Hey folks, it's time to vote in the Finals for November's CCL winner! I'm just standing in for hard-working host Lanxal, perhaps he will provide a final story piece when he returns, if anybody is waiting for that.
Dragoon26 and Twilight Kiwi put in some good work on their final challenge. Here is the challenge:
The Final Matchup - Twilight Kiwi vs. Dragoon26
Your challenge is twofold. First, create a Planeswalker card depicting your newly ascended avatar. And, to spice things up, it must be multicolored, with one color that was not one of your original avatar's.
Second, and the toughest one of them all, is this: create a deck that uses your newly created planeswalker in it. The restrictions on the deck are as followed:
The deck must have at least 60 cards.
The deck must include your planeswalker avatar from the first part of this round.
The deck must be, as of now, Extended legal.
The deck may include any cards you've created during this month's CCL, as if they were in Zendikar.
You may also create 5 additional cards for this deck.
Finally, a third of your deck must consist of cards created by you.
Voting will be open for one week, and as always, even a brief comment or two would be appreciated with your vote!
Harvoth, Master Pathmage 1UU
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard (R)
Flash
You may play land cards anytime you could cast an instant. (You can still only play one land each turn.) Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may look at the top three cards of your library, then put them back in any order. "I'll bring you to that X on your map without having to worry as much about all those dotted lines in between."
2/3
Pathway Stone Pendant2
Artifact - Equipment (U)
Equipped creature gets +1/+1 and has shroud. Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may attach Pathway Stone Pendant to a creature you control.
Roil Caller 3R
Creature - Ogre Shaman (R) Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, Roil Caller deals 2 damage to target creature.
Whenever a land enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, Roil Caller deals 2 damage to that player.
3/2
Kamsan Warder 2W
Creature - Kor Cleric (R)
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, you may pay XW. If you do, prevent the next X damage that would be dealt to target creature or player this turn. "I cannot save everyone. But that won't stop me from saving you."
2/2
Mindless Nullifier - MindswayXU
Sorcery
Kicker X
Gain control of target creature with power equal to X. If Mindsway was kicked, instead gain control of each creature with power equal to X.
Scorpion Swatter - Bindwire Lash2
Artifact - Equipment
Whenever a creature blocks or is blocked by equipped creature, put a -1/-1 counter on that creature.
Equip 1
I Hate Needles - Vital Stasis1W
Instant
Players can't gain or lose life this turn. (Damage causes loss of life.)
Savant Squelcher: Polarion3U
Creature - Elemental (U) Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, switch target creature's power and toughness until end of turn. "It is a creature of change, a reflection of the Roil itself." - Vani, Sea Gate scholar
2/4
Bloodbroth Barrier: Sigil of SerenityWW
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a permanent enters the battlefield, prevent all damage that would be dealt by it this turn.
Sacrifice Sigil of Serenity: Prevent all damage that would be dealt by a source of your choice this turn.
Tonic Trouble: Troubled Awakening1WR
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a permanent would become untapped, its controller may choose not to untap it. If he or she doesn't, Troubled Awakening does 1 damage to that player.
Tajuru Misguidance: Wandering Scrolls 4
Artifact Creature - Construct (U)
Each player plays with the top card of his or her library revealed. Wandering Scrolls gets +2/+2 for each nonland card revealed this way. "I rarely linger in one place for long. It's simply more convenient to have a library I can take with me. The fact that it's also a decent bodyguard is just a bonus." - Harvoth, Master Pathmage 1/1
Oni Obliterator: Roiling Vortex2U
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a permanent would be returned from the battlefield to its owner's hand, you may exile it instead.
Incarnation Inquisitor: Mark of RetaliationW
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Whenever enchanted creature attacks, it deals damage equal to its power to its controller. "Why waste time punishing the servant? Save the lash for its master." - Ocemar, Emerian exonerant
Entity Eliminator: Bondsever Trap4BB
Sorcery (U)
If three or more counters were put on creatures an opponent controls this turn, you may pay 1BB rather than Bondsever Trap's mana cost.
