We know they'll never reprint ABUR Duals... but...
Custom Cards forum
Posted on Feb. 24, 2016, 4:12 p.m. by Rayenous
So, I want to see what ideas everyone has for printing a card that is 'close to' ABUR Duals, but 'different' enough so as to not interfere with the 'intent'/'integrity' of the Reserve List.
For Example: Simply adding 'Legendary' to the ABUR Duals and re-naming them is too similar to the original cards, and would still violate the reprint policy.
My idea... a little more complicated than I would generally like in a card...
New Taiga
Land - Island Plains
As ~ Enters the battlefield choose either Island or Plains.
So long as ~ has a Flag Counter on it, ~ does not have the chosen basic land type.
So long as ~ does not have a Flag Counter on it, ~ does not have the basic land type not chosen.
When ~ is tapped for mana, if there is a Flag Counter on it, remove all Flag Counters, otherwise add a Flag counter.
Explanation - Fetchable as Island or Plains. - Will be able to provide the mana you need when it enters... but (the difference), after the first use, you will need to time/predict what color mana you will need when.
(It's possible that simply taking 2 damage from a Shockland is simply better, but mechanically, I like this concept)
the.beanpole says... #3
That would be a really great design space for SoI, where we would assume that we'll see more transform cards. We haven't had transforming lands yet, and it seems really neat!
February 24, 2016 4:28 p.m.
I like the Transform Concept, but Shocklands are simply better in most cases.
I wonder if Flip instead of Transform would work as well?
New Tundra Island Half
Land - Island
You may have ~ enter the Battlefield Flipped.
When ~ is tapped for mana, Flip it.
New Tundra Plains Half
Land - Plains
When ~ is tapped for mana, Flip it.
Still fetch able as the card has both Basic Land Types... - Still has the same choice of what it enters as... - Still (different from ABUR) becomes the other once used.
February 24, 2016 4:29 p.m.
They are trying to figure out a way to give us more Dual Lands. You can see it with the Checklands, checking for either Land type you already control to come in untapped.
Then the new BFZ lands that for for at least Two Basic Lands.
They are working on it.
Maybe if we all protest or get a large enough group of players to complain they will abolish the Reserved List.
February 24, 2016 4:58 p.m.
That will take a lot of time during the game, to flip and unflip.
February 24, 2016 5 p.m.
iAzire I'm unsure if you're kidding or not. lol They will never abolish the reserve list. There has been outcry over it for years, that's nothing new. The only thing they can do is print a functionally same land with a new name, etc.
February 24, 2016 6:16 p.m. Edited.
Something that would be super weird is a sort of reverse shockland.
CARDNAME
Land- Plains Island
When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, any opponent may pay 2 life. If a player does, CARDNAME enters the battlefield tapped.
I have no idea how good or bad this would be, it's just an idea.
February 24, 2016 6:51 p.m.
How about this?
Evaporating Underground Sea
Land -- Swamp Island
When ~ is tapped for mana, put one depletion counter on it. When ~ has three or more depletion counters on it, sacrifice it.
This card would give you an experience similar to an ABUR dual, but only for 3 turns, then you have to sac it. I almost decided to have this land enter with 3 counters on it, and lose one each time it is tapped, but if I did, then Doubling Season would ruin the theme of it.
February 24, 2016 7:16 p.m.
btw, I really like that idea, Mortem. I could see using an Island Mountain like that in a burn deck. That would be fun.
Also, the transforming-land is just sick. I would love to see lands like that.
February 24, 2016 7:22 p.m.
buildingadeck says... #11
How about this:
Tundra
Snow Plains Island
No other modifications. Loophole, and done.
February 24, 2016 7:33 p.m.
buildingadeck - 1) There can only be one card named Tundra, so that doens't work. 2.) That violates the spirit of the Reserved List and MaRo has said recently that they won't violate the spirit of the RL.
February 24, 2016 7:37 p.m.
buildingadeck says... #13
Lol, I was mostly joking. I see your point on the spirit of it, but I would really like there to be a reasonable option that doesn't simply fold to burn to help players get into legacy and vintage.
February 24, 2016 7:40 p.m.
Just to play 'devil's advocate'... They say they will not violate the 'spirit' of the reserve list. hmmm...
Fork = Reserve List
Reverberate = Violation of the 'spirit' of the list... unless you think making the copy NOT be red is actually a large enough difference.
In which case, I submit:
Colorful Tundra
Land - Island Plains
~ is Blue and White.
February 25, 2016 12:11 p.m.
