting. After all, horns are an important part of a minotaur's identity -- not just because they help him fight and hunt, but because they are used to settle disputes. If your mate has been insulted, if your kill has been stolen, or simply if you wish to prove your strength: all these are cause for a battle of horns.

So young Goreteg waited patiently for his Horn Day, then a little less patiently, and then with mounting panic and despair. The other young bulls pushed him around, the heifers mocked him, even adults began to snicker when "Hornless Goreteg" walked by. He started to get into fights, as his rage erupted from within him, and he would leap on his tormentors, pummeling them with powerful blows. Even with their horns, none of the other young bulls could match him in an actual fight, strong and angry as he was, but still the ridicule continued, in fact, intensified -- of course "Heifer Boy" wanted to have fights barbarically, with his fists. In his misery, Goreteg contemplated setting out for the Trenches to live his life alone, like the stories about Moraug over on Akoum. After all, he was already hunting on his own anyway, since none of the bulls would accept him into their parties.

It was on one of these trips that he realized that the stones were speaking to him. They told him that they were just like him: powerful, tough, and (since this is Zendikar) impulsive. He reached out to one, and, to his shock, it moved beneath his hands like clay. The stones offered to help him, and it didn't take a genius (fortunately, since Goreteg wasn't one) to realize what he should do. He returned to the village that evening with massive granite horns towering above his head. Of course everyone still laughed, although now it was tinged with envy. But the laughter stopped when he challenged the leader of the village, a massive bull named Tarbor, to a battle of horns. Tarbor could not have refused even if he wanted to, although of course the arrogant chief never even considered the fact that he could lose to someone who'd left this morning with no more horns on his head than a stomper.

And it was true that Goreteg's technique was abysmal, and that his neck strained with the effort of holding his head up, and that the old bull chose his position so that the sun was in Goreteg's eyes, but none of that mattered when stone met horn, and the latter shattered into pieces at the contact. Tarbor collapsed backward, his eyes wide with shock, his hands grasping at the shards of his horns scattered around him. And with that, Goreteg gathered his few belongings and left the village to roam the lands, looking to prove himself against greater foes. He encountered other tribes, and at first the bulls of the village would be eager to challenge this newcomer, but soon word of Goreteg Stonehorns spread across Ondu, and none but the most foolhardy would face him.

So when he heard the word "Eldrazi," his ears pricked up. He had still been hornless when they swept across the land, excluded from the teams of bulls that worked tirelessly to defend the village. Here was a new challenge. But he had seen what Eldrazi tentacles can do to flesh, so he strides out of the tavern, and with a grunt he pulls liquid stone from the ground, molding it around his body as armor.

Gird with Stone G
Instant (C)
Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. It gains hexproof until end of turn.
Stone is tougher even than a minotaur's hide, and in the right hands it is more malleable too.
Goreteg
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Goreteg Stonehorns 1RG
Legendary Creature — Minotaur Shaman (R)
Trample
Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, Goreteg Stonehorns fights up to one target creature you don't control.
"If you see a minotaur with shattered horns, he probably dared to defy Goreteg."
-Sachir, Akoum Expeditionary House

3/3

HP: 13/13
Strength: 8
Inventory:

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Incredium
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Pronoun: he / him

Post by Incredium » 3 years ago

Gamwatt sat silently in a dark corner of the tavern, fiiddling idly. In his hand a spider like construct twitched and sputtered as he tinkered with its appendages. His metal fingers clinked against the constructs outer shell. He hadn't ever really gotten along with people. He supposed he was never meant to. He was never really "meant" to do anything other than serve as some prototypical template for his creators "ultimate creation" to "mechanize life itself." Talk about a terrible first impression of people. Pretentiousness like that was why he preferred his constructs to organic organisms, or at least the intelligent ones anyways.

They were all dead now, thankfully. Frankly, they should have seen it coming. How exactly did they think they would control him? They gave him the ability to make choices, and he wasn't about to be some slave to a bunch of self righteous pseudo cultists who didn't even have the sense to not give him sentience, not willingly. Their arrogance always made him chuckle thinking about it, though it occurred to him to wonder how he knew how to chuckle. Did he learn it from his creators? No, they died pretty quickly. The main guy had a pretty sweet cloak though. He decided not to think too hard about it.

