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CardName: Istvan, the Mad Cost: 5BG Type: Legendary Creature - Human Pow/Tgh: 3/5 Rules Text: Istvan, the Mad is indestructible. {3}{B}, {T}: Target opponent loses 1 life for each card in their hand, then that player discards a card. Use this ability only during that player's second main step. Flavour Text: Set/Rarity: Mashup: the Gathering Workbench Rare

Istvan, the Mad
{5}{b}{g}
 
 R 
Legendary Creature – Human
Istvan, the Mad is indestructible.
{3}{b}, {t}: Target opponent loses 1 life for each card in their hand, then that player discards a card. Use this ability only during that player's second main step.
3/5
Updated on 27 Aug 2011 by jmgariepy

History: [-]

2011-08-23 07:41:38: jmgariepy created the card Istvan, the Mad
2011-08-23 07:42:03: jmgariepy edited Istvan, the Mad

Random Generator gave me Uncle Istvan and Storm Seeker. Wow. Those are two well-loved cards that are the completely wrong color pie colors. I tried to push the two cards together so that their color pie breaking isn't really breaking any more. Or in other words, Green is now supplying damage prevention from creatures, and black is doing the damage to players equal to the number of cards in that player's hand (though, I had to throw some discard in there to help tie it up. Still not sure if that's good enough).

Also, Istvan is activating during your opponent's second main phase so that he can block first. Also, Istvan is Mad, and does things when he wants.

Hilarious and quite fun :)

What about "Target player loses 1 life for each card in his or her hand, then discards a card." Then it's more black and more powerful. Also, instead of indestructible, give him protection from creatures?

Green doesn't really grant protection from creatures, and an argument could be made that protecting your creatures from creatures is the antithesis of what green is about. It is, however, #1 in granting indestructibility right now (which I personally think is odd... but okay). I'm trying to rectify some "wrong color pie" mechanics, and it does has a similar, yet pumped up effect to the original Istvan ability, so I think I'll stick with it.

A change of ability order that makes the card a bit more powerful, though? Sure that seems fine. I'll do that.

2011-08-24 05:28:09: jmgariepy edited Istvan, the Mad

What I meant was that black gets life loss while red gets direct damage. Also, re pro creatures, whenever I play Uncle Istvan, I always wish it could be straight-up protection from creatures instead of damage prevention. You're right that green is better suited for indestructible currently.

In addition, I don't think the timing restriction is necessary, since even slightly experienced players will know to wait, and every one else won't know what the second main phase is.

Loss of Life: Yeah, you're probably right. Black can also deal damage, but when it is happening to the opponent, it might as well be loss of life.

Timing restriction: This can't be activated during your opponent's draw step, since you could lock your opponent out of drawing a card with it. You also shouldn't allow this to happen during your opponent's first main step, because many new players will think you can activate this before your opponent gets a chance to cast a spell. Even without the new player argument, I don't want Istvan to auto-KO a card in hand if there's a card like Howling Mine in play. If your opponent is drawing multiple spells, he should get a chance to cast them. After that, I could have the card say "Use this ability during your oppponent's turn, during or after the combat step", but that's too messy.

2011-08-27 06:44:13: jmgariepy edited Istvan, the Mad

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