News for REAL comic #62, 3/19/10

I guess Lich just saw the spoiler.
I wanted to collapse comic #62 into #61 to get rid of that horrible filler comic I made in pant using one of Steve's sketches. However, that means I need to have the same news, but did not want to collapse the news to.... so... here we are. Unprofessional? Probably.

It's just so much happened this week, I wanted to tell you about it. First, Scars of Mirrodin was announced. Most of us already knew it was coming, but it's still cool to see the art and stuff. I'm sure MaRo wanted to go back and show us he can do a better job this time around. He will probably not SAY that, but I'm sure it's one of the reasons. I was playing DnD between the years 2001-2005 (I started Magic in '94, but I took '01-'05 off) so I am looking forward to playing in Mirrodin. However, I think this is the bigger announcement:

Revised Reprint Policy. As I have said before, Wizards will always have a Reprint Policy (read: plan), since they will always have a plan about which cards they print. The real question is: Would that Plan be written down were people could see it? Or would it be like the Legendary R&D Color Pie Chart, that supposedly exists?" I am happy to see that decided to keep it written down, and I am also happy to see they TELL US what they plan on reprinting. I'm a fan of transparency. I guess comic #57 has less sting now. Maybe comic #57 helped show them WHY it was a good idea to tell us? Meh.

Maybe comic #57 helped show them WHY it was a good idea to tell us? Meh.

-Taylor

PS: How many of you will I see at PAX?

Card Making Contest for March: Guy In the Chair!

Check out the New Art in Ultra High Resolution!

Well, first off, let me apologize. I know there has been a lot of hype over these cards, and honestly, they are just a handful of commons and uncommons. They're pretty good in limited, but I don't really think any will see play in constructed, let alone warp the format or something. I think what people should focus on with these cards is that they are our first look at Rise of the Elderazi. They give us our first real look into what this set is about, as well as telling us what 2 keywords are. I gave some thought about how to preview or rate these cards, and decided I would treat them like cards someone entered into a one of my card contests. They did score pretty high, as you might guess, since they're professionals. More professional than me, and I'm sure many of you just want the cards, so, just take them ;)

-Taylor

Now that the Izzet have disbanded, Izzet Chronarch took up masonry.

Balance: 8/10 - Seems a little weak, even at common. If you look at a card like Relearn I feel like we should have gotten something a bit more than just a Kraken Hatchling body for the extra 2. I mean, just look at Nucklavee. However, it's fine as a common.
Flavour: 7/10 - Well, why CAN'T he build a fortress out of them? Zoning restrictions?
Creativity: 2.5/5 - Average. Izzet Chronarch as a wall.
Quality: 5/5 - Looks good :) (Yes, Wizards gets a 5/5 here almost every time since 6th.)
Total: 22.5

Does that elephant have huge tusks or is it just me?

Does that elephant have huge tusks or is it just me?

Balance: 8.5/10 - Auras are hard to balance, but I think this one is pretty well done. Auras are either broken or useless, but I think this one might be on the money. That being said, it's not going to see much play outside of limited.
Flavour: 8/10 - I like the flavor here. The aura takes the hit for the creature. Makes sense to me. It's like guide auras.
Creativity: 3/5 - Reminds me of False Demise or Fool's Demise, but it's new.
Quality: 5/5 - Looks just like a REAL magic card!
Total: 23.5

GET OUT THE WAY!

Balance: 7/10 - I feel like he should be a 10/10 if he costs 11. That way if he swings twice you win. It's odd to see an 11 mana uncommon, but he should still do a lot for 11 mana, uncommon or not.
Flavour: 5 or 8/10 - The flavor score will depend on what his boss looks like. All I can say is that Ulamog better cost more than 11, or this guy will not be much of a "pathrazer."
Creativity: 4/5 - Hey, the guy's an 11 mana uncommon.
Quality: 5/5 - I almost took off for the frame, but decided I really liked it. ;)
Total: 21 or 24

No, really, why is boar a creature type?

No, really, why is boar a creature type?

Balance: 8/10 - I think they did a really good job with this card, but I feel like it should be common. I like the fact that when it blocks, it's 1/7 and when it attacks it's 7/1. It's what you want it to be when it's doing what you want it to do. I think it's a solid draft pick. Don't know why it's a boar, though.
Flavour: 7/10 - Boar is a creature type?
Creativity: 4/5 - Boar is a creature type?
Quality: 5/5 - Love the art. Scroll down to see a bigger version of it.
Total: 24

That's a fat... what was it?

