Lavaborn Muse | Lavaborn Muse

[The_Mormegil]

NAME: Lavaborn Muse ELEMENT: Fire COST: 5 TYPE: Creature ATK|HP: 1 | 3 TEXT: : Song of Fire Play target creature with a cost of 3 or less from your hand.	NAME: Lavaborn Muse ELEMENT: Fire COST: 5 TYPE: Creature ATK|HP: 1 | 4 TEXT: : Song of Fire Play target creature with a cost of 4 or less from your hand.

ART: sxc.hu and The Mormegil IDEA: The Mormegil NOTES: Of course, you don't pay the cost for the card. The idea is to give Fire "something to play with", rather than something strong. It's a weak creature, pretty frail (upped is slightly tougher, but still frail), that trades a high Fire cost (5 to start with) for off-element costs. You gain the versatility of playing a "rainbow" of sorts, but also gain a slight cost decrease (don't be fooled, it's at best the same cost decrease you'd get for a pillar, slightly more if upped). Theme is, of course, debatable. But I went with a music theme for this mechanic because Fire is linked with passion and emotions. What better catalyst for passion and emotion than music? SERIES:

Note: Xenocidius, I love your work.

[Xenocidius]

I love your work too.

An interesting and original take on rainbow-enabling cards. I approve. Then again, what creatures with 4 or less cost are actually worth paying for this way?

[The_Mormegil]

I love your work too.

An interesting and original take on rainbow-enabling cards. I approve. Then again, what creatures with 4 or less cost are actually worth paying for this way?

*cough* Graboid *cough*

But also:
Phase Recluse, Elite Wyrm, Flesh Recluse, Mummy, Giant Frog, Cockatrice, Pegasus, Ulitharid, Abyss Crawler.


Also, it enables a completely different kind of rainbow: one that doesn't focus on spreading elements costs on all the 12 elements, but on getting the best low-cost cards out. It seems powerful (a deck that can safely run 6 Graboids + 6 Abyss Crawlers + 6 Cockatrices is scary), until you realize it needs a turn to set up and it's VERY prone to CC (take out the Muses and the deck is done, as it can't pay for anything).

Also, it enables a specific kind of trio deck: if you want to get out a combo in a trio that involves fire and a creature, play this and you're golden. For instance, using this to get out Vultures, powered  up from Fire CC, and then Sky Blitz. It needs only Fire Pendulums and an Air Mark, + some Muses. It's fun, not really strong, but that's the whole point.

EDIT: also, Forest Spirits in a Steam Machine deck!

[Djhopper :)]

Scary card... Quite balanced though!

Me likey!

[Scaredgirl]

I like the mechanics a lot. I posted some comments on the chat already, but I'd like to add that because most cards are about damaging, killing and sacrificing, this kind of "free creature" mechanics might not fit well with the rest of the cards.

I had an idea that maybe you could change the mechanics so that Lavaborn Muse takes 1 damage when she uses the skill? This would be one simple way of fixing the theme problem. By singing the "Song of Fire", the Muse actually sets herself on fire like running on a Fire Shield

[The_Mormegil]

I like the mechanics a lot. I posted some comments on the chat already, but I'd like to add that because most cards are about damaging, killing and sacrificing, this kind of "free creature" mechanics might not fit well with the rest of the cards.

I had an idea that maybe you could change the mechanics so that Lavaborn Muse takes 1 damage when she uses the skill? This would be one simple way of fixing the theme problem. By singing the "Song of Fire", the Muse actually sets herself on fire like running on a Fire Shield

I like this idea a lot. Might make for intresting graphical effects too...

However, that's warrant a -1 cost reduction. I think I'll update the v2 in a minute. Thanks for the great feedback!

[Higurashi]

What better catalyst for passion and emotion than music?

Violence. There is passion in all elements, but music always has inherent construction, whereas Fire has inherent destruction or consumption. Manipulating costs seems related to intelligence, diligence/dutifulness or wisdom, placing this theme in Air, Light or Aether for me.

As for gameplay-wise, this makes Fire even more rainbow-y besides Immo. I've never understood why Immo gives rainbow quanta, and I don't understand why Fire would get this mechanic either.

Ignoring the element, the mechanics are well-known from other card games and can enable some fun strategies. I'd enjoy seeing it in EtG.

[dragonsdemesne]

I like everything about this card, except that it's in Fire.  Have you thought about an otherwise identical card in Life or Light?

[The_Mormegil]

As about 9001 people pointed out that this card doesn't fit Fire, I will most likely change its element. However, I would like to think about the element that would benefit the most from this card, rather than the element that fits the theme the best, and adapt the theme to it rather than the other way around. Theme is important, true, but card games are mainly maths and mechanics.

This is why I'd like to keep this card away from Life (which has Mitosis as an alternate creature production method) and Aether (which has Fractal and Twin Universe). Many of you suggested Light: may I ask you why you consider Light to be more fitting than Fire? To me, it's even less fitting, theme-wise, so I'd like to understand your point of view.

From a mechanical point of view, this card would be useful in about every element as long as it is a mono card. However, I think Aether, Air and Life would benefit less than other elements, while Light, Gravity, Entropy and Darkness do not fit.
A Death version is possible: a sort of necromancer or similar creature than brings forth an undead copy of the creature.
An Earth version is possible: the theme of construction fits nicely.
A Time version is possible: a creature that brings a copy of that creature from another time, possibly from the future.
A Water version is possible: water brings life, so the theme can be adapted.

[Higurashi]

As mentioned, I think of diligence/dutifulness when I think of reducing cost of creatures played, which fits well with Light. The reason for this is that if a creature is loyal to an element, it will come at your beck and call (battle song, or rallying of an army). Light also likes to preach glory, which is spread by bards and legends of valour are sung by everyone. Light also represents justice and equality (as long as you agree with it), which supports the common folk. By those numbers and resources, the costs of deploying for battle would reduce. Furthermore, it simply fits a constructive element to encourage the creativity and positivity that is inherent in music.

You can naturally attribute music to any element due to all the different genres that fit them thematically. I am, for instance, reminded of Ocarina of Time, where you have a Bolero of Fire, a Serenade of Water and a Nocturne of Shadow, to name a few.

But music remains constructive and creative. Fire destroys and consumes. Darkness steals, drains and takes advantage of. Death withers and poisons. And so on.

[Contrary]

You can even keep the self damage with Light if you spin it right. You could call it "Martyr" and the ability "Holy Summons" or something. The only problem with that idea is the politics.

[ZephyrPhantom]

You can even keep the self damage with Light if you spin it right. You could call it "Martyr" and the ability "Holy Summons" or something. The only problem with that idea is the politics.

Not really. We already have Holy Light, Crusaders, Blessings, Vampires, and Demons. "Matyr" doesn't seem that problematic, IMHO.

I'd say this works best in Light or Darkness :
Light as the above-mentioned magical music apostle summoning his/her allies, Darkness as a Dark Sorcerer of sorts performing some deadly ritual to summon creatures.

If you want to take it a bit further, we can have it as a Dimensional Adept in Aether or a Time Sage that uses "Foward Time" or "Chronospeed" as Reverse Time's counterpart. Maybe even a Gravity "Lifter" or an Air "Windcaller"?