No Simic colored Planeswalkers? Let's remedy that.
Custom Cards forum
Posted on July 4, 2013, 12:51 p.m. by Joshuawesome
So, lately I've been working on a bunch of custom cards, and it dawned on me I can't think of any blue/green planeswalkers. So, I came up with this:
I'd love some help fine tuning this. I feel the abilities could be worded better, and probably need to adjust some costs. I'm thinking about making the ultimate into something similar through a granted emblem.
Well, the -3 is currently an infinite combo by itself, so you need to word it as "whenever a nontoken creature enters the battlefield under your control, put a token.."
July 4, 2013 1:05 p.m.
Joshuawesome says... #4
Digging the suggestions. I was thinking about making the ultimate something like:
You get an emblem with "During your draw phase, draw a card for each counter amongst any permanents you control" and "You have no maximum hand size"
Thoughts?
July 4, 2013 1:09 p.m.
Even then it's still very combo-y; two Fiend Hunter on the field generates infinite tokens, for example. Maybe whenever you cast a creature spell?
July 4, 2013 1:10 p.m.
dream_cast says... #8
I think the mana cost and loyalty are great for a start.
This was my take on a Simic-esque Planeswalker's abilitys (slightly different from yours):
+1: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control.
-1: Remove any number of +1/+1 counters from among permanents you control, draw a card for each counter removed this way.
-5: You get an emblem with: "Whenever a creature you control gains a +1/+1 counter, you may have it fight target creature an opponent controls".
July 4, 2013 2:03 p.m.
@dream_cast: Fight is a very Gruul mechanic and feel out of flavor. The ability -1 ability is just too common to be used and don't feel like a powerful engine for Simic.
As for the original post: I like where it is going, but as mentioned unless it's whenever you cast (at least get some value out of being countered) it can goes infinite way to easily.
As for the Ultimate a may would be necessary as I seems like you would mill yourself pretty quick and can be dangerous. Or something that would let you draw less than the number of counter you have on creature.
July 4, 2013 2:41 p.m.
SnowCoveredRevenge says... #10
i say the first ability should say "May" or else you may be stuck not being able to use it, also I would change it to +1 put a 1/1 green and blue ooze token onto the battlefield
July 4, 2013 2:43 p.m.
Ultimate should read:
You get an emblem with "Skip your draw step. At the beginning of your upkeep, you draw up to X cards, where X is the total number of counters among permanents you control" and "You have no maximum hand size".
I would suggest instead of maximum hand size, the second part should read "At the beginning of your end step, shuffle your graveyard into your library".
July 4, 2013 2:49 p.m.
Smith_and_Tonic says... #12
I do like the idea but Ajani, Caller of the Pride already has the same plus ability. I don't think they're printed two planeswalkers with the exact abilities on them.
July 4, 2013 2:54 p.m.
Joshuawesome says... #13
Changed the +1 ability to make it more simic-themed and not as similar to Ajani's, On the ultimate, changed "each counter amongst permanents" to "each +1/+1 counter amongst creatures" to make it not as powerful (but still powerful).
July 4, 2013 3:08 p.m.
His best ability is the -3. He's very weak otherwise. This walker doesn't protect itself, and it generates very little card advantage; there's no reason to ever use his +1 first mode, drawing a card is immensely better than putting a counter. If it was a choice between a token and a card, that'd be better. His ultimate is okay, but it's either underwhelming (5 uninterrupted turns to draw an extra 2-3 cards per turn is pretty slow) or dangerous (in a counters deck, you have the potential to mill yourself out).
But seriously, the plus one is very unbalanced, as the choice will be drawing a card 99% of the time. Also, only one planeswalker has a positive ability that draws a card with no drawbacks, and that is Jace Memory Adept. Be careful not to make the ability too good, as drawing cards while building the walker is powerful
July 4, 2013 3:28 p.m.
You're giving way too much card advantage at the moment. The only + ability that let you draw cards are from Jace, Memory Adept and Jace Beleren . And all they do is focus on draw. Your planeswalker ability are actually all good. I'd tone it done a bit.
Maybe the +1 could be similar to proliferate: Add a counter of a kind already there on another target permanent.