Remove all counters from all creatures target player controls. That player loses 1 life for each counter removed this way.
Devil Dragon Devastator: Mindgape Stone4
Artifact (R)
Whenever a player has no cards in his or her hand, he or she draws a card.
Activated abilities of permanents cost 1 more for each card in its controller's hand. "It may sound like a blessing, but sometimes it's annoying to always have something on your mind." - Harvoth, pathmage
Kavu Killer: Wildfight Purist1GG
Creature - Elf Shaman (R)
Prevent all noncombat damage that would be dealt to and dealt by creatures. "Rage should be expressed by muscle and might, tooth and talon, blood and bone."
2/2
Harvoth Pathmaker1UG
Planeswalker - Harvoth (M)
/+1\ Reveal the top card of each player's library. Put any land cards revealed this way onto the battlefield under your control.
\-3/ Each player chooses a land he or she controls and returns it to his or her hand.
\-6/ For the rest of the game, whenever a land enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, you may search your library for a land card and put it into the battlefield, then shuffle your library.
[3]
Pathmage's GuileUG
Enchantment (U) Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may reveal the top card of your library. If it's not a land, you may put it on the bottom of your library.
You may play land cards anytime you could cast an instant. (You can still only play one land each turn.)
Pathstone Field
Land (R)
Pathstone Field enters the battlefield tapped.
When Pathstone Field enters the battlefield, you may pay 1. If you do, you may choose a land card in your hand and put it onto the battlefield tapped. T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
Seeking the Wurmlord's MantleG
Enchantment (R)
Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, put a quest counter on Seeking the Wurmlord's Mantle.
Remove X quest counters from Seeking the Wurmlord's Mantle and sacrifice it: Put an X/X green Wurm creature token with trample onto the battlefield.
SpellforceXUU
Instant (R)
Gain control of target spell with converted mana cost X. You may choose new targets for that spell. "So unoriginal. Let me show you what could really be accomplished with that kind of power." - Vassok, lullmage
Terrain Blessing 1W
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant permanent
Enchanted permanent has protection from each color lands you control could produce. "Much of the Multiverse may be wild and dangerous, but even Zendikar has its sanctuaries if you know where to look for them." - Harvoth Pathmaker
Kovan Thal, Trapfinder :3mana::symg::symg:
Legendary Creature - Elf Scout MR
Shroud, forestwalk
Each opponent's spells cost more to cast during your turn.
3/3
Order of Emeria :symw::symw:
Creature - Kor Soldier U
First strike Landfall -- Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, Order of Emeria gains protection from the color of your choice until the end of turn.
2/2
Ondu Spiritwarden :symw::symw:
Creature - Spirit MR
Flying
Whenever a card in a graveyard becomes the target of a spell or ability, exile it. Landfall -- Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, put a creature token onto the battlefield that is a copy of Ondu Spiritwarden. Fallen clerics still gather over the entrance to the Soul Stair, ensuring it remains a one-way passage for Zendikar's greatest evils.
1/1
Inner Peace :symw::symw:
Enchantment - Aura C
Enchant creature
Prevent all damage that would be dealt by enchanted creature.
Whenever a creature attacks, you may attach Inner Peace to that creature. Fury, like candlelight, can be extinguished as quickly as it is ignited.
Kovan Thal, the All-Seeker4GW
Planeswalker - Kovan MR
[+1]: Search your library for a Forest or Plains card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
[-X]: Search your library for a creature or enchantment card with converted mana cost X or less and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
[-9]: Search your library for any number of creature and/or land cards and put them onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
[[5]]
Sojourner's Ritual GW
Sorcery U
Search your library for a basic land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Then if an opponent controls more land than you do, search your library for a basic land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library.
Soulseeder1GW
Creature - Spirit R
Flying
Whenever Soulseeder deals combat damage to a player, put that many 1/1 green saproling creature tokens onto the battlefield.
