WUB Planeswalker: Joachim, the Seer of Silverbreach
Custom Cards forum
Posted on April 21, 2015, 10:49 p.m. by TheOne4221
I've wanted to make a 'walker in these colors for awhile now, and I'm looking for some feedback on what I've noodled.
Joachim, the Seer of Silverbreach -- 2WUUB
Starting Loyalty: 4
+2: Reveal the top card of your library. If it is a noncreature, nonland card, target player loses 2 life. You may put that card into your hand. If not, put it on the bottom of your library. (Better Narset ability from a card 3 mana more)
-4: Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose up to one nonland card from it. That player discards that card. Until end of turn, You may cast this card and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast it. (Kill himself on the drop to use a Thoughtseize/Daxos of Meletis ability)
-12: You get an emblem with: "Instants and sorcery spells you cast cost (3) less." and "Instant and sorcery spells in your graveyard have flashback. The flashback cost is (4) more than the initial cost." (A fresh idea, based on reuse and recycle and increased efficiency Basically flashback for only 1 colorless more, and extremely cheap instants and sorceries)
I think the first ability should use the expression "Otherwise" instead of "If not", (see Coiling Oracle's rule text as an example). You could probably tweak the costs a bit and make the ult just give flashback, where the flashback cost is equal to the converted mana cost. Otherwise, if you wanted to make the spells cheaper and give a more expensive flashback, I think the wording would be:
"You get an emblem with "Instants and Sorceries in your graveyard have flashback. The flashback cost is equal to the mana cost plus 
." (see Dralnu, Lich Lord as an example).
Looks like a good basis though.
April 22, 2015 12:02 a.m.
TheOne4221 says... #4
Thanks for the wording tips. I'd like to aim for clarity for a more balanced version.
On second thought, you're right about the second one. It should be exile, and it is a bit much power-wise. Perhaps make it -X and turn it from just nonland to nonland with converted cost X or less? This limits the options significantly, even if I have the mana for it.
The third one I think might have some wiggle room, too. There's a couple of things I can do, and your suggestions are well noted. I like the idea of mana cost reduction in the ultimate, so I'm considering dropping the subtracting value to (2) and expanding it to noncreature spells, and having the flashback increase be the same at (4) for just instants and sorceries.
I had another idea for the third that made it so you wouldn't have to pay the X cost of spells that use X, and for the sake of effects the X would be equal to the number of cards in your hand. If I decide on this, I'll increase the loyalty cost to -15, because being able to use Sphinx's Revelation for seven using three mana is too damn good.
April 22, 2015 12:16 a.m.
As cool an abilty that might be, I think you're going to run into problems in that its just too hard/confusing to word succinctly. If I had to take a stab, I think it would be something along the lines of:
"Instants an corceries in your graveyard have flashback. The flashback csot is equal to the converted mana cost. Instants and sorceries with 
in their cost cost less to cast from your graveyard, where X is the number of cards in your hand."
This is just clunky an realisitcally if you want an ability like this, it hsould be on it's own card as its own thing. That way you don't run out of cardspace.
April 22, 2015 12:40 a.m.
TheOne4221 says... #6
If I do the other option, I'll probably end up canning the flashback. In this case, the flashback feels like needless icing on an already amazing ability.
The end result would look something like:
Starting Loyalty: 4
+2: Reveal the top card of your library. If it is a noncreature, nonland card, target player loses 2 life. You may put that card into your hand. Otherwise, put it on the bottom of your library.
-X: Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose up to one nonland card of converted mana cost X or less from it. That player exiles that card. Until end of turn, You may cast that card and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast it.
-12: You get an emblem that says,"Instants and sorceries with you cast X in their mana cost cost X less, where X is the number of cards in your hand."
April 22, 2015 1:37 a.m.
Just another quick pickup on grammar, I have bolded the grammar changes:
-X: Target opponent reveals his or her hand. You choose a nonland card from it with converted mana cost X or less. That player exiles that card. Until end of turn, you may cast that card and you may spend mana as though it were mana of any color to cast it.
(source: Inquisition of Kozilek)
-12: You get an emblem with "Instants and sorceries you cast with in their mana cost cost 
less to cast for each card in your hand."
(source: Goblin Electromancer, Inner Fire)
I think phrasing it that way would make it a bit nicer words wise. Your other option (since you have the right colours for it) could be:
-12: You get an emblem with "Instants and sorceries you cast have Delve (Each card you exile from your graveyard while casting this spell pays for .)"
(source: Dig Through Time)
Seems a bit more balanced and means you can reduce the ult cost.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #2
Interesting walker. In awesome colors :)
The first ability is fine. As you said, a bit more powerful than Narset, but I think it works great.
The second ability is harder to judge. Sure, it's -4, but it's still really powerful. When you activate it, you'll likely have enough to cast that card. I'm not so sure about that one (also, just a side note, it should probably be exile, not discard).
The third one is, I feel, a bit underwhelming. It's obviously powerful, but instant and sorceries aren't usually that expensive, and when they are, that ability won't do anything because of the colors (Cruel Ultimatum, for example). The flashback is nice, I guess.
April 21, 2015 10:56 p.m.