Multi-casting cards and Elements

[jmizzle7]

I can answer the storyline issue for all of you: there is no official storyline or backstory. There never has been, and there isn't one now. There may be in the future, but that is for another discussion.

I addressed the question earlier of whether we, the players, are elementals. Zanz answers that definitively in the description of each element, that [element type] Elementals can [do something innate to said element]. Marks are the ties that we have to elemental energy. To change marks, we have to go through metamorphosis. A mark that is random or otherwise not one of the 12 element types would be artificial, mechanical, or unnatural, and doesn't make sense as an Elemental Mark type.

[Kuross]

What I am trying to do here is simply explore ideas of multiple casting cost cards. If the mechanics don't allow for it, or aren't in the future of the game, so be it. I get that the Mark is set and there are 12, I be cool wit dat. Was only suggesting a place for multi-cost cards was all (notes change to header).

What about single Element cards with multiple usage elements within them? Ex- Swamp Monster: 3/4 creature with two abilites,    Drown- target creature -2 HPs,  Swamp Gas- Target creature gains wings for 2 turns. End of second turn, creature dies.

I'm only using this as an example (most of the time this stuff is off the top of my head, so I apologize) but the point I am trying to make is there seems to be precedent to have costs with costs (Pegasus or Lava Destroyer) so it seems logical to assume one can have more than one cost on a card.

[jmizzle7]

What I am trying to do here is simply explore ideas of multiple casting cost cards. If the mechanics don't allow for it, or aren't in the future of the game, so be it. I get that the Mark is set and there are 12, I be cool wit dat. Was only suggesting a place for multi-cost cards was all (notes change to header).

What about single Element cards with multiple usage elements within them? Ex- Swamp Monster: 3/4 creature with two abilites,    Drown- target creature -2 HPs,  Swamp Gas- Target creature gains wings for 2 turns. End of second turn, creature dies.

I'm only using this as an example (most of the time this stuff is off the top of my head, so I apologize) but the point I am trying to make is there seems to be precedent to have costs with costs (Pegasus or Lava Destroyer) so it seems logical to assume one can have more than one cost on a card.

Creatures cannot have more than one active skill. They can, however, have up to two passive skills. The active skill can either be a triggered effect (Phoenix, Scramble, etc.), or it can be an activated skill with a cost (Queen, Dive, Devour, Sniper, etc.). The cost must be of a single element, and can vary from zero to four quanta of that element. The element type of the skill does not need to match the element type of the creature.

[Kuross]

Ohh... so, the option to explore passive/active ability combos is open?

Before I go into hiatus and come out to bounce 34,654 thousand random ideas off the E community, are coming up with new active and passive skills fair game? Ex- "Link: (activate) Every time creature successfully deals damage to a player, that damage, rounded down, is applied to linked creature." In other words, have a creature with "Link" target a creature on the field, then apply damage as described until it is dead. Then the player controling the creature with "Link" can target another creature, but not until the link is broken with the previous creature (i.e.- dead or removed from play).

Stuff like that is what I'd explore, then maybe come up with other skils that would mesh on one creature. Using the above example, a creature with Link (active) and Vampirism (passive) could go on the same creature. Am I getting this right as far as passive/active?

[jmizzle7]

Absolutely. There is a section of the forums completely dedicated to new card ideas. You should check it out. There are rules regarding posting card ideas, which you should read first.

Actually, Vampire is an active skill. Any text you see below a creature while it is in play represents its active skill. The text that appears on the right half of the mouse-over box represents the two passive skills. Below is an example of a flying Arsenic. Its active skill is venom (the skill that applies poison on a successful attack), and the two passive skills are poisonous and airborne.

[Kuross]

Gotcha, vampirism is active. -edited stoopid typo demon mischief- Got a bitty mixed up on active/passive; assumed active was something that could only be activated and passive was always on. *palms forehead*

Okay, so then the next question is- are there limits on what can be a passive skill? Airbourne certainly doesn't seem harmful, 'till you play "Wings" then you start to care. Also, are certain passive skills locked into specific elements? Air seems to have cornered the market on all things "Airbourne"-ish, with a few exceptions. Maybe a better question- is there a referrence manual for what can and can't be on a card?

[jmizzle7]

There is no reference manual, so to speak. Also, again, the Vampire skill is active, not passive.

You can make any card do whatever you want. Just know that you can only have one active skill (this skill will appear as text below the card icon) and two passive skills.

[Glitch]

As stated before, cards with multiple elemental costs would force a complete rework of the code to implement. Zanz won't do that. Anubis, Pest, Pulverizer and the others don't have multiple elemental costs, but rather a casting cost of one element and a skill cost of another element. Casting costs or skill costs that cost more than one element to play would be a pain to code, and will most likely never happen. However, Zanz has surprised us before, so I typically don't like to make guarantees that something will or will not ever happen. My bet is still no on this one, though.

Actually, I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one.

Sandstorm 
Duo: 2 .  Unburrow all creatures.

The duo mechanic works like this.  When you play the card, you also pay the Duo cost, otherwise the card does nothing.

[timtwins]

I think its a great idea if they can code it right

[jmizzle7]

As stated before, cards with multiple elemental costs would force a complete rework of the code to implement. Zanz won't do that. Anubis, Pest, Pulverizer and the others don't have multiple elemental costs, but rather a casting cost of one element and a skill cost of another element. Casting costs or skill costs that cost more than one element to play would be a pain to code, and will most likely never happen. However, Zanz has surprised us before, so I typically don't like to make guarantees that something will or will not ever happen. My bet is still no on this one, though.

Actually, I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one.

Sandstorm 
Duo: 2 .  Unburrow all creatures.

The duo mechanic works like this.  When you play the card, you also pay the Duo cost, otherwise the card does nothing.

Looks like you read only part of my post.

[Kuross]

Also, again, the Vampire skill is active, not passive.

Oh bloody hell, I hate typo demons and other nasty, annoying creatures lurking amongst my keyoard! I meant active, not passive. *beats keyboard*


You know, that duo idea with Sandstorm might actually be feasible in this given environment. It could act like a Sundial. Cost  x to play, then x to active. Yes, no?

I ask because that also would open some possiblities for card ideas.