Let's kick off the May 2011 Card Creation League! This month, a champion will be forged through the crucible of combat - a mighty warrior, a creature unmatched in strength and cunning, whose victory in battle is not a matter of odds or skill - but inevitability.
You are not this warrior.
Custom Card League Rules Compendium
* Overview
* Schedule
* Challenge Rounds
* Critique Rounds
* Valid Entry Constitution
* Scoring
* Penalties
* Resources
* Credits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Overview
The CCL is among the more fun games on the MtGSalvation forums due to its inherent aspect of interactivity among the Leaguers (that’s you). We actively critique each other’s card designs at the end of each round, putting a more personal interest into our cards and generally making us all better designers. Typically, we build worlds more complete than many games, as each round builds on the designs and ideas of previous rounds in the month. The CCL allows for Leaguers to plumb the depths of creativity, as the point schedule aspect allows for three full rounds without fear of elimination.
* Schedule
o The CCL will run six rounds, each lasting five days.
+ Rounds 1, 2 & 3 will be free-for-alls with each leaguer fighting for the most points during critiques. At the beginning of each of these rounds, the host will divide the league members evenly into two teams and each team will be assigned their design challenge. At the challenge deadline, the round will elapse into the critique section (see Critiques below). Once the critique section ends, the host will tally points and post the next round. Team rosters are likely to change between rounds; the new rosters will be included in the initial posting for the next round.
o Each round will last five days: 3.5 to finalize designs, 1.5 for critiques.
o The schedule will usually operate according to US Eastern Time Zone (GMT -5). We will stick to this schedule as closely as possible, adjusting as necessary.
* Challenge Rounds
o At the start of each round, the host will post the challenge for the round. This may be, at the host’s discretion, a single challenge for all leaguers, a list for each leaguer to choose from, challenges assigned to each leaguer, or other challenge variation.
o Each Leaguer will post his/her entry by the deadline, 3.5 days after the round is posted.
* Critique Rounds
o At the end of each challenge round, the host, or an individual the host designates, will officially close the round and open the forum for critiques. After this point, modifying the post containing your entry for the round will incur penalties (see Penalties section).
o Each Leaguer will thoroughly critique at least 50% of the entries given by the leaguers on the other team.
o In addition to the critiques, each Leaguer generates his/her list of the Top 3 entries for the round. The Top 3 listings are the chief source of points within the CCL and are therefore required to complete. Even if critiques are not completed, Top 3’s must be listed to avoid penalties (see Penalties for penalty schedule). Regardless of the cards actually critiqued by a given Leaguer, Top 3’s can be drawn from any valid entry of the round. Submitting Top 3’s grants one point.
o A valid critique does not need to be lengthy. A few constructive sentences will do as long as they are meaningful. Neither “Hated it,” “Too expensive,” nor “Bahhrokken!!!” are valid critiques.
Example:
The following card is submitted by Fitzgerald:
A few decent critics:
from Tiberius: Templating issue with “nonpermanent card,” it's confusing and should just read “instant or sorcery card.” And the cost seems steep: I’m giving up a mana, a card, and immediate access to the card I looked for. Creative, but not bad.
from Wilhelmina: I hate the name. Also the shuffle part should be right after removing the tutored card instead of on a separate line. Seems powerful as an instant, play it on the opponents turn and you get basically a free draw, but you get to pick it.
from Beauregard: A bit complicated for uncommon. It doesn’t go to microtext on a render (sans flavor text) but it still isn’t all that intuitive.
* Valid Entry Constitution
o A valid entry in a given round cleanly delivers all required components of the challenge. The CCL is based around card design, so each challenge will direct Leaguers to design one or more cards, but other components may be given according to the judge’s discretion. Historically, these non-card components have included such things as keyword mechanic designs, story pieces, and various ideas for the judge to incorporate into later rounds. Include only what is described by the challenge requirements, as superfluous items may sway judgings unfairly and will incur penalties.
o It is customary to include card renders in entries. This is not required. Some Leaguers may not have access to render design software and therefore will not be penalized for posting an entry without a render. However, it must be understood that a proper render is easier to judge/critique as it is more pleasing to the eye, more memorable and allows for Leaguers to judge the card by its wordiness, a very important aspect of a card’s design. Common rendering software used include Magic Set Editor (free program, the standard that most amateur designers use), PhotoShop (not free), and GIMP (free PhotoShop knockoff).
