September MCC Round 3
The second best adventure of my life
As is tradition by now, this month we will celebrate the latest set, in this case Wilds of Eldraine, by exploring its mechanics and themes, as usual in this kind of MCC months.
Ok, last time I shared a piece of my song lyrics. This time I'll talk to you about one of my characters in the big story I've written and that goes with the first set in my big table that I've talked about several times. A few of you might know about the main custom plane of mine, that's called Vukanat. It's the setting of that story. The main characters are a group of seven people going on an adventure. Out of those seven people, only one is human. One is a leonin. No, he's not Jeff Lionheart. Jeff will be involved with Vukanat, but in future stories that I've already planned but not written yet. This one is a planebound leonin native to Vukanat. His name is… Ok, I'll do another thing that I've never done before, which is sharing publicly the name of one of the main characters from Vukanat. His name is Krest Muchkal. He has a very complicated and highly emotional backstory that I'm not going to share now. I'll just say that the fact that he's still alive today is a very big thing, he went through some very big trouble as a child and had to overcome it. That child was able to come out of that and is now a very positive-minded adult. The last thing he wants is others having to go through the same pain he had to go through as a child, so he's always there to help and support others, regardless of anything. If one of the mechanics from this set reminded me of a song of mine, another one, the return of Adventures, made me think about Krest because of a very important line that he says once he's back home after the big travel that is the main plot of my story. Talking about that travel while telling it to his father, he calls it "the second best adventure of my life". His father replies asking what is the best one then if this is the second best. And Krest replies to that, and I'll leave you with his answer with no explanation but it's explained explicitly in an earlier chapter of the story: "Knowing you, dad."
This was originally going to be Round 2 of this month, and it was going to be titled "The second best adventure of my life", after Krest's quote. Then I swapped it with Round 3, that's the one about Roles, because I thought that more people would have liked to play with the shiny new and exciting thing from the set earlier in the month than Round 3. So I swapped them, but I still liked too much Krest's quote as a round title, so I kept it anyway.
Main Challenge - Design a creature and/or enchantment card that has an Adventure.
Subchallenge 1 - One between the main card's mana cost and the Adventure's mana cost is exactly two colors, and the other one is monocolored.
Subchallenge 2 - The Adventure's mana value is equal to or greater than the card's main mana value.
Clarifications
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Main Challenge
• Your card has to meet the two following requirements at the same time:
1 - It's an adventurer card, as defined in Rule 715 of the CR.
2 - In the card's normal type line, there is the "creature" card type, the "enchantment" card type, or both. In other words, your main card can be an ordinary creature, an ordinary enchantment (either a "global" one or an Aura, both count), or an enchantment creature like those from Theros and modern Kamigawa.
• Your card can have additional card type in addition to the required "creature" and/or "enchantment" one. For example, you can make an "Artifact Creature" that has an Adventure, or even an "Enchantment Artifact Creature" if you're feeling courageous. The Embereth court would be proud of you and your courage! Beware of the type line length though, if you do that you won't have much room left for subtypes.
• While Rule 715 doesn't explicitly say it, remember that the Adventure part must be an instant or sorcery. It's implied anyway by rule 715.3d, which says: "Instead of putting a spell that was cast as an Adventure into its owner's graveyard as it resolves, its controller exiles it." The only spells that are put directly into their owner's graveyard as they resolve are instants and sorceries, all other card types are put onto the battlefield as they resolve, not in the graveyard. The only exception is the "tribal" card type, that can go either way depending on which other card type is paired with, as it can't exist on its own. It's also implied by Adventure being an instant/sorcery subtype. You can theoretically try to make the Adventure part something else that's not an instant or sorcery, but that would require a rather heavy adjustment to these rules, definitely big enough that you can't just assume it in your submission here. Personally, I would heavily advise you not to do it and stick to making your card's Adventure part an instant or sorcery.
• As for how to post an adventurer card in text form, I had made a clarification about that for the original Throne of Eldraine MCC month (October 2019), which I also hosted. I have recovered that and I'll repost it here as it's still valid now and relevant for this round.
