[Assorted] JessWill's Custom Card Lair

[JessWill]

Tonight's theme... Planescape: Torment characters / companions

Annah-of-the-Shadows
Legendary Creature - Tiefling Rogue (R)
Flash, haste
Backstab (When this creature enters, you may have it deal damage equal to its power to target creature. If this creature would fight another creature, it deals damage equal to its power to that creature instead.)
Whenever a creature dealt damage by this creature dies, create a treasure token.
3/3

Morte. the Floating Skull
Legendary Creature - Skeleton Warrior (R)
Flash, deathtouch
Taunt (When this creature enters, you may have it fight another target creature. Whenever this creature becomes untapped, you may choose a creature controlled by an opponent. That creature becomes goaded.)
Whenever another nontoken creature you control dies, exile it, then create a token copy of it, except it's a Skeleton in addition to its other types and has decayed.
3/3

Dakkon, Zerthimon's Servant
Legendary Creature - Githzerai Spellsword (R)
Flash, first strike
Whenever you cast an instant or sorcery spell with mana value 3 or less, you may exile it encoded onto this creature as it resolves.
Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, you may cast a copy of any instant or sorcery spell encoded onto it without paying its mana cost.
3/3

Fall-From-Grace
Legendary Creature - Demon Priest (R)
Flying, lifelink
If a source would cause you to lose life, you gain that much life instead.
: The next time a creature or planeswalker you control would go to a graveyard from the battlefield this turn, exile it instead, then return it to the battlefield.
3/3

Vhailor, the Mercykiller
Legendary Creature - Spirit Warrior (R)
Double strike, haste
This creature must attack each combat if able.
If this creature would go to a graveyard from the battlefield, exile it instead, then return it to the battlefield under your control tapped and attacking at the beginning of your next combat step.
5/3

Ignus, the Burning Corpse
Legendary Creature - Human Sorcerer (R)
Wither
Spells you control have wither.
: Exile cards from the top of target player's library until you exile a spell card. Until end of turn, you may pay life equal to that spell's mana value to cast it from exile.
2/2

Nordom, Rogue Modron
Legendary Artifact Creature - Modron Artificer (R)
When this creature enters, you may search your library for an Equipment card with mana value 3 or less and attach it to this creature, then shuffle.
Whenever you cast an Equipment spell, you may have it enter attached to target creature you control.
3/3

Nameless One, Cursed Immortal
Legendary Creature - Shapeshifter (M)
As an additional cost to cast this spell, exile target creature card from a graveyard.
This creature enters as a copy of the exiled creature, except it gains "If this creature would go to a graveyard from the battlefield, exile it instead, then you may exile target creature card from a graveyard. If a creature card was exiled this way, return this creature to the battlefield as a copy of that creature, except it gains this ability."
0/0

Not sure if a few of these are too pushed in power to just be a rare rather than mythic, and a few might just be too powerful overall (like Morte), but this isn't really intended as a balanced cycle so much as representing the characters in a way where both the flavor and mechanics cohere with the lore and what the character does. Annah, for example, can backstab and steal. Morte taunts and conjures skulls. Dakkon is a warrior that casts spells and has a magically enhanced sword. Etc.

Both Backstab and Taunt are also keyworded, but kind of "double powerful" or "win more" mechanics that give you a lot of benefit, so I'm not sure how viable it is as something that could be printable on too many cards. Maybe I should split it up so the 2nd part of the text is separate from the keyword and just part of the benefit of the card. But they both seem to fit what those type of abilities would do, translated over to MTG gameplay instead of DnD.

I appreciate that there are a few people here like @folding_music who are hip to Planescape and Torment. I do think it offers some cool things to draw from for cards and I just can't seem to get around to properly putting out a custom set or block for it, but would love to.

[JessWill]

Tonight's theme...Planescape: Torment, but items instead of characters this time.

