December CCL, Signups/Round 1: Dig Up the Past

[void_nothing]

CCL December Signups/Round 1

"Dig Up the Past"


Thran Turbine, taken from EchoMTG, by Brian Snöddy and Wizards of the Coast

Welcome to the Card Creation League! Everyone is free to participate in either or both of the first two rounds. Come join us!

Theme

It's Deep Magic Lore Month here in the CCL and what better way to start than one of the first significant chronological events in all (mortal) history in Dominia - the fall of the Thran and the beginning of Phyrexia.

Challenge

Design an artifact card with "Thran" or "Phyrexian" in its name.

Clarifications

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• Make sure to include a rarity.
• If you're not familiar with the topic of the round, please consult these articles on the Thran and Phyrexians, as well as searching a card database for cards with those words in their names.

Anyone can enter this first round! Your submissions are due Sunday, December 8th, 23:59 EST.

Special note: Due to this being a busy month for many people in terms of traveling, seeing family, working overtime, school/university finals, et cetera, a lot of deadlines have been extended. In this case I am explicitly planning to not begin the final round until the beginning of January!

Schedule

• Round 1 — Open to Everyone (December 1st–8th)
• Round 2 — Open to Everyone (December 9th–16th)
• Rounds 1 and 2 Critiques (Due December 19th)
• Top 8 — Open to top 8 finishers (December 20th–23rd)
• Top 8 Critiques (Due December 26th)
• Top 4 — Open to top 4 finishers (December 27th–30th)
• Top 4 Critiques (Due January 2nd)
• Final (January, winner determined by public poll)

[slimytrout]

Thran Wardstone 4
Artifact (R)
As long as Thran Wardstone is untapped, other noncreature permanents you control have hexproof.
2, T: Another target noncreature permanent you control gains indestructible until end of turn.
The treasures within the wardstone were safe from everything but time.

[bravelion83]

Note

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I'm sorry but the Thran and old Phyrexia predate my lore knowledge by a lot. I've started playing in original Ravnica and I can go back to original Mirrodin at most. Before that, I really know very little lore. So, speaking of Mirrodin, I will have to use new Phyrexians. Those I know well.

Phyrexian Whisperer BB
Artifact Creature — Horror (R)
XB, T, Pay X life: Draw X cards. Activate this ability only any time you could cast a sorcery.
"Why do you cry? Do you think you can't stand the pain? Don't reject it. Welcome it. The road to real power passes right through it."
—Sheoldred, Whispering One
2/2

[RaikouRider]

Phyrexian Resuscitator 3
Artifact {M}
As Phyrexian Resuscitator enters the battlefield, sacrifice any number of creatures and/or discard any number of creature cards. It enters the battlefield with a number of charge counters on it equal to their total power.
If you would lose the game, instead your life total becomes equal to the number of charge counters on Phyrexian Resuscitator, then exile it.

[marioguy3]

Phyrexian Supporter
Artifact — Rare
When Phyrexian Supporter enters the battlefield, you draw cards and you lose life equal to the number of beetle creatures you control.
: Phyrexian Supporter becomes a 4/4 black Beetle creature until end of turn.
"Let the pain begin!"
—Ol' Format, Beetle Captain

[netn10]

Thran Workshop 6
Artifact (Rare)
T: Add CCC. Spend this mana only to cast artifact spells or activate abilities of artifacts.
6: You may put an artifact card from your hand or your graveyard onto the battlefield.
The long-forgotten workshops of the ancient Thrans are still functional, and they are still contain devastating relics that are never seen before.

[Icarii]

Phyrexian Infiltrator 1UU
Creature - Human Rogue (U)
Infect
Phyrexian Infiltrator can't be blocked by creatures with a counter on them.
Each step towards compleation is a bow towards compliance.
2/3

[Subject16]

Phyrexian Gearbreaker 3RR
Artifact — Vehicle (Uncommon)
Trample
When Phyrexian Gearbreaker deals combat damage to a player, destroy up to one target artifact that player controls.
1R, pay : Phyrexian Gearbreaker gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
Crew 3 (Tap any number of untapped creatures you control with total power 3 or greater: This Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.)
"The Kaladeshi creations are elegant, but oh so brittle."
—Nyhel, Priest of Urabrask
5/4

