(You can post hyperlinks using the syntax I mentioned here: [link text](url).)

I have seen a lot of discussion, especially on the Magic Wiki about "Mount" creatures and how messy it was to have creatures attach to other creatures in the various ways. Given that there was already a 'mechanic' in existence that would serve this purpose, I created this card, Assault Pachyderm and Riding Hippocampus as my examples.

finally got it to work.

Problem is, this mechanic wasn't very popular. Matching up the sizes and abilities is very sensible, but it makes it less appealing to activate the abilities in many cases. They're reminiscent of the Pearlspear Courier cycle, which also didn't make much of a splash.

Yeah, I remember the cycle. It is a tough design space to get right, I decided to go this path as it was the easisest to implement. If it was presented correctly - which is why I added the 'Mount' subtype - It could be saved. May need more work though.

Perhaps mounts cannot attack or block? After all, without a rider, they wouldn't engage in combat. This can make them more efficient in the bonus they empart.
Alternate idea: Won't attack or block alone, or without a rider.

I considered giving them defender. As they stand now, they need work as playtesting has shown their ability gets used in the declare blockers step after blockers are assigned to boost unblocked creatures and then untapped ready for spot boosting again. Hmm maybe it should be played as a sorcery? (but that makes them worse again)

Hmm giving them all defender and a cheaper cost is one possibility.

Argle, multipost.

I like this use of tech to get what you want. Still stupidly wordy in the reminder text, but does kinda capture "Even if you kill the rider, the horse lives on!" part. Though, um, you can't kill the horse first. Which is a bit odd. And you can Disenchant it. So I guess it's a horse made of pure magic?

So I guess when the error message "Applicaiton not avaiable" came up, it had heard my post after all.

Yeah it not perfect but bestow is the best work around for it so far, used to use DFCs but they are so unwieldy and not popular. At least you can drop the reminder text for rare/mythic ones.

FWIW DFCs are allegedly quite popular among players as a whole. There are many people like myself who get rather annoyed at the physical unwieldiness and faff of playing with them, but we're a minority.

so we have two options both with their supporters and detractors. With DFC's I always kept copies of the "other side" with my sideboard in different coloured sleeves to the rest of the deck...transform time? put the copy on top of original and hey presto problem solved. (not for all especially with some of the rare & mythic cards)

I like DFCs in concept quite a bit. They are tons of fun to design. I don't really enjoy playing with them in paper Magic, but I like the idea of them more than I dislike that, so it balances out.

wow, awesome blog post. Cool.