* Scoring
(This has been depricated, and pending approval from the powers that be will be deleted. See the next spoiler section for how Scoring works.)
o The bulk of available points will be derived from Top 3 listings, as is League custom. Within each Top 3 listing, the choice for 1st place will be awarded 3 points, the choice for 2nd place will receive 2 points, and the choice for 3rd place will receive 1 point. It is common for Leaguers to post an Honorable Mention or two along with their T3 listings. Honorable Mentions are not awarded points. Posting T3s is required and awards one point for completion of the requirements. There are penalties for failure to post T3s (see Penalties section).
o Critiques are an optional aspect of the CCL, therefore no penalties are given for failure to complete critiques. Any Leaguer completing critiques for at least 50% of the other team's entries will receive 1 bonus point. An additional point will be awarded if a Leaguer critiques all valid entries in the round.
o As noted in the section on Valid Entry Constitution, entries are encouraged to contain proper card renders. Some Leaguers may not have access to render design software and will not be penalized for posting an entry without a render.
* Penalties
o Failure to post Top 3s as required during the Critique section of any round will put a Leaguer on probation. While on probation, failure to post an Top 3 in any later round will disqualify that Leaguer for the remainder of the month.
o Once a Round elapses into its critique section, any Leaguer modifying their entry after any leaguer has posted a critique, will be disqualified for the round.
o Failure to post an entry within the Challenge round will put a Leaguer on probation. While on probation, failure to post an entry in any later round will disqualify that Leaguer for the remainder of the month.
* Resources
o This is a templating guideline compiled by Kraj. It is quite concise and very useful.
o Making Magic by Mark Rosewater, current head of Magic Design at Wizards of the Coast. Making Magic is a weekly article detailing the trials, tribulations and achievements of Magic R&D in riveting prose.
o Magiccards.info is the database mtgsalvation draws upon when you use the [card] tag. The advanced search functionality is useful for searching all cards officially printed by WotC.
o Gatherer is the database maintained officially by WotC. It has slightly different functionality than magiccards.info, but the differences are too numerable to list here. (Someone should write an article about that)
o Your other Leaguers are fantastic resources. We, more than the players of other games on this forum, are a community, as can be seen by the dialogue of any CCL thread.
+ Question, consult with, challenge and encourage each other at every opportunity.
Each round, the players have a chance of getting a total of 100 points toward their score. Each score is determined by the following equation:
The grading of 3 points for first place, 2 points for second and 1 for third still stands. This is also the case for up to 2 points for crits and Top 3.
Total points of player A in round N = 100 * X/Y
Where:
X = Total number of points given by judges + (Bonus points for critiques & Top 3)
Y = Total number of points possible (3*Number of judges + Bonus Points)
This way the grading is more streamlined in the fact that all rounds up to going to top 8 are graded equally, and there is no handicap for any team that has fewer judges.
Each player starts the next round with the score that he previously had, and another possible 100 points is given to him at the end of that round. Therefore, there is a possible 300 points before the CCL goes to top 8.
Indeed, this time around you are not an almighty planeswalker, the breadth and power of the multiverse at your beck and call. You are no cunning mage-adept; if magic even exists in your world, you have never felt its touch nor heard its call. You're not even an adventurer, seasoned or ametuer. You're an average, completely mundane 0/1 Human Citizen.
So how in the world did you end up in this completely foreign place, unfamiliar trees stretching high overhead? As you regain consciousness, noting with some trepidation the indistinct shapes moving through the brilliant and bizarre foliage that surrounds you, the call of adventure is the least of your concerns. The only thing you can be sure of is that you're lost very, very far from home, alone, with no idea how to return.
As you take stock of your strange situation, you notice suddenly that the background noise of the jungle has stopped. The underbrush before you rustles ominously, and you brace yourself as something unexpected emerges - you sigh in relief as you realize it doesn't look particularly dangerous.
But the moment you lock eyes with the creature, something fundamental changes. Though you may or may not speak the same language - indeed, it might not even be capable of speech - you both somehow understand that a deep and permanent connection has been formed between the two of you in the span of that long second. Memories and senses flow instantly between you, bridging the disparate worlds you come from. And suddenly you don't feel so alone anymore.
A bright, golden light flares momentarily; looking down, you realize you're now holding a strange silver amulet, etched with arcane symbols and a rune that looks like a stylized image of your new companion. You study it wordlessly, too shocked to question its appearance... but on a deeper level you understand this token represents the link that has just been created.
"Welcome, would-be champions," a voice booms overhead, shattering the awed moment and sending the jungle back into a cacophony of noise and movement, "to Crucible."
This month starts small. To sign up, you need merely create a common, monocolored (or colorless) non-human creature with converted mana cost three or less. (Note that it may still be some other humanoid race, if you wish.) This will be your companion and your only defense against adversity in the challenges to come; further rounds this month will revolve around this creature.
Round One will begin on the eve of Sunday, May 1st.