[Ryder]

Phyrexian Transfigurator 1
Artifact (U)
{gp}, T: Add one mana of any color.
"It is of utmost importance to harvest even the most insignificant products, as even those can prove useful in the grand process of compleation."
—Phyrexian progress notes

[Ink-Treader]

Phyrexian Protostone 1
Artifact (U)
Imprint - T: Exile target land card from a graveyard.
T: For each land card exiled with Phyrexian Protostone, add C or one mana of any color that land could produce, then return each card exiled this way to its owner's graveyard.
"Infusing the stone with the raw power of the plane has been successful, but unleashing it has proven unstable."
-Jin-Gitaxias, powerstone research notes

[kwanyeegor-ii]

Thran Medikit 3
Artifact (Uncommon)
3, T: You gain 2 life
6, T: Prevent the next 2 damage that would be dealt to each creature and planeswalker you control this turn
9, T: Return target creature or planesewalker card from your graveyard to the battlefield

[void_nothing]

Less than 24 hours left to enter - please also make sure that your entry meets the challenge!

[barbecube]

Phyrexian Incubator 4
Artifact (R)
2, T: Tap target nonartifact creature and put a +1/+1 counter on it. It becomes an artifact in addition to its other types.

[Henlock]

Thran Cornerstone 2
Artifact (r)
Activated abilities on lands you control cost 1 less to activate.
Sacrifice Thran Cornerstone: You may pkay an addutional land this turn if it's a nonbasic land.

[Icarii]

I would change mine to be an artifact creature, but it's now post deadline sooooooo whoops.

[void_nothing]

Round is closed. Please critique the six contestants below you on this list, looping to the top as necessary.

slimytrout
bravelion83
RaikouRider
marioguy3
netn10
Icarii
Subject16
Ryder
Ink-Treader
kwanyeegor-ii
barbecube
Henlock

Next round coming soon.

[bravelion83]

Done.

RaikouRider

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Phyrexian Resuscitator 3
Artifact {M}
As Phyrexian Resuscitator enters the battlefield, sacrifice any number of creatures and/or discard any number of creature cards. It enters the battlefield with a number of charge counters on it equal to their total power.
If you would lose the game, instead your life total becomes equal to the number of charge counters on Phyrexian Resuscitator, then exile it.

I'm sure there are players who love this card, but to me it feels just fine. Nothing wrong, but also nothing too exciting. It works, it's flavorful, and I only have one very minor doubt about the wording (whether that "it" that enters with charge counters should be another mention of the card name). As I said, it's just fine. But that's on me, it's just not my own preferred style of card.

marioguy3

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Phyrexian Supporter
Artifact — Rare
When Phyrexian Supporter enters the battlefield, you draw cards and you lose life equal to the number of beetle creatures you control.
: Phyrexian Supporter becomes a 4/4 black Beetle creature until end of turn.
"Let the pain begin!"
—Ol' Format, Beetle Captain

Oh, so it's a whole cycle at least. I was not a fan of the one in the MCC and I'm not a fan of this either. The humor is way too forced. It's the opposite of subtle, and I really don't like it. Also, a couple Quality mistakes (creature type not capitalized in the first ability, flavor text not italicized.) I'm sorry.

netn10

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Thran Workshop 6
Artifact (Rare)
T: Add CCC. Spend this mana only to cast artifact spells or activate abilities of artifacts.
6: You may put an artifact card from your hand or your graveyard onto the battlefield.
The long-forgotten workshops of the ancient Thrans are still functional, and they are still contain devastating relics that are never seen before.

Ok, this is good. It costs a lot but it just needs to. I really like this card, and I don't have much to say about it, so I'll just move on.

Icarii

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Phyrexian Infiltrator 1UU
Creature - Human Rogue (U)
Infect
Phyrexian Infiltrator can't be blocked by creatures with a counter on them.
Each step towards compleation is a bow towards compliance.
2/3

Oh, I didn't even realize this failed the challenge... Too bad. I really like how effective and elegant it is at the same time. Yes, if I could vote for it (aka if you managed to make it an artifact on time), I totally would.

