Trying to make a fair UR artifact commander
Custom Cards forum
Posted on May 20, 2015, 1:54 p.m. by Definitely_Paying_Attention
Gor, Seeker of Perfection 1UR
Legendary Artifact Creature - Golem Artificer
2ur, Discard an artifact card: Shuffle your library, then reveal the top card. If it's an artifact card, put it onto the battlefield. Otherwise, draw a card.
At the beginning of your end step, you may exile three artifact cards from your graveyard. If you do, you may put an artifact card from your hand onto the battlefield.
~~~~~~~~~~~
I wanted to make a UR artifact-based commander that
A) was actually artifact-based (unlike Keranos & Nin
and
B) was nonlinear and at least somewhat interactive
Thoughts? Suggestions? This is my first custom card, so feel free to correct any wording/formatting mistakes and such.
Definitely_Paying_Attention says... #3
Oops, thought I put that in there. Currently it's 1/3, but it's hardly set in stone.
May 20, 2015 2:22 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #4
I'm not entirely sure about the second ability, probably because that seems fairly easy to accomplish in EDH and flash is something you have to be very careful about. Also, not quite sure what makes this red...
May 20, 2015 2:41 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON - This card is clearly Izzet. Look at Muzzio, Visionary Architect, he has a similar ability but it's just reveal. The 
comes in with the shuffle effect prior to the reveal.
May 20, 2015 2:52 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #6
Because shuffling is a red ability...? That feels much more blue to me, even if there are exceptions (Madblind Mountain). But then again, there are exceptions for everything...
May 20, 2015 2:55 p.m.
Definitely_Paying_Attention says... #7
Thanks for the input, FAMOUSWATERMELON! Honestly, red is mostly just for the color identity, but I also want to justify it flavorwise with sort of a forge-using creative element that isn't seen enough in red IMO.
I just playtested the card, and I agree that the abilities need some adjusting. The first ability seems to whiff too often, maybe one artifact from the top 2-3 cards rather than just the top 1? I'll probably also restrict it to sorcery speed.
I really don't know what to do about the second one, other that removing it altogether. As always, I'm open to suggestions.
May 20, 2015 3 p.m.
Definitely_Paying_Attention says... #8
JWiley129 Your point about shuffling is exactly right.
May 20, 2015 3:02 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON - It isn't red b/c Red can shuffle, it's red because of the randomness involved. It gives the feel of an artificer attempting to exchange Trash for Treasure. And even though the ability whiffs a lot, you can build your deck to maximize the ability.
The last ability could be altered, but I quite like it as is. Maybe reduce the mana cost of the first ability to 
? or 
?
May 20, 2015 3:04 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #10
The last ability, ignoring the fact that it's instant speed (which is an instant speed Blightsteel Colossus, pretty sweet to have) is a consistent and easy way to get biggeys out, especially in EDH. I'm not saying competely change it, but definitely giving it an activation cost and making it sorcery speed would help.
May 20, 2015 3:06 p.m. Edited.
FAMOUSWATERMELON - You realize the last ability is a triggered ability, right? It think the "exile 3 artifacts" is a bit harsh, but I think it's fair.
May 20, 2015 3:09 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #12
Ooh, didn't see that. Still, activation cost would definitely work better. It's a free, repeatable biggey, especially with the artifact tutors that blue runs.
May 20, 2015 3:10 p.m. Edited.
Like a mana requirement? I could see that, but I like the idea of getting rid of artifacts from your GY to Show and Tell an artifact into play. There is precedent for that with Master Transmuter, but she is infinitely more abusable.
May 20, 2015 3:19 p.m.
Definitely_Paying_Attention says... #14
JWiley129 FAMOUSWATERMELON You both bring up good points. What about something a little more restrictive like "At the beginning of your end step, you may exile any number of artifact cards from your graveyard. If you do, you may put an artifact card from your hand onto the battlefield if its converted mana cost is equal to the total converted mana cost of the cards exiled this way." It seems fairer than before, but also much wordier. As I said, I might just swap it for something different or just cut it.
May 20, 2015 3:22 p.m.
I think that exile clause is worse than before. You are permanently getting rid of artifacts for you to not recur. Daretti, Scrap Savant and Goblin Welder will be very sad that happens. I think something like "At the beginning of your end step, you may pay and exile an artifact card from your graveyard. If you do, you may put an artifact card from your hand into play." Or you have to pay 
where X is the CMC of the artifact you intend to drop.