1/1
Why hasn't anybody voted yet? Length of the submissions just make it difficult to judge? It would be useful to hear those opinions so that future (and current) hosts can make easier to receive challenges.
I voted for dragoon simply for the reason that I think his deck will be much more consistent and in general will play out better. His land base is better than Twilight Kiwi's, ensuring color fixing and not losing turns due to CIPT lands. The deck appears to be more focused and sure of winning over an opponent with tokens. This deck feels solid to me and I'm not sure what else to say. Dragoon, one question though: Why no overrun? This has the feel of a token deck... also, more to the point, why didn't you include doubling season? I feel that it would have made a great addition to the deck you currently have.
Twilight Kiwi: While I found your deck interesting, I have to say that I thought that with all the singletons and 1-2 of's it wouldn't work very well, or at least well enough to be consistent. I also do not particularly like the look of 10 CIPT lands, seeing that almost half of your mana base will be useless turns 1-2. Your cards were elegant, but I believe that Dragoon gets the win here. Also, just a question: Why didn't you use the ravnica shocklands or the shadowmoor-eventide color fixers? I must give you points for Zendikar block, but the challenge was for Extended... Also, sadly, your deck did not appear to me that it had a consistent win-con. I saw lots of landfall shenanigans, but no creature that particularly abused them. Some of them were interesting and could see print, but keeping them to 1-2 ofs seriously limits the power of this deck...
@Gerrard's Mom: My guess for this is that most people just didn't want to deal with having to read through all the spoilers and constantly reference them just to find which cards did what and then figure out how they helped the decks...
I opened one last year, got two crap worldwake packs and 8x scathe zombies, which I promptly hid around my sister's apartment for her roommates to find. But, yeah, it was a piece of crap.
You, sir, have just won the internet. Congratulations.
Hey GM, you could give away 1 point in the December CCL to anyone that votes here. That will get the votes moving.
Anyway, I'll look at them tonight and cast a vote then.
Update: It took a little longer than a night for me to get to do this, but I did.
Very hard time chossing a winner here, both player's cards were awesome and showed a lot of dedication to do such a massive task.
Congrats to both of you guys, you both are winners by accomplishing this month's final task.
Ah, I actually missed that it could be Extended-legal; I was working under the impression that it was supposed to be ZEN only. >_< Oops.
This is why I don't like these deck-making challenges in the CCL; aside from the fact that it's significantly more time-consuming and requires a huge shift in mental gears, this is the CARD Creation League, and I don't think I'm the only player here who will admit that their deck-crafting skills are... less than stellar. ;P (Personally, I play casual exclusively; my decks are almost all singletons when it comes to rares/mythics, my only tournament experiences are a few prereleases, and I know very little about the current metagame.) If deck challenges arise in future months, I think maybe it would be better if the competitors were judged on their cards alone, with a deck treated the same way (and with the same weight) any flavor/storyline embellishment would.
And, as mentioned, it does contribute for a more daunting task to lay before voters.
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"Suffer the little creatures, for they may yet rise up and beat you senseless."
This is really kinda disappointing. It's not that difficult to look through these submissions and simply post your thoughts. If memory serves me correctly, I made the first deck-building challenge back in February and it went over very well. I don't know why this hasn't attracted more attention.
Asking out a girl is like trying to cast a first turn Necropotence. Sometimes the other player will have the Force of Will to say no. You shouldn't let that stop you from trying it.
Why don't you both post brief summaries of your decks, what the main themes and strategies are? I think that helped when cardamne and I had to make decks AND planar decks.
There may have just been more activity in February; I think that was one of the higher vote totals I have seen, and IIRC it was decided by one vote, my first win.
I can try to get people to vote in the CCL thread.
@Gerrard's Mom: My guess for this is that most people just didn't want to deal with having to read through all the spoilers and constantly reference them just to find which cards did what and then figure out how they helped the decks...
