@Tahazzar: I don't know how there can be any confusion about what the original was like since I literally wrote it down in the reasoning.
And, yes, originally the card circumvented mana cost. Since drawing from an opponent's library wasn't as established in 2012 as it was today I probably used Bribery as a reference for color.
Thematically this was not representing "taking from the opponent like a tyrant", but "inspiring even opposing forces to come together in an act of creation".
I've been thinking to myself how this is worse than Divination/Concentrate in many ways and doesn't deserve the four-colored cost while transfering this card. I take further input to possible fixes into account, but prefer not to circumvent mana cost on an uncommon - I don't want to go from "bad draw spell" to "miracle top-deck Aetherworks Marvel activation as a spell" swingy.
@amuseum: Conceptually the colors could represent their card types being played off this, so white would stand for enchantments and planeswalkers.
It's effectively "You draw the top card from each players deck". Seems like straight library manipulation to me, with a side order of bonkers. Don't get why it's an uncastable quad-colour gold card. I... guess.. it's almost the antithesis of tutoring; making it non-black?
In conclusions, this card that should be everything but , looks like it should have almost nothing but in its mana cost, and is also quite under-powered. Is this for some unseemingly brilliant purpose that I'm missing?
EDIT: I'm looking at your reasonings about the card in the source thread... they seem a bit iffy. Was the original something like "You may cast the next spell this turn without paying its mana cost and as though it had flash"? That would much more sense to me as a card...
If you plan on pointing out all the dead links, then you are going to repeat yourself a lot. I have contacted the forum staff about resolving the issue rather than going through and correcting all these links by hand.
When I have a second pass at these, I'll probably set up a timing window until the end of your next turn to cast a creature spell from among the cards.
If white Memory Lapse was considered to push the weenie archetype in too much then... Yeaaah, this feels too much to me. weenies can pretty much throw Wrench Mind out there now? Add or something to the cost? ?
Oh, and the link is dead. Needs that ".../community-forums/..." in there...
Vigilance on this card has the added message that it turns around what the original War Elephant did: Putting trample (primarily green) on a white 2/2 which is really undeserving of the ability.
Knowing elephants they are quiet tireless and attentive. They can trample, but sometimes they don't. This specimen is disciplined.
This samite dude seems slick and could be the key to helping support a limited strategy that would include drawing cards and gaining life - in mono- even.
I remember I've this card that points to a similar theme:
Name Sorcery You gain life equal to the number of cards in your hand.
In Time Spiral Sophic Centaur suggested this would/could be . I guess it makes sense with all the life gain and Maros.
As far as extra drawing goes I had this one cool card that... Ehm, I'll probably should post these cards elsewhere and then link to them rather than spell them out here.
EDIT:
Oh crap, it seems I already commented all that stuff on that source thread :S I even posted the creature that gets +1/+1 for each card drawn. Oh well...
Also wow. I seemingly didn't like Raise Dead in those days (that certainly has changed) and my only comment on the War Elephant was that I... like mammoths more? What?
changing frame to hybrid blue-black
returning color setting to "auto"
returning color setting to "auto"
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Could easily be a cast trigger.
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@Tahazzar: I don't know how there can be any confusion about what the original was like since I literally wrote it down in the reasoning.
And, yes, originally the card circumvented mana cost. Since drawing from an opponent's library wasn't as established in 2012 as it was today I probably used Bribery as a reference for color.
Thematically this was not representing "taking from the opponent like a tyrant", but "inspiring even opposing forces to come together in an act of creation".
I've been thinking to myself how this is worse than Divination/Concentrate in many ways and doesn't deserve the four-colored cost while transfering this card. I take further input to possible fixes into account, but prefer not to circumvent mana cost on an uncommon - I don't want to go from "bad draw spell" to "miracle top-deck Aetherworks Marvel activation as a spell" swingy.
@amuseum: Conceptually the colors could represent their card types being played off this, so white would stand for enchantments and planeswalkers.
ironic, because casting other players' cards and messing with opponents' library is mostly . but you have card that has every color but .
like when does do this? not to mention, white is the worst color for card draw and library manipulation.
It's effectively "You draw the top card from each players deck". Seems like straight library manipulation to me, with a side order of bonkers. Don't get why it's an uncastable quad-colour gold card. I... guess.. it's almost the antithesis of tutoring; making it non-black?
I don't get it. If you posted this card without a mana cost and asked for reasonable mana costs for it, the most frequent mana cost to appear would likely be . If it said "... top card of each opponents' library" then it could be mono-. Examples of cards with similar effect: Gonti, Lord of Luxury, Nightveil Specter, Psychic Intrusion, Praetor's Grasp, Hedonist's Trove, Memory Plunder, etc...
In conclusions, this card that should be everything but , looks like it should have almost nothing but in its mana cost, and is also quite under-powered. Is this for some unseemingly brilliant purpose that I'm missing?
EDIT: I'm looking at your reasonings about the card in the source thread... they seem a bit iffy. Was the original something like "You may cast the next spell this turn without paying its mana cost and as though it had flash"? That would much more sense to me as a card...
If you plan on pointing out all the dead links, then you are going to repeat yourself a lot. I have contacted the forum staff about resolving the issue rather than going through and correcting all these links by hand.
Source
Source
When I have a second pass at these, I'll probably set up a timing window until the end of your next turn to cast a creature spell from among the cards.
Source
Source
Source
Source
If white Memory Lapse was considered to push the weenie archetype in too much then... Yeaaah, this feels too much to me. weenies can pretty much throw Wrench Mind out there now? Add or something to the cost? ?
Oh, and the link is dead. Needs that ".../community-forums/..." in there...
This is a fine card. With powercreep and such this should/could be a 2/3.
It reminds me of a somewhat related effect I saw couple of times in reddit/custommagic:
> Players skip their postcombat main phases.
One version was a Leyline and another was 4/3 or something.
> "Knowing elephants they are quiet tireless and attentive. They can trample, but sometimes they don't. This specimen is disciplined."
This would be the perfect flavor text for the card xD
Vigilance on this card has the added message that it turns around what the original War Elephant did: Putting trample (primarily green) on a white 2/2 which is really undeserving of the ability.
Knowing elephants they are quiet tireless and attentive. They can trample, but sometimes they don't. This specimen is disciplined.
This samite dude seems slick and could be the key to helping support a limited strategy that would include drawing cards and gaining life - in mono- even.
I remember I've this card that points to a similar theme:
Name
Sorcery
You gain life equal to the number of cards in your hand.
In Time Spiral Sophic Centaur suggested this would/could be . I guess it makes sense with all the life gain and Maros.
I still think that at least flavorfully stuff like Ivory Tower, Venser's Journal and such would indicate that Gerrard's Wisdom is in some fashion.
As far as extra drawing goes I had this one cool card that... Ehm, I'll probably should post these cards elsewhere and then link to them rather than spell them out here.
EDIT:
Oh crap, it seems I already commented all that stuff on that source thread :S I even posted the creature that gets +1/+1 for each card drawn. Oh well...
Also wow. I seemingly didn't like Raise Dead in those days (that certainly has changed) and my only comment on the War Elephant was that I... like mammoths more? What?