Stone Totem | Earth Totem

[moomoose]

NAME: Stone Totem ELEMENT: Earth COST: 3 TYPE: Creature ATK|HP: 0 | 5 TEXT: Adjacent creatures gain +2|+2	NAME: Earth Totem ELEMENT: Earth COST: 3 TYPE: Creature ATK|HP: 0 | 10 TEXT: Adjacent creatures gain +2|+2

ART: public domain http://www.fourmilab.ch/images/eclipse_2010/L012.html IDEA: moomoose NOTES: a totem does not do much on its own, but it enhances the creatures adjacent to it. totems can affect other totems, so its not the worst thing in the world to have two adjacent totems. the totem's effect is passive and cannot be lobotomized. State of stacking: In general Boons from multiple totems stack even if they are the same type of totem or the recipient is a totem. Time is worded such that it would not overcome summoning sickness nor allow a third usage of the skill. 2 Time boons will not stack and Time totems can only give their boon to Water totems, certain non totems and totems given activated abilities (like through Entropy boons). Death, Darkness, Entropy and Light boons will not stack with themselves or each other on a single creature. SERIES: not going to produce cards for each element in the series, just using the totem as a representative for the group as i find it annoying when the entire series is posted. : adjacent creatures gain +3|-1 / +4|+0  *2-3 hp totem : adjacent creatures gain immaterial / +1|+1 and immaterial *3-5 hp totem : adjacent creatures become airborn and gain +2|+1 / airborn and +3|+1 *2-3 hp totem : adjacent creatures gain vampire ability / +1|+1 and vampire ability * 2-3 hp totem : adjacent creatures gain venom ability / +1|+1 and venom ability *3-5 hp totem, higher cost : adjacent creatures gain a random ability (cost matches their element 2x quanta) / a random ability (cost matches their element 1x quanta) *2-3 hp totem : adjacent creatures gain +1|+3 and momentum / +1|+5 and momentum *5-10 hp totem : adjacent creatures heal you for up to 3hp each turn/ 5hp per turn * 4-5 hp totem : adjacent creatures gain +1|+1 and generate each turn / +2|+2 and generate each turn *4-5 hp totem : cost : adjacent creatures may use their ability a second time / *1-2hp : cost : adjacent creatures gain +3|+3 for one turn /  adjacent creatures gain +4|+4 for one turn *3-5 hp

[moomoose]

well i thought a living buff was interesting, but apparently two non-constructive anonymous non-posters disagree. anyone with a spine care to comment?

[dragonsdemesne]

Looks alright to me, though I have a secret place in my heart for the moai :p  The dive one might be rather overpowered, unless the dive cost were fairly high.  Diving dragons ftw... (they come out of their demesnes mad!)

[moomoose]

definitely the air one could use some work, the balance could come from the health and/or cost of the totem and/or the cost of the ability, honestly no amount of theorycrafting will do much to help balance these, beta testing would be much more effective, I'm just putting the ideas out here- as they could easily be converted into shard ideas.

[Naesala]

I feel gravity's is UP and death's is a little OP, otherwise pretty good. I think they could all use a little tweaking here and there though.

[moomoose]

as above with the air totem, the more powerful totems could have less hp to make them easier to take away, and/or increase their costs.

gravity does seem a little tame, could toss in momentum too

[SnoWeb]

Could you define adjacent in EtG terms, please? Does it concern 2 or 6 creatures or else? Does the bonus stack? A creature in position 1 affected by an earth totem in position 4 and a fire one in position 5 will receive a +7|+3 bonus, right?

[OldTrees]

well i thought a living buff was interesting, but apparently two non-constructive anonymous non-posters disagree. anyone with a spine care to comment?

The totem mechanic is valuable. Without any additional support it acts like 2 buffs which the opponent can remove separately from the creatures they buff.

I think the increased totem hp is enough of an upgrade. The abilities do not need 2 forms.

My favorites:  (+2|+2) and  (Immaterial)

This idea is worthy of Rep. +67rep.

[moomoose]

@sno: yes, totems stack with each other (i would think of with other types but not with the same type would be a useful balancing mechanism, so fire+earth is OK, earth+earth would only be one effect).  as for which slots it will affect, adjacent does have some ambiguity to it, but i intended it for those which were in contact with it, so slot 7 is adjacent to 12, 20, 3, 8 and 16.

@ot: good point with "I think the increased totem hp is enough of an upgrade.", for earth i think that is valid, for some others, keeping the hp unchanged but boosting the power may be a good way to go.

[TheManuz]

well i thought a living buff was interesting, but apparently two non-constructive anonymous non-posters disagree. anyone with a spine care to comment?

I was one of the non-constructive anonymous non-posters.
I think you're being a little rude saying those things, i saw your post yesterday but it was late and i've to go to sleep. That's why i didn't leave a comment.
I don't want to start a flame or else, just wanted to say that you shouldn't take it personal if someone doesn't post in your threads.

Back to the card:
I really like this mechanic. It's original and opens new game scenario.
I have a question: some totems grants active abilities, like dive, vampire, venom and random. What happens if a creature already got an ability?
And what if two totems both give their ability to a single creature? What ability prevails?

[OldTrees]

I have a question: some totems grants active abilities, like dive, vampire, venom and random. What happens if a creature already got an ability?
And what if two totems both give their ability to a single creature? What ability prevails?

Due to possible interactions, I think totem abilities that do not bestow active abilities should be preferred over those that do.

[moomoose]

stat-totems can stack just fine with other stat totems (as long as its not two of the same) and ability totems, when an ability totem tries to stack with another, the one that was placed second overwrites that of the first.  if a card is added after two totems have already been played, and could be affected by either, i believe it would make sense to go with the totem which position was a higher number.

also, i think its odd that someone would rate it 1 star and then say its a good mechanic.  a bit of a disconnect there.