Ask the Idea Guru

[Daguerreo]

Hello Guru!

Please could you help us to build mechanics in:
Magpie (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35365.0.html)

Magpie:
Both the stealing effects (from deck or from hand) would add  something to the game.
Stealing from the hand is twice the net card advantage (2x  the value of Hasten)
Stealing from the deck is a Milling win condition

What abou Magpie (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35704.msg480200#msg480200) ?

Magpie steals a card from the opponent's deck. This gives you 1 card and reduces your opponent's deck size by 1.
You have 2 versions:
Duo activated ability
    The card can be used the same turn
    1 card per turn per magpie
Duo venom ability that requires an attack buff
    The card must wait a turn
    Can prevent you from drawing next turn (widens the deckout gap between the two decks)
    Can be used up to twice per turn per magpie
    2 card combo

Well, these are things that we already know
Any opinion? Suggestion? Wich one would be better for the metagame?

[Daguerreo]

Any opinion or suggestion about Avalanche (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,30778.0.html) ?

[OldTrees]

Hello Guru!

Please could you help us to build mechanics in:
Magpie (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35365.0.html)

Magpie:
Both the stealing effects (from deck or from hand) would add  something to the game.
Stealing from the hand is twice the net card advantage (2x  the value of Hasten)
Stealing from the deck is a Milling win condition

What abou Magpie (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35704.msg480200#msg480200) ?

Magpie steals a card from the opponent's deck. This gives you 1 card and reduces your opponent's deck size by 1.
You have 2 versions:
Duo activated ability
    The card can be used the same turn
    1 card per turn per magpie
Duo venom ability that requires an attack buff
    The card must wait a turn
    Can prevent you from drawing next turn (widens the deckout gap between the two decks)
    Can be used up to twice per turn per magpie
    2 card combo

Well, these are things that we already know
Any opinion? Suggestion? Which one would be better for the metagame?

The venom ability exaggerates the deckout option (something less abundant in the metagame) but at the cost of restricting the decks to (/ ) duos. So it would be a smaller increase in the metagame but would increase an underused area more than the activated ability version.

I don't have an opinion and I cannot identify either as being obviously better for the metagame. The preference of the community (through the poll) should be the deciding factor.

Any opinion or suggestion about Avalanche (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,30778.0.html) ?

Flooding synergy, Anti Fractal, Expensive standalone instant kill that ignores hp.
Excluding Water creature prevents beneficial Flooding synergy. (also Pufferfish cannot swim up avalanches ) You might have meant only the damage clause excluded water creatures. In that case you ran out of room to communicate that on the card. (ice still hurts fish)
I would definitely agree with Jocko's suggestion where one version is enemy only and one version in universal.
Dealing 2 damage on both versions might help reduce the variance between best and worst results.
I think the random nature fits the disaster quite well thematically.
PS: compare to thunderstorm and fire storm not to fire bolt.

[EmeraldTiger]

should it cost less? http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35838.0.html

[OldTrees]

should it cost less? http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35838.0.html

Armagio 6|6 + X + 1 turn + 2 card for 25|30 voodoo and 1|2 attack
Default: 2 + 2|1 + 2 cards for 16|20 voodoo

Chimera + Pin + Creatures vs Voodoo + Gravity Pull + Basilisk Bloods

I am not sure it is ever superior to Voodoo Doll and I am not sure if it can cost low enough.

[EmeraldTiger]

should it cost less? http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35838.0.html

Armagio 6|6 + X + 1 turn + 2 card for 25|30 voodoo and 1|2 attack
Default: 2 + 2|1 + 2 cards for 16|20 voodoo

Chimera + Pin + Creatures vs Voodoo + Gravity Pull + Basilisk Bloods

I am not sure it is ever superior to Voodoo Doll and I am not sure if it can cost low enough.

If non- gained the +5hp|+7hp, how much would creatures be allowed to gain?

[OldTrees]

should it cost less? http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35838.0.html

Armagio 6|6 + X + 1 turn + 2 card for 25|30 voodoo and 1|2 attack
Default: 2 + 2|1 + 2 cards for 16|20 voodoo

Chimera + Pin + Creatures vs Voodoo + Gravity Pull + Basilisk Bloods

I am not sure it is ever superior to Voodoo Doll and I am not sure if it can cost low enough.

If non- gained the +5hp|+7hp, how much would creatures be allowed to gain?

Well, why would Darkness creatures be able to gain more?
Shards are usually useful in rainbows. The elemental loyalty bonus is paid for by the restriction from rainbow towards mono (5 rather than 5 ).
All creatures except Voodoo Doll, Armagio and Chimera are subpar choices for pin. (So being forced into mono Darkness is not much of an additional cost)

Pin will remain a subpar choice for Voodoo Doll until it is as effective as Basilisk Blood.
Pin will remain a subpar choice for Armagio until it is as effective as Voodoo Doll + Gravity Pull.
Pin will remain a subpar choice for Chimera + Hp fodder until it is as effective as Voodoo Doll + Gravity Pull + Basilisk Bloods.

[EmeraldTiger]

Would you recommend a Higher Hp  buff?

[OldTrees]

Would you recommend a Higher Hp  buff?

My primary concern is that is might not be able to be balanced against both Heavy Armor and Voodoo Doll at the same time.
My secondary concern is that it might not be versatile enough without rendering Voodoo Doll suboptimal.

What niches is this card meant to have? What niches does that leave for Heavy Armor and Voodoo Doll?

[EmeraldTiger]

My original thought was a spell that gave a creature damage reflection towards opponent.

[OldTrees]

My original thought was a spell that gave a creature damage reflection towards opponent.

But what niche? If the niche is too similar to Voodoo Doll then only 1 will remain and the other will become UP. If the niche is too small then it is too restrictive.

Ex:
The Vampire ability is most useful on creatures with high attack and reasonable cost (low hp and no other abilities). The Vampire ability is native on a creature with low-average attack. Therefore the Liquid Shadow card had a niche of Vampiric Dragons (as well as its synergy with Antimatter).

The Voodoo Ability is most useful on creatures with the highest hp/cost ratio (no attack and no other abilities). The Voodoo ability is native on a if not the optimal creature for the ability. Thus there is little room for a Voodoo teaching spell (a spell that grant the voodoo skill) to carve its own niche.

[Daguerreo]

Any opinion or suggestion about Avalanche (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,30778.0.html) ?

Flooding synergy, Anti Fractal, Expensive standalone instant kill that ignores hp.
Excluding Water creature prevents beneficial Flooding synergy. (also Pufferfish cannot swim up avalanches ) You might have meant only the damage clause excluded water creatures. In that case you ran out of room to communicate that on the card. (ice still hurts fish)
I would definitely agree with Jocko's suggestion where one version is enemy only and one version in universal.
Dealing 2 damage on both versions might help reduce the variance between best and worst results.
I think the random nature fits the disaster quite well thematically.
PS: compare to thunderstorm and fire storm not to fire bolt.

 Mmmh, this card is a very old concept of mine, now I understand better which modify I should do.
Original idea was: Deal damage and shift row to both field, but creature don't take damages. So it allow a beneficial Flooding synergy, but maybe it has no much meaning this point.

I agree to make one version to only one field, but which one? I was thinking to the upgraded.

With 2 damage it isn't OP? with 3 of those you can kill almost everthing and it's really hard to take an advantage to put your creatures underwater.