Rogue Mage | Rogue Archmage

[Espithel]

You could have the card cost light but be a darkness card. It'd fix the thematic problem, but'll look uber weird.

[OdinVanguard]

Inversion would be useful vs users that employ flooding, and also against users since by turning a creature to you make it vulnerable to holy light

As I said, I can see an inversion mechanic as being a banned fringe magic, but outright sucking the life out of things seems awfully dark for a creature, even a misguided one.

The inversion mechanic is a lot easier to justify I think. For instance, it could have started as a way to 'redeem' dark creatures by turning them light.
It would also fit with your idea of 'enlightening' others since it would force the victims to find out what it is like to be on the opposing side of their current state.
It still fits the imbibe concept as well, since the inversion is basically sucking so much of their current essence out that all that the void converts them into the opposing element. E.g. where there is no there is and conversely if there is no then there it makes sense in a weird sort of way.
If the quartet pillars make it into EtG (the ones in cygnia) then there would be less need to worry about which element to put it in in terms of deckbuilding since it could be powered off of spiritual pillars either way.

[Flayne]

The problem with the theme of imbibe in the sense of consumption, is that each element has their own "essence", they are not the "filled" or "empty" versions of their counterparts.
I think/assume the Elements universe aims for existential independence more than
 "With the lack of a type of essence, its opposite is void of such essence, labeling it as dependent on the lack of said essence"
the best example of this, is the absence of .

However in this universe, is an independently existent element that does not require the lack of to have its identity, despite preferring dark places as its environment.
If anything, was existent before , which means light occupies the space of . (perhaps debatable and for another topic)

Also in terms of the desaturating essence, how is the lack of ? or the inverse? (same thing with and )
I can see how could be the lack of , however acts as a force that slowly breaks down all systems through molecular disorder and the equilibrating of heat from such, which forces the strict maintenance of said system so it does not succumb to (too quickly).
So again, is existentially independent just as is.

and is an interesting one because the lack of automatically means , yet one cannot say the inverse.
You cannot say "there is a lack of Death" since is the status of absolute termination, zero. There can be a lack of one, but not a lack of zero, because zero is nothing. Lack of something but not lack of nothing. (btw "Lack of nothing" does not necessarily equate to the term "nothing is lacking")

I won't get too deep into and (space) because that is a debate that is yet still going on within the scientific community, but
Personally I think this rule of "existence from the lack of something" is very difficult to apply to either element.


The imbibe that this card refers to is the "receiving of ideas and knowledge" or to "imbibe the spirit of an ideal/tradition"
So this mage has imbibed the ideas and knowledge of
(He requires in order to understand and imbibe the knowledge)

I guess its too complex for its own good haha  .

 
P.S Odin perhaps you should make a card with this elemental inversion idea, I feel as though you can and you want to bring out this potential

[OdinVanguard]

P.S Odin perhaps you should make a card with this elemental inversion idea, I feel as though you can and you want to bring out this potential

http://elementscommunity.org/forum/card-ideas-and-art/nexus-of-souls-soul-inversion/

Not exactly the same, but its the direction I'm aiming in for that quartet.

[UndeadSpider1990]

Personally I like the art more than the card itself

Looks UP to me at 3|4 cost to play. On top of to use it each turn, it could become quite the little Blackhole.

It remains easy pickings for CC for quite some time before it absorbs enough HP, longer yet if you're converting your own creatures instead of sapping the opp. In the worst case you'll play an opponent with no creatures, nerfing this guy to a converter only. Being a duo card it doesn't seem to measure up to Squid: it lacks the lockdown capability of Freeze (on top of which, SoP brings Squid to safer HP much faster than Eclipse + Imbibe will for the Mage), though at least Imbibe's effects are permanent. (?)

Question: Can an opponent heal HP stolen by Rogue Mage??

Overall I think the Mage's power is paid for by the duo-cost and high upkeep for his ability, so I'd say drop the casting cost by 1|1 to bring him in line with Forest Spirit.

[Flayne]

Personally I like the art

Thanks! 

Looks UP to me at 3|4 cost to play. On top of to use it each turn, it could become quite the little Blackhole.
It remains easy pickings for CC for quite some time before it absorbs enough HP, longer yet if you're converting your own creatures instead of sapping the opp. In the worst case you'll play an opponent with no creatures, nerfing this guy to a converter only.

There are quite a few existing creatures in the game with a similar situation, though I'd rather give one example that comes to mind:

 Otyugh, although mono cost, has a similar upgrade power spike and starter situation. Elite otyugh albeit stronger, is still in that same condition.
For one, E. Otyugh is fairly situational  requiring enemy X hp to devour increasing both stats by 1,
- nerfing it into being useless against an opponent with no creatures
- starts with 0 atk yet costs 5 , meanwhile it only takes one spell to bring it back to unupped otyugh status or lower (disregarding lightning) before it can even be used, potentially rendering it useless on the field until it is buffed.

Yet, it isn't under powered for its cost because it is mono cost, it can insta kill and grow both of its stats to insta kill bigger creatures.


In contrast, you have a duo creature that (upped) costs 4 with essentially 3 abilities
1. Growth of both stats,
2. cc damage
3. and conversion (specifically beneficial with eclipse)
( in comparison, Forest spectre costs 3 with only growth of both stats)

- starts with 1 atk (Forest spectre starts with 2)
- can get buffed with 2 or more on field (they convert each other) + Eclipse. (Forest spectre does not have an indirect on field buff, only buffs itself directly)

- Born into , an element that has easy access to Blessing (+3|+3) and can generate quanta fairly easily using RoLs/ solar buckler.
- Requires , an element that also has easy access to quanta with the use of Pest, and you could make this even easier with a mark.

Being a duo card it doesn't seem to measure up to Squid: it lacks the lockdown capability of Freeze (on top of which, SoP brings Squid to safer HP much faster than Eclipse + Imbibe will for the Mage), though at least Imbibe's effects are permanent. (?)

I would say it is not fair to compare this to squid (more fair to compare to Otyugh for similar upgrade power spike)
Because Octopus (upped) is Mono cost, starts with 1 atk yet costs 3:water and also spends an extra quanta for a spell that (upped) costs 1 quanta,
It does not grow its own stats but can be buffed with a shard.
On that note, you are comparing the power of a Shard (rare) to a card that is easily obtainable yet costs 2 more quanta .

Also, for Mage, you are forgetting that it is born to which can "Cloak" its own creatures as well as its permanents (Eclipse), I wouldn't worry about it being too susceptible to cc as it can be defended fairly easily (Blessing and cloak,  both cheap cards)

Question: Can an opponent heal HP stolen by Rogue Mage??
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Overall I think the Mage's power is paid for by the duo-cost and high upkeep for his ability, so I'd say drop the casting cost by 1|1 to bring him in line with Forest Spirit.

Of course, it is like a damage cc spell, hp of creature can be healed.
________
Dropping its cost just to bring in line with something like Forest Spirit would make it far too cheap for its power. (I have already presented the example using Forest spectre above)

[foxrain4]

If target is of , then instead, Convert:  is changed to .

I find it very appealing i can always find new mechanics being made in elements forum card ideas and art