Brimstone Hammer
Artifact - Equipment (U)
Equipped creature gets +1/+1 and deals fire damage. (If a creature or player is dealt fire damage, at the beginning that creature's controller or that player's next upkeep, put a -1/-1 counter on it or that player loses 1 life.)
Equip

Ravel's Fingernail
Legendary Kindred Artifact - Hag Equipment (R)
You may have this equipment enter attached to a Hag you control.
Equipped creature gets +2/+2 and gains Infect.
Whenever equipped creature becomes untapped, each opponent blights 1.
Equip

Dakkon's Zerth Blade
Legendary Kindred Artifact - Gith Equipment (R)
You may have this equipment enter attached to a Gith you control.
Whenever equipped creature deals combat damage, you may exile an instant or sorcery spell from your graveyard, then cast a copy of it without paying its mana cost.
Equip

Abyssal Pipe
Artifact (R)
This artifact enters tapped unless it enters from a graveyard.
, Sacrifice this artifact: Creatures get -3/-3 until end of turn. Remove up to three loyalty counters from all planeswalkers. Each player loses 3 life.
Unearth

Fanged Mirror of Yehcir-Eya
Kindred Legendary Artifact - Illusion Equipment (R)
When this equipment enters, create a creature token that's a copy of another target creature and attach it to it, except it's an Illusion in addition to its other types and has "when this creature becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it".
Equipped creature gains ": This creature deals damage equal to its power to target creature with the same name."
Equip

[JessWill]

Tonight's theme. More Planescape: Torment references! Why? Because I love it.

Cranium Rat
Creature - Rat (C)
Wither
Madness
1/1

Hive Tout
Creature - Human Scout (U)
When this creature enters, put a Portal Key token on target creature. (That creature gains ", Return this creature to your hand: Reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal a land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then put the rest of the cards revealed this way on the bottom of your library in any order.")
2/2

Tome of Bone and Ash
Artifact (U)
, Exile target creature or planeswalker card from your graveyard: Create a treasure token.
"This worn, leather-bound tome lists diagrams and charts detailing several minor wards and enchantments. There are numerous drawings of skeletons, bones, and the manner by which they may be preserved over time."

Dustman Contract
Artifact - Equipment (R)
You may have this equipment enter the battlefield attached to target creature you control.
When equipped creature dies, exile it, then create a token copy of it, except it's a Zombie in addition to its other types and has decayed.
Equip

Abishai Dealmaker
Creature - Devil Warrior (U)
Flying
At the beginning of your upkeep, blight 1.
"Oy! What're yer lookin' at, berk? Yer ain't so sweet yerself!" — Skurz, an Abishai during a promotion interview
4/4

Strahan Runeshadow
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard (R)
Whenever a nontoken creature you control dies, exile it, then create a token copy of it, except it's a Zombie in addition to its other types and has decayed.
"You haven't seen the last of me!"
2/4

Coaxmetal, Entropic Clockwork
Legendary Artifact Creature - Construct (M)
: Destroy target nonartifact, nonland permanent. You lose life equal to its mana value.
: Search your library for an Equipment card and put it into your hand, then shuffle.
3/3

[JessWill]

Today's theme...Kindred Curses

Zombie Plague
Kindred Enchantment - Zombie Aura Curse (R)
Enchant player
Creatures controlled by enchanted player are Zombies in addition to their other types and gain decayed.
"Everyone became infected by the zombie rot overnight. An entire city, reduced to drooling and ravenous outbursts." - Witch Doctor Sekuya

Cerebral Simulacrum
Kindred Enchantment - Illusion Aura Curse (R)
Enchant player
Creatures controlled by enchanted player are Illusions in addition to their other types and gain "When this creature becomes targeted by a spell or ability, sacrifice it".

Uncivil Riot
Kindred Enchantment - Barbarian Aura Curse (R)
Enchant player
Creatures controlled by enchanted player are Barbarians in addition to their other types, must attack each combat if able and enter goaded.

Afternoon of a Faun
Kindred Enchantment - Elk Aura Curse (R)
Enchant player
Creatures controlled by enchanted player loses all abilities and become 3/3 Elk creatures.

Carrion Rot
Kindred Enchantment - Insect Aura Curse (U)
Enchant player
Whenever a creature controlled by enchanted player dies, create a 1/1 black and green Insect creature token with flying.

Spiritual Mystery
Kindred Enchantment - Spirit Aura Curse (R)
If a nontoken, nonland permanent would enter the battlefield under enchanted players control, that player manifests it instead and it's a Spirit in addition to its other types. That permanent's controller may turn it face up at any time by paying life equal to its mana value if it's a noncreature card.