Baloth Cub1G
Creature - Beast {C}
Baloth Cub can't attack or block unless its power is 4 or greater. Fully matured baloths are ferocious predators - however, their offspring are surprisingly timid.
3/3
Quill Pup1G
Creature - Porcupine (C)
Whenever Quill Pup blocks a creature, Quill Pup deals damage equal to its power to that creature. Many a traveler returned from the forests riddled with quills and a lesson learned about startling Quill Pups.
1/1
In case you want to read, be advised: The following is long.
I stopped keeping count of the days after the second year. I suppose you could say I was down on my luck. I mean, I was getting by doing odd jobs here and there, but my situation wasn't good.
A few months after I had graduated from university, I sent my first novel to a big name publisher. They replied saying that the concept was good, but that the writing could use some work. After a while, I sent them a second draft, which they loved. They told me they would be releasing the book in a short print run across a number of heavily frequented stores to, in a sense, test the waters, or rather, to see if there was market for my style. Initially, it was huge success. My book, Morphling, sold out within the first two weeks. At this point, the publishers became excited, and sent it into mass production. But it was a disaster. After the initial success, interest dropped like a rock. Within one month of it's national release, Morphling had sold maybe two hundred copies. The publishers' excitement turned to despair, and then to anger. And they turned their anger towards me. I was fired, stripped of the rights to my novel, and blacklisted.
And so, I was left penniless without a career. I spent the next two and a half years barely getting by. And then one day, I opened the door of my crammed apartment, and absentmindedly walked out into what I had though was the same downtrodden hallway. But it wasn't. As I stepped into the darkness, I immediately started falling.
I don't remember what happened after that. When I came to, I found myself in a clearing within some sort of forest.
"HELP!" I shouted.
No response. I yelled out a few more times, but nobody was there. I stopped yelling.
Luckily, I had read a few novels on wilderness survival, and I knew that if I could just find a river, it would most likely lead me to some sort of civilization. Sadly, however, if there was running water nearby, I couldn't hear it.
I walked through the gnarled woods for a while, but nothing seemed to change. Eventually I found another clearing, but my situation had hardly changed, save for the fact that the sun was now hanging low. I was tired, and distraught, and so I figured I'd stop for the day. I sat back against a nearby tree, hoping to get some sleep.
And then I saw them. Two golden eyes staring back at me from my own shadow. At first, I was frighted, and tried to creep away. By the eyes remained in my shadow, wherever I went. And so, I sat there for a while, exchanging stares with them. After some time, nothing had happened, and so I decided that whatever it was, at least it wasn't after me.
"Can you understand me?" The eyes blinked. It could at least hear me.
"Can you speak?" The eyes began to move left and right, reminiscent of someone shaking their head.
"I guess you're down on your luck too." And so I sat there for a while, talking to the eyes, and interpreting their simple responses. Eventually, I figured I'd try and touch it, whatever it was. I mean, the ground didn't have eyes, so something must be there. I reached out, and touched an area slightly above the eyes. It felt different. Not hard and rough like the ground, but soft and smooth. The yes blinked in what I assumed was excitement.
"What are you?" I asked. But of course, there was response.
I began to feel the areas around the eyes some more to see if I could determine the being's form. As it turns out, the entire area of my shadow had the same characteristics, soft and smooth.
"Are you trapped in my shadow?" I asked.
The eyes appeared to nod.
"Can I get you out?" The eyes nodded again.
I couldn't ask how, since I knew it couldn't speak. And so I sat there, thinking. I began to wonder what this being looked like. I didn't seem aggressive, and despite the lack of communication, it seemed quite playful. Was it a child? The image of a child whose skin was like the material in my shadow then popped into my mind.
And then, it rose. From amidst my shadow, the being took the form I'd imagined. It had no mouth, but I could that it was smiling from the gleaming in it's eyes. Somehow, then and there, we'd bonded.
And then, in a bright flash of light, an amulet appeared in my hand. Before I'd had a chance to even think about how the amulet had appeared, r what it was, a booming voice sounded throughout out the jungle...
Nether Bairn2
Creature - Shapeshifter {C}
Changeling
Formshift 1 (You may play this for it’s formshift cost by returning a creature that shares a type with it to your hand. Formshift only as a sorcery.) From a single empty slate can sprout boundless possibilities. 1/1
Dude: Feel free to fly with whatever flavor ideas you want; just because you're normal doesn't mean you have to be boring. I welcome and appreciate any backstory elaboration. However you choose to explain your creature's development, it will be tied to the amulet in some way; for example if you decided to run with the tattoo idea, you could say that whenever the amulet is imbued with new power, it allows you to tattoo one of its symbols onto your creature to relay that power.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Suffer the little creatures, for they may yet rise up and beat you senseless."
