Stem Cell | Stem Cell

[Bhlewos]

NAME: Stem Cell ELEMENT: Life COST: 3 TYPE: Creature ATK|HP: 1|1 TEXT: Differentiate: Gain the ability of target creature.	NAME: Stem Cell ELEMENT: Life COST: 3 TYPE: Creature ATK|HP: 1|2 TEXT: Differentiate: Gain the ability of target creature.

ART: Bhlewos Otyugh and Retrovirus by Elements Community (https://photos-1.dropbox.com/i/m/w3fLKK7Mapk2tx4EYH3MP_viEiv64xyebLcrzMC3lQM/33829445/1325995200/5b4559b/Otyugh.png and http://elementscommunity.org/wiki/cards-death/virus-retrovirus/) IDEA: Bhlewos NOTES: Mechanically speaking, basically a more inclusive form of the Crusader's Endow, except with creature abilities rather than weapon abilities. Gained abilities would cost the same, except with quanta (and, obviously, is replaced by that ability so no switching abilities with the same Stem Cell). For example, if your Stem Cell targeted a Mind Flayer, it would gain the new ability  : Lobotomize. Targeting a Lycanthrope would gain it the ability Lycanthropy. It can also borrow abilities that weren't inherent to the creature targeted -- for example, if you're facing a BE'd Micro Abom you could target it and give your Stem Cell Destroy. Note: it can also acquire abilities that are "active" but not activated -- such as Vampire and Bioluminescence. Note #2: whatever abilities it picks up, it can only activate once per turn. This means if Stem Cell were to acquire Rustler's Photosynthesis ability, it would not be able to use it multiple times. Inspired largely by OldTrees's challenge to design a new Life card that can solve some of the problems we believe the element faces. I've been a longtime DC fan and superheroes like Animal Man and Vixen were always among my favorites because their power to "borrow" the ability of any animal they knew had endless possibilities and was fun to read about (need to survive an explosion? Take the durability of a cockroach! Want an instant army? Use the cloning abilities of a protozoa! Want to just have some fun? Take your pick among the endless bird species out there!). I always thought if they were transplanted into the Elements universe they would belong to the Life element. Since we had been studying stem cells in Intro to Biomedical Engineering, and since stem cells are basically the real life version of the Animal Men and Vixens of comics, I thought I'd name this card after the little bugger. Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into any cell the body needs at the moment, so it seemed like a fitting name for a creature that employed a similar mechanic. Alternative art: Credits: agentflare,  dracomageat, TStar, ~Napalm - Cost/Ability advice mesaprotector - Ability usage clarification DSSCRA - Rustler exploit fix SERIES:

[Shrink]

Just a tad overpowered in my opinion.. it's so easy to get quanta.. make this at least 3 if not 4..

[agentflare]

I agree with srm. It would get used in a lot of rainbows for its sheer versatility and cheapness. Cost should be raised a fair bit more.

[Ekki]

I agree with srm. It would get used in a lot of rainbows for its sheer versatility and cheapness. Cost should be raised a fair bit more.

Ya, I'm still waiting for that awesome / duo with 1|8 Oty's all over

Seriously though, this is really powerful. I mean, it also gains 5 hp? I know it fits thematically, but it should be fixed quanta wise. Not to mention growing or mutations...
But the fact of using your opponents' creatures is just evil, so I totally approve of this

[Bhlewos]

After discussion in chat (thanks, dracomageat, TStar, agentflare, and Napalm!), I've decided to remove the 5 HP boost (keeping the creature fragile) as well as raising the cost to 3+2 and 3+1 respectively. I'll update the card art in a couple of hours after my meeting.

Thanks for the feedback so far!

[Terroking]

I think it's more than as-is, a pretty good picture of balance. It is a card that only works in combos, weakening the mechanic and putting it at a good level.

How would this work with mutations?

[moomoose]

this has been done before, not in life, but still, not novel.

[Bhlewos]

Fixed the OP with new card art.

I think it's more than as-is, a pretty good picture of balance. It is a card that only works in combos, weakening the mechanic and putting it at a good level.

How would this work with mutations?

I don't believe abilities on mutants are fundamentally different from abilities on normal creatures (if someone has seen the game code or knows otherwise please correct me), so it should copy it the same way. For example if a mutated Dragon got burrow or something then Stem Cell would get burrow.

this has been done before, not in life, but still, not novel.

Uh, thanks for the feedback, I guess?

[Zaealix]

Hrm...Do you mean the Monkey idea? Because, while it could gain skills it kinda couldn't keep them for all that long that I remember...Or something, it had some kinda limit that restricted it's ability to just gain an ability and use it alot.

[Bhlewos]

I've added new art for Stem Cell, with some alternative options. If you think one of the alts is better, please let me know. =]

[oblivion1212]

It's cards like this + neurotoxin that make my avy pic smile more than usual  8) 8) 8)

i like how it screams "Welcome to Biology!" 

pretty awesome card... would work well with mindgate, mutants, and a lot more..

not much to say here... XD