[JessWill]

Tonight's theme...Petrification counters (idea for the mechanic stolen from @SinisterSister).

Gazing Medusa
Creature - Gorgon (U)
When this creature enters, put a petrification counter on target creature. (This creature loses all types and abilities and becomes a Mountain.)
"Why are you turning away? Am I not pretty enough for you?"
3/3

Kali, the Destroyer
Legendary Creature - Gorgon Assassin (R)
Deathtouch, haste
Whenever this creature becomes untapped, you may put a petrification counter on target creature. (This creature loses all types and abilities and becomes a Mountain.)
3/3

Medusa's Gaze
Enchantment - Aura Curse (R)
Enchant player
Whenever a creature controlled by enchanted player becomes targeted by a spell or ability, put a petrification counter on it. (This creature loses all types and abilities and becomes a Mountain.)

Way of Stone
Kindred Enchantment - Giant (U)
Whenever a Giant you control dies, you may put a petrification counter on it instead of putting it into your graveyard. (This creature loses all types and abilities and becomes a Mountain.)

Hulking Cliffstrider
Creature - Giant Warrior (C)
Trample
When this creature dies, put a petrification counter on it instead of putting it into your graveyard. (This creature loses all types and abilities and becomes a Mountain.)
4/3

[Sporegorger_Dragon]

Hive Tout
Creature - Human Scout (U)
When this creature enters, put a Portal Key token on target creature. (That creature gains ", Return this creature to your hand: Reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal a land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then put the rest of the cards revealed this way on the bottom of your library in any order.")
2/2

It should be counter, not a token, but more importantly doesn't the Portal Key counter let you stack the library if you have no lands in it?

There's a wild deck that uses Balustrade Spy and DFC lands to build a deck with no lands (on the front side) thatuses the Spy to mill the entire library. I can't help but feel this would also be broken in a similar vein unless you have it put the cards in a random order.

[JessWill]

Hive Tout
Creature - Human Scout (U)
When this creature enters, put a Portal Key token on target creature. (That creature gains ", Return this creature to your hand: Reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal a land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then put the rest of the cards revealed this way on the bottom of your library in any order.")
2/2

It should be counter, not a token, but more importantly doesn't the Portal Key counter let you stack the library if you have no lands in it?

There's a wild deck that uses Balustrade Spy and DFC lands to build a deck with no lands (on the front side) thatuses the Spy to mill the entire library. I can't help but feel this would also be broken in a similar vein unless you have it put the cards in a random order.

Don't know how I put token instead of counter, pure brain fart there.

I'm just trying to come up with some sort of way to represent portals and/or portal keys / travel across the planes with the Planescape flavor represented mechanically somehow. I did a thing with Portal tokens that do something similar to this without returning a creature but wasn't sure if it was good enough to impliment or if it had balance issues. But I previously had it phrased as "your graveyard *or* bottom of library in any order*. Graveyard route would get around the problem you're talking about, but also is feel bad unless you're using a graveyard strategy.

[Sporegorger_Dragon]

But I previously had it phrased as "your graveyard *or* bottom of library in any order*. Graveyard route would get around the problem you're talking about, but also is feel bad unless you're using a graveyard strategy.

Just change to "bottom of the library in a random order."

That prevents any possibility of stacking the deck.

[JessWill]

But I previously had it phrased as "your graveyard *or* bottom of library in any order*. Graveyard route would get around the problem you're talking about, but also is feel bad unless you're using a graveyard strategy.

Just change to "bottom of the library in a random order."

That prevents any possibility of stacking the deck.

That's true.

I'm still not sure I'm entirely satisfied with the mechanic even with that alteration. Returning a creature to your hand as part of the cost of getting a land out isn't my favorite angle. But I somehow wanted to represent both a creature traveling through a portal, and capture the arrival of a new land at the other end of the portal and incorporate Land Matters as a theme.

But that's what I'm actually after. Mechanically representating Planescape's portal travel.

[Sporegorger_Dragon]

But I somehow wanted to represent both a creature traveling through a portal, and capture the arrival of a new land at the other end of the portal and incorporate Land Matters as a theme.

