Orbital Transit Beacon | Rally Point

[OdinVanguard]

NAME: Orbital Transit Beacon ELEMENT: Other COST: 4 TYPE: Permanent ATK|HP: TEXT: 2 : Mark a slot on your field. The next ally played will go there and gain +1|+1 until end of turn.	NAME: Rally Point ELEMENT: Other COST: 3 TYPE: Spell ATK|HP: TEXT: Play your next ally to a target slot in your field. It gets +1|+1 for 1 turn. Return this card to your hand next turn.

ART: OdinVanguard IDEA: OdinVanguard NOTES: "Today will be surprisingly mundane" "At least you can be sure you will get to where you want to go. But routine provides structure and structure will give you strength. Make the best of it." Created as part of the "Field Slot" based combat mechanic series (slowly nearing completion). Its pretty straightforward. You pick a slot, then the next creature you play gets placed there. The creature also gets a small buff until the end of its turn. (Creatures with 0 hp, like sparks, will still die when the buff wears off at end of turn) Only one mark will be allowed on a side at a given time. Subsequent marks will override previous ones. Marks are removed as soon as a creature gets played to them. This is meant as a general purpose means to give all elements control over where their creatures are initially placed. The small temporary bonus will make it useful even if added without other cards of this series. Hopefully it will provide a strong boost toward getting more field based mechanics into the game. SERIES: http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,48038.0.html

[Hyroen]

Can it target occupied spaces? If so what happens then?

[OdinVanguard]

Can it target occupied spaces? If so what happens then?

Good question... didn't think of that actually.

I have two thoughts on that myself, either:
1) It won't be allowed.
or
2) It just gives the creature +1|+1 till end of turn

First option is simplest I think.

Second may make it a little tricky to balance due to abuse w/ scorpions...
-But +1 attack is easily thwarted by many shields and a temproray +1 hp is only helpful for a handful of situations.

Since this is a field slot effect, it wouldn't stack, so there wouldn't be danger of mass buffing a target at least.

[Dm]

I must admit I love any cards that are field-related as I feel they are one of the things in Elements that have not been explored as much as could be. But given the current effect of this card, I'd say it's not quite useful with what we have right now.

[andretimpa]

Well, +1 attack is all that Dune Scorpion needs to wreak havoc.

[OdinVanguard]

I must admit I love any cards that are field-related as I feel they are one of the things in Elements that have not been explored as much as could be. But given the current effect of this card, I'd say it's not quite useful with what we have right now.

I agree. Unfortunately, the lack of cards that can do what this does means its hard to design cards that make use of field effects since you have no way to control where your creatures end up.

Its a rather vicious cycle.

Which is why I'm making a series to try and get things started.

Well, +1 attack is all that Dune Scorpion needs to wreak havoc.

Very true... Although the card "Shield" or any of a number of other shield cards is all you need to stop it.

If you consider upgraded cards,
There are much more cost effective ways to give a scorpion that bump, and they move as fast or faster and with better chances of piercing a shield.

If you consider unupped cards,
The combo requires at least 2 turns to pull off, and sucks down half a nova worth of quanta to do so...
In the process, you could very well suck down the very quanta you need to pull out the dune scorp.
Momentum makes for a much more consistent combo.

Hopefully that will help keep it relatively balanced in comparison.

[Absol]

I read the unupped as "Orbital Transit Bacon". Good luck imagining that.

In-topic: what's the real purpose of this card, other than:
1. Flooding
2. Temporary buff (negligible in most cases, except Dune)
?

EDIT: i read your posts. Assuming you want to make a series, what kind of manipulation might come up next that can make this worthy?

[Hazardus10]

I love this card idea, but what happens when you have no quanta to summon the creature into the selected space? Then you use the skill again?

[CuCN]

I love this card idea, but what happens when you have no quanta to summon the creature into the selected space? Then you use the skill again?

I think it would override the slot that you previously selected. (So you could use the skill again if you changed your mind about where you wanted the creature to go, or not use it if you wanted to keep the currently selected slot)

[OdinVanguard]

I read the unupped as "Orbital Transit Bacon". Good luck imagining that.

In-topic: what's the real purpose of this card, other than:
1. Flooding
2. Temporary buff (negligible in most cases, except Dune)
?

EDIT: i read your posts. Assuming you want to make a series, what kind of manipulation might come up next that can make this worthy?

I already have some in place, but more are on the way. Here are some of the ones most relevant so far, check em out:
http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,47839.0.html
http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,47836.0.html
http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,47870.0.html

I'm waiting till I have at least one card per element before making the series. I'm at about 8 or 9 now.

I love this card idea, but what happens when you have no quanta to summon the creature into the selected space? Then you use the skill again?

I think it would override the slot that you previously selected. (So you could use the skill again if you changed your mind about where you wanted the creature to go, or not use it if you wanted to keep the currently selected slot)

The mark dissapears after it is used. I'll add that to the notes.
Having new marks override existing ones also makes good sense because it would probably be the most easy to implement and understand for players.

[andretimpa]

I think the main problem with Dune Scorpion is that the fact it requires a duo to work is part of its balancing. As this card is in 'other' you could run this in a mono deck. The same problem doesn't happen with Deathstalker because the buff is temporary. If you feel that 6 time quanta and 2 cards are worthy a neurotoxin counter (not working if the opponent has a shield) then go ahead.

[Pella]

I love this card idea, but what happens when you have no quanta to summon the creature into the selected space? Then you use the skill again?

This raises an interesting point.  What happens when a creature comes into play involuntarily, e.g. Skull Shield, Parallel Universe, or Aflatoxin (when the cells multiply)?  Will the first critter take the marked spot, or is the marked spot "reserved" for voluntary placement of critters?