Nastja, Squirrel Breeder
Custom Cards forum
Posted on May 23, 2020, 2:33 a.m. by seshiro_of_the_orochi
With commander legends coming out late this year, I realized there is no actual squirrel commander (unfortunately, Earl of Squirrel doesn't count.). So I tried to come up with a legend to lead a squirrel deck. The card itself isn't super-powerful, but I like the story it tells, and I found awesome artwork for it. Here she ist, Nastja, Squirrel Breeder:
What do you think about it? I'm open for feedback and criticism.
seshiro_of_the_orochi says... #4
TypicalTimmy: Thank you very much. The version shadow63 commented on sacrificed three foods for one squirrel. I like the new one better. She's somewhat similat to Marrow-Gnawer, but doesn't eat her squirrels.
May 23, 2020 3:34 a.m.
I like the new design. Solid design. I think you could give the human hexproof or vigilance and it wouldn't push it over the top but the way the card is now it doesn't seem like it needs it
May 23, 2020 6:59 a.m.
seshiro_of_the_orochi says... #6
TypicalTimmy: These are great cards for every token commander. Thanks to Gingerbrute being a food, every changeling would be pretty awesome with Nastja. Thanks would make Thornbite Staff another solid option for the deck.
Funkydiscogod: I really like that design, but it would be something very different. This could be a very cool associated enchantment, though.
shadow63: Great to hear that. I normally like protection on my commander, but I have no clue how this would make sense flavourwise.
May 23, 2020 8:13 a.m.
Maybe something like if nastja would die you may sacrifice a squirrel instead
May 23, 2020 8:21 a.m.
seshiro_of_the_orochi says... #8
shadow63: That's basically what Varolz, the Scar-Striped does. Doesn't vibe well with flavour of the card. Guess she'll have to go with some Lightning Greaves.
May 23, 2020 8:24 a.m.
The art on this is great. I would avoid adding hexproof or protection - yes it's nice when commanders have it but just slapping it on the card because it's nice to have lots of defensive abilities seems like bad design. As an effect, reach could be interesting if you wanted to give her an ability (and thematically fits with climbing trees), though I don't think it needs it. And the text box is a good size currently.
I also feel like there should be some sort of mana cost involved with the second ability - while there's not a huge amount of food support currently doesn't mean that there won't be later. So balancing it by giving some sort of mana cost feels fair.
Other than that though, the card is really cool.
May 25, 2020 5:48 a.m. Edited.
seshiro_of_the_orochi says... #10
enpc: Thank you for the feedback. I do think adding a mana cost isn't necessary actually. As mentioned above, the ability is similar to Marrow-Gnawer. The two main differences besides the creature type are these:
1: Nastja isn't a squirrel herself, so you definitely need at least her token to go nuts.
2: Although she brings a food token with her, the tokens the activated ability produces aren't food, so you'll always need some external food source. Compare this to Marrow-Gnawer who can sacrifice his own tokens to activate.
Considering the fact that Marrow-Gnawer isn't the strongest card although there are plenty of powerful rats, I really feel like adding a mana cost to Nastja would weaken her unnecessarily.
May 25, 2020 8:16 a.m.
griffin_15 says... #11
I'm like a year late, but what about depowering that last ability, and adding another that makes food. Like, "whenever one or more squirrels deal combat damage to an opponent, make a food." It's flavorful, as the squirrels attacking is like foraging. Then, instead to the exponential growth on the bottom ability, make it something like, "sacrifice a food, make 2 squirrels"
shadow63 says... #2
Seems underpowered
May 23, 2020 2:35 a.m.