Sewer Rat | Filthy Rat

[Tetti]

NAME: Sewer Rat ELEMENT: Death COST: 1 TYPE: Creature ATK|HP: 1|2 TEXT: Each successful attack generates a 0|1 Flea in the opponent's field.	NAME: Filthy Rat ELEMENT: Death COST: 2 TYPE: Creature ATK|HP: 2|4 TEXT: Each successful attack generates two 0|1 Fleas in the opponent's field.

ART: http://www.bugclinic.com/Micenrats.htm IDEA: Tetti NOTES: A Flea would be a  0|1 creature which spawns in the opponent's field poisoned.  If a player has at least one Flea in his field at the end of his turn, his poison counter increases by 1. SERIES:

[OldTrees]

Alfatoxin was made for this purpose. Malignant Cell is a 1|1 for a reason.

[Leo]

Alfatoxin was made for this purpose. Malignant Cell is a 1|1 for a reason.

But they're not the same cards and don't pack the same effect so new ideas, such as this, should be considered and not frowned upon.

[Tetti]

Alfatoxin was made for this purpose. Malignant Cell is a 1|1 for a reason.

I vaguely recall reading why MC was 1|1 but don't remember what the argument was.  Obviously the Rat mechanic is different but is the end result too similiar to AT/MC?

[ZephyrPhantom]

Alfatoxin was made for this purpose. Malignant Cell is a 1|1 for a reason.

But they're not the same cards and don't pack the same effect so new ideas, such as this, should be considered and not frowned upon.

The two cards in question may have different effects, but the problem is that they fill the same niche/role. The metagame's almost like an ecosystem - two cards with the same role will cause one to become very underused, like Massive Dragon vs. Armagio.

I agree with Oldtrees - both share the Field-jamming role and Aflatoxin is more versatile. It should try to have a different effect.

[OldTrees]

Alfatoxin was made for this purpose. Malignant Cell is a 1|1 for a reason.

I vaguely recall reading why MC was 1|1 but don't remember what the argument was.  Obviously the Rat mechanic is different but is the end result too similiar to AT/MC?

But they're not the same cards and don't pack the same effect so new ideas, such as this, should be considered and not frowned upon.

MC was made 1|1 to balance out the field clogging effect. I will have it noted that I am not frowning on this card. I just want to point out a similar card that can be used to help balance it. Hopefully during the balancing Sewer Rat creates a more diverse niche that overlaps less with Alfatoxin.
PS: having all the relevant information in the card text of 1 card is good design. 

So please listen to ZBlader's explanation on the potential problems and improve the card.

The two cards in question may have different effects, but the problem is that they fill the same niche/role. The metagame's almost like an ecosystem - two cards with the same role will cause one to become very underused, like Massive Dragon vs. Armagio.

[Pineapple]

However, this card is different enough since it clogs at a different pace (exponential vs linear)
Possible add-on: Make fleas have 2 to 4 hp and come into play poisoned.

[Hyroen]

Welcome to the forums Tetti.

I see you haven't posted much. What is impressive is that, while the idea may be a little redundant with Aflatoxin, your formatting is spectacular. Most people have many difficulties with the formatting.

And you even avoided one of my hugest pet peeves:
Yes | Yes
No|No
You let the words and my eyes breath. Thank you and keep up the good work.

[Tetti]

I think a case can be made to differentiate Rat/Flea from AT/MC.  Its manner of infection is already different so I think it has to come from Flea's effects. 

I was originally considering Flea to deal 1 damage to its owner each round but I don't know how that could even be represented (-1 | 1 obviously wouldn't work).  What if someone has at least one Flea in their field, 1 point is added to their poison counter each round (NOT per flea).  Fleas would be 0|2 but spawn poisoned.   This would effectively eliminate the overlapping of MC's crowding effect while it also maintains the Rat's threat by continuously recycling Fleas on the opponent.  And with Fleas constantly dying, they continue to benefit the Rat owner's Death cards like Bone Wall and Graveyard.

[Hyroen]

-1 | 1 with Vampire should work ^_^

[artimies7]

The poisoning sounds good, but what if you replaced it with something to the effect of:
Rat's Burrow
Permanent
Summoned when the card 'Rat' is played.
2: Sacrifice 3 Fleas to add +1|+1 to Rat and gain  .

If you play 2 Rats, then two Permanents are summoned, but if you activate a Burrow's ability, three Fleas are sacrificed to buff only the one Rat. You can't buy Rat's Burrow. I thought it might be a difference from all the poison and death effects. I've always dreamed of using a cyclical specialty permanent/creature combo to buff. It's just cool.

[OldTrees]

The poisoning sounds good, but what if you replaced it with something to the effect of:
Rat's Burrow
Permanent
Summoned when the card 'Rat' is played.
2: Sacrifice 3 Fleas to add +1|+1 to Rat and gain  .

If you play 2 Rats, then two Permanents are summoned, but if you activate a Burrow's ability, three Fleas are sacrificed to buff only the one Rat. You can't buy Rat's Burrow. I thought it might be a difference from all the poison and death effects. I've always dreamed of using a cyclical specialty permanent/creature combo to buff. It's just cool.

This requires 3 cards to make 1 idea work. It also requires multiple targeting which is currently very problematic for the code (fast clicking/canceling exploits)
I would strongly recommend against any idea that has more than 1 major problem.