Keyword Idea: Preparation
Custom Cards forum
Posted on Oct. 24, 2017, 8:44 p.m. by Ithyn
Hello, TappedOut.
I began working on a custom set awhile ago, and I've been trying to come up with a mechanic that would support an equipment subtheme. I came up with an idea today that I've been calling preparation. For now, it works like renown, but, instead of triggering off of a creature dealing combat to a player, it triggers off of a permanent becoming attached to the creature with preparation. An example would read like this:
Preparation 3 (When a permanent you control becomes attached to this creature, if it isnt prepared, put three +1/+1 counters on it and it becomes prepared.)
From there, you might have things like, "As long as ~ is prepared, it has first strike."
If anyone has any comments, suggestions, or questions, all would be appreciated!
DRACULA150704 says... #3
I love equipments, and custom sets, and custom equipment sets. When this is complete please post the cards on tappedout
October 25, 2017 3:42 a.m.
I like it but feel the multiple counters makes it a bit overpowered. Maybe have the creatures just gain 1 +1/+1 counter like Renown does. I like that it also works with Auras
October 25, 2017 3:55 a.m.
Renown isn't just 1 +1/+1 counter, it's formatted as Renown N. Just look at Rhox Maulers/Citadel Castellan/Outland Colossus/Valeron Wardens.
October 25, 2017 8:50 a.m.
Funkydiscogod: While the set has an equipment subtheme, I tried to word it so that it would also work with Auras or any future mechanics that attach permanents to other permanents.
Epochalyptik: I understand and agree with everything you said. I'm worried about the number of moving parts Preparation has and how much it needs to be built around to make it work, like you said. The main thing I'm looking at right now is a way to simplify it. Your comment gave me a lot to think about, so thank you.
DRACULA150704: I haven't made a huge amount of progress on the set, so I think it'll be a while before I feel it's complete enough to share on here, but I will do so eventually.
October 25, 2017 9:56 a.m.
It sounds like it has a good starting point. My only concern is that if you're handing out permanent buffs when creatures become equipped, any equipment with an equip cost of zero becomes stupid good.
You could consider having the equip cost match the preparation count. For example, if a creature had preparation 6, you would have to use something like an Argentum Armor to trigger the ability, but you would get a much stronger effect. And it would stop players from just playing a Lightning Greaves, shuffling it between all of their creatures and then getting a huge benefit.
October 25, 2017 6:10 p.m.
Really, you don't think 1 mana hexproof would see play? Have you heard of Bogles?
Epochalyptik says... #2
My initial reaction was that it may be unnecessary to buff something thats already getting some bonus from the equipment (or aura). Youd only get the benefit if you had both components (a creature and something to attach to it). The status of being prepared adds some complexity in that you now have to remember that the creature has perks from being equipped/enchanted, is prepared, and maybe also has perks from being prepared. This makes it more difficult to analyze the board state, so the benefit should be high to compensate.
I like the idea of making equipment carriers more useful when not equipped. Theres a little more incentive to investing in the process of moving equipment around. I think it would work well (on paper, not necessarily in paper) in an environment that has creative ways of doing just that. For example, equipment that can be equipped for life instead of mana, or an effect that allows you to equip or enchant as a benefit (e.g., tutor and equip, or equip on ETB). But these have to be used sparingly and also mean that players are encouraged to bring yet another component into the equation.
So the question you have to ask at this point is whether this mechanic adds meaningful depth to your set, or whether one of its premises does and could be refined to deliver even better results.
October 24, 2017 11:55 p.m.