Subchallenge 1
• There are two mana costs on an adventurer card: the main one, which is where most Magic cards have it, in the upper right corner of the card, and the Adventure's mana cost, which is part of the Adventure mini-frame on the left of the text box. For the sake of clarity, let's just call them respectively the "main mana cost" and the "Adventure mana cost".
Given that, to pass this Subchallenge your card must fall into one of the following two cases:
1 - The main mana cost is exactly two-colored AND the Adventure mana cost is monocolored at the same time.
2 - The main mana cost is monocolored AND the Adventure mana cost is exactly two-colored at the same time.
• For the two-colored mana cost, whichever one it is, both traditional gold and hybrid count.
• The monocolored mana cost, whichever one it is, can be one of colors that are already contained in the other mana cost, the two-colored one, or a different third color. In the former case, the resulting card's color identity will be two-colored, while in the latter case it will be three-colored. Either case is fine as far as this Subchallenge is concerned, as it only checks ordinary color and not color identity.
• A consequence of this Subchallenge only checking ordinary color and not color identity is that you can have all the off-color mana symbols in the rules text that you want, as they only alter the card's color identity and not its color(s).
• As far as I know, there are no existing cards that would pass this Subchallenge. There were no off-color Adventures until this set (WOE), and the only one with multicolored mana costs is Beluna, which has a three-colored main mana cost and a three-colored Adventure mana cost, and this Subchallenge has been specifically worded to NOT care about mana costs with three or more colors in them. That's why it says "exactly two colors". The required two-colored mana cost must contain specifically two colors, not one, not three, or more than three. Exactly two.
Subchallenge 2
• If we adopt the terminology defined above changing "mana cost" to "mana value", you could word this Subchallenge as follows:
The Adventure mana value is equal to or greater than the main mana value.
Maybe this way is clearer.
If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the MCC discussion thread.
• Your card has to meet the two following requirements at the same time:
1 - It's an adventurer card, as defined in Rule 715 of the CR.
CR (WOE), Rule 715, whole text for reference
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715. Adventurer Cards
715.1. Adventurer cards have a two-part card frame, with a smaller frame inset within their text box.
715.2. The text that appears in the inset frame on the left defines alternative characteristics that the object may have while it's a spell. The card's normal characteristics appear as usual, although with a smaller text box on the right.
715.2a If an effect refers to a card, spell, or permanent that "has an Adventure," it refers to an object for which these alternative characteristics exist, even if the object currently doesn't use them.
715.2b The existence and values of these alternative characteristics is part of the object's copiable values.
715.2c Although adventurer cards are printed with multiple sets of characteristics, each adventurer card is only one card. For example, a player who has drawn or discarded an adventurer card has drawn or discarded one card, not two.
715.3. As a player casts an adventurer card, the player chooses whether they cast the card normally or as an Adventure.
715.3a When casting an adventurer card as an Adventure, only the alternative characteristics are evaluated to see if it can be cast.
715.3b While on the stack as an Adventure, the spell has only its alternative characteristics.
715.3c If an Adventure spell is copied, the copy is also an Adventure. It has the alternative characteristics of the spell and not the normal characteristics of the card that represents the Adventure spell. Any rule or effect that refers to a spell cast as an Adventure refers to the copy as well.
715.3d Instead of putting a spell that was cast as an Adventure into its owner's graveyard as it resolves, its controller exiles it. For as long as that card remains exiled, that player may cast it. It can't be cast as an Adventure this way, although other effects that allow a player to cast it may allow a player to cast it as an Adventure.
715.4. In every zone except the stack, and while on the stack not as an Adventure, an adventurer card has only its normal characteristics.
715.5. If an effect instructs a player to choose a card name and the player wants to choose an adventurer card's alternative name, the player may do so.
715.1. Adventurer cards have a two-part card frame, with a smaller frame inset within their text box.
715.2. The text that appears in the inset frame on the left defines alternative characteristics that the object may have while it's a spell. The card's normal characteristics appear as usual, although with a smaller text box on the right.
