Dragon-Kin (one for each colour!)

[memimemi]

Okay, so, each quantum type has one vanilla dragon.  Well, then, how about each colour having a little creature to ride them?

 I suggest a base 2 cost, for a base 1|2 and an ability that aids adjacent dragons.  Some ideas:

2 - Dragonmage.  1|2; adjacent Dragons are immaterial for as long as Dragonmage is beside them.

2 - Wind Rider.  2|2; adjacent Dragons generate  every turn for as long as Wind Rider is beside them.

2 - (insert thematic name here).  0|1; adjacent Dragons gain the skill Vampire for as long as (...) is beside them.

2 - Bone Jockey.  1|1; adjacent Dragons gain Venom for as long...

2 - Scale Polisher.  0|3; adjacent Dragons gain +0|+3 ...

2 - Dragonblood Geneticist.  1|1; ... gain 4 : Supernova ...

2 - Dragon Tamer.  3|0; ... attack twice per turn ...

2 - Dragon Trainer. 2|2; ... gain 2 : Gravity Pull.

2 - Dragon Nurse.  1|2; ... heal up to 3 HP/turn ...

2 - Dragon Missionary. 2|2 ... generate  each turn ...

2 - Worm Archivist.  1|2 ... gain 2 :Hasten ...

2 - Dragon Tiderider.  3|2 ... gain 3 Freeze ...

2  - Dragon's Egg.  0/6.  Whenever damage would be dealt to Dragon's Egg, all adjacent Dragons attack that damage's source.


These are rough ideas, for unupped versions only.  I ask you all, is this a concept worth developing?  Does anyone have suggestions for names, stats, and abilities?

The one thing I would like to see is for all of them to have the same casting cost, and for all of them to give a buff related to their element to any adjacent Dragon.

Justification: Dragons are fun.

CLARIFICATIONS:  "Adjacent" refers to any Dragons directly to the left and to the right of the Dragon-kin on the playing field.  When multiple Dragon-kin of the same element are played to either side of the same Dragon, effects DO NOT stack.  When multiple Dragon-kin of differing elements are played beside the same Dragon, the effects of the last Dragon-kin played will replace any pre-existing buffs, other than any to attack/HP.

edit: clarified idea a little, at the suggestion of Pineapple.

[Jyiber]

I agree. I love dragons. Cool idea, but as you said a little rough around the edges.

I also had a dragon idea that used the dragon egg. See here: http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,37477.0.html

[Pineapple]

I rather like it. However, some of the abilities need balanced, as there are few extremely powerful ones and a few...not so powerful ones Gravity Pull or a bit extra HP are pretty useless, Dragon Tamer is like a multi-targeting Adrenaline that you have to buff, Geneticist is just...why?..., and compare Wind Rider to Missionary.

Also, you should explain what "adjacent" means (left/right of dragon-kin?) and how multiple dragon-kin interact with dragons (or how a single dragon-kin interacts with a dragon with an active ability) when the dragon-kin enters and leaves the field.

[memimemi]

I rather like it. However, some of the abilities need balanced, as there are few extremely powerful ones and a few...not so powerful ones Gravity Pull or a bit extra HP are pretty useless, Dragon Tamer is like a multi-targeting Adrenaline that you have to buff, Geneticist is just...why?..., and compare Wind Rider to Missionary.

I absolutely agree.  As I stated in the OP, it's the idea of small critters, one for each element, that buff Dragons - as to how they should buff, that's something I hope we all can work out as a team/community.  The only things I personally think important are that they all have the same quanta cost, and they all buff adjacent dragons.

Also, you should explain what "adjacent" means (left/right of dragon-kin?) and how multiple dragon-kin interact with dragons (or how a single dragon-kin interacts with a dragon with an active ability) when the dragon-kin enters and leaves the field.

Good points.  I will edit the OP.

[Jyiber]

I like the one for every element part, but I wonder if having just one that has 12 different activated effects, depending on the adjacent dragon, would be feasible.

Also consider this. What if the riders just had an ability to combine with a choice dragon on the field? This would be like a fusion card of sorts. The new creature would be a (non-standalone) dragon+rider card that had slightly upgraded/modified stats and a new ability.

I don't know about what other people think, but that sounds cool to me.

[memimemi]

I like the one for every element part, but I wonder if having just one that has 12 different activated effects, depending on the adjacent dragon, would be feasible.

Interesting idea.  Sounds a little complex, though.  How would you work it?

Also consider this. What if the riders just had an ability to combine with a choice dragon on the field? This would be like a fusion card of sorts. The new creature would be a (non-standalone) dragon+rider card that had slightly upgraded/modified stats and a new ability.

Personally, I don't like this idea.  What about those playing RT or Eternity?  I, personally prefer weaker creatures (more prone to CC) that give better buffs. 

I don't know about what other people think, but that sounds cool to me.

Thanks for the input! 

[Annele]

Reminds me of the old Pregnant dragon.
I think this idea, if tweaked and perfected, has the potential to be epic. 

[memimemi]

Reminds me of the old Pregnant dragon.
I think this idea, if tweaked and perfected, has the potential to be epic. 

In that case, I certainly hope you'll offer some ideas up - whether they be constructive ideas for abilities/stats, or just critiques of the ones up there.

[Jyiber]

I like the one for every element part, but I wonder if having just one that has 12 different activated effects, depending on the adjacent dragon, would be feasible.

Interesting idea.  Sounds a little complex, though.  How would you work it?

I would suggest making it a  creature, but people generally tend to be against that, or tying it to one specific element. Then I'd have the dragon or the "kin" (which one is arguable, but either work) gain an ability. The ability gained is dependent on the element of the dragon.