Rayenous How about:
Insert Name
Land - Island Plains
When Insert Name enters the battlefield, give it a name. It taps for 
and 
February 25, 2016 12:17 p.m.
Oh... found another that's too similar to overlook... again, the only difference being color.
I should make a complete list of these.
February 25, 2016 12:28 p.m.
Rayenous - MaRo already said that was a mistake, you can't use a mistake to set precedent.
February 25, 2016 12:34 p.m.
I'd like to see the post where he stated it was a mistake... Link?
Also, did he mention just Fork/Reverberate 'minor difference', or does he also address the Recycle/Null Profusion 'color shift'?
- Just trying to get an idea of how similar/different a card can/can't be.
February 25, 2016 4:15 p.m. Edited.
It suddenly came to me... a card that evens the playing field on ABUR Duals, without coming close to violating the 'spirit' of the reserve list.
It's just an idea, and would still need to be developed...
Seized Flooded Strand
Land
, Pay 2 life, sacrifice ~: Search your library and any number of your opponents libraries for a Plains or Island card and put it onto the battlefield. Then each player whose library was searched shuffles their library.
Or something to that effect...
For 2 life, you look at your opponent's library. - If they are in your colors, you get a land of theirs... so if they are playing Tundra, you get to use it (or any other Dual). - If not, you just get a Plains or Island... or Hallowed Fountain, or other Shockland, etc. from your library.
You wouldn't always just take something of theirs, as it would be thinning their deck... but if they have better lands, it's a good option... letting you play Duals if they have them and you don't.
If you do own Duals, you may not play this... though looking at opponents library, and/or shuffling it... while fetching... may be worth running a couple.
February 26, 2016 12:14 p.m. Edited.
....Maybe just 'Target player's library'... if you fail to find... too bad for you.
Makes it a little more balanced compared to what you can do with it otherwise.
February 26, 2016 12:21 p.m.
This is really just a global fetch-land, and is totally doable within the rules. However I don't think such a card would see print. We only have a few cards that do what you've suggested (Praetor's Grasp, Acquire, Bribery, Knowledge Exploitation, and Eternal Dominion), but they're all expensive to cast or ask you to cast the spell. I think that taking a land out of an opponent's deck is too far outside the realm of possibilities to see print.
February 26, 2016 12:22 p.m.
I don't think it's out of the realm of possibilities to see print.
I don't think we would ever see it in Standard/Modern, but it would fit nicely in a Commander set, which allows it play in Legacy/Vintage. - Since that is where the ABUR Duals run rampant and have caused a barrier to entry, it would make sense to allow something that lets you use your opponents right from under their nose.
February 26, 2016 1:23 p.m.
alanwescoat says... #24
They have a whole bunch of options. Such products would have to be printed in non-standard sets, such as Conspiracy or Commander.
Lands which tap for two colors but do not have basic land types (not fetchable)
Lands which have one basic land type and let you choose a second one when they enter the battlefield
One land with all five original basic land types which lets you choose one when it enters the battlefield and at the beginning of each upkeep, losing all other basic land types until your next upkeep
A version of Terramorphic Expanse or Evolving Wilds which has a second ability to let you pay 2 life to have the basic land enter the battlefield untapped
A colorless version of Crop Rotation which stipulates Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, Forest, or Wastes
A cycle of 20 Legendary dual lands which have only one of the five original land types on them but taps for two colors. Making them Legendary is essential for not screwing up Legacy.
Dual lands which allow your opponents to look at the top card of any one library when they enter the battlefield
Dual lands which require you to reveal a card from your hand to not enter the battlefield tapped
Shock lands which require you to pay only 1 life
Dual lands which give you a poison counter when they enter the battlefield
The people at Wizards seem to have no interest in doing these things. I speculate that some of them are deeply in love with those who are bottle-necking Legacy.
Option [1] is blatantly obvious for a set of ten uncommons, which Wizards has never done for reasons entirely mysterious.
Option [2] would basically fix the problem with five cards which are genuinely functionally different from the genuine duals. Mana bases might be marginally less stable than those with genuine duals. This is my favorite option.
Option [3] would make a single card which is fetchable with any rare fetchland and largely solve the problem with the drawback that the land can only produce one color of mana at any given time and would have to be set at each upkeep.
MagicalHacker says... #2
Honestly, I feel like that design is pretty complicated and confusing and would be simpler as a DFC:
New Tundra
Land - Plains Island
Whenever ~ is tapped for mana, transform ~.
Tundra Waste
Land
February 24, 2016 4:19 p.m.