Iron Bodypart | Iron Bodypart

[ElementalDearWatson]

NAME: Iron Bodypart ELEMENT: Earth COST: 2 TYPE: Creature ATK|HP: 2|2 TEXT: Conjoin: Join with other Bodyparts.  6 joined Bodyparts become an Iron Giant	NAME: Iron Bodypart ELEMENT: Earth COST: 3 TYPE: Creature ATK|HP: 3|2 TEXT: Conjoin: Join with other Bodyparts.  6 joined Bodyparts become an Iron Giant

ART: Screencaps from Public Domain film Cosmos: War Of The Planets http://www.archive.org/details/Cosmos_War_of_the_Planets IDEA: ElementalDearWatson NOTES: Iron Bodyparts play as separate creatures with ATK|HP 2|2 (unupped) or 3|2 (upped).  If the ability Conjoin is used then all Bodyparts currently on the playing field join together to become one card with ATK|HP 2N+N|2N (unupped) or 3N+N|2N (upped) where N is the number of Bodyparts joined together.  This ATK is treated as separate for each card - if two unupped cards are joined then the joined card would have an ATK of 6, two upped cards joined would have an ATK of 8, and an unupped and upped card joined would have an ATK of 7. SERIES:

NAME: Iron Giant ELEMENT: Earth COST: 16 TYPE: Creature ATK|HP: 18|12 TEXT: I Am Not A Gun: If health is damaged, attack is doubled for next round	NAME: Iron Giant ELEMENT: Earth COST: 20 TYPE: Creature ATK|HP: 24|12 TEXT: I Am Not A Gun: If health is damaged, attack is doubled for next round

ART: Screencaps from Public Domain film Cosmos: War Of The Planets http://www.archive.org/details/Cosmos_War_of_the_Planets IDEA: ElementalDearWatson NOTES: 6 Iron Bodyparts joined together become an Iron Giant and gain the ability I Am Not A Gun.  If an Iron Giant loses any health on one round, its attack is doubled for the next round.  This is not stackable. If a completely upped Iron Giant is hurt it's attack becomes 48 for the next round.  If it is hurt while it's attack is 48 it's attack for the next round will remain 48.  If it's not hurt in a round, it's attack in the next round will be 24. SERIES:

[ElementalDearWatson]

Okay, this is my first try at a card, so be kind, please - but please also be critical.  The idea actually started off as something completely different - a spell, in fact - but evolved in to this.  It's obviously based on the film version of The Iron Giant, in which the titular robot can be rebuild himself after being taken to pieces and who, as the complete robot, reflexively becomes a formidable weapon when attacked.   

That film is copyrighted, obviously, so I've used images from a Public Domain film.  You have no idea how hard it is to find copyright-free images of robots that don't look cutesy.  I'm sure the artwork will need changing, so if anybody can help me out on that score, then I'd be very grateful.  My personal preference is for cheesy 50s style robots, like the one from Devil Girl From Mars or the Cyberking from "The Next Doctor" in Doctor Who .  But that's just me, and if anyone else has any ideas, or thinks of something that will fit the aesthetic of the game better, then I'm open to anything.

I think I've got the elements right - I'm sure metals would come under "Earth", and I'm thinking of magnetism to hold the disparate bodyparts together, so that's aether.  But, again, I'm open to suggestions if anyone can think of anything more fitting.  I also think I've got the cost about right, looking at the cost/damage/health of other similar cards and taking in to account how long this would take to set up, but this is the part I'm least sure of so would definitely welcome advice.

It's a cross between growing cards like Forest Spectre, Lava Golem and Graviton Fire Eater - only with a cap on how much it can grow - and Chimera.  It'd take a while to set up, but could be devastating once it has been assembled.  I think it's also quite versatile in which cards you could play it with to maximise it's efficiency.  Twin Universe would obviously be a good fit once it's been fully assembled.  Infecting it with a Parasite would give you at least 11 rounds of maximum damage-dealing, and more if you've got an Archangel or other healing.  Also, if you keep the Bodyparts separated until all are on the field, then the damage dealt before creating the Giant would be less than otherwise, but the cost of creating the Giant would only be 1 .  This would be an effective strategy against a Bone Wall.

