Attempting a Norse Set -- Input on Keywords?
Custom Cards forum
Posted on Aug. 26, 2015, 8:12 p.m. by TheOne4221
So I've been thinking about creating a Viking plane of sorts. Centered around five different groups of Scandinavian-esque tribes vying for authority when an end of the world scenario happens and a 'walker who calls the plane home steps up to stop it. Right now I have five factions and would like to make a new keyword for at least three of them. It consists of three ally colored groups of primarily Humans, one enemy color group, and the end time army which is R/B.
The Fylkirate (W/U) is a very religious group, led by the Fylkir. They hold various ceremonies honoring the gods and are heavy on enchantments and crowd control.
The Vidarian Clans (G/R) is basically composed of raiders and invaders, embodying the Hollywood stereotype. They attack fast and ravage the landscape in their wake.
The Soegurs (G/W) look to have their names written in history forever. They fight for glory and honor, not in the name of the gods or riches.
The Elves of Eiturwood (G/B) hate humans. They are of the firm belief that the three Human groups are inferior.
The End Time (The R/B group. Who woulda thunk?) armies consist mostly of monstrosities and dishonored warriors looking for revenge.
Now for the keywords I thought up:
Piety X (Fylkirate)- Whenever a creature with Piety attacks, if you control two or more enchantments, it gains +X/+0. This might need to be balanced better, but I like the idea. Sorta like a bastardized spell mastery.
Pillage X (Vidarian Clans)- You may choose to sacrifice X lands and/or artifacts instead of paying their mana cost. Various other cards will grant benefits for paying the Pillage cost instead of hard casting.
Runes (Soegurs)- A permanent with Runes enters the battlefield with a Rune counter. When it is put into a graveyard, you may move the Rune counter onto another permanent. Some permanents will have effects based on the number of rune counters they have, or when they gain rune counters.
Those are the three I have now. I'm not sure on what to do for the Elves or the End Time armies keyword-wise, so if anyone has a suggestion it'd be nice.
I think one of the keywords or groups needs to be focused around storytelling. After all, that was how they became "immortalized". In fact, maybe you could use the keyword "Immortalized: Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, give it a +1/+1 token. If this creature deals combat damage to a player when it has a +1/+1 counter, sacrifice it and draw a card."
The lore being dealing combat damage to a player the first time indicates a successful raid and increases their notoriety, and doing it again immortalizes them and allows them entrance to Valhalla, like a valkyrie bringing them up.
August 26, 2015 8:58 p.m. Edited.
canterlotguardian says... #5
The End Time: Chaos X (Whenever this permanent would be dealt damage, if the damage would be enough to destroy it, it deals that much damage plus X to the source's controller first.)
Elves: Arise X (Sacrifice this creature: Prevent the next X damage target Human creature would deal to you or a creature you control this turn.)
August 26, 2015 10:06 p.m.
zephramtripp says... #6
Imbue X (Whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control, you may pay X life. If you do, put X +1/+1 counters on that creature.
August 27, 2015 12:06 a.m.
ABadMagicPlayer100 says... #7
I think the Runes keyword should be changed to Runic. Just sounds better imo. My idea for the End Times is this: Dishonor X (This creature enters the battlefield with X -1/-1 counters. While this creature has at least one -1/-1 counter on it, whenever it would deal damage to a creature, move that many -1/-1 counters onto the other creature instead). While this mechanic may be a little worthy and similar to Wither, it is very flavorful in that it depicts a dishonored creature slowly becoming more powerful as it disgraces its foes in battle.
August 27, 2015 12:07 a.m.
So...3 clans with green, 1 with blue? Might want to spread out the colors there a bit. Also, adding an enemy colored pair with a group of allied colored cards isn't going to play well.
AND WHERE THE HELL ARE THE DWARVEs? Add a clan of dwarves and I'll be happy. You can't ignore the craftsmen of Mjolnir and Brisingaman.
August 27, 2015 12:45 a.m.
So hears an issue: you have four allied color clans and only one clan that's enemy color. Honestly that leaves this set very heavy on a single color (G).
In my opinion, you either have to make the elves UB or make 5 more clans.
But I think 5 clans more will be possible. Specifically since in Norse Mythology, there's 9 worlds with different species on each, not including the world tree Yggdrasil. What you can do is have clans of Midgard (humans) who worship and call for aid from different parts of the world tree, or different species (since there are tons in Norse mythology including different Giants, elves, dwarves and monsters) worked in there.
For example: the U/B (Dimir) clan could be those who summon beings from the underworld, the B/G (Golgari) could be the elves, etc.
August 27, 2015 1:10 a.m.