Proliferate really feel Simic with Vorel of the Hull Clade and is actually balance based on the other abilities.
July 4, 2013 3:35 p.m.
Joshuawesome says... #16
I'm going to completely rework it. I'll have an updated one posted soon, some ideas are brewing in my head.
July 4, 2013 3:37 p.m.
Also small tips for the art, Planeswalker always get out of their border (expect Domri Rade & Nissa Revane ). I don't know if it's possible with the Magic Custom Card Editor you're using, it really help creating the flavor.
July 4, 2013 3:43 p.m.
Joshuawesome says... #18
I can probably photoshop something like that on the completed results. Here's the updated card:
Almost total revamp. Thoughts?
July 4, 2013 3:50 p.m.
I agree with the emblem being "whenever you cast a creature spell" to avoid easy infinite combos. I think the discard part of the -x feels a little red. Maybe make it tucking them into the library instead?
July 4, 2013 4:11 p.m.
Joshuawesome says... #20
I based the discard part of the 2nd ability off cards like Careful Consideration and Thirst for Knowledge .
July 4, 2013 4:20 p.m.
I think bottom of the library would fit a little more anyway, but it's your call.
July 4, 2013 4:21 p.m.
Joshuawesome says... #22
Alrighty. Altered the 2nd ability to put cards into library, and added an activation cost to Ultimate.
July 4, 2013 4:32 p.m.
I like that as the ultimate. Ultimates should win you the game, and that one can win by going infinite or by just being good. The plus 1 could be a 2/2 instead and I think it'd be okay. The minus is a bit underwhelming by having to discard 3; you would almost never use it. It's also not very focused on life sculpting.
July 4, 2013 4:35 p.m.
It would be interesting if one of his other abilities worked with creature count to give him more synergy with his +1. Maybe, now that you've add the activation cost, his emblem doesn't have to be noncreature? Without infinite mana it won't likely go infinite (I'm sure there's some shenanigans with Priest of Urabrask -esque creatures, but c'est la vie).
July 4, 2013 4:35 p.m.
Joshuawesome says... #25
I'm not happy with the 2nd ability also. I'm going to work on it.
July 4, 2013 4:36 p.m.
I liked the ulti better without an activation cost, fyi, but that's my opinion
July 4, 2013 4:36 p.m.
dream_cast says... #28
Joshua, have you considered making the creature on her shoulder a Frog Lizard?
I think it would be fitting/reminiscent of the Green/Blue theme.
July 4, 2013 4:45 p.m.
Joshuawesome says... #31
How's this? Redid the 2nd ability entirely (and corrected my spelling).
July 4, 2013 4:49 p.m.
Joshuawesome says... #32
dream_cast I didn't make the art. I wish I had, I have no talent when it comes to anything drawn, painted, sculpted, etc.
July 4, 2013 4:50 p.m.
I would take out the part about having the same CMC. It limits it a lot. Maybe do it like Polymorph ? That could be interesting with the Ooze token.
July 4, 2013 4:52 p.m.
notamardybum says... #35
i was a fan of the +1 ability being placing a +1/+1 counter on a creature. placing cards in the graveyard from the 2nd ability would be nice, especially with scavenge and other golgari cards.
July 4, 2013 5:23 p.m.
I think you should either make the first ability a +2 or make the second a -2. Also, I'd make the second ability kind of like Birthing Pod , where you'd tuck a creature and then search for a creature with a CMC 1 point higher.
July 4, 2013 8 p.m.
That would be flavorful, like the creatures are progressing into more powerful creatures. The simic are all about creating life and improving it, but they're also very precise and scientific in their methods; I think Birthing Pod fits better than Polymorph in that sense
July 4, 2013 8:18 p.m.
Polymorph is like the Izzet joining forces with the Simic haha
July 4, 2013 9:53 p.m.
+1: put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control whose power or toughness are less than the number of Loyatly counters on Anske, The Life Sculptor
-X: remove X counters from among permanents you control, draw X cards. You have no maximum hand size until the end of your next turn.
-7: You get an emblam that says: "Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to an opponent you may draw a card."