Shijaya Ostrich1WW
Creature - Bird (C)
Haste, first strike T, Sacrifice Shijaya Ostrich: You gain 4 life. At the beginning of the next three upkeep steps, you gain 4 life. The Shijaya ostrich is known primarily for three things: intelligence, speed, and delicious, if inordinately large, drumsticks.
2/1
I think someone always asks: is color required (colorless/artifact ok)?
Mistcaller Crow2U
Creature - Bird (C)
Flying
Whenever Mistcaller Crow attacks, you may have target creature phase out. Teferi's experiments left a legacy of incredible abilities in even the smallest creatures around his island.
1/2
Puma Pouncer1RR
Creature - Cat (C)
Stalking (This creature may attack any creature it could legally block.)
First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.)
2/1
Infested Myr
Artifact Creature - Myr (C)
Infect
Infested Myr enters the battlefield with two -1/-1 counters on it.
:symtap:, Remove a -1/-1 counter from Infested Myr: Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature. Activate this ability only if an opponent was dealt damage this turn.
2/3
Companion Snapper1U
Creature - Turtle (C) T, Put a -1/-1 counter on Companion Snapper: Prevent all damage a source of your choice would deal this turn. "As soon as our eyes met I knew we would risk our lives for each other." - Koopa
1/3
Charmander1R
Creature - Elemental Lizard (C) 1R: Charmander get's +1/+0 until end of turn. 3RR, sacrifice Charmander: Search your hand and library for a card named "Charmeleon" and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
1/1
"Using only a compass and straightedge, it's impossible to construct friends. The Greeks long suspected this, but it wasn't until April 12th of 1882 that Ferdinand von Lindemann conclusively proved it when he constructed himself the most awesome birthday party possible and nobody showed up." ~Randall Munroe
Grove SeedlingG
Creature – Treefolk (C)
Grove Seedling gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Plains or a Mountain. For a seedling to mature into a mighty treefolk, it must first leave the shade of its parents' boughs.
0/1
Leaping Leopard1GG
Creature - Cat (C)
Reach
Ambush 1G (If you are being attacked and you control no creatures, you may cast this creature for it's ambush cost and as though it had flash.)
4/2
EDIT: (Probably no one is going to believe this, but I created this card before seeing Jimmy Groove's. Since only the flavor is strikingly similar but the mechanics are not, I'm leaving it as it is.)
I'm calling it right now- worst rare in the set. Even good limited players will find better bombs at common and uncommon no sweat. Worst. Episode. Ever.
I really do predict this to be our worst rare in set award winner. I'd be happier opening a jar of eyeballs, so I think anything worse is highly unlikely. This card wont just have zero constructed potential, but not be significantly better than a mass of ghouls in a draft.
Furious GravelingR
Creature - Spirit C
Haste 1R, Exile Furious Graveling: Furious Graveling deals 2 damage to target creature or player. Activate this ability only if Furious Graveling is in your graveyard. Fury never truly dies.
1/1
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.
ScardieyeB
Creature - Eye (C)
Flying
At the beginning of each upkeep, look at a random card in target opponent's hand. If it's a creature card, Sacrdieye can't attack or block this turn.
2/1
Feral Dralgu 1GG
Creature - Beast (Common)
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a +1/+1 counter on ~, then ~ deals damage to you equal to the number of +1/+1 counters on it.
2/2 His fury is barely restrained; even with the help of my amulet I can feel him trying to break free. - Mikael
Render:
Viperion
(I didn't see any restrictions on who can enter - this is my first attempt at one of these competition things - if I do anything wrong please let me know )
Taurus Enforcer1RR
Creature - Minotaur Warrior (C)
First Strike
Whenever Taurus Enforcer blocks or is blocked it gets +1/-1 until end of turn.
2/3 You can never caught a minotaur not ready for battle, they always have their horns very sharp.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Those who endure in the face of suffering, those whose faith shines long in evil days, they shall see salvation." -Song of All, canto 904
Loam Gorger2G
Creature - Beast (C)
Whenever a land card is put into a graveyard from anywhere, Loam Gorger gets +1/+1 until end of turn. The world itself crumbled around the beast, but all it saw was a banquet.
2/3
Cliffside Skyhawk1U
Creature - Bird Common
Flying
As long as you control a Mountain, ~ gets +1/+0 and has Haste. Launching themselves off cliffs and ridges allow these hawks to gain maximum velocity while diving to catch their prey.
