Summon Mechanic - Help?
Custom Cards forum
Posted on Dec. 11, 2023, 9:12 a.m. by TheNinjaPhoenix
I am working on a mechanic but can't quite settle on it as it feel like 'instant-speed' dash with flex:
Summon X (You may put a creature card with mana value X or less from your hand onto the battlefield if it shares a color with this card. That creature gains haste. Return it to its owner’s hand at the beginning of the next end step.)
Idea is that it can be utilised by certain cards, i.e. one creature activates it when attacking and summons support, another activates it and the tapping creature can tap to ping for damage, etc.
I just feel like it has too many similarities to effects like Dash/Blitz to be unique, and I feel it is a little awkward given I'm building a Commander deck around this mechanic.
Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks.
TheNinjaPhoenix says... #3
legendofa - thanks for your feedback.
There is definitely an issue with power level as its like dash on steroids at the moment.
I've reworked it to work like this:
Cooperate X (You may put a creature card with mana value X or less from your hand onto the battlefield if it shares a color with this card. If it would die, return it to its owner’s hand instead.)
Do we feel this is any better? Stronger/weaker?
December 12, 2023 9:05 a.m.
It definitely feels different, and more distinct from Dash. At this point, I'm going to go back to my first question: is this going to be mostly triggered, activated, or something else? I'm trying to eyeball an appropriate cost or timing for this. Quicksilver Amulet has an activation cost of , and Elvish Piper is , so that's a starting point.
Next thought is that it needs either a timing restriction or a marker on the "if it would die" clause. If it survives for two turns, then dies, do you want it to return to hand? If so, it needs a counter or something. If not, it needs and "until end of turn" clause or similar in there.
It at least feels less easily broken, but it's still potentially pretty powerful, especially with multiple uses for each turn. I'm going to ask for an example card at this point, and gauge off that.
legendofa says... #2
Is this primarily going to be a triggered ability ("Whenever this creature attacks, summon 2"), an activated ability (", : Summon 2"), or something else?
It does basically give all your creatures dash, or act as a more repeatable Sneak Attack. At minimum, I would make it so the summoned creature couldn't attack, making you rely on abilities, and keep X fairly low, generally 3 or less. Even then, it still feels powerful--some creatures just weren't designed to enter the battlefield potentially every turn. Off the top of my head, Burning-Tree Emissary becomes free mana, Stoneforge Mystic becomes "search for an equipment and play it for ", and there's probably better ways to break it I'm not thinking of. And then there's the idea of using more than one Summon ability per turn.
I assume you would build your Commander deck to the power level you want, and this ability is interesting. I'm just concerned some unforeseen interaction could pop up that would break it. It needs some sort of restriction or limiter.
December 11, 2023 12:17 p.m.