Suddenly, the construct whirred to life, its. tiny flitting legs rolling itself upright to stand on Gamwatts metallic palm. He gazed into its little glowing eyes for a moment, watching it look around for its first few moments of life. He absentmindedly stroked its hedron shaped abdomen. "Welcome to life little bud. It sucks but you'll get used to it, trust me."

When the Kor man burst into the room, he didn't think much of it. People tended to have crazy events happen here frequently. That's why he came here, it was a good place to find ways to get paid. Yet even he froze up at the word Eldrazi, and to be perfectly honest, he was irritated that he did. Gamwatt didn't really care about what the Eldrazi had done. Hell, he wasn't even alive at the time. His creators had barely started their configurations on his central core when the first wave hit. How should he know what the sound of reality breaking is? Or how a mind feels when it's being eaten from the inside out? Or the voices of an entire civilization being disintegrated to dust? No, he was completely oblivious to the whole matter. Yep, completely fine and dandy just where he was. Besides, the things were dead or gone by now anyways, everyone knew that. Why should he worry about them?

So why was he worried about them?

Gamwatt tenderly placed the construct on his shoulder, the creature creeping down his chest and into his cloak. A soft chattering could be heard as all the other creatures within scampered across his body to adjust with his movements. Gamwatt silently snuck toward the man, the bustle of people making it easy to remain at the outskirts of attention. He noticed a small bit of paper in the mans back pocket resembling a map of some sort. Without a word, he signaled to one of his constructs to crawl out from his pant leg and scurry across the floor. It scampered up his leg unseen and silently pulled the paper out, then skittered back to its creator. Gamwatt looked over the document earnestly for a few moments, hoping to figure something out about what the man may have seen.

//

Pick-Pocket 1ub
Sorcery
Return target non-creature artifact or enchantment an opponent controls to its owners hand, then that player reveals their hand. Choose a non-land, non creature card from them. That player discards that card.
"Whats mine is mine and what's yours is mine if I can take it when you're not looking." - Gamwatt

//
Gamwatt
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Gamwatt, Metallic Mercenary 1ub
Legendary Artifact Creature - Rogue (R)
Flash
Whenever Gamwatt, Metallic Mercenary deals combat damage to a player, that player mills that many cards. For each creature or artifact card milled this way, create a 1/1 colorless construct artifact creature token.
"You guys really should have reconsidered giving an experimental hedron based construct sentience. Honestly, anything weird I do from here on out is pretty much your fault."
2/4

HP: 14/14
Strength: 7
Inventory:
Also I second the question from Asbord

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void_nothing
Look On My Sash...
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Pronoun: he / him
Location: Tal Terig, Zendikar

Post by void_nothing » 3 years ago

The Nirkana vampire Lurgyan was, to many people, especially many of his fellow bloodsuckers, a heretic. He preferred to be thought of as a religious innovator. After all, before the hedrons opened and the Eldrazi devastated the world, believing in the gods gave people hope. So wouldn't it be good news if there were a vast profusion of gods, young ones eager to court followers, dwelling deep beneath the ground? Lurgyan managed to start a small sect dedicated to these subterranean gods, and none of his enemies was sure whether or not he himself was a true believer - but everyone was able to see his near-miraculous ability to reshape the land - although only that which he walked on and only his immediate vicinity - into virtually anything.

It was the word "Eldrazi" that Lurgyan seized upon - his people's history with the false gods of the Blind Eternities was, to say the least, painful. But Lurgyan's interest was dispassionate - in the unusual phenomenon that this implied, and in the mystery. He had to hear more, from the man who had witnessed it in the first place. No matter how unorthodox his faith Lurgyan was still a priest, and hence a healer - obviously conscious of the kor's wounds he stepped calmly up to him and offered an (unsolicited) healing tonic and a few reassuring words: "Come now, good fellow - you'll soon be all patched up and there's no need for panic in a place like this. But what is it exactly you saw?"