I don't think it's a card which would slot well in to existing decks, but I do think it's a card you could have fun building a few decks around.

[Pineapple]

1. Table formatting is kinda wrong.
    a) First of all, Iron Giant should probably have its own table for the card information. Right now, it's kind of awkward with its stats and everything sharing space with Iron Bodypart's stats and everything.
    b) The table's data should always be identical to the card's stats, so you shouldn't have a "when conjoined" in the table if its not on the card. However, some curators allow "(when flying)" next to (creature) stats for weapons, and I'm not a curator, so I may be wrong on this point. In addition, you can't add "when conjoined" onto the stats portion of the card because only the creatures (initial) stats should be there, which leads me to...

2. Card formatting is kinda wrong:
   a) The creature's stats should be the creature's stats, and any modifications should be put in the "Text" or ability section of the card image, e.g. like Steam Machine, Scarab, Forest Spirit, Lava Golem, Lycanthrope, Red Nymph.
   b) You should reference "Iron Giant" in the text, like how "Shrieker" is referenced on Graboid.

3. Question on flavor: As opposed to Aether, have you looked at Gravity and checked its connection to the laws of physics (and therefore its bid on magnetism)? Note that Aether still works, with its connection to electricity and astral capabilities.

4. Question on balance: Have you taken into account Fractal/Mitosis (First for Bodypart, even better with Giant since Giant is zero-cost) and Rage Potion when balancing this card?

[ElementalDearWatson]

1. Table formatting is kinda wrong.
    a) First of all, Iron Giant should probably have its own table for the card information. Right now, it's kind of awkward with its stats and everything sharing space with Iron Bodypart's stats and everything.
    b) The table's data should always be identical to the card's stats, so you shouldn't have a "when conjoined" in the table if its not on the card. However, some curators allow "(when flying)" next to (creature) stats for weapons, and I'm not a curator, so I may be wrong on this point. In addition, you can't add "when conjoined" onto the stats portion of the card because only the creatures (initial) stats should be there, which leads me to...

2. Card formatting is kinda wrong:
   a) The creature's stats should be the creature's stats, and any modifications should be put in the "Text" or ability section of the card image, e.g. like Steam Machine, Scarab, Forest Spirit, Lava Golem, Lycanthrope, Red Nymph.
   b) You should reference "Iron Giant" in the text, like how "Shrieker" is referenced on Graboid.

Okay, I can see those.  I'll change those in a bit.

[Edit]Fixed.  Thanks for the advice.[/edit]

3. Question on flavor: As opposed to Aether, have you looked at Gravity and checked its connection to the laws of physics (and therefore its bid on magnetism)? Note that Aether still works, with its connection to electricity and astral capabilities.

I'm not sure if you're talking specifically about what each element represents in the game, but in reality there is no connection between the two, other than them being two of the four fundamental interactions.  Magnetism isn't just connected to electricity, they are both the same thing manifested in different ways.

4. Question on balance: Have you taken into account Fractal/Mitosis (First for Bodypart, even better with Giant since Giant is zero-cost) and Rage Potion when balancing this card?

I hadn't, but you're right that it should be considered.  I'd thought about Twin Universe because there's already a synergy with  , and then most probably with  to poison the Giant and maybe  to heal it.  Perhaps Mitosis shouldn't work because it's biological and the Giant is mechanical, and Fractal should only produce Bodyparts? 

[pikachufan2164]

4. Question on balance: Have you taken into account Fractal/Mitosis (First for Bodypart, even better with Giant since Giant is zero-cost) and Rage Potion when balancing this card?

I hadn't, but you're right that it should be considered.  I'd thought about Twin Universe because there's already a synergy with  , and then most probably with  to poison the Giant and maybe  to heal it.  Perhaps Mitosis shouldn't work because it's biological and the Giant is mechanical, and Fractal should only produce Bodyparts?

That's not really the best solution, as players are often confused by 'hidden' interactions (see the dozens of threads on Dissipation Shield + Sanctuary failures in the Report a Bug section for details). If you can't fit the text on the card space, then it's generally too complicated of an effect.

This piece of card text for Iron Giant might do the trick:

"Renegade: Owner can't target Iron Giant with spells/abilities.
Enrage: Doubles attack when damaged. Not stackable."