This is why I don't like these deck-making challenges in the CCL; aside from the fact that it's significantly more time-consuming and requires a huge shift in mental gears, this is the CARD Creation League, and I don't think I'm the only player here who will admit that their deck-crafting skills are... less than stellar. ;P (Personally, I play casual exclusively; my decks are almost all singletons when it comes to rares/mythics, my only tournament experiences are a few prereleases, and I know very little about the current metagame.) If deck challenges arise in future months, I think maybe it would be better if the competitors were judged on their cards alone, with a deck treated the same way (and with the same weight) any flavor/storyline embellishment would.
And, as mentioned, it does contribute for a more daunting task to lay before voters.
I agree with these guys. For deck building challenges, it does take a long time to consider both the quality of the card submissions and how well constructed the decks are. It's also a little unclear whether you're meant to vote for the the best card designs (all the cards someone has designed this month or just the cards they designed in the final round?), the best built deck (based on its competitiveness, its originality, how fun it looks to play or some other criteria?) or a combination of both. Dragoon26 appears to have the better deck, but I felt Twilight Kiwi's individual cards were more interesting, so my vote went to him.
The review of all of the cards created is already as much time as I really want to spend critiquing a contest I'm not involved in. The review of a built deck pushes this into too much trouble. Worse, its something I'm not really in the mood to do when at this forum. If I wanted to discuss and review decks I'd go to one of the building decks forum.
Yeah, that's perfectly understandable. Simplicity has clear benefits in making challenges and judging them as well. I was already planning on taking a slightly different tack with the CCL this month, not just adding more and more cards to be made each round but letting contestants spend more time on each card. I think what Alabran did in October moving contestants to each others' planes was fun and exciting, it just got a little confusing at the end. I'd like to incorporate more of that interdependency in design for these monthly contests, it's a good skill for designers to have (in theory).
Asking out a girl is like trying to cast a first turn Necropotence. Sometimes the other player will have the Force of Will to say no. You shouldn't let that stop you from trying it.
Asking out a girl is like trying to cast a first turn Necropotence. Sometimes the other player will have the Force of Will to say no. You shouldn't let that stop you from trying it.
Agh sorry, I failed to get back to this with all the stuff I had to do this week. I was waiting, as the host of the poll, but I should have voted.
A few comments:
I like TK's planeswalker's first ability, and I think Dragoon's ultimate is a little over the top, even for a planeswalker. That said, TK's second ability allows you to put other people's cards in your hand, so it wouldn't work as printed.
Overall, TK's cards showed more variety and original designs, I thought. While none of his cards from the round other than the avatar and Vital Stasis really impress me, Pathstone Field was the standout card of the finals in my opinion, and the last three cards he offered could all stand to be printed.
Dragoon's Inner Peace is nice, and the Sojourner's Ritual does a great job of offering a green mechanic that white is splashing into with white restrictions. Soulseeder is just a little Pollenbright Wings guy, not that there is anything wrong with it. I feel all the cards except Ondu Spiritwarden and the 'walker's ultimate are well balanced and solidly designed, and I would play many of them, I just think they're a shade less ambitious than what TK designed as a whole.
Anyway, good round guys, sorry you had to put so much effort in for a fairly lackluster turnout. I don't think anybody has gotten CCL trophies in a while, but I'll see what Kraj has to say.
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Dragoon26 and Twilight Kiwi put in some good work on their final challenge. Here is the challenge:
Voting will be open for one week, and as always, even a brief comment or two would be appreciated with your vote!
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard (R)
Flash
You may play land cards anytime you could cast an instant. (You can still only play one land each turn.)
Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may look at the top three cards of your library, then put them back in any order.
"I'll bring you to that X on your map without having to worry as much about all those dotted lines in between."
2/3
Artifact - Equipment (U)
Equipped creature gets +1/+1 and has shroud.
Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may attach Pathway Stone Pendant to a creature you control.
Creature - Ogre Shaman (R)
Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, Roil Caller deals 2 damage to target creature.
