why is it "Sw(H)arm"?
Because it... sw...HARMS.
Exactly, this weird word is indeed a way to express the fact that the swarm harms thereby using the minimum space for the text. It's not wonderful, so I'll take any suggestion to replace it.
"Sw(H)arm: Inflicts N damages to its owner when discarded. N is, in this case, the number of Locusts in the hand before the discard." - does that mean that should you play this creature it's health is equal to the number of Locusts in your hand, or on the field?
I added this in the notes to draw the reader's attention on the fact that when discarded N was not the number of Locusts on the field but in the discarding player's hand. Otherwise, on the field it works similarly to a scarab.
I like the concept of the card, but I feel gravity is the wrong place for this. Life might actually be a better fit (creature generation, insects).
I see your point, here. However, this cards comes with a series (
http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,23363.msg318508#msg318508) and there is already a life card (Ivy | Ivy (
http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,23314.0.html)) and a darness one with a life ability (Black Grasshopper | Dark Grasshopper (
http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,23365.0.html)).
Standalone useage: Competes too closely with Otyugh and appears to be UP in comparision
Clog Hand use: Neat discard effect. Needs a better name. While neat the discard effect does not seem to be worthwhile to add to the game when designed as a nightmare synergy.
Clog Field use: Will not clog the field
Standalone use: It is obviously less good than Otyugh by itself. However, it opens synergies with empathic bond (Othyugh requires a bone yard for the same purpose) and nightmare (the
/
interaction is still pretty weak at the moment). It combines some characteristics of Scarabs/pharaon with some of Otyugh. It is probably not completely game-proof yet but I think the idea worth that we think about it.
Name: see above.
Overall Mechanically:
Please forget this card but remember the mechanics.
Other critiques:
This would be better as 2 cards one with each effect. However neither effect is best suited to this series.
Needs better effect names.
Swarm is already used,
Sw(H)arm is like Obsession? It can not be lobotomised because it is in the hand?
Ingest and Infest does not seem to fit Locust although it would fit Ghouls.
As I wrote above, it is probably not completely game-proof yet but I think the idea worth that we think about it. Thanks for your time.