(This month's banner is my own elaboration on the cycle of basic lands by Sam Burley.)
January MCC
Judge signup thread
January MCC
Judge signup thread
(A little early for our habits, but theoretically this should go up a few days before Round 1...)
For a Magic player, a new year means a new set. The winter set. This year is no exception. We're back on Theros, beyond the veil of death. Technically, this month will probably feel like a "best of" in a sense, because multiple elements will be reprised. For example, I am sure that someone remembers Jeff Lionheart. No, he's not going to die and visit the Underworld of his home plane, but you will see him again this month. You might remember I wrote his origin story back in July and August 2015. I hosted both months, it was on MTGSalvation, and Magic Origins had just come out, so I decided to write his origin story and use it for flavor on those months. I'm going to do the same thing this month. After four years and a half, and after writing a 1200 pages long novel and having several other already planned, I want to try it again and see if I've really gotten much better as a writer as I think. Still very far from a professional, but getting much better with exercise. But the road to becoming a star writer, having the devotion of thousands of fans, and entering the constellation of the best authors of all time is still very long. Well, in the meantime I will not give up! I will keep writing! I will get there eventually. (Maybe...) So, anyway, this month I... guess what? I'm going to tell you a story! No, not Jeff's one again. He's involved, but it's not his story. We will follow the adventures of another character. Often, if not always, changing the point of view changes the story. And I won't say anything more about that for now to avoid spoilers.
That's the flavor. A story. A saga if you want. On the mechanical side, I'm also going to reprise something. Don't worry, all challenges are new, based on THB mechanics, but the focus on rarity in Main Challenges will also stay for another month, even if not all rounds will ask for commons. That was last month. There is a thing that never changes though, one that never escapes us in the MCC: the need for judges.
If you want to sign up as a judge for the October MCC, just reply to this thread. If you've already judged before in the MCC, that's enough. Otherwise, if you've never judged before, there is a little extra step required: please try to judge the sample card you can find below with the MCC rubric and post your sample judgment here. I will reply to you as soon as possible with my own thoughts about it and if you did good enough of a job, I will officially welcome you as an MCC judge. (Don't worry, I don't remember ever having to turn down anyone, and by the way I've also helped a number of MCC judges on their first experience.)
As always, since I am hosting, I am also going to be a judge. How many judges we need this month will depend on how high the player participation will be. I think we will need at the very least two more, but if player participation is so high that more judges will be required I will certainly not complain! That's a problem that I actually would like to have.
Please check out the MCC Guidelines and FAQ if you have the will and time. Link here and in my signature.
SAMPLE CARD
As always when I am host, my sample cards are kind of a preview of some features of the challenges that are about to come. This month makes no exception about that either. So enjoy the following "preview".
Assume all challenges (Main Challenge and both Subchallenges) are met.
Underworld Beast
Enchantment Creature — Beast (R)
Constellation — When an enchantments enters the battlefield, choose one -
• You gain life equal to your devotion to green and white.
• Choose a color. Target opponent loses life equal to their devotion to that color.
Its it's aura that determine the fate of your encounter with it. If its in a good mood, it will make you gifts. Otherwise, wounds and scars.
3/3
MCC Rubric
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Design
(X/3) Appeal - Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card?
(X/3) Elegance - Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
Development
X/3) Viability - 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?
(X/3) Balance - 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?
Creativity
(X/3) Uniqueness - 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"?
(X/3) Flavor - 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?
Polish
(X/3) Quality - Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(X/2) Main Challenge (*) - Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge?
(X/2) Subchallenges - One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.
(X/3) Appeal - Do the different player psychographics (Timmy/Johhny/Spike) have a use for the card?
(X/3) Elegance - Is the card easily understandable at a glance? Do all the flavor and mechanics combined as a whole make sense?
Development
X/3) Viability - 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?
(X/3) Balance - 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?
Creativity
(X/3) Uniqueness - 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"?
(X/3) Flavor - 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?
Polish
(X/3) Quality - Points deducted for incorrect spelling, grammar, and templating.
(X/2) Main Challenge (*) - Was the main challenge satisfied? Was it approached in a unique or interesting way? Does the card fit the intent of the challenge?
(X/2) Subchallenges - One point awarded per satisfied subchallenge condition.
Total: X/25
*An entry with 0 points here is subject to disqualification.