I like the adjacent mechanic, and have seen it pop up many times, but maybe having multiple dragon on the field would make it more complicated than it needs to be. Might I suggest making it more like the Crusader and having the ability activated after the dragon is targeted by the creature.

Also consider this. What if the riders just had an ability to combine with a choice dragon on the field? This would be like a fusion card of sorts. The new creature would be a (non-standalone) dragon+rider card that had slightly upgraded/modified stats and a new ability.

Personally, I don't like this idea.  What about those playing RT or Eternity?  I, personally prefer weaker creatures (more prone to CC) that give better buffs. 

Everything needs to have weaknesses and strengths, this would be one for that particular setup. Maybe if this creature was killed or targeted by some effect, the rider was separated and destroyed, sent back to deck, etc... instead. That would leave the dragon. Would that be cool?

[memimemi]

I would suggest making it a  creature, but people generally tend to be against that, or tying it to one specific element. Then I'd have the dragon or the "kin" (which one is arguable, but either work) gain an ability. The ability gained is dependent on the element of the dragon.

I like the adjacent mechanic, and have seen it pop up many times, but maybe having multiple dragon on the field would make it more complicated than it needs to be. Might I suggest making it more like the Crusader and having the ability activated after the dragon is targeted by the creature.

The  creature idea would have to be a no-go.  The only  creature, SoF, costs 7 |5 , and is considered OP by many.  Any 2 creature would have to be so weak as to be useless, and any useful  creature would have to cost so much as to make Dragons difficult to play.

I like the Crusader mechanic, but I still think I prefer the one-for-each-Element idea - it allows any n00b to use them, with any mono deck.

Everything needs to have weaknesses and strengths, this would be one for that particular setup. Maybe if this creature was killed or targeted by some effect, the rider was separated and destroyed, sent back to deck, etc... instead. That would leave the dragon. Would that be cool?

Sounds too complicated to be feasible.  When I asked about RT/Eternity, it wasn't for the sake of the player using the Dragon-kin.  It seems that this attaching mechanic would give the Dragon-kin too much CC evasion, IMHO.

Thanks for the ideas, though!  Keep 'em coming!

[Jyiber]

Sorry, I wasn't clear enough.

I would suggest making it a  creature, but people generally tend to be against that, or tying it to one specific element. Then I'd have the dragon or the "kin" (which one is arguable, but either work) gain an ability. The ability gained is dependent on the element of the dragon.

I like the adjacent mechanic, and have seen it pop up many times, but maybe having multiple dragon on the field would make it more complicated than it needs to be. Might I suggest making it more like the Crusader and having the ability activated after the dragon is targeted by the creature.

The  creature idea would have to be a no-go.  The only  creature, SoF, costs 7 |5 , and is considered OP by many.  Any 2 creature would have to be so weak as to be useless, and any useful  creature would have to cost so much as to make Dragons difficult to play.
I like the Crusader mechanic, but I still think I prefer the one-for-each-Element idea - it allows any n00b to use them, with any mono deck.

I'm not directly behind the creature idea. The creature I suggested would cost a little bit more. I was more in favor of restraining it to one element as in my example. I understand the that there's a dislike of creatures being overpowered in decks.
That's why the creature I suggested would be, in my opinion, a 1|1 or 0|1 creature that would be limited to combining with dragons.
My idea would work with any mono deck if the cost was balanced just right, because the only two types of decks it would appear in are:
1) in mono decks that have one or two of this to support their dragons
2) in dragon decks that use creature skills in place of spells and permanents.

Everything needs to have weaknesses and strengths, this would be one for that particular setup. Maybe if this creature was killed or targeted by some effect, the rider was separated and destroyed, sent back to deck, etc... instead. That would leave the dragon. Would that be cool?

Sounds too complicated to be feasible.  When I asked about RT/Eternity, it wasn't for the sake of the player using the Dragon-kin.  It seems that this attaching mechanic would give the Dragon-kin too much CC evasion, IMHO.

Thanks for the ideas, though!  Keep 'em coming!

The example provided was the one suggested in my fusion example, and may I ask how that's complicated?

...

One more thing, please explain the technical abbreviations you  used... I'm not fluent in them yet, despite a year of following the forum.

[memimemi]

I'm not directly behind the creature idea. The creature I suggested would cost a little bit more. I was more in favor of restraining it to one element as in my example. I understand the that there's a dislike of creatures being overpowered in decks.
That's why the creature I suggested would be, in my opinion, a 1|1 or 0|1 creature that would be limited to combining with dragons.
My idea would work with any mono deck if the cost was balanced just right, because the only two types of decks it would appear in are:
1) in mono decks that have one or two of this to support their dragons
2) in dragon decks that use creature skills in place of spells and permanents.

I understand what you're driving at, and it's a pretty good idea - just not the one I had in mind for Dragon-kin.  I'd really like, if we can, to have one of each Element, with a cheap summoning cost.  Basically, cheap creatures that only do one thing, but do it well.

The example provided was the one suggested in my fusion example, and may I ask how that's complicated?

Can you play your vision of the Dragon-kin without a Dragon on the field?  Is there any way, outside of Reverse Time effects, to remove it when it's attached?  Or is this a minor nerf on Ice Bolt, Fire Bolt, Rain of Fire, Rage Elixer, etc?  If the Dragon is poisoned, does the Dragon-kin die with it?  Would Reverse Time on an attached Dragon-kin count as a death effect, for Bonewall and Graveyard?  If a buff is played on the Dragon/Kin attached creature, and they are split, would the buff (say, Blessing) still be on the Dragon, the Dragon-kin, or lost forever?

See how this could get complex?

One more thing, please explain the technical abbreviations you  used... I'm not fluent in them yet, despite a year of following the forum.

CC=Creature Control
SoF = Shard of Focus
RT = Reverse Time

Any that I missed?