Markov Manor
Custom Cards forum
Posted on March 2, 2020, 10:36 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
The Markov family are some of the best-known vampires in this game, but there has not yet been a card that portrays their ancestral home, so I have decided to make such a card.
Markov Manor Show
Edgar Markov
is a three-colored creature, but I felt that it would be better to keep this land monocolored, or else it would be too powerful. I was planning to have the second ability have in its cost, but I decided that that would be far too powerful, so I kept it at a fixed value. I originally had the third ability cost , but I then decided that it should require a stronger investment in the color black; vampire tokens have been printed with all three of those abilities, so this land allows you to choose what ability the tokens that it generates shall have. I also was contemplating naming the card Castle Markov, because that name sounds grand and majestic, but I liked the alliteration of "Markov Manor," so I chose that name instead.
What does everyone else say about this card? Do you like it?
Funkydiscogod Creating tokens from a land is not that expensive. Castle Ardenvale, Kher Keep, Kjeldoran Outpost, Springjack Pasture, Westvale Abbey Flip and Adanto, the First Fort.
Most of these don't have abilities though, so maybe a vampire tribal restriction is in order like you mentioned on the second ability?
It also depend on the product it's going to be in. Commander? Cut the deathtouch and ship it as is, I think you could get away with it. Standard? Needs a little more toning down. Modern Horizons 2? Somewhere in between.
March 3, 2020 8:28 a.m.
From a practical stance, I am not overly fond of one token generator being able to make three tokens that are so similar to one another. If the person playing it does not have physical tokens with the abilities written on them (a common occurrence in limited events), it will be really hard to keep track of what abilities the different "1/1/ Black Vampire" dice have ascribed to them.
I'd probably leave it at one singular ability--either lifelink or flying due to the issues with instant-speed Deathtouch.
March 3, 2020 9:19 a.m.
Caerwyn Yeah, I didn't think about that. If it's printed in a designed product (like Commander, Planeswalker deck or similar) the tokens would be printed with the land and there would be no practical issue or if there would be plenty of token generators of those kinds in any other product so it would be unlikely that you wouldn't have both token types available. If not, then I agree that it could become confusing.
March 3, 2020 9:24 a.m.
Super love the thought and ideas behind this card.... I think if it were me I would essentially echo Murmuring Bosk and replace the colors with Mardu colors and Treefolk with Vampire.
But since this would be legendary then I would add a powerful static ability like reduced casting cost of vampires spells by or something.
March 3, 2020 10:16 a.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #7
After reading everyone's comments, I have decided that being able to choose abilities for the vampire tokens makes them too powerful, so the land now generates vampire tokens with no abilities, and I made the ability less color-intensive to balance that, as seen, here:
Markov Manor Show
Now, what does everyone think of the card?
March 3, 2020 7:10 p.m.
griffstick says... #8
I feel like being able to create a 1/1 deathtouch vampire for on a land is to strong. Deathtouch is really strong.
March 3, 2020 7:57 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #9
griffstick, yes, I agree, and, for that reason, I have changed the card.
March 3, 2020 10:44 p.m.
I want to see a version where it's a flip card. Maybe it flips after it sees enough vamps or something.
March 4, 2020 8:57 p.m.
It could flip into the Markov Manor land you just created. It could start as an enchantment that benefits vamps, then when you have enough vamps, it flips and you've arrived at Markov Manor
March 4, 2020 10:13 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #14
maxon, that is actually an interesting idea, so I shall consider it.
March 4, 2020 10:19 p.m.
maxon Not to sink the idea, but rather form the base of it; so far the land transforms from Ixalan have been about a mission, action, or event that resulted in settling on that land.
Legion's Landing Flip is the vampire clergy landing on the shores and establishing a settlement or foothold that turned into Adanto, the First Fort.
Treasure Map Flip is about a person searching for the rumored treasure. They find it and "settles" on or found the land, which become the Treasure Cove.
Were you running for an origin story of the manor? Or perhaps not the origin of the manor but the settlement of the Markov family in the manor? Perhaps they overthrew the previous owners?
If that is not what you're going for, what is the reason that it is not a land by itself but has to transform into it? What's the story?
March 5, 2020 7:15 a.m.
Honestly I hadn't thought that deeply into it, but some manner of origin sounds fun
Tzefick says... #2
We get relatively close to a depiction in Declaration in Stone. I cannot confirm it, but I do believe that we see Markov Manor in the background of Sorin, Lord of Innistrad.
I don't think it's right to allow a continuous creation of deathtouch tokens from a land, but the flying and lifelink are good.
It would be kinda daunting to see this land untapped with 3 available mana whenever you would attack with a land walker.
March 3, 2020 8:19 a.m.