Multiverse: Ba Tsao, Turner of Heads

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CardName: Ba Tsao, Turner of Heads Cost: 1rwu Type: Legendary Creature - Sphinx Monk Pow/Tgh: 3/3 Rules Text: Flying {1}{R}: Target creature attacks this turn if able. {1}{w}: Target creature can't attack you this turn. {1}{U}: Target creature can attack its controller this turn. Flavour Text: Set/Rarity: Link's Unplaced Cards Rare

Ba Tsao, Turner of Heads

Legendary Creature – Sphinx Monk

Flying

: Target creature attacks this turn if able.
{1}

: Target creature can't attack you this turn.
{1}

: Target creature can attack its controller this turn.

3/3

Updated on 07 Oct 2017 by Link

History: [-]

2011-09-05 00:33:52: Link created the card Ba Tsao, Turner of Heads

by Link:

This evolved from me wanting a way to use Thada Adel, Acquisitor's ability on myself.

by Link:

I feel like the first ability (second if you count flying) needs more words, but I don't know what they should be. I also want it to be used offensively, so maybe "attacks its controller if able," but that's a lot of words and generally, that creature is not able.

2011-09-05 00:37:54: Link edited Ba Tsao, Turner of Heads:

Changed P/T.

by jmgariepy:

All I can imagine is a crazy Kung-Fu master from a cheezy 1970s Martial Arts movie, who's specialty is turning people's heads 180 degrees. I assume that when the hero fights this guy, his head gets turned 180, there's a pause, and then he keeps fighting backwards, and that is awesome.

by Alex:

The flavour is hilarious. I'm not sure if the design works, but the flavour is awesome enough (particularly with jmgariepy's comment) that I don't mind.

by Link:

Yeah, it's definitely iffy rules-wise. I wonder if "Tap target creature. That creature deals combat damage to its controller as though it were attacking" would make it clearer. It's just so many words, though, and would probably need a higher activation cost. Also, then it would be too similar to Zanshem, Heart's Betrayal.

by Vitenka:

{r} {u} : ~ fights you. (You have no power)

by Link:

Doesn't work for what I'm trying to accomplish. Fighting isn't combat damage, and I want him to be able to turn other creatures.

by Vitenka:

...fighting isn't combat damage.

That (or at least being able to say that without giggles) right there sums up something about magic that is bad wrong and evil. Grrrr. (Could just make it 'deals damage' - is it THAT abusable if you turn him into a pingstick?)

by Link:

I could, and that would work for him, but not, for example, using Thada Adel, Acquisitor on myself.

by Link:

By the way, the reminder text of "You have no power" is great.

2011-12-04 19:09:51: Link edited Ba Tsao, Turner of Heads

by Link:

I changed the wording of the ability.

2012-12-06 19:27:30: Link edited Ba Tsao, Turner of Heads:

Yes, I know this is a rules nightmare.

by Link:

Was:
" {1} {u} {r} : The next time target creature would deal combat damage to a player, it deals that damage to its controller instead. Whenever ~ deals combat damage to a player, draw a card, then shuffle a card from your hand into your library."

2013-01-13 07:08:14: Link edited Ba Tsao, Turner of Heads:

Added last ability.

by Link:

Is the last ability appropriate for {u} {r} ? It feels more naturally white. There is a bit of precedence in Kulrath Knight, Propaganda, and, I suppose, detain. I also feel like it should cost at least {1} {u} {r} , but then it wouldn't line up nicely with the other abilities.

by Link:

Is {2} {u} {u} {r} {r} too cheap for a repeatable "target creature deals damage equal to its power to its controller?"

Edit: It's {3} {r} {w} {u} now, which seems fine.

2013-05-31 05:05:39: Link edited Ba Tsao, Turner of Heads

by Alex:

FWIW, BTW, Captain's Maneuver or Ward of Piety let you hit yourself with Thada Adel, Acquisitor already. Other more unlikely combinations can do it too (Martyrdom plus Treacherous Link, for example, or Daughter of Autumn plus Vassal's Duty if the opponent has a white blocker).

And no, I don't think 6 mana for a repeatable Backlash is too cheap.

by Link:

I know that this is a totally random bump... but when did they change the way enchantments work?? I never before realized that Auras from the Kamigawa block weren't auras at the time.

by Alex:

The first Ravnica, I think. Aura of Dominion has type "Enchant creature", but Flight of Fancy is "Enchantment - Aura". Ravnica had a minor Auras theme (Auratouched Mage, the Galvanic Arc cycle, Drake Familiar etc), perhaps in celebration of the new Aura technology.

by Link:

For some reason I had thought it was earlier than that.

2017-10-04 20:20:05: Link edited Ba Tsao, Turner of Heads:

Reduced cost by {1} .

by WOM Devign Team:

This card is really cool, and I think the rules for the last ability are actually not that bad. The Aura was change part of 9th Edition by the way, and the card I know of that's most affected is Tallowisp -- it used to be able to grab e.g. Threads of Disloyalty, but became unable to after the rules change.

--CF

by Link:

Thank you for the compliment. This is one of my favorite custom cards.

Looking back, if I desired to change anything about it, the white ability would become "Target creature can't attack target player or planeswalker this turn," but that loses a bit of the elegance.

by Jack V:

Oh yes, I'm sure I've seen this before but now the abilities are really nicely symmetric it's a really lovely design.

I wonder if anyone's ever tried to make Reflective Magic where both players share one deck, hand, and set of permanents...

by Link:

Thanks, Jack.

That sounds interesting, but bizarre.

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