Homebrew Timeshifting

[Atreides Conscript]

In the Planar Chaos thread, Eunhathes posted to the effect of, only red could have handled superman (Morphling) in the time-shiftingness of the Planar Chaos set. I disagreed, and thus put up the following black time-shifted Morphling in response:

Corpseling
3BB
------------------
B: Untap Corpseling.
B: Target creature gets -1/-1 until end of turn.
B: Until end of turn, if a spell or effect would put Corpseling into a graveyard, regenerate it if able.
1: Corpseling gets +1/-1 until end of turn.
1: Corpseling gets -1/+1 until end of turn.
3/3


I then posted that I was working on white and green varients, both of which are now below:

Forceling
3GG
------------------
G: Untap Forceling.
G: Target forest becomes a 1/1 creature until end of turn. It's still a land.
G: Add one mana of any color to your mana pool. Play this ability no more than than twice each turn.
1: Forceling gets +1/-1 until end of turn.
1: Forceling gets -1/+1 until end of turn.
3/3


Faithling
3WW
------------------
W: Untap Faithling.
W: Faithling gains first strike until end of turn.
W: The next spell this turn that could target Faithling must target Faithling.
1: Faithling gets +1/-1 until end of turn.
1: Faithling gets -1/+1 until end of turn.
3/3


Now, before anybody responds to these, I have a couple of things to say about them. But even before that, I should announce that the purpose of this thread is to come up with conjectural time-shifted cards based upon the Planar Chaos flavour.

As for Forceling, the card is powerful... yet tempered (I just couldn't make it's third single green mana ability limitless....). The land ability is useful, and in green potentially dangerous. The mana ability is incredibly handy, but at least limited in its use (like we all know R&D would make it). There were other abilities that I considered, but none of them really felt right.

Now, on to Faithling (I, for the life of me, couldn't get the name to even closely rhyme with Morphling.... AAARGH!). I think that first strike ability is a bit weak, but far better when you consider the generic mana abilities. The second ability is quite useful, but I think might also need some work. Any suggestions?

Oh yeah... and what do you all think of Corpseling?

[eunhathes]

Corpseling? Crap.

Lets examine why, shall we. Exibit A and B: Morphling and Torchling.

So, the first ability is to untap. Check.

Second ability: Evasion. Well, sort of. Because the Torchling is from a mirror reality[/b], it gets a form of provoke. So... check.
Third ability: Untargetability. Hmm.. and the red one shunts things at other creatures...

So. Where are those abilities in yours, AC? Here's my proposal:
Black:
B: Fear.
B: Regeneration?

Green:
G: Trample.
G: Untargetability.

White:
W: ??
W: Flagbearer

I do not that your "Faithling" has exactly that ability. Cool.

Edit: By the way, these are hilarious.

[Atreides Conscript]

Well, you must see that there are multiple ways of looking at the second coloured mana ability. First, and most basic, is the evasion aspect (that was taken into consideration). Second, comes the fact that evasion happens to be something that red and blue both enjoy very much.

This led to the idea that the second coloured mana ability could become a powerful colour-staple effect. Black happens to have one of those in the effect of negging. That happens to be one of black's three forms of evasion:

1. Fear
2. Swampwalk
3. The enemy failing to exist or be a threat

That happens to be why Corpseling gained the neg ability. As far as the third coloured mana ability, I followed the "spell-evasion" flavour of Morph and Torch. This limits the range of Corpseling's regeneration (which I would like you to note was still in there), but I still felt it acceptable to losing the spell-dodging feel.

As for Forceling and Faithling, they did happen to be the unloved bunch as far as my attention went. I mostly felt that Forceling had to live up to its name. Gaining trample felt utterly bland and gaining forestwalk was nearly worthless (so I yet again went with a staple aspect of the home colour that ALSO happens to be in-colour evasion). Green evades in a few ways:

1. Trample
2. Forestwalk
3. Outnumbering the enemy

The second ability for Forceling came from a need for a strong ability... period. Untargetability was already used on the original Morphling, so I immediately left it out even though it made the most sense. In the end, I just couldn't find a good way to get through it... so I did what needed to be done. I powered it up (and I should have had the good sense to make the mana switching ability stay limitless!).

Now... Faithling. I hated making this one. First strike felt WAAY too weak to be putting on there. So was gustcloaking. Doublestrike didn't sit right. Now that I think about it... perhaps temporary Bushido or Flanking? I KNOW... how about HORSEMANSHIP! Just kidding (please don't kill me).

Flagbearer took a while to come up with, but in the end felt perfect.

James, overall you are missing the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of any _____ling creature....

IT MUST BE POWERFUL AND EITHER BROKEN OR DAMN NEAR IT

In that light, I see Corpseling and maybe even Forceling as successes, and Faithling as a dismal failure (blame the colour). Oh well, not every white creature can be Mageta....

So what do you think now that you know the thought-process behind the work?

[artemi]

Dude, I'm afraid Eun is right in this case. That second ability is clearly some sort of combat trick, while the third ability deals with spells in some way. Also, their abilities are focused on themselves, either by directly effecting them or by effecting something that is about to mess with them. They have no abilities outside of this 'reach', and that is the exact reason why Corpseling and Forceling do not work.

Of the three, Faithling is the only one that seems to follow that list. First Strike fits well with the powers of the creature; +1/-1 and First Strike work very well together, making the Faithling the possibly strongest one in creature combat. A possible idea might be to give it Flanking instead of First Strike. Or heck, even Spirit Link would work, giving you massive life once he starts swinging. Also, instead of the Flagbearer ability, why not Flicker?

On the other hand, Corpseling and Forceling are just... misses, like I said. They are NOT the best ones; they don't even follow the pattern! -1/-1 is easily the strongest ability on this entire list, official cards or no, and both of the Forceling's abilities have nothing to do with the creature itself. Corpsling's Regeneration is fine, though it seems a little weak, possibly. Maybe if it could be used in creature combat, but... that doesn't fit the theme. And what's wrong with Fear and Trample, anyway?

Either way, maybe Forceling could have "G: If Forceling is the target of a spell or ability, draw a card." Green (apparently) has some small card drawing, with Ohran Viper and the Enchantresses. Or maybe something like, "G: Whenever Forceling is dealt damage, put a +1/+1 counter on it." Or if you HAVE to have Forceling make other creatures, it could have "G: When Forceling deals combat damage to a player, but that many 1/1 green Saporling tokens into play." That takes up a lot of text, though...

Also, either the Corpseling or Forceling could have the Basilisk ability, though that's powerful when combined with -1/+1 trick. It would work pretty well for Corpseling, I suppose...

Uggh... I can see why your first tries didn't really work... Black and Green ARE hard to come up with stuff for...