And yes Dwarf tribal with tons of weird tricks would be awesome!!!
August 27, 2015 1:11 a.m.
One of the clans I could totally see is a B/R clan focused on worshipping Fenrir, the wolf monster. And one of the really cool things is in ragnarok, Fenrir supposedly eats the sun. So for that clan in particular, the mechanic could be Suneater.
Suneater: whenever a creature with suneater you controls enters the battlefield, target player loses 1 life for each creature with suneater you control.
August 27, 2015 1:14 a.m.
Allied colors, once again? We have so many sets featuring those, it is insane. Tri color would fit this so much better. Also, how many elves were there in the norse mythos? Here they are with a few changes in italics:
The Fylkirate (Esper, main color W) is a very religious group, led by the Fylkir. They hold various ceremonies honoring the ethreal, gods and demons alike and are heavy on enchantments and crowd control.
The Vidarian Clans (Naya, main color R) is basically composed of raiders and invaders, embodying the Hollywood stereotype. They attack fast and ravage the landscape in their wake.
The Soegurs (Bant, main color U) look to have their names written in history forever. They are mainly explorers of the nine worlds and the decipherers of runes, but when they fight, they fight for glory and honor, not in the name of the gods or riches, although they are led by the ethereal valkyries. Only guys that do not really fit their shard. Too many humans, too few colors.
The Elves of Eiturwood (Jund, main color G) hate humans (emotions like hate are something really red, not black btw. Origins elves are black because thats what they were in Lorwyn and because they are disdainful, not hateful. Disdain is 100% black.). They are of the firm belief that the three Human groups are inferior. No change
The End Time (Grixis, main color B, group) armies consist mostly of monstrosities and dishonored warriors looking for revenge.
This will allow for greater degree of customization and generally be a good play on the shards. Now onto the mechanics.
Piety X - this is an ability word. I like what it does, but it doesn't have much to do with piety. I would like it better if it said Piety - "If you control two or more enchantments, this creature gets +0/+X". This would fit the piety theme (this is a weak creature, but gets strong if it is surrounded by what matters to it) and also feels very white.
Pillage X - pillaging does not have much to do with destroying your own stuff. It is about getting to an opponent and destroying their resources. So, a radical change would be to go in the other direction and grant Berserk to creatures. Berserk - "If this creature dealt damage to an opponent, the next time it attacks it gains +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is its power. Destroy it at the end of that turn."
Runic - this is a cool idea, but if this is indeed moved to Bant, there is could easily be +1/+1 counters. But how to fit the theme of glory and honor. One way would be to just use Renown. Even fits theme. The other way is to use runes as a resource, just allow it on all permenants - Runic X - this permanent enters the battlefield with X rune counters on it.
Will come up with other mechanics soon.
August 27, 2015 3:18 a.m.
TheOne4221 says... #13
Thanks for the feedback y'all. I honestly can't believe I overlooked dwarves...
You're right, of course. I'll probably need to expand it to ten clans, a few of them being more non-human centric.
I'll be putting valkyries in with either the G/W or the U/W. Either would work well. Thing is, should I make their subtype Angel, Spirit, or just make Valkyrie a subtype?
the R/G clan will get modified a little, mostly to include more giants, keeping the mechanic the same.
I feel more like a R/W artificer group would be more appropriate for the dwarves themselves, in addition to tribal shenanigans. Most dwarves are red as they stand, and there have been a few hybrid white ones as well.
The U/G clan, might focus on taming big monsters akin to Jormungandr and others. While not ever taming the world's equivalent, they still get a few serpents, wolves, and maybe a couple drakes.
B/W will probably be a group from "Not-Helheim", or a group of people dedicated to "Not-Hel". Even a spirit focus in the form of Disir.
U/R will consist of soothsayers and eccentric witches. Likely a rag-tag group of exiles who roam around, foretelling the Ragnarok-esque event, but no one really believing them except the B/R group.
Since there has been very little involvement from the undead other than in R/B, arguably B/W, I think I might make U/B a more necromancy focused group, haljaruna and the like.
August 27, 2015 3:19 a.m.
TheNextRedDude says... #14
The only thing i can say is that the word Ragnarok should be present. It might be a good keyword for the End Times, or a mythic sorcery in their colors. RAGNAROOOOOOOOOOOK
HolyFalcon says... #2
Elves: Disgust X (When this creature enters the battlefield, target opponent reveals X cards from his or her hand. You may choose a creature or planeswalker card from the revealed cards. That player discards that card.)
End Time: Deplode X (When this creature enters the battlefield, it deals X damage to target player.)
August 26, 2015 8:17 p.m.