Liara, the Serene
Custom Cards forum
Posted on Feb. 24, 2015, 11:36 p.m. by buildingadeck
Because I don't quite have time to write out the whole of her lore as I did with Tilon, the Searching, this is a brief summary of Liara's events in my mind.
After the victory against Lugor's army, Krolia enjoyed an hour or two of peace before Mandar's body was discovered in the palace. The general belief was that Lugor had used the attack as a distraction to kill Mandar in the palace, and there was no counter-theory to his death. People then demanded war and punishment to the demons, suggesting launching an assault into the molten marshes in which they lived. Liara, however, refused to let her people make a rash decision and chose to give the events three days to settle before calling an assembly of the archmages.
Stralus spoke first, and he called for war. He reasoned that the death of Mandar was treason and called for action, on top of the assault upon the city. Liara, however, was not so easily enraged. She questioned how he thought he would get his wizards into the swamps filled with lava and after that, how they would be able to defeat an army of demons when orcs and a demon nearly defeated the Krolians in their own stronghold. Liara thus called for a diplomatic act with the angels of the wood to help protect them from further attack. It was an old alliance that had not been thought of in centuries, but Liara had spent much time looking at history, trying to understand why Dialum was so hostile at the moment.
She journeyed into the forest alone to seek out the angels. She knew the region in which they could typically be found, but as she grew nearer, she began to feel the weight of many eyes upon her. Suddenly, a swarming pack of wolves attacked her, but she reacted quickly. She was able to detain most of the wolves, but a giant wolf that seemed resistant to her spells pounced on her, pinning her to the ground. I haven't decided how her planeswalker spark ignites yet, and then she meets Garruk just before Lamyra (an angel of healing and protection) reveals herself to Liara. (Side Note: Garruk was healed of his curse by Lamyra when he planeswalked to Dialum).
That was a longer synopsis than intended. Here is Liara, the Serene
I need suggestions to help her feel powerful without feeling like an aggressor. Thanks!
buildingadeck says... #3
JA14732: What would you recommend to correct that?
February 24, 2015 11:42 p.m.
MagicalHacker says... #4
Detain as a mechanic is specific to Ravnica, so her +2 would have to be altered. In addition, it being +2 AND stopping two creatures is pretty gross. Idk if any Planeswalker completely deals with two creatures at the same time (Jace AoT doesn't necessarily deal with completely).
Her -2 would be fine if it didn't draw another card on top of that. Lifegain is fine but not a big deal. Take off that draw, and it should be fine.
Her ult could straight up exile each creature you don't control and it'd be fine if her +2 ability was a +1 instead.
Here's what I think would be a good alteration:
Liara the Serene 
Planeswalker - Liara
+1: Prevent all damage target creature would deal until your next turn.
-2: Reveal the top card of your library. Gain life equal to its converted mana cost. Then put that card into your hand.
-6: Exile all creatures you don't control.
4
February 24, 2015 11:57 p.m.
buildingadeck says... #5
If Detain is block specific, then I would have to redo a lot of cards from this set, which would kinda stink. Is Bloodrush also Rav specific? Those are the only two that I have used that weren't custom.
February 25, 2015 12:01 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #6
Now that I think about it, they did bring back keywords, but not two from the same plane, and yes blood rush is from ravnica. I think you'd have to change one.
February 25, 2015 12:37 a.m.
This is a custom set though, I don't think he needs to change anything, as he can make it however he wants. I do like Hacker's idea for the planeswalker, despite the change in her +.
Remember that detaining 2 things isn't really that powerful, as Lyev Decree shows.
February 25, 2015 12:41 a.m.
buildingadeck says... #8
I also don't think that abilities need be restricted to planes. I did a little searching and couldn't find anything that tied Detain only to Ravnica except that it arose in the RTR block.
I agree that Detain isn't extremely powerful at sorcery speed. I could definitely change it to fit Magical Hacker's ideas. I think her ultimate should still be a minus 7 to give the underdog (ie. the not control player) the opportunity to kill her before losing his or her entire board state. Thoughts?
February 25, 2015 12:52 a.m.
buildingadeck says... #9
I can more easily change Bloodrush. I didn't see your latter comment before my last post MagicalHacker.
February 25, 2015 12:53 a.m.
MagicalHacker says... #10
Even Nicol Bolas, Planeswalker can't directly nerf two creatures. And yeah -7 is much better really.
February 25, 2015 1:05 a.m.
I actually like the suggestions hacker made. Seems like a fairly solid and balanced option
February 25, 2015 1:43 a.m.
buildingadeck says... #12
mpeach1: I agree. I was considering keeping the ult similar to before solely because it is kind of flavor with the set (Selesnya Wolves and Rakdos Demons/Orcs are things), but exiling all creatures seems good. I do worry that it will make Esper overpowered, but that is what the second set of the block is for, right? XD
JA14732 says... #2
Ultimate seems weak and minus seems strong.
February 24, 2015 11:39 p.m.