Whenever a land enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, Roil Caller deals 2 damage to that player.
3/2
Kamsan Warder 2W
Creature - Kor Cleric (R)
At the beginning of each player's upkeep, you may pay XW. If you do, prevent the next X damage that would be dealt to target creature or player this turn.
"I cannot save everyone. But that won't stop me from saving you."
2/2
Mindsway XU
Sorcery
Kicker X
Gain control of target creature with power equal to X. If Mindsway was kicked, instead gain control of each creature with power equal to X.
Scorpion Swatter -
Bindwire Lash 2
Artifact - Equipment
Whenever a creature blocks or is blocked by equipped creature, put a -1/-1 counter on that creature.
Equip 1
I Hate Needles -
Vital Stasis 1W
Instant
Players can't gain or lose life this turn. (Damage causes loss of life.)
Polarion 3U
Creature - Elemental (U)
Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, switch target creature's power and toughness until end of turn.
"It is a creature of change, a reflection of the Roil itself." - Vani, Sea Gate scholar
2/4
Bloodbroth Barrier:
Sigil of Serenity WW
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a permanent enters the battlefield, prevent all damage that would be dealt by it this turn.
Sacrifice Sigil of Serenity: Prevent all damage that would be dealt by a source of your choice this turn.
Tonic Trouble:
Troubled Awakening 1WR
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a permanent would become untapped, its controller may choose not to untap it. If he or she doesn't, Troubled Awakening does 1 damage to that player.
Tajuru Misguidance:
Wandering Scrolls 4
Artifact Creature - Construct (U)
Each player plays with the top card of his or her library revealed. Wandering Scrolls gets +2/+2 for each nonland card revealed this way.
"I rarely linger in one place for long. It's simply more convenient to have a library I can take with me. The fact that it's also a decent bodyguard is just a bonus." - Harvoth, Master Pathmage
1/1
Roiling Vortex 2U
Enchantment (R)
Whenever a permanent would be returned from the battlefield to its owner's hand, you may exile it instead.
Incarnation Inquisitor:
Mark of Retaliation W
Enchantment - Aura (C)
Enchant creature
Whenever enchanted creature attacks, it deals damage equal to its power to its controller.
"Why waste time punishing the servant? Save the lash for its master." - Ocemar, Emerian exonerant
Entity Eliminator:
Bondsever Trap 4BB
Sorcery (U)
If three or more counters were put on creatures an opponent controls this turn, you may pay 1BB rather than Bondsever Trap's mana cost.
Remove all counters from all creatures target player controls. That player loses 1 life for each counter removed this way.
Devil Dragon Devastator:
Mindgape Stone 4
Artifact (R)
Whenever a player has no cards in his or her hand, he or she draws a card.
Activated abilities of permanents cost 1 more for each card in its controller's hand.
"It may sound like a blessing, but sometimes it's annoying to always have something on your mind." - Harvoth, pathmage
Kavu Killer:
Wildfight Purist 1GG
Creature - Elf Shaman (R)
Prevent all noncombat damage that would be dealt to and dealt by creatures.
"Rage should be expressed by muscle and might, tooth and talon, blood and bone."
2/2
Planeswalker - Harvoth (M)
/+1\ Reveal the top card of each player's library. Put any land cards revealed this way onto the battlefield under your control.
\-3/ Each player chooses a land he or she controls and returns it to his or her hand.
\-6/ For the rest of the game, whenever a land enters the battlefield under an opponent's control, you may search your library for a land card and put it into the battlefield, then shuffle your library.
[3]
Pathmage's Guile UG
Enchantment (U)
Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, you may reveal the top card of your library. If it's not a land, you may put it on the bottom of your library.
You may play land cards anytime you could cast an instant. (You can still only play one land each turn.)
Pathstone Field
Land (R)
Pathstone Field enters the battlefield tapped.
When Pathstone Field enters the battlefield, you may pay 1. If you do, you may choose a land card in your hand and put it onto the battlefield tapped.