715.2a If an effect refers to a card, spell, or permanent that "has an Adventure," it refers to an object for which these alternative characteristics exist, even if the object currently doesn't use them.
715.2b The existence and values of these alternative characteristics is part of the object's copiable values.
715.2c Although adventurer cards are printed with multiple sets of characteristics, each adventurer card is only one card. For example, a player who has drawn or discarded an adventurer card has drawn or discarded one card, not two.
715.3. As a player casts an adventurer card, the player chooses whether they cast the card normally or as an Adventure.
715.3a When casting an adventurer card as an Adventure, only the alternative characteristics are evaluated to see if it can be cast.
715.3b While on the stack as an Adventure, the spell has only its alternative characteristics.
715.3c If an Adventure spell is copied, the copy is also an Adventure. It has the alternative characteristics of the spell and not the normal characteristics of the card that represents the Adventure spell. Any rule or effect that refers to a spell cast as an Adventure refers to the copy as well.
715.3d Instead of putting a spell that was cast as an Adventure into its owner's graveyard as it resolves, its controller exiles it. For as long as that card remains exiled, that player may cast it. It can't be cast as an Adventure this way, although other effects that allow a player to cast it may allow a player to cast it as an Adventure.
715.4. In every zone except the stack, and while on the stack not as an Adventure, an adventurer card has only its normal characteristics.
715.5. If an effect instructs a player to choose a card name and the player wants to choose an adventurer card's alternative name, the player may do so.
• Your card can have additional card type in addition to the required "creature" and/or "enchantment" one. For example, you can make an "Artifact Creature" that has an Adventure, or even an "Enchantment Artifact Creature" if you're feeling courageous. The Embereth court would be proud of you and your courage! Beware of the type line length though, if you do that you won't have much room left for subtypes.
• While Rule 715 doesn't explicitly say it, remember that the Adventure part must be an instant or sorcery. It's implied anyway by rule 715.3d, which says: "Instead of putting a spell that was cast as an Adventure into its owner's graveyard as it resolves, its controller exiles it." The only spells that are put directly into their owner's graveyard as they resolve are instants and sorceries, all other card types are put onto the battlefield as they resolve, not in the graveyard. The only exception is the "tribal" card type, that can go either way depending on which other card type is paired with, as it can't exist on its own. It's also implied by Adventure being an instant/sorcery subtype. You can theoretically try to make the Adventure part something else that's not an instant or sorcery, but that would require a rather heavy adjustment to these rules, definitely big enough that you can't just assume it in your submission here. Personally, I would heavily advise you not to do it and stick to making your card's Adventure part an instant or sorcery.
• As for how to post an adventurer card in text form, I had made a clarification about that for the original Throne of Eldraine MCC month (October 2019), which I also hosted. I have recovered that and I'll repost it here as it's still valid now and relevant for this round.
ELD MCC (October 2019) wrote: Q: How should I format my adventurer card?
A: Just like if it were a split card. Write the creature part as a normal text card, then add a separator below it (a double forward slash, //, is advised), and then write the Adventure part as it would be written on the left side of a real adventurer card's text box. In the Adventure part, don't forget the "Adventure" subtype and not only you can not put rarity in, but you should not. On real adventurer cards, there is no colored expansion symbol on the type line of the Adventure part.
For example, Flaxen Intruder would be written out like follows.
Flaxen Intruder
Creature — Human Berserker (U)
Whenever Flaxen Intruder deals combat damage to a player, you may sacrifice it. When you do, destroy target artifact or enchantment.
The middle blade was just right.
1/2
//
Welcome Home
Sorcery — Adventure
Create three 2/2 green Bear creature tokens. (Then exile this card. You may cast the creature later from exile.)
Subchallenge 1
• There are two mana costs on an adventurer card: the main one, which is where most Magic cards have it, in the upper right corner of the card, and the Adventure's mana cost, which is part of the Adventure mini-frame on the left of the text box. For the sake of clarity, let's just call them respectively the "main mana cost" and the "Adventure mana cost".
