Do you happen to have a semi-competitive deck utilizing SoP before complaining about it?
Fantabow. Counters almost anything. And add it to almost any creature rush, especially with graboids.
I really don't see this. With x attack in a non-water deck, over n turns you would do xn damage without SoP, and (x+1)(n-1) damage with it (per creature). To make this worthwhile, we must have (x+1)(n-1)>xn -> xn+n-x-1>xn -> n>x+1, or the number of turns must exceed 1 more than the original attack.
If you leave SoP on for more turns, say a turns, we have (x+a)(n-a)>xn -> xn+a(n-x)-a^2>xn -> a(n-x)>a^2 -> n-x>a -> n>x+a. This means that the number of turns after playing SoP must exceed a more than the original attack.
With rosuto's example of Darkness, this means that a Gargoyle needs to last at least 7 turns (as well as the game) in order for SoP to be worthwhile [assuming you value the little extra damage over 1 card]. The only real way I can see this being helpful is against pure healing stalls (Mono-Light, Ferox's defense, etc.), or DR shields (in which case you are very likely to be outrushed anyway with that many necessary turns). Most stall decks have some means of creature removal, which SoP does nothing to help against.
Only for water is SoP somewhat useful, and even there not so much. Water lacks other means to support SoP. Besides this, elemental bonuses are intended.
In comparison to Nightfall, which is intentionally situational and elemental (hence the card description), SoP gives lower bonuses (+1|+0 vs. +1|+1) and delay, in exchange for a linear effect of SoP instead of the one-time effect of nightfall. It should be noted that neither stack.
Eh, I don't understand the (x+1)(n-1) thing. If you leave it for 3 turns, your creature attacks twice? It doesn't math. It's supposed to be xn < n+x-1, and yes, that is small. Of course you don't attempt to OTK unless necessary, you'll do less damage.
Let's do it this way: Leave SoP for a turns and remove it, then attack for b turns. x is the creature attack.
Nightfall deals (x+1)(a+b) damage.
SoP deals (x+a-1)(b) damage.
Oh wait. Optimization. Nah, I won't do this. This will have to wait later. And look, gargoyle is the second strongest creature is darkness. Note that darkness has a lot of <=3 attack creatures.
Let's do it the easy way!
3 attack.
3 attack with nightfall over 3 turns = 12 damage. That's nice.
3 attack with SoP for 1 turn, then left to attack for 2 turns. 8 damage. That sucks.
3 attack with nightfall over 10 turns = 40 damage.
3 attack with SoP for 4 (or 3) turns, then left to attack for 6 (or 7) turns. 42 damage.
Now, let the 1 DR shield join the party!
3 attack with nightfall over 3 turns = 9 damage.
3 attack with SoP for 1 turn, then left to attack for 2 turns. 6 damage. That still sucks.
3 attack with nightfall over 10 turns = 30 damage.
3 attack with SoP for 4 turns, then left to attack for 6 turns. 36 damage. But that's overkill!
Now with Vamps and the silly DR shield:
2 attack with nightfall over 6 turns = 10 damage.
2 attack with SoP for 3 turns, then left to attack for 3 turns. 12 damage.
Now with devs and a DR shield. Wait no. No maths needed there.
It's potentially better. Not so good, but remember we're looking at a monodark. SoP also has stalling capabilities, which makes it better than nightfall. It may be weak with dragons, but heck, we're looking at a monodark here. There's no need for math in the monowater situation.
Water has no cards that support SoP? Chrysaora. Squid. Add Blue Crawler and Mind Flayer to that. In some situations, even Puffer Fish.
And nightfall is already RESTRICTED for use in dark and death. Does that make SoP's elemental bonus any more special?