Revivifying Rest 2G
Instant (C)
Untap target creature you control. You gain life equal to that creature's toughness.
Draw a card.
A drink of pikku root and zephyrbud distillate in the morning makes the hardships of the previous night nonexistent.
Character sheet
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Lurgyan, Hazard Priest 1BG
Legendary Creature - Vampire Cleric (R)
T: Choose one of the following. Lands you control gain the chosen ability until end of turn -
• Hexproof
• "Sacrifice this land: Target attacking creature gets +1/+0 until end of turn."
• "T, Pay 1 life: Target attacking creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn."
• "T, Put this land on the bottom of your library: Put up to one land card from your hand and up to one land card from your graveyard onto the battlefield tapped."
"Don't run from this land's acrimony."
2/2

Items:
Psst, check the second page of Custom Card Contests & Games! Because of the daily contests, a lot of games fall down to there.

The greatest (fake) pro wrestling on the internet - Collaborative Create-A-Booster - My random creations (updated regularly)

Important Facts: Colorless is not a color, Wastes is not a land type, Changeling is not a creature type

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Dragoon26
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Pronoun: he / him
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Post by Dragoon26 » 3 years ago

Tovah Zal, Caravan Armorer 1RW
Legendary Creature - Kor Warrior (R)
First Strike
Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, create a Weapon token and attach it to that creature. (It's an artifact with "Equipped creature gets +1/+1." and "Equip 2")
3/2

---
The injured kor's words caused a stir among the tavern patrons. From the silence, whispers slowly began to emerge accompanied by looks of confusion, fear, and intrigue. Everyone had their own visible reaction to the dire news. Except for one person; an austere kor sat in the corner continuing to drink his ale in silence, as if completely oblivious to the events that had just occurred.

Tovah was no stranger to peril. Once known as the finest blacksmith in all of Tazeem, he could forge a blade as well as he could swing one. He was older than most of the other adventurers in the tavern; his leaden face was defined by subtle age lines, and his alabaster hair was duller than that of most kor. Though he seemed out of place being surrounded by the other patrons' youthful exuberance, he could still be found in The Happy Hedron several nights a week as it was the best place to get a stiff drink.

Despite his grizzled appearance, Tovah rarely went adventuring these days, instead choosing a simple life of farming over flame and steel. Losing his son four years ago to the Eldrazi caused the fire in his heart to dim; losing his wife two years later completely extinguished it.

Without even realizing it, his thoughts began to drift to Endru and Mari and how they were taken from him too soon. Though you couldn't see it on his face, this news reminded him of so much pain, so much loss. Loss that he didn't want anyone else to experience.

After several contemplative minutes of silence, Tovah finally pushed his mug aside. "Well," he muttered to himself, "Time to relight the forge."

At the Ready 1W
Instant (C)
Create a Weapon token, then attach it to target creature you control. (It's an artifact with "Equipped creature gets +1/+1." and "Equip 2")
Scry 1.
"The only good sword is a drawn one." --Tovah Zal

---
Character Sheet
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Tovah Zal, Caravan Armorer 1RW
Legendary Creature - Kor Warrior (R)
First Strike
Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, create a Weapon token and attach it to that creature. (It's an artifact with "Equipped creature gets +1/+1." and "Equip 2")
3/2

HP: 12/12
STR: 8
Inv: <empty>

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Mookie
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Location: the æthereal plane

Post by Mookie » 3 years ago

With regards to solo adventuring vs party play, my current plan is to keep things primarily solo. My current headcanon is that you're all in the same setting, but otherwise have no connection other than happening to be hunting for the same treasure. More perceptive characters probably have the sense that they juuuuust missed another adventurer or that someone else is juuuuust behind them, but you likely won't actually be interacting with one another much. That said, there may be some particularly difficult challenges that will need multiple people to challenge. Not that there would be any particularly massive eldritch abominations in this adventure capable of eating a single adventurer for breakfast, of course. That would be weird.