T: Add 1 to your mana pool.
Seeking the Wurmlord's Mantle G
Enchantment (R)
Landfall - Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, put a quest counter on Seeking the Wurmlord's Mantle.
Remove X quest counters from Seeking the Wurmlord's Mantle and sacrifice it: Put an X/X green Wurm creature token with trample onto the battlefield.
Spellforce XUU
Instant (R)
Gain control of target spell with converted mana cost X. You may choose new targets for that spell.
"So unoriginal. Let me show you what could really be accomplished with that kind of power." - Vassok, lullmage
Terrain Blessing 1W
Enchantment - Aura (U)
Enchant permanent
Enchanted permanent has protection from each color lands you control could produce.
"Much of the Multiverse may be wild and dangerous, but even Zendikar has its sanctuaries if you know where to look for them." - Harvoth Pathmaker
4 Island
4 Plains
4 Pathstone Field
3 Misty Rainforest
2 Kabira Crossroads
2 Soaring Seacliff
2 Turntimber Grove
3 Grazing Gladeheart
1 Oracle of Mul Daya
1 Rampaging Baloths
2 Kamsan Warder
2 Polarion
2 Wildfight Purist
2 Wandering Scrolls
1 Conqueror's Pledge
2 Harrow
2 Pathmage's Guile
1 Spellforce
1 Terrain Blessing
1 Seeking the Wurmlord's Mantle
1 Mindsway
1 Roiling Vortex
1 Vital Stasis
1 Sigil of Serenity
1 Mindgape Stone
2 Pathway Stone Pendant
2 Bindwire Lash
2 Explorer's Scope
Legendary Creature - Elf Scout MR
Shroud, forestwalk
Each opponent's spells cost more to cast during your turn.
3/3
Order of Emeria :symw::symw:
Creature - Kor Soldier U
First strike
Landfall -- Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, Order of Emeria gains protection from the color of your choice until the end of turn.
2/2
Ondu Spiritwarden :symw::symw:
Creature - Spirit MR
Flying
Whenever a card in a graveyard becomes the target of a spell or ability, exile it.
Landfall -- Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, put a creature token onto the battlefield that is a copy of Ondu Spiritwarden.
Fallen clerics still gather over the entrance to the Soul Stair, ensuring it remains a one-way passage for Zendikar's greatest evils.
1/1
Inner Peace :symw::symw:
Enchantment - Aura C
Enchant creature
Prevent all damage that would be dealt by enchanted creature.
Whenever a creature attacks, you may attach Inner Peace to that creature.
Fury, like candlelight, can be extinguished as quickly as it is ignited.
Planeswalker - Kovan MR
[+1]: Search your library for a Forest or Plains card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
[-X]: Search your library for a creature or enchantment card with converted mana cost X or less and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
[-9]: Search your library for any number of creature and/or land cards and put them onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
[[5]]
Sojourner's Ritual GW
Sorcery U
Search your library for a basic land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Then if an opponent controls more land than you do, search your library for a basic land card and put it onto the battlefield tapped. Then shuffle your library.
Soulseeder 1GW
Creature - Spirit R
Flying
Whenever Soulseeder deals combat damage to a player, put that many 1/1 green saproling creature tokens onto the battlefield.
