Custom Mechanic: Spotted
Custom Cards forum
Posted on April 19, 2023, 9:23 a.m. by itsbuzzi
Typically I don't agree with making custom cards/mechanics while a game is still in print so this is a rare instances for me.
Wizards tries to always come out with new mechanics and I figured it would be a daunting task but my subconscious last night came up with one:
Spotted: Show
Very simple mechanic but you can do a few things with it just as Ikoria did with counters. Some things that come to mind:
At the Forefront Show
Merfolk Trapper Show
Master of the Hunt Show
Go for the Kill Show
Vivien, The Huntress Show
Forgive me, couldn't get the custom cards to post as I wanted them.
As for lore when this mechanic may be included perhaps a Vivien origin story or something. I don't keep up with lore so this may have already happened.
I didn't know that card existing and is very flavorful!
I wasn't thinking of the new mechanic to be to reveal a hidden creature but more of an all-knowing hunter perceiving the battlefield and gaining benefits of knowledge the more threats and non-threats detected.
Perhaps some ability granted from the counter that says: "At the beginning of combat on each turn this creature loses all abilities until the end of combat (or beginning of the second main phase)" just to simplify the wording a bit.
April 19, 2023 4:13 p.m.
So Spotting is basically marking a creature for future effects. Interesting concept.
Would you expect a way to remove a Spotted counter specifically? Would there be a reason to put multiple Spotted counters on a creature? Like an uncommon burn spell, "Snipe Shot deals damage to target creature equal to one plus the number of spotted counters on it."
While At the Forefront's wording is correct, it's kind of unintuitive for an effect. I get what you're going for here, but I would either make this two separate cards, or at least two separate effects of the same card, or all creatures get both effects, since you can't spot your own creatures even if you target them.
Go For The Kill kind of breaks the combat rules, so I'm not sure that one would be viable.
April 19, 2023 6:13 p.m.
Tap an untapped, nonattacking creature you control: It deals damage equal to its power to target SPOTTED creature an opponent controls. That creature's controller may change the target of this ability to another creature they control. If they do, that creature can't block this turn. Creatures dealt damage this way deal damage equal to their power to the creature tapped this way. Activate this ability only during the declare attackers step.
Best way I could think to make it work. Doesn't account for Guardian of the Gateless effects though
April 19, 2023 8:17 p.m.
Forgot to say: this seems like a really interesting mechanic. It has great potential and feels very fun with lots of design space
April 19, 2023 8:19 p.m.
legendofa: Was thinking of only really applying 1 Spotted counter per creature kind of like renown from Origins but multiple counters could be on a creature yes and could also have some design space.
As for removing counters I feel there isn't a lot of ways to generally remove counters other than the rare case with a card here or there so maybe a more uncommon way to simply remove multiple counters like the 2nd ability of Heartless Act could work.
The reasoning for At the Forefront's wording is 2 fold: You either get multiple Spotted counters or you get a pump spell or a little of both. Any creature you control that you choose can't get a counter but can get a pump. Creatures you don't control can get either but generally you would not give them the pump.
Wasn't sure about Go for the Kill but wanted an effect like that. Perhaps wording to change the creatures type to planeswalker with starting loyalty equal to it's toughness. That seems like a better way for that card to work (Edited card now)
Delphen: I like the damage dealing ability! Maybe some wording like:
Naga Battlemage Show
I just made the creatures fight each other to save some text space and gave the creature Spotted so if the opponent changes targets the new target gets a spotted counter. However due to the way the card is worded there is no way to put the first spotted counter onto something.
FormOverFunction says... #2
I really like the idea of spotting someone on the battlefield. This brought to mind Goblin Flotilla, which allows the defending player to potentially have an advantage because goblins are bad at doing things (stellar flavor text, by the way). Maybe being spotted costs you your first strike? Or maybe your unblockability? The idea of “I saw you coming across the battlefield” really opens up the flavor-spectrum!
April 19, 2023 1:24 p.m.