Enrage is an active ability (can be Lobotomized), while Renegade is a passive ability. Renegade shuts down Fractal/Mitosis/PU shenanigans (unupped Pandemonium doesn't affect Iron Giant because it goes through the entire field and targets everything one at a time -- similar to how Rain of Fire doesn't damage immaterial creatures), while punishing you if the opponent has access to Fractal/PU; it effectively makes the card high risk, high reward (Enrage is a very powerful ability). This just barely fits into the card text space too :3

[ElementalDearWatson]

That's not really the best solution, as players are often confused by 'hidden' interactions (see the dozens of threads on Dissipation Shield + Sanctuary failures in the Report a Bug section for details). If you can't fit the text on the card space, then it's generally too complicated of an effect.

I think you're right.  I was kind of thinking aloud there. 

This piece of card text for Iron Giant might do the trick:

"Renegade: Owner can't target Iron Giant with spells/abilities.
Enrage: Doubles attack when damaged. Not stackable."

Enrage is an active ability (can be Lobotomized), while Renegade is a passive ability. Renegade shuts down Fractal/Mitosis/PU shenanigans (unupped Pandemonium doesn't affect Iron Giant because it goes through the entire field and targets everything one at a time -- similar to how Rain of Fire doesn't damage immaterial creatures), while punishing you if the opponent has access to Fractal/PU; it effectively makes the card high risk, high reward (Enrage is a very powerful ability). This just barely fits into the card text space too :3

I don't really like that.  I think the counter-attack should be purely instinctive, it's a reaction rather than a deliberate action.

I also think that anyone should be able to damage it, as one of the stragegies of using it is to build it and then deliberately damage it yourself, either round after round or with something like poison, and maybe healing it, too.  It is quite powerful, but to use successfully would take time and would use quite a few different elements, making the setting up something of a challenge (it would be possible to set the unupped Giant up in 3 turns with an  mark, towers and a very lucky draw, but you'd then need to get the quanta and cards to damage it).  It's also vulnerable while it's being set up, can be killed instantly by Maxwell's Demon, and is useless against a Gravity Shield.

I'm wondering whether each card should cost one extra quantum to play.  While looking at the cost I was looking at other growing cards like Lava Golem, etc., which have a lower cost than their damage. Lava Golem starts out as 5 for 7 damage, then gains 2 damage per turn for 1 , and this is uncapped.  Unupped Iron Bodyparts are 2 for 2 damage, or 2 and 1 (or slightly less , depending on how you play it) for 3 if there's more than one on the field, and that's capped at 18. 

But now I've been looking at the dragons, all of which are 10 quanta for 10 damage, or thereabouts, without any additional abilities.  Does the extra time (and luck of the draw - don't forget that I Am Not A Gun doesn't come in to play until you've got all 6 cards in play) needed to set up Iron Giant correct this imbalance, or does it need to work out at an equal number of  quanta to damage, plus between 1 and 5  because of I Am Not A Gun?  The other idea I was toying with was making the multiplier for I Am Not A Gun 1.5 rather than 2. 

I'm still not sure, though.  It is powerful but much less so than Chimera.

All opinions welcome.

[Pineapple]

For Gravity's connection with the laws of physics, see Momentum, Acceleration, and Catapult.

Also, note that the "limited to 6" and "cap at 18" points don't really hold in light of Fractal and Mitosis. With a duo fractal deck, this card is simultaneously the set-up-fractal target (RoL in RoL/Hope, Pests in Pestal, Ball Lightnings in Bonewall or Soul Catcher  or Vulture decks) and (Iron Giant is) the end-game fractal target (Golden Dragons in RoL/Hope, Vampires or Dragons in Pestal, Vulture or Bone Dragon in Bonewall or Soul Catcher or Vulture decks). All that duo needs is a little stall, plus it's really hard to delay this strategy for long, since you only need 5 in your hand and 1 on the field to activate "conjoin" that turn and fractal to play zero-cost Giants.

Basically, give Iron Giant a cost. It'll be much more balanced then.

[ElementalDearWatson]

For Gravity's connection with the laws of physics, see Momentum, Acceleration, and Catapult.