1/1
1 Hallowed Fountain
1 Breeding Pool
4 Misty Rainforest
2 Wooded Bastion
3 Vitu-Ghazi, the City-Tree
5 Forest
5 Plains
4 Noble Hierarch
4 Order of Emeria
4 Ondu Spiritwarden
4 Soulseeder
4 Emeria Angel
1 Kovan Thal, Trapfinder
4 Glare of Subdual
3 Kovan Thal, the All-Seeker
2 Supply/Demand
1 Behemoth Sledge
4 Wrath of God
3 Baneslayer Angel
3 Inner Peace
2 Meddling Mage
2 Qasali Pride-Mage
1 Acidic Slime
Twilight Kiwi: While I found your deck interesting, I have to say that I thought that with all the singletons and 1-2 of's it wouldn't work very well, or at least well enough to be consistent. I also do not particularly like the look of 10 CIPT lands, seeing that almost half of your mana base will be useless turns 1-2. Your cards were elegant, but I believe that Dragoon gets the win here. Also, just a question: Why didn't you use the ravnica shocklands or the shadowmoor-eventide color fixers? I must give you points for Zendikar block, but the challenge was for Extended... Also, sadly, your deck did not appear to me that it had a consistent win-con. I saw lots of landfall shenanigans, but no creature that particularly abused them. Some of them were interesting and could see print, but keeping them to 1-2 ofs seriously limits the power of this deck...
@Gerrard's Mom: My guess for this is that most people just didn't want to deal with having to read through all the spoilers and constantly reference them just to find which cards did what and then figure out how they helped the decks...
Host of the July CCL '10, Host of the March CCL '11
Anyway, I'll look at them tonight and cast a vote then.
Update: It took a little longer than a night for me to get to do this, but I did.
Very hard time chossing a winner here, both player's cards were awesome and showed a lot of dedication to do such a massive task.
Congrats to both of you guys, you both are winners by accomplishing this month's final task.
This is why I don't like these deck-making challenges in the CCL; aside from the fact that it's significantly more time-consuming and requires a huge shift in mental gears, this is the CARD Creation League, and I don't think I'm the only player here who will admit that their deck-crafting skills are... less than stellar. ;P (Personally, I play casual exclusively; my decks are almost all singletons when it comes to rares/mythics, my only tournament experiences are a few prereleases, and I know very little about the current metagame.) If deck challenges arise in future months, I think maybe it would be better if the competitors were judged on their cards alone, with a deck treated the same way (and with the same weight) any flavor/storyline embellishment would.
And, as mentioned, it does contribute for a more daunting task to lay before voters.
My First (And Probably Only) MCC Perfect Score: December 09 (Round One)
Level 1 DCI Judge
Check out my Commons Cube.
There may have just been more activity in February; I think that was one of the higher vote totals I have seen, and IIRC it was decided by one vote, my first win.
I can try to get people to vote in the CCL thread.
I agree with these guys. For deck building challenges, it does take a long time to consider both the quality of the card submissions and how well constructed the decks are. It's also a little unclear whether you're meant to vote for the the best card designs (all the cards someone has designed this month or just the cards they designed in the final round?), the best built deck (based on its competitiveness, its originality, how fun it looks to play or some other criteria?) or a combination of both. Dragoon26 appears to have the better deck, but I felt Twilight Kiwi's individual cards were more interesting, so my vote went to him.
Level 1 DCI Judge
Check out my Commons Cube.
My First (And Probably Only) MCC Perfect Score: December 09 (Round One)
Level 1 DCI Judge
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A few comments:
I like TK's planeswalker's first ability, and I think Dragoon's ultimate is a little over the top, even for a planeswalker. That said, TK's second ability allows you to put other people's cards in your hand, so it wouldn't work as printed.
Overall, TK's cards showed more variety and original designs, I thought. While none of his cards from the round other than the avatar and Vital Stasis really impress me, Pathstone Field was the standout card of the finals in my opinion, and the last three cards he offered could all stand to be printed.
Dragoon's Inner Peace is nice, and the Sojourner's Ritual does a great job of offering a green mechanic that white is splashing into with white restrictions. Soulseeder is just a little Pollenbright Wings guy, not that there is anything wrong with it. I feel all the cards except Ondu Spiritwarden and the 'walker's ultimate are well balanced and solidly designed, and I would play many of them, I just think they're a shade less ambitious than what TK designed as a whole.
Anyway, good round guys, sorry you had to put so much effort in for a fairly lackluster turnout. I don't think anybody has gotten CCL trophies in a while, but I'll see what Kraj has to say.