Anyway, challenge results. For reference, my scoring breaks down into four categories:
Flavor (3 points) - does this action make sense? Does it seem in-character?
Design (3 points) - is the card interesting? Does it mechanically represent your action?
Development (3 points) - is the card balanced? Could I see this card actually being printed?
Luck - it's DND, so there is always a chance of great success... or critical failure. Add +2 if you roll a 20, -2 if a 1 is rolled.

Scores
  • @RaikouRider: 9/10 - reading a map? Makes sense. I like this card a lot - a nice mix of sylvan scrying and divination.
  • @Subject16: 7-2=5/10 missed your update to your character card, but thumbs up on that. Flavorwise, I'm docking a few points because the flavor doesn't quite match with the card - channeling heat into an igneous stone sounds red, but the card is black, and the life loss isn't explained. Otherwise a black serum visions seems reasonable. Unfortunately, the dice were not in your favor either.
  • Also: note that the card you submit may represent your actions, but doesn't otherwise have any effect on your character sheet, so you should still be at full life. (this is patch the obvious abuse case of tacking lifegain onto every card :P)
  • @Ginuqu: 8-2=6/10 - I like the flavor of this a lot - it's an excellent representation of shifting mental gears. Mechanically though, I think this is a red card due to it being a rummage instead of a loot - see dream cache vs valakut awakening. Also, the dice were angry today.
  • @Lorn Asbord Schutta: 6/10 - a stoic knight engaging in gossip feels a bit off flavorwise. I think the templating is also a bit off - see eager construct. Power level also looks to be on the weaker side.
  • @slimytrout: 8/10 - That backstory is fantastic. I was definitely smiling at the mental image of a minotaur with a comedically massive prosthetic... pair of horns. I'm not entirely confident a strictly-better ranger's guile is printable, but seems good otherwise.
  • @Incredium: 6/10 - docking points for color pie violation - Dimir doesn't have access to naturalize effects, which this effectively is. Otherwise, I like the flavor of this.
  • @void_nothing: 8/10 - I don't know how willing an individual would be to take a mysterious tonic from a vampire, but otherwise seems reasonable.
  • @Dragoon26: 7/10 - hmmm, I'm not sure if this could actually be printed at common - equipment tokens are sort of weird. Might be feasible if it were a major component of a set, but equipment tends to warp limited enough that I don't think you want too much of it in the format.
Outcomes:
  • If your score is 3 or less, your plans are unsuccessful or flawed in some way. If you were preparing, perhaps an important piece of your gear is broken, you notice that your rations are spoiled, or a mischievous animal snags your lucky hat. If you were investigating, perhaps you accidentally insult the person you were talking to, or they just give you inaccurate information. Regardless, you take 3 points of (emotional) damage as a result. (as a reminder, your starting hit points are 10 + your character's toughness, and health regenerates naturally at a rate of 1 point per challenge)
  • If your score is 4-6, you plans are successful and occur largely as described.
  • If your score is 7 or greater, your plans are extremely effective. Players that chose to prepare may add a Food token to their inventory, while players that chose to investigate may instead add a Clue token to their inventory.
Additionally, if you completed the bonus challenge and introduced your character (which it appears everyone did), you may also add a Food, Clue, or Treasure token to your inventory.

As for the next challenge....

Story:
Following your actions, there isn't a lot left that you need to do at The Happy Hedron. If you chose to prepare, you complete those preparations and feel well-equipped for the journey to come, and are able to overhear some vague directions and landmarks that can be used to navigate to the ruins, and while they aren't super precise, you're reasonably confident-ish in your ability to get lost in the correct direction. If you chose to investigate, you believe you have a good idea of where you need to go, and you're probably used to traveling lightly - being mobile is extremely important, after all, and you're optimistic about your currently supply of rope lasting at least one more adventure (although you really should do something about the fraying sometime....).

Either way, after an appropriate amount of time, you begin to make your way through the wilds of Zendikar, in the direction you believe the ruins to be in.