All of those things in the real world have a connection to mass, whereas electromagnetism doesn't.  Electrons have virtually no mass and photons have no mass at all.  Magnetism is not connected to gravity, except in as much as both gravity and electromagnetism, along with strong force and weak force, are the fundamental interactions of nature.

If there's something that's been said in the game which makes magnetism fall under the heading of gravity then that's one thing, as the elements don't really correspond to the real world, but as Aether already has electromagnetism as part of it with things like Lightning and Spark then I can't see any particular reason for magnetism to fall under any other element.

Also, note that the "limited to 6" and "cap at 18" points don't really hold in light of Fractal and Mitosis. With a duo fractal deck, this card is simultaneously the set-up-fractal target (RoL in RoL/Hope, Pests in Pestal, Ball Lightnings in Bonewall or Soul Catcher  or Vulture decks) and (Iron Giant is) the end-game fractal target (Golden Dragons in RoL/Hope, Vampires or Dragons in Pestal, Vulture or Bone Dragon in Bonewall or Soul Catcher or Vulture decks). All that duo needs is a little stall, plus it's really hard to delay this strategy for long, since you only need 5 in your hand and 1 on the field to activate "conjoin" that turn and fractal to play zero-cost Giants.

Basically, give Iron Giant a cost. It'll be much more balanced then.

Iron Giant does have a cost - the  it takes to join the parts together.  Are you saying that you think that the cost of playing each Bodypart should remain as it is but that the cost for Conjoin should be higher?

[Naesala]

Also, note that the "limited to 6" and "cap at 18" points don't really hold in light of Fractal and Mitosis. With a duo fractal deck, this card is simultaneously the set-up-fractal target (RoL in RoL/Hope, Pests in Pestal, Ball Lightnings in Bonewall or Soul Catcher  or Vulture decks) and (Iron Giant is) the end-game fractal target (Golden Dragons in RoL/Hope, Vampires or Dragons in Pestal, Vulture or Bone Dragon in Bonewall or Soul Catcher or Vulture decks). All that duo needs is a little stall, plus it's really hard to delay this strategy for long, since you only need 5 in your hand and 1 on the field to activate "conjoin" that turn and fractal to play zero-cost Giants.

Basically, give Iron Giant a cost. It'll be much more balanced then.

Edit: Forgot to actually comment on the card. Needs some balancing work here and there but I like the idea, had a similar one awhile ago with each "part" being a different element and parts would give the finished piece more abilities, but never went through with it. As for gravity versus aether for conjoin, I think either works. Aether promotes a new synergy between earth and aether, while gravity would continue to strengthen the two's existing energy.

Also a question, are the giants stats automatically set to those numbers when you have combined the sixth part, or can they be higher (say if I had buffed a part before conjoining)

Iron Giant does have a cost - the  it takes to join the parts together.  Are you saying that you think that the cost of playing each Bodypart should remain as it is but that the cost for Conjoin should be higher?

You're missing it. say I assemble the giant, and target the giant with frac/mitosis/etc. Then I have free giants because the cost of a giant is zero. Say my giant got reverse timed, I could immediatly play it next turn at no cost. It's the difference between saying a shrieker only costs 1  when it really costs 8

Edit: Forgot to actually comment. I really like the card idea, and whether it combines through aether or gravity doesnt really matter. Grav-earth already have strong synergy though

[Elite arbiter]

If I'm reading it right the point is to give the Iron Giant card a cost itself in the event it needs to be played from the hand. Just because it doesn't come from the deck doesn't mean it needs no cost, since Fractal, Rewind, and Mitosis all can depend on the cost of the given card. By far the simplest solution is to give the Iron Giant card itself a cost so that it can interact fairly with these cards rather than needing passives to specifically add complexity.

[ElementalDearWatson]

Ah, I'm with you guys.  Hang on a second...

Ta-DA!

That's quite a high cost, but I'm wondering whether it's high enough, given the cost/damage comparison to dragons and the fact that it has an ability.  I wonder if it'd be better to have its cost be the same as its damage.  That would make the cost for a partially upped Giant easier to work out, too.

[ElementalDearWatson]

So...I've added a cost to the completed card, and was hoping for some feedback.  Too much?  Too little?