1/1
Dahammer4
Artifact - Equipment (R)
Choose one - Equipped creature gets +4/+0; or Double Strike; or "When this creature deals combat damage to a creature, exile that creature"; or t, unattach ~ from this creature: ~ deals 5 damage to target creature." t: Equipped creature gains flying until end of turn.
Equip 3
Let's kick off the May 2011 Card Creation League! This month, a champion will be forged through the crucible of combat - a mighty warrior, a creature unmatched in strength and cunning, whose victory in battle is not a matter of odds or skill - but inevitability.
You are not this warrior.
* Overview
* Schedule
* Challenge Rounds
* Critique Rounds
* Valid Entry Constitution
* Scoring
* Penalties
* Resources
* Credits
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Overview
The CCL is among the more fun games on the MtGSalvation forums due to its inherent aspect of interactivity among the Leaguers (that’s you). We actively critique each other’s card designs at the end of each round, putting a more personal interest into our cards and generally making us all better designers. Typically, we build worlds more complete than many games, as each round builds on the designs and ideas of previous rounds in the month. The CCL allows for Leaguers to plumb the depths of creativity, as the point schedule aspect allows for three full rounds without fear of elimination.
* Schedule
o The CCL will run six rounds, each lasting five days.
+ Rounds 1, 2 & 3 will be free-for-alls with each leaguer fighting for the most points during critiques. At the beginning of each of these rounds, the host will divide the league members evenly into two teams and each team will be assigned their design challenge. At the challenge deadline, the round will elapse into the critique section (see Critiques below). Once the critique section ends, the host will tally points and post the next round. Team rosters are likely to change between rounds; the new rosters will be included in the initial posting for the next round.
o Each round will last five days: 3.5 to finalize designs, 1.5 for critiques.
o The schedule will usually operate according to US Eastern Time Zone (GMT -5). We will stick to this schedule as closely as possible, adjusting as necessary.
* Challenge Rounds
o At the start of each round, the host will post the challenge for the round. This may be, at the host’s discretion, a single challenge for all leaguers, a list for each leaguer to choose from, challenges assigned to each leaguer, or other challenge variation.
o Each Leaguer will post his/her entry by the deadline, 3.5 days after the round is posted.
* Critique Rounds
o At the end of each challenge round, the host, or an individual the host designates, will officially close the round and open the forum for critiques. After this point, modifying the post containing your entry for the round will incur penalties (see Penalties section).
o Each Leaguer will thoroughly critique at least 50% of the entries given by the leaguers on the other team.
o In addition to the critiques, each Leaguer generates his/her list of the Top 3 entries for the round. The Top 3 listings are the chief source of points within the CCL and are therefore required to complete. Even if critiques are not completed, Top 3’s must be listed to avoid penalties (see Penalties for penalty schedule). Regardless of the cards actually critiqued by a given Leaguer, Top 3’s can be drawn from any valid entry of the round. Submitting Top 3’s grants one point.
o A valid critique does not need to be lengthy. A few constructive sentences will do as long as they are meaningful. Neither “Hated it,” “Too expensive,” nor “Bahhrokken!!!” are valid critiques.
Example:
The following card is submitted by Fitzgerald:
A few decent critics:
from Tiberius: Templating issue with “nonpermanent card,” it's confusing and should just read “instant or sorcery card.” And the cost seems steep: I’m giving up a mana, a card, and immediate access to the card I looked for. Creative, but not bad.
from Wilhelmina: I hate the name. Also the shuffle part should be right after removing the tutored card instead of on a separate line. Seems powerful as an instant, play it on the opponents turn and you get basically a free draw, but you get to pick it.
from Beauregard: A bit complicated for uncommon. It doesn’t go to microtext on a render (sans flavor text) but it still isn’t all that intuitive.
* Valid Entry Constitution
o A valid entry in a given round cleanly delivers all required components of the challenge. The CCL is based around card design, so each challenge will direct Leaguers to design one or more cards, but other components may be given according to the judge’s discretion. Historically, these non-card components have included such things as keyword mechanic designs, story pieces, and various ideas for the judge to incorporate into later rounds. Include only what is described by the challenge requirements, as superfluous items may sway judgings unfairly and will incur penalties.
o It is customary to include card renders in entries. This is not required. Some Leaguers may not have access to render design software and therefore will not be penalized for posting an entry without a render. However, it must be understood that a proper render is easier to judge/critique as it is more pleasing to the eye, more memorable and allows for Leaguers to judge the card by its wordiness, a very important aspect of a card’s design. Common rendering software used include Magic Set Editor (free program, the standard that most amateur designers use), PhotoShop (not free), and GIMP (free PhotoShop knockoff).
