Lithification | Crystallization

[Pineapple]

NAME: Lithification ELEMENT: Earth COST: 3 TYPE: Spell ATK|HP: TEXT: Turn the target into a number of pillars of the same element.	NAME: Crystallization ELEMENT: Earth COST: 2 TYPE: Spell ATK|HP: TEXT: Turn the target into a number of towers of the same element.

ART: patchx94 IDEA: patchx94 NOTES: Version 2: amount of pillars/towers generated scales with cost of target. Version 1: 2 pillars/towers were generated. "a number" is (C/3)+1, where C is the cost of the target and C/3 is rounded down. Will not trigger death effects. Can be used on both creatures and permanents, including your own pillars. Pillar/tower is spawned on the same side as the target was from. Extra 1/3 from the tower is gained. "Other" things become Quantum Pillars/Towers. OP form of insta-kill CC? SERIES:

[OldTrees]

I think this would work best as Casting Cost/N pillars. A Crimson Dragon is worth about 3-4 pillars I think.

So maybe creates 1+Casting Cost/3? that way it pays of the investment part way through the 4th turn.

I like this idea.

[Pineapple]

Yeah, scaling with cost would be great.

The best way to do this would to somehow find "the cost", such as finding the average costs of all the cards in the game, or of all the creatures in the game, or all the weapons and shields counting for one each and all the creatures and other permanents counting for six each and then averaging the sum of all of those costs, or...

I'll trust your reasoning and math behind this and change it to one third of the cost rounded up (we don't want to make complex formulas on the card text now, do we?  ) Too hard to word, so I'll just put the formula in notes and leave the card text vague.

On another note, how would this work with Phoenix? Would it be like mutation and aflatoxin, or would it be like killing the phoenix and producing the quanta? I think "becomes" makes it the former, while the latter would be cool with lava destroyer and minor phoenix cremation. Therefore, I'm thinking of changing it to Fossilize and rewording it to "Kill the target and create..." though you can't kill a permanent. Discuss?

[Pineapple]

Version 2 Marker.

[OldTrees]

I think either reaction with Phoenix is within the realm of balance. I would go with it not killing the Phoenix and thus no ash or malignant cell will be formed.

[doublecross]

I agree, this card is OP if it triggers death effects.

Thus, this card shouldn't count as killing the target. No bonewall increase, no skeletons summoned, no ash, no malignant cells, scavengers don't benefit.

[Pineapple]

So..anything more on balance? Is it crucible-ready?

[ZephyrPhantom]

For the problem of triggering death effects, you could have the creature morph into a pillar instead.

I think this card is balanced.  It allows you to get back on track if you're running low on pillars, and at the same time could be CC.

Looks crucible-ready.

[Legit]

This card is a very nice idea, due to the fact it could be used in many strategies (including new ones based on this card) and it is unique in the way it interacts with the cards already in play.

First off, I’ll give my opinions on the subjects being discussed already. I think it should not trigger death affects. The target creature is being changed into something else – It is not dying in any form. The CC aspect is harder to balance. It would be fine if the target was something like a Crimson Dragon: The opponent would receive 3 pillars and lose a card which could have been killed by a Lightning. However, what if you targeted a Chimera? What if you used it as a form of PC and destroyed a Phase Shield? Depending on the situation, this card could be very overpowered. A possible idea is to change it so you can only target cards on your side of the field.

Anyways, on to the strengths of the card. This card is very versatile, which makes it invaluable in many decks. You can use it on your creature that is about to die, you can remove your Wings that is going to expire and get free pillars, or you can use it to create pillars for pump spells like Fire Bolt. It could also strengthen certain types of decks, for example, a mono-Earth deck could be:
6 x Stone Pillar
6 x Earth Pendulum
4 x Stone Skin
4 x Lithification
6 x Stone Dragon
6 x Shrieker
With mark of Earth. This deck would be extremely versatile and counter many strategies. Your opponent is rushing with a 30 card deck? Play your creatures, use Lithification, and then Stone Skin. Your opponent is stalling? Play your creatures, the dragons have high hp and the Shriekers can burrow. You get the idea.

Overall, I think this card is a great idea.

[Ajit]

I like this mechanic very much.  Seems like a very unique and creative one

I'm not the balancing pro so I'll leave it to others who will and already have told you if it is overpowered or not.

But, I like it.

[Pineapple]

Ah, I forgot to include that I've decided that it will not trigger death effects.

However, what if you targeted a Chimera? What if you used it as a form of PC and destroyed a Phase Shield? Depending on the situation, this card could be very overpowered. A possible idea is to change it so you can only target cards on your side of the field.

Well, my goal in creating this card was to create a cheap form of PC. I chose pillar-converting because Earth also has Quicksand, which can be used to take care of the extra pillars produced.

Chimera is the only creature that would cause such a large disappointment in being Crystallized, but that same disappointment can be caused by other cards such as Rewind or Antimatter. As for Phase Shields, I would not think that destroying a Phase Shield for double the quanta of an Explosion and giving your opponent a free 2 towers (not to mention 2 extra for those towers being played).

The main problem is obviously that you only need 2 to completely destroy any monster in your path. If we take out the ability for this card to target creatures, however, then we also take out most of its versatility.

But Earth wasn't the most flexible element to begin with. Discuss?

[Legit]

Although having a card that is both CC and PC will be a bit tedious, your points are vaild and I agree that it is balanced.