Unfortunately flanking is a bad choice to be granted by an instant. The reason is that the creature has to have flanking before blockers are declared. Combat tricks are usually used after blockers are declared, and many, many players would try to use this instant to kill a 1/1 that's already been declared as a blocker. In most cases this could be a sorcery. The only exception is its use to suddenly create a blocker that can block without taking the flanking penalty. But I think the misplay risk is far too high, and this should be made a sorcery (or cut entirely).
Reprint of Zhalfirin Crusader with a setting-neutral name that is also a nod to Zealous Inquisitor which shares the second ability. Careful use of Flanking reprints (and reprints in general) is good. Looking at Suq'Ata Lancer for Red and Fallen Askari for Black as other possible reprints. The Askari could stay common whilst the Lancer would probably bump to Uncommon as it is still quite good despite it's age (takes a 3/2 or better to successfully block & kill it).
Blue will get very little flanking, maybe a vertical cycle of French Vanilla creatures with both it AND Flying, with this being the common. ( Order would be White, Red/Green, Black, then Blue).
It would also be possible to flavour Flanking in blue as creatures/wizards manipulating time - speeding it up for themselves and/or slowing it down for opponents to allow them to be in the perfect place to strike. But that would be for a Block as it is a somewhat advanced flavour/concept.
This card is an example for the set of how to integrate Flanking into the set other than on creatures. Also, note that, whilst historically Flanking has mostly been limited to chiefly Knight creatures, I feel this has had a negative impact on the mechanic. I see the mechanic as being used to show the flavour of either swift creatures that can literally outflank their opponents, attacking from the most advantageous position,OR for stealthy creatures that can stalk their opponents and attack with the element of surprise, catching their foes flatfooted. Therefore, whilst Flanking will show up on some Knights, it will also show up on other creatures that flavourfully warrant it.
2011-08-25 03:30:02:
Camruth
created a mechanic in M-Core
2011-08-25 03:26:54:
Camruth
created a mechanic in M-Core
2011-08-25 03:24:44:
Camruth
commented on the cardset M-Core
This is going to be a modern core set. At this point I am leaning towards Flanking as the returning mechanic - it is simple, flavourful mechanic that has survived pretty much as-is since the Mirage block without needing errata/clarifications/etc.
Obviously this will mean that one of the themes of the set is attacking/combat.
2011-08-25 03:11:29:
Camruth
created the cardset M-Core
Update of Afterlife for modern design and to feel more white.
Oh I know it doesn't, I just didn't want people tying this to Mirage block too much, the Lancer and Askari will be as-is reprints
The core set doesn't always use setting-neutral names. Vulshok Berserker comes to mind, though of course that was a hint toward Scars of Mirrodin.
Oh there's nothing wrong with it, I just wanted to keep things fairly simple. I may use this idea on the Rare.
What's wrong with advanced flavor when the mechanical implementation is so simple?
Unfortunately flanking is a bad choice to be granted by an instant. The reason is that the creature has to have flanking before blockers are declared. Combat tricks are usually used after blockers are declared, and many, many players would try to use this instant to kill a 1/1 that's already been declared as a blocker. In most cases this could be a sorcery. The only exception is its use to suddenly create a blocker that can block without taking the flanking penalty. But I think the misplay risk is far too high, and this should be made a sorcery (or cut entirely).
Reprint of Zhalfirin Crusader with a setting-neutral name that is also a nod to Zealous Inquisitor which shares the second ability.
Careful use of Flanking reprints (and reprints in general) is good.
Looking at Suq'Ata Lancer for Red and Fallen Askari for Black as other possible reprints. The Askari could stay common whilst the Lancer would probably bump to Uncommon as it is still quite good despite it's age (takes a 3/2 or better to successfully block & kill it).
Blue will get very little flanking, maybe a vertical cycle of French Vanilla creatures with both it AND Flying, with this being the common. ( Order would be White, Red/Green, Black, then Blue).
It would also be possible to flavour Flanking in blue as creatures/wizards manipulating time - speeding it up for themselves and/or slowing it down for opponents to allow them to be in the perfect place to strike. But that would be for a Block as it is a somewhat advanced flavour/concept.
An example of using Flanking to portray a stealthy attacking creature. Such a Pity that the name Goblin Bushwhacker has already been used :-(
This card is an example for the set of how to integrate Flanking into the set other than on creatures.
Also, note that, whilst historically Flanking has mostly been limited to chiefly Knight creatures, I feel this has had a negative impact on the mechanic. I see the mechanic as being used to show the flavour of either swift creatures that can literally outflank their opponents, attacking from the most advantageous position,OR for stealthy creatures that can stalk their opponents and attack with the element of surprise, catching their foes flatfooted.
Therefore, whilst Flanking will show up on some Knights, it will also show up on other creatures that flavourfully warrant it.
This is going to be a modern core set. At this point I am leaning towards Flanking as the returning mechanic - it is simple, flavourful mechanic that has survived pretty much as-is since the Mirage block without needing errata/clarifications/etc.
Obviously this will mean that one of the themes of the set is attacking/combat.