Balance: 9/10 - Wow, for having a busted keyword, this guy is a super balanced uncommon. It could even see constructed play in the right deck. Remember, balanced does not always mean "spike." This card does what it should for the mana it costs.
Flavour: 8/10 - Well, I don't know why the Prey needs its vengeance over a few turns, but I can't wait to see what they do with this keyword, however. I'm hoping for a 2 mana sorcery that draws you a card.
Creativity: 3/5 -It's a creative keyword.
Quality: 5/5 - There's a smudge in the lower.... oh, NVM, I did that...
Total: 25

I'm glade I'm not THAT guy.

Balance: 8/10 - VERY high draft pick. Two chump blockers that double as acceleration on a removal spell? It's first pickable. It's also a sorcery which means it will, again, not see play outside of limited. However, it's close to constructed worthy.
Flavour: 9/10 - I love the flavor here. The Eldrazi kill your guy to make their own. I can't wait to see more 0/1 makers. My only question is why this card is not an Eldrazi spell?
Creativity: 4/5 - Very fresh.
Quality: 5/5 - It looks like a magic card should. I like the set symbol.
Total: 26

Well, Wizards gave me some of the New Art from the set and asked me to do something with it. But, let's face it, I'm unimaginative. All I could think to do with it was, well, make magic cards. (use magic card art to make magic cards, wow, creative, I know.) Well, instead of making the cards myself, I asked you, the heroes, to do it. I have to say, the response was overwhelming. I know I said I would judge each and everyone, but there are just so many. I will put the ones that have been created so far, but can't judge them all. However, I will be selecting one or two from each person that has posted them by next week and judge them. Also, every image on my site gets a "rollover" title. So, if you hold your mouse over the cards, you should get a quick thought from me about them. So, without further ado.....

Fake Cards

Cards by: Benjammn

The title is cleaver, as is the spell itself. I feel like it might need to cost UU or something, but only because they hate printing good counterspells

Works well against the 0/1 makers we keep hearing about. The fact they are Allies worries me, however.

Well, I guess you will need to be running a few huge vampires in your deck for her to work well. And since there would be no other reason to run huge vampires, that helps balance her.

Ah, it's too small for 11, and just one more token than sprouting thrinax?

I like him. I wish the Kor had a deck. Kor need more.

That is some tiny print. Oh, I forgot Ugin was a Dragon, good call there. I like that you made this card crazy, crazy like a man possessed.

So, if you mill her out, you get 3 point pyroclasm? This card is too broken because of Wild Mongrel. You can't have a card you get back every time you discard it.

Cards by: RubyApple

I really like this one. Might be undercosted, but I don't care!

This is the best of yours. I think the costing of the abilities is really interesting. That first one might be too good, but I like the last one a lot.

I love blue, but it should not get unrestricted instant speed creature remove for 3cc.

Defiantly comparable to the one Wizards spoiled. I don't know about the practicality of the last ability.... it also makes me wonder what happens if someone mills all of your cards, and it.

This seems like a really interesting card. I feel like the second ability might be a little bulky in the wording. The final one is a little lackluster.

I like that 'may.' I wish your cards had rarities on them :( It would be easier to tell if the card is balanced.

Cards by: Blackblade

I think this card is closer to being balanced than one might think.

Cards by: Shadowlord

A 'walker with all +'s is an interesting idea, but I think that second ability is too good. At least they can still kill HIM when you use it, just not with burn. He should probably cost at least 4.

If this cost one more and came into play tapped, it would still be busted, but more printable.

Cards by: Sidestepper

Can't block on a white guy is a little weird, but this one is solid at common.

I think this needs to cost a bit less. Like ~6, but, we will see how many Eldrazi spells are in the set.

Card by: Marandil

Cards by: Renter

There is no way to define 'affected' in magic. Does a pump spell that makes a creature kill this guy affect him? Would a spell that makes a player sac a guy affect him? I know I don't know.

This spell, I like. It's a good uncommon.

Well, again, I'm not sure if it's worded right, but this time I get the idea. It's a very interesting spell, to say the least. If you pacify one of their guys, you might be able to loop it. Not sure.

For 5 mana you get 6 mana. I'm pretty sure you can loop this one to, with two in play. I think you can store up too much mana with them. It would only take a turn to be able to cast something huge with all of the mana you would get. Maybe if you could only use the mana on Eldrazi spells.

This spell, I like. Seems balanced to me. Not quite a Counterbore, but costed as such.

Honestly, why is boar ever a creature type? They should just fold everything like that into 'beast' or make an 'animal' creature type if you ask me!

3/15/10