Challenge: traverse Zendikar!
Restriction: if you made preparations, this must be a permanent representing a resource you prepared or otherwise have available. If you investigated, this must be a non-permanent - show that you can make your way around with technique, not tools.
Bonus (+1 point): a hybrid card

Some notes re: scheduling
Also, based on how long it took me to evaluate cards / write story / etc, it does look like every day is going to be too frequent for updates. I'd also like to have sufficient time for everyone to post their cards. So, I think I'm going to plan to progress twice a week, assuming sufficient participation. Sunday and Wednesday make the most sense to me, so next update planned for 10/7.

....alternatively, the big-brain move would be to make this more forum game-ish, and have people rate the card designed by the previous poster. Cutting down to me only needing to do the story (and not all the card evaluations) should significantly decrease my time requirement and thus make frequent updates easier. So, tentatively changing to that model - the first person to post after a story update doesn't need to rate anything, and I'll rate the last person prior to an update.

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RaikouRider
Posts: 265
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Pronoun: he / him

Post by RaikouRider » 3 years ago

It wasn't quite the Turntimber, but Ivan was looking forward to traversing the Oran-Rief. There was a sliver of the Ondu Flats to go through first, which would give Sky the chance to run. The forest itself was dense and had no trails, which would slow travel quite a bit. Checking his map one more time before rolling it back up and stowing it, Ivan stood up, pushed his chair in, and returned to the bartender to return his meal-ware, tipping a silver coin to the chefs for their good cooking.

Sky let out a low purr as Ivan left the Happy Hedron. "Ready to go, boy?" He gently hugged the white, great cat before climbing aboard, the two getting mixed reactions from citizens of Sea Gate as he trotted his way through one of the main thoroughfares. While the roughly horse-sized loam lions avoided preying on humanoids unless badly disturbed or threatened, they were still respected and feared animals. Very few people had heard of a humanoid taming one. Their big strides made being atop one more uncomfortable than riding horseback except for adept riders, but the added speed was well worth it. Unlike lions on other planes, these one had no need for stealth; they were fast enough to catch almost any prey.

Once the two were clear of Sea Gate's west gate, Ivan's smile grew at the prospect of adventure. While this was not his first expedition for Pelakka House, this was his first expedition for them after coming back with Sky at his side. He pulled back sharply on his mount, causing the cat to rear up on its hind legs and let out a loud and proud roar that made Ivan flinch. That roar had to have been audible for miles, what with how open the flats were and with the lack of clouds above.

"Yah!" the young man cried as he jabbed at the white cat's sides with his knees. The trained lion crouched before flinging itself forward in a low leap, rapidly accelerating to a pace faster than even the swiftest horses raised by humans could reach. He couldn't help but let out a joyous cry as the wind whipped in his face, his green-and-white knight's cloak flying almost parallel to the ground. Wild moas, elk, and even felidars yielded to the passing duo that was charging through. It wouldn't take long for them to reach the Oran-Rief now, particularly if they were uninterrupted.

Echoing Roar 1
Instant {U}
Until end of turn, all creatures gain "This creature can't block unless its controller pays 2." (This cost is paid as blockers are declared.)
"When encountering a hungry jungle king, there is no 'run'. There is only 'hide'."
--Tasha, Graypelt veteran

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Ivan, Silverpaw Outrider 1GW
Legendary Creature - Human Knight {R}
When Ivan, Silverpaw Outrider enters the battlefield, create Sky, Silverpaw Lion, a legendary 2/2 green and white Cat creature token with "Creatures you control named Ivan, Silverpaw Outrider have hexproof."
To protect the people of Kabira and the people of Turntimber, he has trained in the ways of both.
2/2

HP: 12/12
STR: 7
Inv: Clue (1); Treasure (1)
SPOILER
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Last edited by RaikouRider 3 years ago, edited 1 time in total.