How about putting the creature with the Portal Key on the bottom of the library along with the other revealed nonland cards?

[JessWill]

But I somehow wanted to represent both a creature traveling through a portal, and capture the arrival of a new land at the other end of the portal and incorporate Land Matters as a theme.

How about putting the creature with the Portal Key on the bottom of the library along with the other revealed nonland cards?

That would make it even more of a drawback than returning it to your hand.

In the back of my head I was actually thinking of linking Portal or Portal Key references to some sort of Blink style ability, with a creature exiling and then returning to the battlefield, but I also want to capture that Land Matters aspect as well by bringing a land out. Rolling that into one mechanic isn't straight forward of a thing to do though. But for this particular version of the idea, I went with returning the creature to your hand, as representing it going through a portal, but being able to come out the other end when you cast it again.

Here's what I had actually created when I left off months ago with my Planescape set brainstorming mechanics for this:

Disciple of Aoskar
Creature - Human Monk (C)
When this creature enters, create a portal token. (It's an artifact with ", , sacrifice this artifact: Reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal a land card, then put it into play tapped. Then put the rest of the cards revealed this way into your graveyard or the bottom of your library in any order. Activate only as a sorcery.")
2/2

I had about a dozen cards using portal tokens and it seemed somewhat promising but a bit limited in how easily I could design around it.

[JessWill]

Some of the more exotic planes from Planescape, as mono-color Planar Lands with the Atmosphere mechanic I had floated before.

Astral Plane
Legendary Land - Planar (R)
: Add .
Atmosphere - If a nonland permanent would go to a graveyard, its controller exiles it, then returns it to the battlefield under their control instead. (: This land becomes an enchantment in addition to its other types and gains the following additional text. Use this ability as a sorcery.)
"Time. Or rather the absence of it. In the Astral Plane, everything is eternal." — Gale, on his interest in the Astral Plane

Plane of Dreams
Legendary Land - Planar (R)
: Add .
Atmosphere - Whenever a nonland permanent enters, exile it, then its owner creates a token copy of it, except it's an Illusion in addition to its other types and gains "When this permanent becomes the target of a spell or ability, sacrifice it." (: This land becomes an enchantment in addition to its other types and gains the following additional text. Use this ability as a sorcery.)
"Where the confines of Waking World blend with the World of Dreams… Where all we see or seem is but a dream within a dream." — A prime with a poetic bent

The Shadowfell
Legendary Land - Planar (R)
: Add .
Atmosphere - Nonland, nontoken permanents enter face-down. That permanent's controller may turn it face up by paying life equal to its mana value. (: This land becomes an enchantment in addition to its other types and gains the following additional text. Use this ability as a sorcery.)
"It is the toxic plane of darkness and power. It is the hidden place that hates the light. It is the frontier of worlds unknown."

The Far Realm
Legendary Land - Planar (R)
: Add .
Atmosphere - If a player would draw or discard one or more cards, that player exiles that many cards instead. Until end of turn, that player may play that card. (: This land becomes an enchantment in addition to its other types and gains the following additional text. Use this ability as a sorcery.)
"Deep inside Firestorm Peak lies a portal to an insidious region beyond sanity and light known only as the Far Realm, and the unknowable but hostile entities of this hideous region prepare to pass through into the world." — James Jacobs

The Feywild
Legendary Land - Planar (R)
: Add .
Atmosphere - Whenever a source produces one or more mana, it produces an additional mana of the same type. A player losing unspent mana causes that player to lose that much life. (: This land becomes an enchantment in addition to its other types and gains the following additional text. Use this ability as a sorcery.)
"But tales are told of a time long past, when elves fled by the thousands from war-torn Faerie, that magical land that exists in the unseen shadows of a thousand worlds." — Excerpt from a letter from Kriios Halambar, Master Luthier of New Olamn

A few companion cards that make the planar land subtype matter more.

Planar Wanderer
Creature - Bariaur Scout (C)
This creature gets +2/+1 so long as you control a Planar land.
1/1

Planar Journey
Sorcery (U)
Search your library for a Planar land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle.

Manual of the Planes
Artifact - Book (R)
You may play an additional land on each of your turns so long as that land is a Planar land.
Reduce all Atmosphere costs of Planar lands you control by .