* Scoring
(This has been depricated, and pending approval from the powers that be will be deleted. See the next spoiler section for how Scoring works.)
o The bulk of available points will be derived from Top 3 listings, as is League custom. Within each Top 3 listing, the choice for 1st place will be awarded 3 points, the choice for 2nd place will receive 2 points, and the choice for 3rd place will receive 1 point. It is common for Leaguers to post an Honorable Mention or two along with their T3 listings. Honorable Mentions are not awarded points. Posting T3s is required and awards one point for completion of the requirements. There are penalties for failure to post T3s (see Penalties section).
o Critiques are an optional aspect of the CCL, therefore no penalties are given for failure to complete critiques. Any Leaguer completing critiques for at least 50% of the other team's entries will receive 1 bonus point. An additional point will be awarded if a Leaguer critiques all valid entries in the round.
o As noted in the section on Valid Entry Constitution, entries are encouraged to contain proper card renders. Some Leaguers may not have access to render design software and will not be penalized for posting an entry without a render.
* Penalties
o Failure to post Top 3s as required during the Critique section of any round will put a Leaguer on probation. While on probation, failure to post an Top 3 in any later round will disqualify that Leaguer for the remainder of the month.
o Once a Round elapses into its critique section, any Leaguer modifying their entry after any leaguer has posted a critique, will be disqualified for the round.
o Failure to post an entry within the Challenge round will put a Leaguer on probation. While on probation, failure to post an entry in any later round will disqualify that Leaguer for the remainder of the month.
* Resources
o This is a templating guideline compiled by Kraj. It is quite concise and very useful.
o Making Magic by Mark Rosewater, current head of Magic Design at Wizards of the Coast. Making Magic is a weekly article detailing the trials, tribulations and achievements of Magic R&D in riveting prose.
o Magiccards.info is the database mtgsalvation draws upon when you use the [card] tag. The advanced search functionality is useful for searching all cards officially printed by WotC.
o Gatherer is the database maintained officially by WotC. It has slightly different functionality than magiccards.info, but the differences are too numerable to list here. (Someone should write an article about that)
o Your other Leaguers are fantastic resources. We, more than the players of other games on this forum, are a community, as can be seen by the dialogue of any CCL thread.
+ Question, consult with, challenge and encourage each other at every opportunity.
The grading of 3 points for first place, 2 points for second and 1 for third still stands. This is also the case for up to 2 points for crits and Top 3.
Total points of player A in round N = 100 * X/Y
Where:
X = Total number of points given by judges + (Bonus points for critiques & Top 3)
Y = Total number of points possible (3*Number of judges + Bonus Points)
This way the grading is more streamlined in the fact that all rounds up to going to top 8 are graded equally, and there is no handicap for any team that has fewer judges.
Each player starts the next round with the score that he previously had, and another possible 100 points is given to him at the end of that round. Therefore, there is a possible 300 points before the CCL goes to top 8.
So how in the world did you end up in this completely foreign place, unfamiliar trees stretching high overhead? As you regain consciousness, noting with some trepidation the indistinct shapes moving through the brilliant and bizarre foliage that surrounds you, the call of adventure is the least of your concerns. The only thing you can be sure of is that you're lost very, very far from home, alone, with no idea how to return.
As you take stock of your strange situation, you notice suddenly that the background noise of the jungle has stopped. The underbrush before you rustles ominously, and you brace yourself as something unexpected emerges - you sigh in relief as you realize it doesn't look particularly dangerous.
But the moment you lock eyes with the creature, something fundamental changes. Though you may or may not speak the same language - indeed, it might not even be capable of speech - you both somehow understand that a deep and permanent connection has been formed between the two of you in the span of that long second. Memories and senses flow instantly between you, bridging the disparate worlds you come from. And suddenly you don't feel so alone anymore.
A bright, golden light flares momentarily; looking down, you realize you're now holding a strange silver amulet, etched with arcane symbols and a rune that looks like a stylized image of your new companion. You study it wordlessly, too shocked to question its appearance... but on a deeper level you understand this token represents the link that has just been created.
"Welcome, would-be champions," a voice booms overhead, shattering the awed moment and sending the jungle back into a cacophony of noise and movement, "to Crucible."
This month starts small. To sign up, you need merely create a common, monocolored (or colorless) non-human creature with converted mana cost three or less. (Note that it may still be some other humanoid race, if you wish.) This will be your companion and your only defense against adversity in the challenges to come; further rounds this month will revolve around this creature.
Round One will begin on the eve of Sunday, May 1st.
My First (And Probably Only) MCC Perfect Score: December 09 (Round One)
Creature - Beast {C}
Baloth Cub can't attack or block unless its power is 4 or greater.
Fully matured baloths are ferocious predators - however, their offspring are surprisingly timid.
