Custom Commander idea
Custom Cards forum
Posted on Nov. 2, 2015, 6:51 p.m. by -Logician
I haven't thought of a name.
It would be a Legendary Creature - Angel.
- Mana Cost: Probably
, but maybe more. - Power and Toughness probably a 4/4 to resemble Serra Angel as somewhat of a standard of angels in general, but perhaps less too (3/4 might be a sweet spot), and has flying.
- "Whenever an opponent's life total would be reduced to less than 1 while you don't control that player, it is reduced to 1 instead. You control that player for as long as you remain in the game."
I hate it when I have an awesome play on my next turn and my opponent kills me in a multiplayer EDH game. Now, if they have this card in play, then they'll be able to kill the other opponents using my next turn's great strategy. Also, if they happen to fail terrible and lose the game themselves, I get to come back into the game as myself, essentially overcoming the mind control because the controller died.
As a player of this commander, it is your goal to kill and gain control of each opponent, which would become a lot of fun even for your opponents because they get to see their deck in action even after they die (as long as this commander is in play when their unfortunate death arrives).
This feels more like a 
card than a Mardu one. But that's just my 2-cents.
November 2, 2015 7:13 p.m.
torridus Thanks for the comment. This is much different from Mindslaver and Sorin Markov because the player has to literally die for you to actually gain any benefit. Instead of boringly being kicked out of the game, now you're still in the game. Also, not for just some shitty one turn... like you could die, watch your deck continue to wreck face for a few turns, then the other opponent who was controlling you could lose, and then you gain control of yourself again. That's super exciting.
JWiley129 Thanks for your comment. Dimir seems reasonable, but gaining control of a player has historically been purely black, angels have been historically white among other colors, and this card derives inspiration from Tariel, Reckoner of Souls. It provides a powerful effect that concerns only opponents and not yourself. That's partly the red coming to light.
November 2, 2015 7:21 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #5
Honestly, it's the sort of thing that would just make people concede. At the point where the effect kicks in, you've already lost and are now just forced not only to watch other people play, but to watch other people play as you.
I've always felt that "control player" effects were a mistake in the design book; they're just demoralizing and unfun for the person on the receiving end.
November 2, 2015 7:33 p.m.
omnipotato says... #6
So after you cast this creature, you have a Time Walk every turn, double the mana base, double the cards in hand, and an opponent has lost the game. So this spell should cost 
(standard cost for a time walk effect), + 
(cost of Mirari's Wake for double mana), + 
(Let's be generous and say your opponent had 3 cards in hand so you're casting Concentrate), + 
(opponent losing the game basically equates to casting Emrakul, the Aeons Torn). So to fix this card it needs to cost 24 colorless mana and 6 colored mana, or 24.
November 2, 2015 8:03 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #7
This just seems like it puts a ridiculous target on your head. And as Epoch pointed out, your opponent would simply scoop. It's an interesting idea but I don't really ever see it happening.
November 2, 2015 8:36 p.m.
It'd be more balanced to have a legendary version of Platinum Angel, or something with another "players can't lose" effect. Like a Phyrexian Unlife or Ali from Cairo for every player in the game. It doesn't do everything you'd want (controlling a player when they're supposed to die) but honestly I'm not sure if "control target player" is truly a fun EDH idea. And if you do include it, it'd almost have to be a temporary Mindslaver type of effect (or else it'd be unbalanced).
The idea is interesting, yeah, but not "fun" in its current state.
November 2, 2015 8:48 p.m. Edited.
omnipotato What the hell? The ability only triggers if an opponent's life total would be reduced to less than 1. How is a replacement effect that happens when an opponent basically loses the game that powerful? That seems like a very gross over-reaction.
Epochalyptik I see where you're coming from. I would actually enjoy watching my opponent being me after I've already lost anyway. It seems entertaining, but I can see how others wouldn't care so much and would just scoop.
FAMOUSWATERMELON Thanks for your input. I feel like it really depends on the other commanders also in the pod. One thing about this one is that it doesn't use either green or blue, and any commander that happens to use one of those, or god forbid both, is much more threatening just because the card selection in those colors are very, very strong. This is a commander that literally hits the field with zero impact.
torridus Thanks for your comment.
It surprises me that the consensus seems to be that controlling a player, even when they would lose otherwise, seems not fun. I'd be thrilled to lose with someone controlling me, having the proceeding possibility of getting back into the game. I'd much prefer that than packing up my things.
I forgot a small bit though, which would help slightly. You would only get to use this replacement effect if you didn't already control them, such that if their life total was reduced to less than 1 while you already controlled them, they would permanently die.
November 2, 2015 9:05 p.m.
I am not completely sure but I think The idea of angels is they are the embodiment of white manna and hence are seldom any colour but white.Having said that it could be bent or it could be a demon or demon-angel
Just thoughts though
November 2, 2015 10:15 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #11
There are 23 multicolored Angel cards, 10 of which are legendary. The choice would have to be based on flavor, really.
torridus says... #2
I'd make it one turn instead of "until you die" like Mindslaver or Sorin Markov. Otherwise it's about as fun as Sen Triplets but more overpowered.
November 2, 2015 7:10 p.m.