Given that, to pass this Subchallenge your card must fall into one of the following two cases:
1 - The main mana cost is exactly two-colored AND the Adventure mana cost is monocolored at the same time.
2 - The main mana cost is monocolored AND the Adventure mana cost is exactly two-colored at the same time.
• For the two-colored mana cost, whichever one it is, both traditional gold and hybrid count.
• The monocolored mana cost, whichever one it is, can be one of colors that are already contained in the other mana cost, the two-colored one, or a different third color. In the former case, the resulting card's color identity will be two-colored, while in the latter case it will be three-colored. Either case is fine as far as this Subchallenge is concerned, as it only checks ordinary color and not color identity.
• A consequence of this Subchallenge only checking ordinary color and not color identity is that you can have all the off-color mana symbols in the rules text that you want, as they only alter the card's color identity and not its color(s).
• As far as I know, there are no existing cards that would pass this Subchallenge. There were no off-color Adventures until this set (WOE), and the only one with multicolored mana costs is Beluna, which has a three-colored main mana cost and a three-colored Adventure mana cost, and this Subchallenge has been specifically worded to NOT care about mana costs with three or more colors in them. That's why it says "exactly two colors". The required two-colored mana cost must contain specifically two colors, not one, not three, or more than three. Exactly two.
Subchallenge 2
• If we adopt the terminology defined above changing "mana cost" to "mana value", you could word this Subchallenge as follows:
The Adventure mana value is equal to or greater than the main mana value.
Maybe this way is clearer.
If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the MCC discussion thread.
DEADLINES
Design deadline: Thursday, September 28th 2023 at 23:59 Eastern Time
Judging deadline: Sunday, October 1st 2023 at 23:59 Eastern Time
RUBRIC
MCC Rubric
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The MCC Rubric is given below, in an easily "copy and pasted" form. (Courtesy of Rithaniel.)
Code: Select all
[b]Design[/b]
[b](X/3) Appeal[/b] - Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card?
[b](X/3) Elegance[/b] - Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
[b]Development[/b]
[b](X/3) Viability[/b] - How well does the card fit into the color wheel? Does it break or bend the rules of the game? Is it the appropriate rarity?
[b](X/3) Balance[/b] - Does the card have a power level appropriate for contemporary constructed/limited environments without breaking them? Does it play well in casual and multiplayer formats? Does it create or fit into a deck/archetype? Does it create an oppressive environment?
[b]Creativity[/b]
[b](X/3) Uniqueness[/b] - Has a card like this ever been printed before? Does it use new mechanics, ideas, or design space? Does it combine old ideas in a new way? Overall, does it feel "fresh"?
[b](X/3) Flavor[/b] - Does the name seem realistic for a card? Does the flavor text sound professional? Do all the flavor elements synch together to please Vorthos players?
[b]Polish[/b]
[b](X/3) Quality[/b] - Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
[b](X/2) Main Challenge (*)[/b] - Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge?
[b](X/2) Subchallenges[/b] - One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
[b]Total: X/25[/b]
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.JUDGES
bravelion83
void_nothing
PLAYERS
@AnotherAlias
@haywire
@kwanyeegor-ii
@netn10
@Raptorchan
@slimytrout
A reminder to everyone:
In the MCC, putting rarity on cards is mandatory! If you don't put a rarity on your card, expect huge deductions in both Viability AND Quality.
Please check out the MCC Guidelines and FAQ if you have the will and time. Link in my signature. Among the many things you can find there are a detailed explanation of the rubric (section 6.2) and the recommended card formatting (section 4) that you should use to format your text cards. Expect deductions in Quality otherwise.
BRACKETS
I've rolled d6's and these pairings are the result:
AnotherAlias vs. kwanyeegor-ii
haywire vs. Raptorchan
netn10 vs. slimytrout
Both judges will judge all cards, and the highest combined score in each pairing will advance to the final round. Let the judging begin!