slimytrout
Posts: 1861
Joined: 4 years ago
Pronoun: Unlisted

Post by slimytrout » 3 years ago

RaikouRider:
Flavor: Love it -- 3/3
Design: A bit of a bend in white to make multiple creatures unable to block -- Archangel of Tithes is the only comparison, and that's a mythic. Also, pretty weird to have it be an instant, since Magmatic Chasm and the like is typically a sorcery. But definitely represents what you're doing! -- 1.5/3
Development: A bit on the weak side for a red uncommon -- I definitely would prefer the typical flying exemption to allowing them to pay to block. Harder to say for white, since, again, the only comparison is a mythic. 2/3
Luck: 0 (rolled a 19 - so close!)
Hybrid: +1
Total: 7.5

P.S. Don't forget to add your prizes from last round to your sheet!

---

Goreteg begins leaping across the landscape, eager to find his enemy. Every time he jumps, the stone underneath him thrusts him upward, launching him 30 yards or more. When he lands, the stone softens to catch him, rippling underneath him like a bowl of jelly. He crosses the plains rapidly, to arrive at the Bulwark, a steep mountain surrounded by cliffs. Rather than detour around it, Goreteg begins climbing -- he is no longer confident in his direction, so he wishes to survey the lands beneath. His hands and feet sink into the stone as he climbs, so he has no worry of falling. When night arrives and he needs to rest, he simply pulls handfuls of rock out of the mountain like viscera, spreading and molding them until he has fashioned a small outcrop to sleep on.

In the morning, he finishes the climb and arrives at the summit, which is covered in towering trees. Goreteg sighs -- he hates climbing trees. He fashions himself a pair of stone gauntlets, which sharpen to points at the knuckles, and a pair of stone boots with large crampons sticking out of the toes. Punch. Kick. Punch. Kick. He makes his way slowly up the trunk, the stone spikes embedding themselves into the bark with each blow. Finally, he arrives at the canopy, and gazes out at the vast landscape below.

Bulwark Stonefists 2{R/g}
Artifact - Equipment (R)
When Bulwark Stonefists enters the battlefield, attach it to target creature you control.
Equipped creature gets +2/+1 and has trample.
Equip 2{r/g}
"The best gear serves more than one purpose."
-Samila, Murasa Expeditionary House

///
Bulwark Summit
Land (U)
Bulwark Summit enters the battlefield tapped.
T, Pay 1 life: Add R or G.
"This is the best view for miles. But it's quite the climb."
-Samila, Murasa Expeditionary House

Goreteg
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Goreteg Stonehorns 1RG
Legendary Creature — Minotaur Shaman (R)
Trample
Landfall — Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, Goreteg Stonehorns fights up to one target creature you don't control.
"If you see a minotaur with shattered horns, he probably dared to defy Goreteg."
-Sachir, Akoum Expeditionary House

3/3

HP: 13/13
Strength: 8
Inventory: Food, Treasure (Goreteg doesn't care about clues)

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Ginuqu
Posts: 327
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Pronoun: they / them

Post by Ginuqu » 3 years ago

(Thanks for organizing the game, but I think I'll skip out if it becomes a competition thread akin to the monthly challenge. Too intimidating for me and I'm skeptical of people's rigidity when they get the chance to group-mark! I'm not convinced fantasy cards should be graded against things that actually come out of booster packs.)
sorta mad at magic right now

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Mookie
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Location: the æthereal plane

Post by Mookie » 3 years ago

Ginuqu wrote:
3 years ago
(Thanks for organizing the game, but I think I'll skip out if it becomes a competition thread akin to the monthly challenge. Too intimidating for me and I'm skeptical of people's rigidity when they get the chance to group-mark! I'm not convinced fantasy cards should be graded against things that actually come out of booster packs.)
Mmmm, noted. The rules for this are definitely still a work in progress. My intent isn't for it to be a competition - there won't be any comparisons between individuals. Rather, I'm trying to replicate the 'roll a die, add a modifier, and use that to determine if you succeed or fail' flavor of DND, with the idea that card ratings are being used in place of the modifier. Perhaps it would be better to embrace that, and put a heavier emphasis on the randomness? Hmmmm.... I'm certainly open to suggestions.

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