A modest proposal: make flesh spider/recluse a soft immortal otyugh counter

[collimatrix]

The flesh spider and flesh recluse are pretty lackluster at the moment.  Usable, yes, but not particularly competitive.  They're completely inferior to the horned/giant frog, for instance.

Immortal otyughs can be countered by four cards, the fire shield, the fire buckler, the ice shield and the permafrost shield.  Momentum-ed immortal otyghus are completely untouchable.  The only disadvantage of that combo at the moment is the time it takes to get in play.

I propose that the flesh spider and flesh recluse be given a new special ability; "ensnare".  For two death quanta the flesh spider/recluse targets a friendly creature and surrounds it with traps of poisonous silk (visible counter).  Any creature that attacks that creature (scarabs, owls eyes, otyughs ect) receives one poison counter.  Since this is a passive defense that's not explicitly targeting anything, it ought to work on immortal otyughs as well.

[HowFlyy]

This sounds Epic!

[MrSexington]

The flesh spider and flesh recluse are pretty lackluster at the moment.  Usable, yes, but not particularly competitive.  They're completely inferior to the horned/giant frog, for instance.

Immortal otyughs can be countered by four cards, the fire shield, the fire buckler, the ice shield and the permafrost shield.  Momentum-ed immortal otyghus are completely untouchable.  The only disadvantage of that combo at the moment is the time it takes to get in play.

I propose that the flesh spider and flesh recluse be given a new special ability; "ensnare".  For two death quanta the flesh spider/recluse targets a friendly creature and surrounds it with traps of poisonous silk (visible counter).  Any creature that attacks that creature (scarabs, owls eyes, otyughs ect) receives one poison counter.  Since this is a passive defense that's not explicitly targeting anything, it ought to work on immortal otyughs as well.

That's a pretty good idea, but how about this:

For those who've played MTG, they could take the "Flagbearer" ability from Apocalypse.  The ability is basically:

"If any ability or spell that could target this Flagbearer, it must target this Flagbearer."

When you clicked on a creature's ability, the only targeting cursor available would be the spider.  So this would include spells like Firebolt and Lightning that the other player casts.  Maybe even they would get a poison counter. 

(This is also including "good" spells like Bless, Adrenaline, and Momentum.  They could only target the spider.... then again... that's a little too strong.  You would probably have to introduce a new card with this ability or significantly increase the cost, alter the stats, or whatever.)

[collimatrix]

That could work as an immortal otyugh countermeasure too; destroy their ability to target priority creatures and for cheaper than making them all immortal.  I think it would work best as a new card entirely though, since it doesn't particularly make sense with the spider.

My proposal is intended to correct two things; the generic and useless nature of the death spiders and the impossibility of screwing with quinted otyughs.

Hmmm...

Another fun way to go would be to give entropy a card called "radiation" or somesuch for 2-3  .  Cast it on any creature and it's poisoned.  If anything eats it it gets a face full of aflotoxin.

[casthegamer]

that's a great idea, however i'd like to see it on a new card. vanilla creatures like flesh spider/recluse have a place in all ccgs and are fine with no ability.

[collimatrix]

that's a great idea, however i'd like to see it on a new card. vanilla creatures like flesh spider/recluse have a place in all ccgs and are fine with no ability.

I disagree that the flesh spider/recluse "has a place".  Compare it to the horned/giant frog or the elite cockatrice.  It's just plain outclassed.

[Chemist]

I disagree that the flesh spider/recluse "has a place".  Compare it to the horned/giant frog or the elite cockatrice.  It's just plain outclassed.

Not in it isn't. All the elements have strenghts and weakneses. Cheap creatures are one of life's main strenghts, so you can't really compare and creatures on equal footing.

[collimatrix]

I disagree that the flesh spider/recluse "has a place".  Compare it to the horned/giant frog or the elite cockatrice.  It's just plain outclassed.

Not in it isn't. All the elements have strenghts and weakneses. Cheap creatures are one of life's main strenghts, so you can't really compare and creatures on equal footing.

I could buy that argument if the flesh spider/recluse synergized at all with the other death creatures or abilities.  It doesn't.  Furthermore, look at the dragons.  Several of those are equivalent element to element.

Cockatrice and frogs were made for adrenaline.  Even unupgraded, frog+adrenaline gives 12 damage for 6 .  What does the spider do?  It gets eaten by quinted otyughs.  How do you deal with quinted otyughs?  You use nothing but quinted creatures, or really big ones.

Does it seem slightly off to anyone else that the only counter to a given card is to use more of that given card?  Spread the love around... and make the death spiders do something useful!

[Chemist]

Speaking of , you should look at the development section. The new Thorn Carapace shield should take care of quinted Otyughs just fine.

[collimatrix]

I did see that.

Life is shaping up to be a really good choice for new players and mono-color lvl 3 grind.

[bigbadbanana]

Immortal otyughs can be countered by four cards, the fire shield, the fire buckler, the ice shield and the permafrost shield.  Momentum-ed immortal otyghus are completely untouchable.  The only disadvantage of that combo at the moment is the time it takes to get in play.

I propose that the flesh spider and flesh recluse be given a new special ability; "ensnare".  For two death quanta the flesh spider/recluse targets a friendly creature and surrounds it with traps of poisonous silk (visible counter).  Any creature that attacks that creature (scarabs, owls eyes, otyughs ect) receives one poison counter.  Since this is a passive defense that's not explicitly targeting anything, it ought to work on immortal otyughs as well.

You forgot that procratination and turtle shield can block otyguhs. Love the ensnare idea though.

[casthegamer]

I could buy that argument if the flesh spider/recluse synergized at all with the other death creatures or abilities.  It doesn't.  Furthermore, look at the dragons.  Several of those are equivalent element to element.

it's a midsized body for a midsized price. every color needs a creature like this. death also has creature control in the form of virus and plague, one of few creature generators in the game, and the most powerful shield in the game. Life has bond and adrenaline, no creature control, no means of card advantage, and you are all up in arms because life gets a flesh spider for one less quantum?

Cockatrice and frogs were made for adrenaline. 

also, this should be vice versa.