Silmarillion: The War of the Jewels: Recent Activity
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Recent updates to Silmarillion: The War of the Jewels: (Generated at 2025-08-02 13:12:34)
I felt inspired enough the other day to make another card and came up with this after mulling over. Since Steed was problematic as a concept from the very beginning (it hadn't cause any disturbance in playtesting though), replacing it was an easy choice. Mainly it's issues were related to complexity, but it's color intensive cost and relative power also pointed to a higher rarity. More on that can be found on that card's history (comments). It was always a non-attractive compromise at that slot rather than anything else.
A 2/2 variation with
> Whenever ... attacks or blocks, you may an untapped ... If you do, ... gets +1/+1 UEOT
Takes 4+ lines so there's that right off the bat. One somewhat similar design could be "Tap ... untapped... : ~ gets +1/+1 UEOT" (or gets +1/+1 then chant) but that has power level issues as far as I can see + it sounds like a build-around uncommon.
I could consider having the current version only restrict either attacking or blocking. I'm weary of having one that restricts attacking since the set already has some greater tendency towards encouraging controlly builds rather than aggressive ones. Restricting blocking on the other hand doesn't feel particularly
.
Also, the current version I feel would be the most flavorful of all these variations (it can be temporarily be released from Mandos) - not that it's exactly a "flavor win", but still.
As for being restrictive... yeah. I could see that, but I think I would be better off reserving my judgment on that after I've seen it played in some draft deck.
Whats the reasoning for replacement? Was it a cost issue?
I like this new design, but I feel like it's a little restrictive when it comes to deckbuilding since you'll need to pick these up as long as you're drafting white. Maybe 2/2 with +1/+1 if you tap an enchantment on attack or block?
"Disembodied Presence" -> "Disembodied Guest"
Using that sweet flavor text (base) that had to be omitted earlier (from Appointed Return). Uses "pseudo chant" instead of actual "chant" mechanic. Replaces Silver Steed as the common card in slot CW05.
CW05 -> UW04
Hey, I've begun to upload the set to CubeTutor. You can check it out:
http://www.cubetutor.com/cubeblog/85360
EDIT: Full set is uploaded, should be draftable now. Versions of the cards are a bit outdated from what is on here though, so keep that in mind. @Tahazzar, let me know when you've got new card images for me to replace the old ones.
I would change this to deal damage rather than cause life loss. It's a tiny bump in usefulness to be able to hit planeswalkers to address being strictly worse than Vapor Snag.
I think "creature you don't control" would play better than "untapped creature" due to the inherent flaw I call the provoke-problem: Utility creatures come with build-in immunity to having abilities with
in the activation cost.
It's obviously okay to try out stuff.
Otherwise red bounce is a route worth exploring.
That I do not know, but you can message the creator directly via CubeTutor.
I'll get on uploading your cards once I get back to the states, should be in about 24 hours.
Whose's cube/cards are those? That "Tree of Worlds" (Fauna Shaman) could make a really good reprint here.
Here's a google drive link to the folder with the images:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B5yb_ZX6AzYManY2LVFCZFJaelk
That testing sounds really nice.
Nahh, if anything a dropbox full of the card images would be best.
As for how to use cubetutor for testing custom sets, check these two examples:
http://www.cubetutor.com/viewcube/69867
http://www.cubetutor.com/viewcube/41672
The first is a cube that uses custom images so it looks like you are drafting custom cards (see Rishadan Port, or just open up a draft in the Playtest section)
The second is a cube that acts as a draft sim by having the packs controlled for rarity.
There's no multiplayer draft yet, so this is mainly used for single player testing. Works well for custom sets since its rare to have 8 interested people drafting pretend versions of pretend magic in a children's card game.
Also note that custom card images and custom pack designs are part of paid account features, which is why I offered my account for it.
With this you can use AI to draft and simulate custom sets semi-efficiently. The default AI gets pick order updated based on picks and strategies as you draft it, so you even train the AI to draft certain cards in some decks if theres no acceptable analogue.
The original version had the "you don't control" rider but it took too much text IMO (I wanted to fit the text on two lines), so I had to choose between that and "untapped".
Also, "Planar Chaos was not a mistake".
I have no idea what that CubeTutor site is but sounds cool.
EDIT: Would you a text export of some sorts from MSE help?
Well, this already causes life loss; suggesting it's better to use on an opponents stuff.
Huh, I guess that clears that up.
FYI, if you want me to, I can upload your set to CubeTutor since I have a paid account. The downside is that I have to use actual cards for AI purposes (choosing a functionally similar card to put the image of the card over), so the best thing you'll get is a visual spoiler of the finished deck. But it could be useful after the AI is trained a bit as a hypothetical draft simulator.
http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/163837285518/how-do-you-feel-about-bounce-in-red
http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/163998167283/the-prospect-of-giving-red-bounce-is-rather#notes
Well, darn.
That looks a lot better, with the "any number of".
> IMO reminder text is more distracting than regular text
That's a really confusing opinion. I just think of it as "If I'm sure what this card does, I can happily ignore it". Personally, I really like reminder texts - even when they aren't really required.
