Discussing Life - Hoping to Address a few Concerns

[jmdt]

Would something like Mtg's Hex Proof work for ?

Example: http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,33562.0.html

That is essentially cloak.  A 4-6 turn can't attack creatures permanent would really be the ticket for 's proliferation strategies.  If it made you creatures invulnerable it would be best.  Something that also protects from Rof and pande.

It's a temporary form of Hexproof for . And it does protect from RoF and Pande. Chaining it would be the Hexproof you're looking for, would it not?

I was just saying, if we are chaining hexproof, it needs to last long enough that it only takes a few spots in the deck.  The combo decks is trying to buff are hard enough to pull off already.

[ZephyrPhantom]

Alright, I've seen two cards posted here so I'd thought I'd try something based on this.

Energy | Vitality (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,33599.0.html)

Would this help deal with some of Life's problems?

EDIT: Card was changed based on feedback so Momentum is no longer part of the card's effect.

[jmdt]

Alright, I've seen two cards posted here so I'd thought I'd try something based on this.

Energy | Vitality (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,33599.0.html)

Would this help deal with some of Life's problems?

yes and no.  Momentum does not help a mito frog survive.  Also momentum sans just shifts the elements too close together.

[ak65ala]

This topic is great.  Glad I found it in scouring the forums over lunch.

I would call myself a connoisseur of life.  I have been pondering over its position for a good four+ months now (trials, now war)... so... I think I would say I know what I am talking about.

This has all been stated earlier in the thread, but I am putting it down here to direct my thought stream. 

Life's primary weaknesses are CC and shields.  5 of life's 6 creatures (nymph omitted in this discussion) die by most used forms of CC.  Bond dies due to CC, adrenaline die to CC, mitosis dies to CC.  Life's only source of victory is creature damage.  Shields slow this down/stop it.  Life's only stall mechanic is healing, which is either too minimal, only a stop-gap or foiled by PC.  As is evident in War #4, round 2, the majority of teams went against life with shields.  They were super effective! (150% damage anyone?)

To combat these weaknesses, a deck using 50% or more life must play defensively.  They must grab PC for shields, they must pick other element's creatures, and they must use other element's methods of victory.  In essence, life cannot do it alone; they have to borrow the best pieces of every other element.  It is not a solid mono element (like fire, death, entropy, etc.).  I find this one of life's strengths, being able to pair with any element and be potent, but, normally riding on that other element's strengths... not life's.  So, is life then a support element like one could argue how aether, time are?  No, not really.  So, what is life and what makes it special?

I'm just throwing this here, as I thought of it, I find Jade shield to be, a black horse for life.  It does not possess life's main problem (fragility).  It is just too bad it does not 'do' anything for the element.  Healing is passive, shields are passive.  If you are passive in this game, you will eventually die (or deck them out.... but, let’s forget about that, hahaa)

Life's strengths, as stated, is quick creature damage and quick healing.  Life synergizes with mass creatures.  Life can buy a turn or two.  Hmmm....

More to come....

[OldTrees]

Too many comments to respond to them all

Would something like Mtg's Hex Proof work for ?

No.
Totem Armor like Vines for creatures would.

Energy | Vitality would be another good option
Alpha Wolf or a similar variant would be useful (1 card -> more than 1 creature)

A massive orgy doubling all creatures would work as a high cost card however it would require Life to be able to get creatures out and keep them out first (Creature Vines, Energy, Alpha Wolf)

There are a lot of ideas.
Would an informal card competition be of interest?

[darkrobe]

I would like a card/brainstorming competition.


On the permanent side I just had an idea.

Both increase survivability of creatures and give life a permanent to be targeted

how about something like

Bond of Tenacity (permanent)

When a creature is damaged, 1 point of the damage is instead done to you. If the creature survives, it is now immune to that damage source.


Teamed up with feral bond, any damage done to you would be healed the next turn. and you would get the benefit of creatures that can survive CC.

So for example. you have BoT and 5 giant frogs (5|3) on the field. and the opponent plays firestorm. the giant frogs each take 2 damage, you take 5 damage, but now the giant frogs can no longer be targeted by firestorm.

etc.

Thats my idea.

[willng3]

Too many comments to respond to them all

There are a lot of ideas.
Would an informal card competition be of interest?

Yeah I was thinking along the same lines.  It would probably be a wise idea for someone with more experience than I to start some form of unofficial card competition to make it easier to gauge what ideas hold the greatest potential.

[OldTrees]

I will start an unofficial card competition thread later.

[ZephyrPhantom]

Said competition would be nice for the Idea Factory to discuss or judge, granted that it's members are willing to do so.

[Manipul8r]

I read the OP shortly after it was posted and decide to sleep on it and come back later because I usually don't think in terms of what a certain element needs (but it's a good proposal).  Since other elements often have only 1 creature without an ability (minus the dragons), I focused on that.

My first idea was a bit similar to some suggestions posted already - "The first time <cardname> would be damaged each turn, prevent that damage."  This is meant to be attached to the Frog and/or Cockatrice.  I figured that life already had fairly powerful creatures so making another one was not going to be useful.

I also had another idea that could be added to an existing creature - "Whenever an opponent's creature is targeted by a spell or ability, its effects are copied to this creature."  It could also be copied to a random creature you control, but it's too narrow for a permanent slot.

Horned/Giant Frog could also get the ability -  : target other Frog generates a Tadpole (and the tadpole would be a small creature that could grow into a Frog using ).  The time delay, requiring 2 Frogs and extra would compensate for the card advantage.

As for new cards, I feel there's enough ideas floating around in this forum to satiate most people.

[OldTrees]

Life Card Competition (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,33609.new.html#new)

Here is a competition. Simple rules, popular voting, Reasoning required, No Art.

[Jangoo]

Energy | Vitality   would be a terrible idea.

It just gives the final edge to something life is already good at: Pure Rush-speed.

The problems life has are not adressed by this.