Subject16

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Phyrexian Gearbreaker 3RR
Artifact — Vehicle (Uncommon)
Trample
When Phyrexian Gearbreaker deals combat damage to a player, destroy up to one target artifact that player controls.
1R, pay : Phyrexian Gearbreaker gets +2/+0 until end of turn.
Crew 3 (Tap any number of untapped creatures you control with total power 3 or greater: This Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.)
"The Kaladeshi creations are elegant, but oh so brittle."
—Nyhel, Priest of Urabrask
5/4

Fine, it works, but really long and intricate. The abilities also feel disconnected from one another to me. In the activated ability, "pay" should be capitalized. I'll probably end up giving you the third place for lack of better options.

Ryder

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Phyrexian Transfigurator 1
Artifact (U)
{gp}, T: Add one mana of any color.
"It is of utmost importance to harvest even the most insignificant products, as even those can prove useful in the grand process of compleation."
—Phyrexian progress notes

Now, this is the kind of card I like! Simple, elegant, but also tremendously effective. Awesome job! I have my clear first place, as I suspected. Congratulations.

Top 3

1st place: Ryder
2nd place: netn10
3rd place: Subject16

[kwanyeegor-ii]

barbecube: pretty much like ashnod's transmogrant right? could be used offensively and defensively, nice. feels phyrexian so its a neat design

henlock: cool johnny card and I like the sacrifice ability, feels like should be in a commander set

slimytrout: lots of protection, possibly does too much for the cost? really shuts down removal of noncreatures. it's a strong card, i'd def play it

bravelion: really simple card, almost boring but elegant and powerful. necro variant makes sense for phyrexia

raikourider: like it a lot except it wont protect you from anything but life loss and like door to nothingness... if your opponent mills you out or uses poison it doesnt help

marioguy3 - beetle is not a creature type and it makes no sense for it to be. so in real life this card almost does nothing. can't even evaluate it

1 henlock
2 barbecube
3 bravelion83

[Icarii]

SPOILER

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Subject16: This is a cool cross plane combination, but I dont feel the phyrexian side shows. One too many things going on here as well. If this were simplified I'd like it more.

Ryder: Very elegant, very powerful. Probably too strong at 1 and access to any deck, but otherwise a solid design.

Ink-Treader: I like the idea, but I wish it where a rare that cost 2 or 3 to cast and didnt lose the lands. Its a lot of hoops for a storage "land."

kwanyeegor-ii: Abilities are ok, but really minor outside of the revive ability, Name undersells the flavor of reviving from the dead. Also seems a bit game-y calling it a medkit and not fantasy. Balance wise feels a little weak.

barbecube: Cool premise, but doesn't feel dark enough for phyrexia. Maybe give a keyword to creatures with +1/+1 counters. Also, doesnt feel rare.

Henlock: Very interesting premise. Some errors. Doesn't feel rare.

Top 3
1: Ryder
2: Henlock
3: Ink-Treader

[slimytrout]

bravelion83

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Phyrexian Whisperer: Quite overpowered. Phyrexian Arena on a 2-mana 2/2 would be busted enough, but this is substantially more powerful than that because it's a draw X. If you get to untap with this on turn 3, you're immediately getting a Mulldrifter's worth of value (with some life loss, but that's unlikely to matter so early in the game) and it keeps chugging from there.

RaikouRider

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Phyrexian Resuscitator: I like it. Very niche, but I'm sure people would find fun things to do with it.

marioguy3

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Phyrexian Supporter: Uh, what? It's a changeling tribal card for the phyrexians? And it's pretty weird to have a supporter that's not a creature.

netn10

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Thran Workshop: I like the basic idea, but not a fan of the fact that you can (and almost always will) tap it to pay for its own ability. Would like it a lot better if it it tapped for the second ability, but that ability only cost 3. The card would be functionally very similar (other than making it harder to totally go off, which I don't think would be a bad thing), but much more in line with how these cards usually work.

Icarii

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Phyrexian Infiltrator: I like the card, but sadly cannot T3 it. Probably would if it were an artifact though.

Subject16

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Phyrexian Gearbreaker: Huh, unusual cross-plane card. I like the thought, but it's a little weak and the mixed mana-and-energy ability is pretty inelegant.