Suspend has two variables which is also kind of bad and cascade... yeah, that's just too long - even after they cut those "in any order" and "CMC" parts out. Looking at Yidris, Maelstrom Wielder for example it can be seen that more than half of that card's text is the cascade reminder - five lines with small font - crazy! For this card (silmarils) I could cut that reminder text into just "Copy this effect for each enchantment you tap in response" - currently it also has that "mana abilities can't be targeted" specifically for this card.
The two implementations take around the same amount of text with reminder text (I tested that immediately), but there are multiple things that bother me about the version without the reminder. In uncommon+ cards I can't cut any of that text. Plus, the reason/payoff as to why to tap enchantments comes after the effect. If the text changes slightly from card to card, you have to go through the whole text to make it sure it functions similarly. As for the "repeat this process" version, I had to read that couple of times to really notice that you can do it any number of times - it really reads at first hand like you can only tap one an untapped enchantment once.
IMO the "your enchantments can enhance this effect" plus "copy... for each enchantment you tap" is doing a lot of work here when it comes to understanding what the card does.
I appreciate the suggestions greatly - while I think the current version is the best of the options I've seen so far, it isn't exactly ideal.
Oops. That second ability not affecting the first was an oversight.
"a card is put into" & "when ETBs" & "shuffle any number of"
Well, I was running a deck with six removal spells (only one of them being soft) and two of Varda's Progeny. There were higher than usual amount of Progeny in circulation since white is missing a lot of its uncommons. I ended up with a bunch of removal since the guy next to me ended up in same colors and picked up the threats that were left over after my picks.
In two matches Starkindler really saved my skin by handling Unbridled War-Wager + Aulë's Craft and in another Wingild Foam-Maiden + Sapphire-Winged Herald just when I was about to get my face punched in.
The winning deck had three Abide in Waiting (plus one Varda's Progeny) and was about setting up the Opalescence + Stirred by the Stars + Moon Dew shenanigans. Also, Twilight of the Hunt + Resounding Delight + Oromë's Ranger / Hunter and the Tamer was in there. It was a really strong deck just in general.
Beyond that I didn't see that stally boards.
While that's true, the reminder text you currently have is taking up a lot of space as well and IMO reminder text is more distracting than regular text, because the italics draws your attention away from the effect. Both regular text behind a pseudokeyword like Morbid or Battalion and reminder text don't count towards complexity when factoring NWO.
There's also this version (both permanent and nonpermanent versions) that I came up with - it's a little more labor intensive, but it should provide relatively the same effect.
Legendart Artifact Enchantment Chant -
: Copy target activated or triggered ability. You may choose new targets for the copy. Then, you may tap an untapped enchantment you control. If you do, repeat this process.
Sorcery Chant - Draw a card. Then, you may tap an untapped enchantment you control. If you do, repeat this process.
With Symphony of Designs, the difference is that you'd draw the cards one by one in sequence with the effect, so you could choose when to stop chanting if you draw the card you want, all in one trigger. With the way your current version works, what happens is:
>Draw a card. >Decide how many enchantments I want to tap and tap them. Copies, if any, go on the stack. >Draw the rest of the cards in separate triggers. Option to chant again for each trigger.
Not trying to be super adamant about any of this here - just offering some other options for the effect that could work the same way and (maybe?) take up less space on the card and on the stack.
It is a strictly worse version, but non-dork ramp at 2 mana is still something that Green rarely gets these days ;)
Overall I feel like green there's too much ramp in general in this set, which leads to games where the cards you draw are mostly useless. Out of curiosity, in your physical playtest that you mentioned recently, what was the primary cause of the stall? I imagine it was probably poor topdecks - which is something that too many spells like this leads to.
I think the "put into your hand version" is probably more accurate.
Personally, if I were to update Magic wording, I'd use the "enters"/"leaves" terminology to apply for all zones. "Enters your hand", "leaves your graveyard", "enters exile", etc.
Not a fan of that second ability - not only do you not get the mill effect with it because it's on cast, but it's not a card that I want to play when I am running low on cards - I want to play this as soon as possible so I can start milling them.
Now this is an interesting trigger - hopefully it's fully functional... Maybe "Whenever a card is put (or returned) into your hand" would be more traditional? Though I have to say that sounds more "mechanical" where as this "increases" sounds more natural and evocative IMO.
I moved Hither Shore Warden to next set and this is the replacement card for that slot.
The name of the card is currently somewhat of a placeholder.
I'll keep this in mind. So far, the reception to this card has usually been lukewarm but that may just mean it's more deceptive in its power.
In the physical playtest it looks like the one red player opted not to go with this at all:
http://www.magicmultiverse.net/cardsets/2161/details_pages/1726
Varda's Progeny and Moon Dew (before it's latest change) were the most prominent cards of the draft
At NGA it was stated it should be of smaller size in general (I got the sense that they thought it sucked in general):
http://forum.nogoblinsallowed.com/viewtopic.php?t=19106
Wouldn't it just be a strictly worse version of Rampant Growth at that point? I'm not a fan of that idea.
Thx, a lot of time is spent in scouring for cool art since it also enables some "more inspired designs" IMO. Thankfully, Silmarillion has tons of fan art available so I don't even really have to scrape that deep if I don't feel like it.
Yeah, it's activated from a hidden zone so it has to be revealed as part of the "cost" (as far as I understand it).