July 5, 2013 11:21 a.m.
dream_cast says... #40
I don't like the Ooze. By the time I'm playing the PW I'd want to be landing creatures to evolve my creatures. (I know this is much more strictly Simic related). How about if the Oozes had evolve? I feel that would be more useful.
July 5, 2013 11:27 a.m.
dream_cast says... #41
Or if the oozes had a cool mechanic like:
Sacrifice two creatures named Anske's Experiment: Put a 3/3 Green and Blue Ooze token onto the battlefield.
July 5, 2013 11:30 a.m.
Simple fix for the Ooze creation... the Ooze tokens should have Evolve or P/T equal to the number of Oozes you control. That makes it more worth while, but still relies on more than simply +1'ing him.
-3: Could be draw cards equal to the total power of Ooze and Mutant creatures you control.
... if the -3 isn't going to have the possibility of being powerful like this, then he should start with 4 counters.... generally if the non-Ultimate negative counter ability kills the PW the turn it comes into play, it should have the ability to be worth killing him with. Garruk, Primal Hunter is a great example of this. -3 might be 0-2 cards... but might be 8-9. So depending on what the battlefield is like, you may or may not want to kill him right away.
Ultimates of a 4+ CMC PW should generally end the game "Next Turn", unless they have an immediate answer. (Either automatically like Vraska the Unseen , or through combo like Tamiyo, the Moon Sage )
I'm not sure what I would do for an ultimate, but simply being able to copy creatures you cast seems a little lack-luster.
July 5, 2013 11:49 a.m.
I have an idea for Ultimate... basically turning all your creatures into Stormtide Leviathan
-7: You get an Emblem with "All lands are Islands in addition to their other types.Creatures without flying or islandwalk can't attack. Creatures you control have Islandwalk."
Personally, I think that is more on-par with a 4 CMC PW with needing 4 +1's before being able to go ultimate.
Opponent can still board-wipe to save themselves, or win on their next turn... otherwise, it's probably game over next turn.
July 5, 2013 12:24 p.m.
amishrambo says... #44
meh the -X dosint feel right. recently red has been getting a lot of the "looter" effects I think this would fit better -2 "put a X/X green and blue ooze on the battlefield where X is the number of +1/1 counters on permanents you control"and change the +1 "to put a +1/1 counter on up to one target creature if the creature already has a +1/1 counter on it draw a card"
July 5, 2013 1:26 p.m.
simics draw power never foreces discard unless it is because of the max hand size. It's Izzet that causes discard w/draw. P.S. Thats why simic draw is considered teir one in my book. I would start with 4 most good planeswalkers that are 4 drops start with this much anyways. Have the The +1 could be put and X/X where X is always equal to loyalty counter on Anske. -X could turn into a -3 put a emblem says copy creatures cards cast from the hand . and the -7 could be an -5 draw X cards equal to the number of creature types for each creature perment that are shared among creatures you control.
July 5, 2013 7:49 p.m.
ZarBluestar says... #46
adding to its emblem: "whenever a creature you control would gain a counter, all creatures you control would gain a counter instead."
July 7, 2013 11:10 p.m.
Why am I the first to point out that it should be "Anske, the Life Sculptor", with a comma? Also, eventhough I really like the name Anske, you might not want your planeswalker to sound like she's related to JTMS
July 12, 2013 9:48 p.m.
Hmm, my way I'd do it is I'd make it +1: Choose one: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. Put two +1/+1 counters or target creature with a +1/+1 counter on it. -1: Put an X/X green ooze creature token onto the battlefield, where X is the number of creatures that you control. -X: You get an emblem with: Whenever a creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may pay g, if you do, copy that creature. Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, activate another activated ability, or triggered ability, you may pay u, if you do, copy that spell or ability. You may choose new targets for the copy. These abilities can only be activated once per target. Yes yes, I know, it probably won't fit onto a card, but oh well. I also know that the ultimate isn't worded properly,
MTG_Player says... #2
+1 should be Put a +1 / +1 on up to one target creature you control so he can still get counters when u have no creatures, the -3 looks good and is fair, Imo, The -7 should be much better, like: Search your library for a creature card and put it onto the battlefield, then put a token that's a copy of each creature you control onto the battlefield. Take or leave my suggestions, it looks good.
July 4, 2013 12:59 p.m.