Custom Set Quarahal: Wardriven Challenge
Custom Cards forum
Posted on Aug. 25, 2014, 7:03 a.m. by pookypuppy6
Heyo! Quarahal and I are back again, thanks to the fantastic number and quality of contributions on my previous two threads on my custom set! Quarahal for those who have not seen those threads is a Victorian/steampunk/sky-pirate setting, where the plane's denizens live in great sky ships and search for a safe haven amidst the land that was destroyed below them, fighting the coming darkness, bloodthirsty pirates and monstrous sky creatures along the way.
Also introducing one of my mechanics! In a fairly aggressive set, "Wardriven" is a pseudo mechanic that counts the number of tapped creatures you control for the effect. This can be attacking creatures, or creatures that were tapped some other way to help the war effort. The mechanic is in all colours, but chiefly white, red and somewhat black.
Embarassingly, I'm actually a little stumped as to what effects this mechanic could be used for, especially at common and uncommon. I have the two above and one or two others, but not many. So I want to see what value you guys can find out of this mechanic. But ground rules:
1) Must be COMMON or UNCOMMON. I cannot stress this enough, this is chiefly concerned with the Limited format and as such, common or uncommon concepts please. Keep them simple if common, and only slightly more complex at uncommon.
2) Must not contain any mechanics other than evergreen keywords and/or Wardriven itself.
3) VERY preferably White, Red or Black in colour. If your design an uncommon, I will allow Red/White or Black/Red cards (but not White/Black, I've got that one sorted). If common, keep monocolour please.
Have fun, and feel free to ask questions about the mechanic too!
pookypuppy6 says... #3
@Epochalyptik This submission looks absolutely fantastic conceptually. Is it possible you could rework that card as a creature by any chance though? The second effect looks a bit more suited for an enchantment I think Carnage Gladiator may have a word with me), but I want the uncommon multicolour "signal" cards to be all creatures if possible.
Blue does actually get some Wardriven support, believe it or not. For example, they use some effects that have tapping as an additional cost. Here's a design example
Now while blue doesn't get many Wardriven cards per se, they still function as a reasonable support colour, allowing for W/U and R/U Wardriven decks., and even allow Wardriven support the U/B decks that rely on evasion (a different set mechanic)
August 25, 2014 7:38 a.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #4
Ah, just realized that being a creature would make it a bit more busted. Maybe if it had defender it would be restrained to its original purpose whilst still being uncommon levels of power and complexity. I'll consider the enchantment version either way.
August 25, 2014 7:41 a.m.
Epochalyptik says... #5
I chose an enchantment partly because I thought of a name and wanted to make it work and partly because making it a creature might introduce further questions about balance. Of course, the idea can be tweaked as necessary. I was playing with the flavor of the set and seeing what 
could do with it.
August 25, 2014 7:54 a.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #6
I agree with the creature statement actually; the more I tried to tweak it the more complex and text-heavy it became just to neuter the power (including my first idea of giving it defender; also, the flavour just didn't sit right even when I imagined it as an attack-assisting pirate wall). This card would likely stay an enchantment if it stays uncommon. If it goes to rare then possibly it could become a creature, but I've already got so many ideas for B/R cards at rare (PIRATE LORDS!)
August 25, 2014 8 a.m.
lemmingllama says... #7
Maybe stick to some abilities that can target multiple creatures? You can attack, then tap the utility creature to arm all of the creatures that attacked. I posted an idea below of what I mean.
August 25, 2014 8:06 a.m.
SpartanCEL says... #8
You could apply it similarly to how Marshmist Titan 's devotion is. For instance, a common red that cost 9(R) that is a 5/5 with trample and costs X less to cast where X is your Wardriven. Well the grammar doesn't seem right and I'm not sure if that's too op or under powered, but it's an idea. It could also enter the battlefield and get +X 1/1 counters where X is your Wardriven. Nice ideas though! I'll check out your main page.
August 25, 2014 8:09 a.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #9
@SpartanCEL: Love it. This is the kinda thing I couldn't see and wanted to bring out, thank you!
@lemmingllama: Another fantastic submission. I am however a bit cautious for doing effects that give creatures offensive boosts equal to the number of tapped creatures. Why? Because they essentially read "Attacking creatures you control get..." and the card would have been so much easier formatted that way. It's fine functionally, but I think it highlights the way this mechanic is just saying something
August 25, 2014 8:28 a.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #10
@SpartanCEL: To elaborate on some fine points though, the only niggles with idea no.1. is the bad feeling of sending creatures to attack, losing some in combat and miscalculating; I can see feel-bad moments. But still, lots of potential.
Idea no. 2 sounds great but seems chiefly green. A green rare perhaps? :D
August 25, 2014 8:30 a.m.
lemmingllama says... #11
@pookypuppy6: It is similar, but not necessarily. Lets say that you attack with some creatures, and you don't use the utility one. Afterwards, you cast some more creatures on your second main phase. Now those creatures can be buffed for blocking because other creatures attacked.
