Guardian Pillar | Guardian Spire

[ZephyrPhantom]

NAME: Guardian Pillar ELEMENT: Other COST: 1 TYPE: Permanent ATK|HP: TEXT: Generates 1 quantum of your mark each turn. Protects itself for 3 turns if damaged.	NAME: Guardian Spire ELEMENT: Other COST: 0 TYPE: Permanent ATK|HP: TEXT: Generates 1 quantum of your mark each turn. Protects itself for 3 turns if damaged.

ART: Zblader (Pillar art) Stock free image from www.sxc.hu for background. (http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1342741) IDEA: Zblader NOTES: Now that the Sages had developed a method to control this strange energy called "quantum" through the Scales (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,23033.0.html), they began to refine quantum in an effort to cast spells more efficiently and thus be able to conserve more of their own energy when battling the Elementals.  They noted that they had been dealing with three particular spells lately, one from Fire, one from Earth, and one from Darkness. The first spell, called "Explosion", could turn a Sage's staff into a mass of burning plasma. The second spell, called "Earthquake", would destroy many Scales (and what pillars and pendulums they could steal) with great tremors that opened cracks in the ground. The third spell, called "Steal", would envelop anything it wanted in the Darkness, and a Sage would often find himself staring at the spellbook or staff he had been holding before getting blasted away by the Elemental's wrath. Having suffered defeat at the hands of another one of these "Steals", Earth began to take a very heavy and solid metal and bent it into two triangular prisms. These prisms were so heavy that no Elemental ever wanted to steal them - it took too long to move them away.  However, the prisms had very little purpose - the best attempt for a purpose was found by Gravity to beat enemies over the head using a prism as a club. Aether, deep in her meditation, began to observe the construction of Pendulums from her former realm - she noted how energy was imbued into each Pendulum, careful held with a magical seal, and then covered with a spellbinding glass to prevent the quantum from escaping the Pendulum itself.  She created some energy of her own, and applied it to the Prisms along with a magic seal of her own.  The prisms crackled, and then began to rotate, as Aether's new construction sprung to life. Darkness, watching from the shadows, thought it would be fun to pull a prank - the construction had been relatively simple and would not have required much energy to recreate their "pillar". He waited until Aether had turned her back and casted Steal. But to his suprise and Aether's, the Prisms did not move towards him - they instead shut with a loud bang, concealing the energy trapped within.  In creating the prisms, Earth had unknowingly learned to Enchant Artifacts. The Sages held a meeting soon after - upon observation of how the spire slowly reopened over time, they decided they had succeeded with the creation of their first Pillar, and dubbed it the "Guardian Pillar" for being able to guard itself if a threat attempted to interrupt it. Soon, the Elementals noticed the new influx of assaults on their frontiers - as well as the prescence of more and more of these Pillars being summoned every time the Sages attacked. The Sages were now ready to wage true war. As the title implies, it is a pillar and thus stacks and is affected by Earthquake. "Protects itself for 3 turns when damaged." means that the stack will become temporarily Immaterial for 3 turns (aka a Temporary Protect Artifact) when pillars in it's stack are destroyed through spells or abilities like Explosion and Pulverizer. SERIES: Storylinewise part of the Sage Series (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,22551.0.html)

[Rutarete]

This could completely replace aether pillars for fractal.

[OldTrees]

This could completely replace aether pillars for fractal.

It could. It won't.
Fractal wants its aether fast. A 2 casting cost pillar is not fast.

Interesting idea though.

[MisterMello]

 I like this.  Though, unlike all other upped pillars it doesn't have a 'when this card is played, gain one quanta matching your mark.'
I assume this is because it doesn't fit.. but still.  Nice job.  And I like the art. C:

[ZephyrPhantom]

I like this.  Though, unlike all other upped pillars it doesn't have a 'when this card is played, gain one quanta matching your mark.'
I assume this is because it doesn't fit.. but still.  Nice job.  And I like the art. C:  Thanks!

Well most pillars are free so instead of getting a cost decrease they automatically generate quantum.  IMHO think the cost lowering would be more valued than the quantum generation (doing both might make it OP).

Looks like it's ready for the Crucible.

[TheIdioticIdiot]

what do u mean by "damaged"
permanents can't be "damaged"...
you should change it to "targeted"

[ZephyrPhantom]

what do u mean by "damaged"
permanents can't be "damaged"...
you should change it to "targeted"

Read the description please.

"Protects itself for 3 turns when damaged." means that the stack will become temporarily Immaterial for 3 turns (aka a Temporary Protect Artifact) when pillars in it's stack are destroyed through spells or abilities like Explosion and Pulverizer.

I can't say "Targeted" because then what happens in the case of PA, or if we ever get another spell card that buffs permanents?

[TheIdioticIdiot]

*blurp*
didn't think of the pillar mechanics...
you should really change the name of the upgraded one to guardian tower...
I was going to read the notes, but when i saw it was just stories.. I skipped it, sry

[ZephyrPhantom]

*blurp*
didn't think of the pillar mechanics...
you should really change the name of the upgraded one to guardian tower... I don't see why I shouldn't. Time Tower's unupgraded form is Time Factory, not Time Pillar.
I was going to read the notes, but when i saw it was just stories.. I skipped it, sry Alright, I guess I'll spoiler the backstories from now on so people can skip them if needed.

[TuckingFypo]

My attempt at constructive criticism which probably will make no sense at all.
It's nice that it's more resistant against PC, but won't these be a bit slow to get out? Normally I'd like to get out my pillars/pendulums as fast as possible.

[ZephyrPhantom]

My attempt at constructive criticism which probably will make no sense at all.
It's nice that it's more resistant against PC, but won't these be a bit slow to get out? Normally I'd like to get out my pillars/pendulums as fast as possible.

Well, the problem is if I made these free :

This could completely replace aether pillars for fractal.

Should the cost go down to 1 | 0 ?

[OldTrees]

1|0 casting cost is balanced even then you would be paying 2 for 3 turn protection from Pulvy(destroy) and 4 for 3 turn protection from Trident(earthquake).