3/3
[Clan Flamingo] Tier Archivist
[15:21] <@CC> Remember, if you argue, you are an idiot.
Untrophied Wins:
Perfect MCC Scores: 2
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Creature - Elemental (C)
Sacrifice Ember Ashling: Put a 3/1 red elemental creatures on the battlefield with haste.
0/1
Creature - Porcupine (C)
Whenever Quill Pup blocks a creature, Quill Pup deals damage equal to its power to that creature.
Many a traveler returned from the forests riddled with quills and a lesson learned about startling Quill Pups.
1/1
A few months after I had graduated from university, I sent my first novel to a big name publisher. They replied saying that the concept was good, but that the writing could use some work. After a while, I sent them a second draft, which they loved. They told me they would be releasing the book in a short print run across a number of heavily frequented stores to, in a sense, test the waters, or rather, to see if there was market for my style. Initially, it was huge success. My book, Morphling, sold out within the first two weeks. At this point, the publishers became excited, and sent it into mass production. But it was a disaster. After the initial success, interest dropped like a rock. Within one month of it's national release, Morphling had sold maybe two hundred copies. The publishers' excitement turned to despair, and then to anger. And they turned their anger towards me. I was fired, stripped of the rights to my novel, and blacklisted.
And so, I was left penniless without a career. I spent the next two and a half years barely getting by. And then one day, I opened the door of my crammed apartment, and absentmindedly walked out into what I had though was the same downtrodden hallway. But it wasn't. As I stepped into the darkness, I immediately started falling.
I don't remember what happened after that. When I came to, I found myself in a clearing within some sort of forest.
"HELP!" I shouted.
No response. I yelled out a few more times, but nobody was there. I stopped yelling.
Luckily, I had read a few novels on wilderness survival, and I knew that if I could just find a river, it would most likely lead me to some sort of civilization. Sadly, however, if there was running water nearby, I couldn't hear it.
I walked through the gnarled woods for a while, but nothing seemed to change. Eventually I found another clearing, but my situation had hardly changed, save for the fact that the sun was now hanging low. I was tired, and distraught, and so I figured I'd stop for the day. I sat back against a nearby tree, hoping to get some sleep.
And then I saw them. Two golden eyes staring back at me from my own shadow. At first, I was frighted, and tried to creep away. By the eyes remained in my shadow, wherever I went. And so, I sat there for a while, exchanging stares with them. After some time, nothing had happened, and so I decided that whatever it was, at least it wasn't after me.
"Can you understand me?"
The eyes blinked. It could at least hear me.
"Can you speak?"
The eyes began to move left and right, reminiscent of someone shaking their head.
"I guess you're down on your luck too."
And so I sat there for a while, talking to the eyes, and interpreting their simple responses. Eventually, I figured I'd try and touch it, whatever it was. I mean, the ground didn't have eyes, so something must be there. I reached out, and touched an area slightly above the eyes. It felt different. Not hard and rough like the ground, but soft and smooth. The yes blinked in what I assumed was excitement.
"What are you?" I asked.
But of course, there was response.
I began to feel the areas around the eyes some more to see if I could determine the being's form. As it turns out, the entire area of my shadow had the same characteristics, soft and smooth.
"Are you trapped in my shadow?" I asked.
The eyes appeared to nod.
"Can I get you out?"
The eyes nodded again.
I couldn't ask how, since I knew it couldn't speak. And so I sat there, thinking. I began to wonder what this being looked like. I didn't seem aggressive, and despite the lack of communication, it seemed quite playful. Was it a child? The image of a child whose skin was like the material in my shadow then popped into my mind.
And then, it rose. From amidst my shadow, the being took the form I'd imagined. It had no mouth, but I could that it was smiling from the gleaming in it's eyes. Somehow, then and there, we'd bonded.
And then, in a bright flash of light, an amulet appeared in my hand. Before I'd had a chance to even think about how the amulet had appeared, r what it was, a booming voice sounded throughout out the jungle...
Creature - Shapeshifter {C}
Changeling
Formshift 1 (You may play this for it’s formshift cost by returning a creature that shares a type with it to your hand. Formshift only as a sorcery.)
From a single empty slate can sprout boundless possibilities.
1/1
My First (And Probably Only) MCC Perfect Score: December 09 (Round One)
Creature - Bird (C)
Haste, first strike
T, Sacrifice Shijaya Ostrich: You gain 4 life. At the beginning of the next three upkeep steps, you gain 4 life.
The Shijaya ostrich is known primarily for three things: intelligence, speed, and delicious, if inordinately large, drumsticks.
2/1
(Probably NSFW) So you may have heard I'm trying to write a TV series...