Also wardriven is a mechanic that dislikes vigilance, it's all or nothing. If it read "attacking creatures", then that would take away that mentality.
Of course, this is just me justifying it. Feel free to make this set as you want, it looks pretty fun so far.
August 25, 2014 8:35 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #12
Catapult of the Horde 
Creature - Wall (Uncommon)
Defender
Wardriven -- 
: ~ deals 1 damage to up to X target creatures, where X is the number of tapped creatures you control.
0/3
August 25, 2014 8:43 a.m.
@MagicalHacker: That design is also great, and coincidentally is a fantastic counter-measure against one of my other mechanics that produces 1/1 Pirate tokens. Uncommon would be the exact raritiy for it to belong!
@lemmingllama: Those are decent points I didn't consider on your design! I'll have to look at what possibilities there are for this kind of thing. Vigilance, coincidentally, will be on a creature or two, but compensating for its lack of synergy with either a) Slightly better stats or b) A tap ability of its own.
August 25, 2014 8:55 a.m.
@MagicalHacker: That design is also great, and coincidentally is a fantastic counter-measure against one of my other mechanics that produces 1/1 Pirate tokens. Uncommon would be the exact raritiy for it to belong!
@lemmingllama: Those are decent points I didn't consider on your design! I'll have to look at what possibilities there are for this kind of thing.
August 25, 2014 8:55 a.m.
@MagicalHacker: That design is also great, and coincidentally is a fantastic counter-measure against one of my other mechanics that produces 1/1 Pirate tokens.
@lemmingllama: Those are decent points I didn't consider on your design! I'll have to look at what possibilities there are for this kind of thing.
August 25, 2014 8:56 a.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #16
@MagicalHacker: That design is also great, and coincidentally is a fantastic counter-measure against one of my other mechanics that produces 1/1 Pirate tokens.
@lemmingllama: Those are decent points I didn't consider on your design! I'll have to look at what possibilities there are for this kind of thing.
Vigilance, coincidentally, will still be on one or two creatures but will be compensating for their lack of synergy with either a) Slightly better stats or b) A tap ability of their own.
August 25, 2014 8:57 a.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #17
Oh feck, whoops. When I submitted the comment I was getting a "Could not load the web page" thing and I thought it didn't send them. Sorry bout the repeated posts guys.
August 25, 2014 8:58 a.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #19
Thanks for all your help guys, feel free to keep it coming as this is helping my inspiration no end! As usual (usual for my Quarahal threads), I have a special treat. Here is a rare from my first (and only) completed set Iquatana, a monstrous mess of mechaics that yet has some rares I remain quite proud of. This was my fave:
August 25, 2014 3:48 p.m.
SpartanCEL says... #20
@pookypuppy6 Thanks bro! I feel like that'd add even more thought to it whether to attack and risk it or not, unless you're not going to that, it's your set. If I get more ideas I'll send em your way
August 26, 2014 12:22 a.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #21
@SpartanCEL: Hehe, Iquatana was all about weird creature-related stuff, and I slammed this design in without thought to its application (which is not so bad at rare rarity with set design). A Simic-coloured spider that Polymorph s flying creatures? Couldn't resist.
Definitely won't be in Quarahal. Different setting, and a polymorphing spider doesn't exactly scream steampunk and sky pirates.
August 26, 2014 7:23 a.m.
Explosive Combat
3RRRR
Instant
Wardriven: Each Creature gains double strike and +X/-X for each tapped creature you control
August 26, 2014 8:22 p.m.
SpartanCEL says... #23
I was referring to my creature but lol my bad I didn't specify. I know you said uncommons commons but it seems a thing now to have a creature that cost one mana of each color with some sweet perks. Like Sliver Hivelord or Chromanticore maybe add one like that in here?
August 26, 2014 9:09 p.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #24
That may be an option when I actually GET to rares or mythics, but not at the moment Commons and uncommons are where the mechanics have to be proven to work.
That above design seems uncommon borderline rare. Remove the double strike and we may have an uncommon, but it does remove all the 1/1 Pirates off the board which isn't the intention. You may have inspired a sweeping uncommon black spell though (like a Mutilate , but for Wardriven and at sorcery speed).
August 27, 2014 6:34 a.m.
SpartanCEL says... #25
I also think the double strike is pretty OP. Do you want a bunch of creatures to have the Wardriven and other abilities? Cause there's lots of cards with no abilities in magic
August 27, 2014 9:57 a.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #26
Not sure I quite understand the last question there. As you saw with my Fleet Armorer in the post, the Wardriven is part of the ability. Do you mean have Wardriven cards with other separate abilities, like evergreen keywords? Well possibly if it interacts well with the Wardriven ability on the creature, but the main focus then would be on the ability. (Besides, that kind of synergy would probably be reserved for uncommons or higher)
August 27, 2014 10:02 a.m.
