For Challenge # 083

I don't really like this, I don't think there's enough gameplay to support a keyword, but I liked the idea.

There have been several "dimensional anchor" cards, but I think an always-on ability is too confusing -- it normally doesn't matter, or breaks things, or lets you cast things from exile... But an activated ability lets you do several different things (dodge exile from any zone, or turn mill into card filtering), and has an "out" for the opponent if you tap your mana.

I'm not sure if the templating can be fixed -- miracle says you can trigger off changes from hidden zones somehow, but I'm not sure that works with "instead". Any suggestions for better templating?

I don't know why people think minotaurs are good at mazes: IIRC, the heroes barely escaped with the string, but the minotaur couldn't find its way out at all? But it seems to be common now.

Huh; I've not met that trope before. I guess it's just a consequence of naming. It's "The Minotaur's maze" or "The maze of the Minotaur". Which initially meant a maze imprisoning the minotaur; but I can see how it changed to ownership and thus presumed mastery thereof.

It really is a pretty odd legend that survives, though. "Ah! I have built an inescapable maze! It, uh, has absolutely no turnings and is basically a single winding corridor; but never mind that! Ancient greek powers! But woe is me, I must reveal the secret to the Hero! Um, I know! You can use string! It's... um, recently invented and mystical! In years to come we'll update the legend, I'm sure... probably."

It all comes off looking rather tawdry.

Uh, right. Card.

Minotaur + Maze is an obvious flavour combo. Glad to see it. Interesting take on it; but I guess putting Maze of Ith on a whole decks worth of creatures would be insane. This is kinda super-regenerate? And cannot-be-exiled? And, um, I guess "I can cast this card a lot, without using up a card from my hand" if that ever matters... Seems kinda fiddly to be a red ability. Still, looked at as something like "Really freakin stubborn" it works.

Blame the "Minotaurs like mazes" thing on Dungeons and Dragons original Fiend Folio. I'm sure it popped up there because Gygax and Co. were looking for an ability that Minotaurs could possess... otherwise, they'd just be yet another bigtough with some horns.

I like what you're going with, Jack, but something feels off. My first thought would be to flicker the Minotaur, instead of forcing him to stay in play... but I don't know how sold you are on your own mechanic. I also like the idea of a card that returns to hand whenever zones would change, but I guess that would also resonate differently.

Oh, but I didn't notice that this was an anti-discard, anti-Morningtide effect, too. Interesting. That is kind of cool... but it reminds me more of how you can't push dwarves around. Maybe this is a Dwarf?

Hm. Maybe it would work better as "You may put it onto the battlefield" or "You may return it to your hand" instead; that removes a lot of the ambiguity and makes it simpler by putting it into the zone you really wanted it in?

PS. Oops on the name. I was thinking of Mystifying Maze which is what Maze of Ith is sort of. But Ith was a lot more iconic.

If you changed it to "by a spell or ability your opponent controls" you could get away with a vaguely cheaper cost, too. That, and it will cut out confusion during cleanup. I'm pretty sure the answer is "You can't do anything during cleanup", but many players will try to pay mana to not discard their 8th card anyway.

I thought that you got priority in cleanup if madness triggers? But point taken, it might be less confusing anyway.