May 20, 2015 3:26 p.m.
I think this is OK. I would have to see the deck around him to really appraise it, but at least he isn't massively broken like most custom commanders are.
Personally I would make his abilities a mana Riddle of Lightning ability and a mana-tap ability to put artifacts into play. Something like:
3RR, choose a creature or player: Scry 2, reveal the top card of your library. Gor deals X damage to that creature or player, where X is that card's converted mana cost.
4U, Tap: Put an artifact in your hand onto the battlefield.
This is basically a combination of a Quicksilver Amulet and the Riddle of Lightning, but slightly worse to keep it balanced.
May 20, 2015 3:28 p.m.
Definitely_Paying_Attention says... #17
JWiley129 True, very true. I should have thought that one through better. I like your suggestion, but paying the artifact's CMC in mana seems pretty pointless when you could just cast it normally for the same amount. I'll think about what I can do with that.
Egann Yeah I tried to keep this as reasonable as possible, I've seen some pretty terrible designs. Also I'm leaving school right now so i'll resume commenting as soon as I get home.
May 20, 2015 3:34 p.m.
Definitely_Paying_Attention says... #18
Ok, I'm back. Here's a tentative new version:
Mana cost: 3(U/R) P/T: 1/3
At the beginning of your upkeep, draw a card, then discard a card.
2UR, Discard an artifact card: Shuffle your library, then reveal the top three cards. Put up to one artifact card from among them onto the battlefield and the rest into your hand.
Too strong? Too weak?
May 20, 2015 4:05 p.m.
I think that putting the rest into your hand is too abusable. Maybe you put them back in any order?
May 20, 2015 5:12 p.m.
Definitely_Paying_Attention says... #20
You're right. New version:
2UR, Discard an artifact card: Shuffle your library, then reveal cards from the top until you reveal an artifact card. Put that card onto the battlefield and the rest somewhere else (Basically Temporal Aperture+Shape Anew. I'll figure out later whether the other cards will go to the grave or the bottom of the library).
May 20, 2015 5:29 p.m.
Definitely_Paying_Attention says... #21
My laptop is dying, so i'll just throw my notes out there for anyone to look over.
Flavor text:
Through this world etherium shall be made complete, and through etherium this world shall know perfection.
Story:
Embraces the new Alara but wants to bring etherium to itetherium made complete through red and green manasifting through new ideas - deals in cards rather than permanentsAbility 1: thought forge discards imperfect ideas, creates and manifests new onesRepresents creative process2UR, Discard an artifact card: Shuffle your library, then reveal cards from the top of your library until you reveal an artifact card. Put that card onto the battlefield and the rest into your graveyard/library.Ability 2: ???Recycling old ideas (shuffling graveyard into library)?
May 20, 2015 5:31 p.m.
jandrobard says... #22
Just BTW, usually you don't need to post the card's flavor unless it justifies part of the card.
The "2UR, Discard an artifact card: Shuffle your library, then reveal the top three cards. Put up to one artifact card from among them onto the battlefield and the rest into your hand." one would be fine if it didn't put the other cards into your hand, but instead either had you leaving them on the top of your library in any order or putting them on the bottom of your library (not sure which).
The "2UR, Discard an artifact card: Shuffle your library, then reveal cards from the top until you reveal an artifact card. Put that card onto the battlefield and the rest somewhere else " is weaker, but more "balanced" between red and blue. Honestly. I think that the other cards should go to bottom of library, because he's going to be a bonkers self-mill commander if it went to the graveyard (run only a few artifacts, cans him only when you can us his ability, mill yourself for a bit, get either one of the artifacts back to your hand, repeat), and exile seems weak.
May 21, 2015 1:44 p.m.
Definitely_Paying_Attention says... #23
jandrobard Yeah I know the flavor is mostly irrelevant here. I hand about 30 seconds left on my laptop so I just copy-pasted everything as quick as I could. I think I've finally settled on "2UR, Discard an artifact card: Shuffle your library, then reveal cards from the top until you reveal an artifact card. Put that card onto the battlefield and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order." and just cutting the second ability altogether.
JWiley129 says... #2
Well the first thing we need to know is, what's the Power & Toughness of the creature? That will impact how playable it is.
May 20, 2015 2:18 p.m.