SpartanCEL says... #27
Yea it wasn't worded well. I meant to ask if every creature is going to have an ability? Just curious cause that'd be hard to make if every single creature had an ability.
Another:(W) 1/1 tap- add two to your Wardriven
August 27, 2014 11:29 a.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #28
I still don't quite catch the question for some reason, so I'll try to work stuff out with bullet points.
-Do you mean is every creatures going to have a Wardriven ability? The answer to that is no.
-Are they going to be vanilla creatures? Yes.
Also, there's no such thing as a "wardriven count". It's not like devotion where the mechanic explicitly counts your mana symbols. It's just an ability that looks at tapped creatures and changes X.
August 27, 2014 11:58 a.m.
SpartanCEL says... #29
Yea that was the question, just curious. Ohh okay cool. I just thought a creature that counted as 2 would be something to have. Maybe the creature can tap-Pressgang. Or if that's too OP pay a certain amount of mana to pressgang. Someone may have said that already I just thought it'd be a nice effect. Btw I have a busy life so I usually don't reply quickly sorry
August 27, 2014 5:58 p.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #30
No worries SpartanCEL, I'm happy you are contributing at all!
Repeated pressgang would likely be on a uncommon or higher, and with quite high costs at uncommon at least.
August 27, 2014 7:41 p.m.
SpartanCEL says... #31
Yea no problem pookypuppy6! I think a custom set is cool. I was looking up creatures of the sort Jund Battlemage seems to have balanced the abilities and he's like 20 cents. You could up the mana cost of the token ability have have the pirate have deathtouch or something. Are there going to be other tribes besides pirates? Maybe your other posts say
August 28, 2014 8:10 a.m.
Rationing 2BB - Sorcery : Wardriven - Return target creature with Converted Mana Cost X or below from your graveyard to your hand.
Arcship Rider 3R - 2/3 Creature: Wardriven - Pay 3 Life: Sacrifice Arc Striker add X R mana to your mana pool.
Hastey retreat 1W - Instant: Wardriven - Untap target creature, it gets +0/+w until end of turn.
Parlor Geist 3BB - 4/4 Creature : Wardriven - When Parlor Geist enters the battlefield, target creature gets -x/-x until end of turn.
Hull-down Blockade - W 0/1 Creature: Defender - Wardriven: Hell-down Bloackade enters the battlefield with X +0/+1 counters on it.
Things like that?
August 28, 2014 1:52 p.m.
nighthawk101 says... #33
Skysailor Guardian 
Creature- Human Warrior (Rare)
, 
: Tap target creature.
Wardriven-- ~ gets +X/+X, where X is the number of tapped creatures you control.
1/1
His solemn sword is enough to deter many pirates.
September 1, 2014 7:43 p.m.
Battering Ram (I know the name is, so creative) 
(Trample and/or Haste and/or first strike)Wardriven: When Battering Ram attacks, it gets +X/+0 where X is the number of tapped creatures you control.
0/3
This thing is flexible. It could be made cheaper, for less abilities. The keywords are just suggestions, as it probably needs at least one to be viable.
You could also do something life an instant that re-directs X damage that'd be dealt to you, or puts X 1/1s onto the battlefield (perhaps tapped and attacking?) Or a burn just to a player as a sort of Lava Axe
-esque finisher. A defender that gets a static +X/+X where X is the number of tapped creatures you control.
September 6, 2014 7:24 a.m.
pookypuppy6 says... #35
@Volsungz: Some of these are pretty good! (Bar the last one: +0/+1 counters are outdated). I like the Parlor Geist effect, though I'm more likely going to use an instant/sorcery with that effect.
@williamgp99: I asked for common and uncommon designs, not rares. Also, those two abilities aren't particularly sybergistic. You have given me an idea for a rare though with just that second ability. That would make a powerful 1-drop creature.
@KingSorin: Hmmm, that seems good! I was hoping for the uncommon red/white creature to use Wardriven in that way, though I was going t use it on a flyer. This may be a better idea.
Epochalyptik says... #2
It's a little unfortunate that you'd prefer not to use this mechanic for blue cards because it seems, in a vacuum, to be suited to some of the mechanics for which blue is already known.
You might have some fun with the idea of usage and vulnerability, as those themes seem very prevalent in the lore. For example:
Desperate Struggle
Enchantment (Uncommon)
Wardriven - Creatures you control get +X/+0, where X is the number of tapped creatures you control.
Whenever you tap a creature, you lose 1 life.
It kind of embodies the riskiness of committing to combat and the sudden violence that comes from cornered prey. It's also not universally good or universally bad; it suits some decks/strategies in a specific way.
It's debatable whether you'd want this to be rare or uncommon. It doesn't seem too complicated to be an uncommon, despite having two abilities, but that statement can be turned around as well. Rarity will also need to be tweaked as the set nears completion and you better understand how it will operate in Limited.
August 25, 2014 7:31 a.m.