T3

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1. RaikouRider
2. netn10
3. Subject16

[Ink-Treader]

slimytrout

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Compare and contrast Privileged Position. This seems fine, seeing as creatures are excluded from your wardstone's protections.

bravelion83

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Seems potent as repeatable and reasonable affordable draw X. Sorcery speed might keep it in line, but it'd be something to watch carefully.

RaikouRider

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Somewhat reminiscent of Eternity Vessel. I wonder if this could just be rare, considering what it takes to fuel it.

kwanyeegor-ii

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That's quite a costly tookbox of a card. Honestly, it might need to be rare for Limited concerns, being an (albeit costly) repeatable to resurrect creatures and planeswalkers.

barbecube

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Nice versatile card. Maybe probably cost 1 less to activate (compare Icy Manipulator), but it seems fine.

Henlock

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Probably needs a "This effect can't reduce the amount of mana an ability costs to activate to less than one mana." rider like Training Grounds, if not because of existing lands than to at least future proof against later lands. Nonbasic only on the second ability is weird. I understand the flavor I think, but it's fairly unusual to have nonbasic 'love' so to speak.

Top 3

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1. Henlock
2. slimytrout
3. bravelion83

[Henlock]

bravelion- 1his looks very Phyrexian. Repeatable card draw is insanely powerful. I would have kept it more bound to monoblack by forcing the X cost to be only payable in black mana.

RaikouRaider: This is very interesting. It gives an important discard outlet and some death triggers. The concept of benefiting from seemingly bad things is very Phyrexian.

slimytrout - I'm not sure about this. It shuts down a lot of interaction and it's accesible to any deck. Then, someone manages to pass through the hexproof, indestructible makes sure something will still stand.

Marioguy- This is a very interesting card for Changeling tribal. As those, using odd creature types hints its nature but may look confusing to some players. It doesn't look very powerful but self-animating permanents should not be underestimated.

netn10: Getting your fist artifact in costs a lot of mana. This fits very well with big colorless mana production.

Icarii: Sadly not fulfilling the challenge. It's an elegant design with good Phyrexian smell

1. RaikouRaider
2. netn10
3. bravelion

[barbecube]

Crits

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Henlock: This has a lot of typos! I like the sacrifice ability a lot.

slimytrout: I feel like the first ability here is almost a blank, which is disappointing, and the 'simulated alpha artifact' text is awkward.

bravelion83: This is an interesting take on black draw.

RaikouRider: I'm kind of into this. It's very Phyrexian.

marioguy3: I definitely don't understand why this is Beetle tribal. Nb Beetle should probably be Insect.

netn10:Hm, I like the recursion aspect of the second ability. Cool.

Top 3

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1. netn10
2. bravelion83
3. RaikouRider

[Ryder]

Ink-Treader

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Mana accumulator effect I've personally tried to design many times. Exiling a land from your graveyard seems like a hoop big enough to have to jump through to do this. Good.

kwanyeegor-ii

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Despite seemingly weird costs the card is overall pretty solid.

barbecube

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I would expect an incubator to produce something, not transform it.

Henlock

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Strikes me an all-upside colorless ramp.

slimytrout

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Neat idea that would work way better with a double-faced card.

bravelion83

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Exceptionally powerful as a draw engine. That on top of relatively efficient 2/2 for 2 seems a bit too much.

Top 3

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1. Ink-Treader
2. kwanyeegor-ii
3. bravelion83

[marioguy3]

netn10 (Thran Workshop): It's a fairly powerful artifact that is costed appropriately. I would say that it's a cool and new card that's restrictions balance it out nicely.

Icarii: (Phyrexian Infiltrator): Simple card, but it wouldn't meet the criteria for this challenge. Also the name of a printed Magic card.

Subject16: (Phyrexian Gearbreaker): This looks quite wordy and slightly unelegant as an uncommon, but the cost to firebreathe this card is a bit much, especially when there already is the crew cost. Taking out the energy to activate the ability would make this card read easier.

Ryder: (Phyrexian Transfigurator): This card is highly powerful for one mana. I could see this card being printed at two mana. That said, it is creative and flexible, which is great.

Ink-Treader: (Phyrexian Protostone): Fascinating design and implementation of the imprint mechanic.

kwanyeegor-ii: (Thran Medkit): Seems a bit underwhelming at first; I would only ever really play this for the reanimation ability, which is very expensive (and rightly so). I do like the name though.