Most Nominated for Random Categories, 2013
Mistcaller Crow 2U
Creature - Bird (C)
Flying
Whenever Mistcaller Crow attacks, you may have target creature phase out.
Teferi's experiments left a legacy of incredible abilities in even the smallest creatures around his island.
1/2
My First (And Probably Only) MCC Perfect Score: December 09 (Round One)
Creature - Cat (C)
Stalking (This creature may attack any creature it could legally block.)
First strike (This creature deals combat damage before creatures without first strike.)
2/1
Artifact Creature - Myr (C)
Infect
Infested Myr enters the battlefield with two -1/-1 counters on it.
:symtap:, Remove a -1/-1 counter from Infested Myr: Put a -1/-1 counter on target creature. Activate this ability only if an opponent was dealt damage this turn.
2/3
Companion Snapper 1U
Creature - Turtle (C)
T, Put a -1/-1 counter on Companion Snapper: Prevent all damage a source of your choice would deal this turn.
"As soon as our eyes met I knew we would risk our lives for each other." - Koopa
1/3
BGStandard Green AggroGB
UWRGModern Saheeli CobraGRWU
UBRGLegacy StormGRBU
Wizards Certified Rules Advisor
Creature - Elemental (C)
Flying
Sacrifice Bright Idea: Draw a card.
1/1
Render:
Joke entry
Charmander 1R
Creature - Elemental Lizard (C)
1R: Charmander get's +1/+0 until end of turn.
3RR, sacrifice Charmander: Search your hand and library for a card named "Charmeleon" and put it onto the battlefield. Then shuffle your library.
1/1
Creature – Treefolk (C)
Grove Seedling gets +1/+1 as long as you control a Plains or a Mountain.
For a seedling to mature into a mighty treefolk, it must first leave the shade of its parents' boughs.
0/1
Sig courtesy of Disappointing Signet Inc.
My Cubes:
Goblin Pile Shuffler's 360 Card Pauper Cube - updated 1/4/2014
Goblin Pile Shuffler's 270 Card One-Drop Cube - updated 1/4/2014
Creature - Cat (C)
Reach
Ambush 1G (If you are being attacked and you control no creatures, you may cast this creature for it's ambush cost and as though it had flash.)
4/2
EDIT: (Probably no one is going to believe this, but I created this card before seeing Jimmy Groove's. Since only the flavor is strikingly similar but the mechanics are not, I'm leaving it as it is.)
Creature - Spirit C
Haste
1R, Exile Furious Graveling: Furious Graveling deals 2 damage to target creature or player. Activate this ability only if Furious Graveling is in your graveyard.
Fury never truly dies.
1/1
Level 1 DCI Judge
Check out my Commons Cube.
Creature- Wolf (C)
G: Camouflage Wolf gains shroud until end of turn.
G: Camouflage Wolf gains forestwalk until end of turn.
2/2
Creature - Eye (C)
Flying
At the beginning of each upkeep, look at a random card in target opponent's hand. If it's a creature card, Sacrdieye can't attack or block this turn.
2/1
Sets - Arcania
Competitions - CCL: March 2011, April 2011
Creature - Beast (Common)
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a +1/+1 counter on ~, then ~ deals damage to you equal to the number of +1/+1 counters on it.
2/2
His fury is barely restrained; even with the help of my amulet I can feel him trying to break free. - Mikael
Render:
Viperion
(I didn't see any restrictions on who can enter - this is my first attempt at one of these competition things - if I do anything wrong please let me know )
My First (And Probably Only) MCC Perfect Score: December 09 (Round One)
Creature - Minotaur Warrior (C)
First Strike
Whenever Taurus Enforcer blocks or is blocked it gets +1/-1 until end of turn.
2/3
You can never caught a minotaur not ready for battle, they always have their horns very sharp.
Loam Gorger2G
Creature - Beast (C)
Whenever a land card is put into a graveyard from anywhere, Loam Gorger gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
The world itself crumbled around the beast, but all it saw was a banquet.
2/3
Creature - Bird Common
Flying
As long as you control a Mountain, ~ gets +1/+0 and has Haste.
Launching themselves off cliffs and ridges allow these hawks to gain maximum velocity while diving to catch their prey.
1/1
Sigpic by Rivenor
Artifact - Equipment (R)
Choose one - Equipped creature gets +4/+0; or Double Strike; or "When this creature deals combat damage to a creature, exile that creature"; or t, unattach ~ from this creature: ~ deals 5 damage to target creature."
t: Equipped creature gains flying until end of turn.
Equip 3
Courtesy of Crepes
[OMC] Omerium's Collapse
My First (And Probably Only) MCC Perfect Score: December 09 (Round One)