Magicthegathering.com is hosting a card creation process where we, the players and fans, get to create a card. I have recently submitted my three mechanics for the green creature, and I thought I might share them with you.

All good ideas are based on other ideas; I have listed the card or cards that are similar to the Mechanic that I submitted. So if you like them, you could always buy the cards I based these ideas of off from Star City right now! (Gratuitous plug not written in by the editor - The Ferrett)

I have included some ideas for how I think the creature should end up once it gets mana costs and power and toughness.

1. Base Card: Natural Order.
M, sacrifice a green creature: Search your library for a green creature card and put that card into play. Then shuffle your library.

A good effect for a sorcery; a very powerful effect when put on a creature. The ability to sac your creature off just before it takes lethal damage is nice. I envision this ability costing about the same as Natural Order does; 2GG. The creature should probably cost about the same or a little more - maybe 3GG. For that mana cost, we could get a 5/5 creature.

Order of Wakefield
3GG

Summon Elemental
2GG, sacrifice a green creature: Search your library for a green creature card and put that card into play. Then shuffle your library.
5/5

I used the name Order of Wakefield because I envision the creature waking new life from other green creatures on the battle field. The Order part comes from Natural Order - the card I based the effect on. It would find itself in a deck with a bunch of elves to help get it out, and a few fatties to search out once it hits the table. And some utility cards like Creeping Mold. The only thing left to decide is,"What is the best fatty ever printed?"

2. Base Cards: Fork, and Mirari.
Whenever an opponent plays an instant or sorcery spell, you may sacrifice this. If you do, put a copy of that spell onto the stack. You may choose new targets for the copy.

The effect is a mimicking effect. Mirari is nice, but the cost is high - a sacrificing creature would be just as fun and see more tournament play. Also, this guy copies opposing spells - unlike Mirari, that just copies your own.

I envision a card with a Meddling Mage-like feel, a similar mana cost, and body size.

Mimic Druid
GG
Summon Druid
Whenever an opponent plays an instant or sorcery spell, you may sacrifice this. If you do, put a copy of that spell onto the stack. You may choose new targets for the copy.
2/2

This has, perhaps, more of a blue or artifact creature feel to it... But it is a nice beatstick that is hard to play against. Every spell played can backfire when this guy sits on the table.

3. Base cards: Devoted Caretaker, and Scragnoth.
Protection from sorcery spells and instant spells. Cannot be the target of instant spells while on the stack.

Protection from Blue is useless if the blue mage is just going to counter it; Scragnoth fixed that. With Protection from spells, we have a similar problem - but instead of specifying that it cannot be countered I used a similar but different"Cannot be the target of Instant spells while on the stack." The creature could be countered with creature effects, like Mystic Snake or Stronghold Biologist - but Counterspell and Force of Will would not work.

The goal of the card was to make a creature that forced your opponent to play by green's rules: No bouncing me. No burning me down. No making me a farmer. If you want me gone, you have to meet me creature-to-creature.

The creature should have a good size and be a serious threat if it cannot be stopped: Seven power sounds about right. The toughness should be lower. It can withstand a lot of spells, but another creature should have a good shot at taking it down; let's say 7/4. Not much worse than Spiritmonger, so 3GG should fit. (Um, Chet... Spiritmonger is 3BG, which is why it was so large? Prolly you'd be extremely lucky to get 5/4 with a phantastique effect like this - The Ferrett)

Fighting Wurm
3GG
Creature Wurm
Protection from sorcery spells and instant spells. Cannot be the target of Instant spells while on the stack.
7/4

White is the protection color. Green is the creature color. Blue is the spell color. Green is friends with white, and green opposes blue. I think it makes sense to give a green creature protection from spells. I also think this type of protection better fits Green than white. Chump it with a few guys, and he'll fall... But there really are not that many other ways to deal with it, short of Wrath of God.

In closing, I'd like to say that I am enjoying the card creation process. I think that it is a very interesting experiment, and I think it will turn out great in the end. I would not have picked green or creature myself... But I still enjoy the sharing of ideas that this brings, and I liked coming up with these mechanics!

Cheers,
Chet Skolos

What do YOU think? Share your opinion with the community and you just may walk away with some FREE Magic cards... courtesy of your friends at StarCityGames.com!