Loyalty [X]

[TriAdX]

Loyalty (Thresh Symbol)
You can not use costs or rules text if you have threshold outside of the Loyalty (Thresh Symbol)

Example:
An ability on a character:
Loyalty [G]
This character gains 2 life.

Rules text on an Item:
If you do not have Loyalty [O] destroy this card at the end of your turn."

Rules text on Tactic:
Cost: Loyalty [R]


The two different wordings are interchangebale which ever works rules wise best.

"If you control any threshold other than [X]"
and
"if you are being provided a non-[X] threshold"


This will give cards the ability to be better in mono decks without forcing you to meet a certain thresh before you can use them or their abilities.

so instead of making an ability use [G][G][G][G][G] you can just say

Loyalty [G] and it will work early game but ONLY for "loyal" decks

[TriAdX]

You can even have:

Loyalty [R] and [G]

or

Loyalty [R] or [G]

That may be going too far but it is always an option.

[undead knight]

I think Arcane Tinmen have said a fair bit regarding mechanics like this. Most of which revolve around draft.

I think to get around this, you could just put them in as rares and make the loyalty effects ridiculous. This would also work from a flavour perspective as these would represent the elite troops who would never stoop to working with anyone of another faction.

[Asuryan]

I think it's a cool mechanic, but I don't think it needs to be keyworded. Eg, "This card gains 2 life unless you control [O], [E], [D] or [R]."

[TriAdX]

"unless you control [O], [E], [D] or [R]." is hard to word for allowing abilities to be active.

Sure it works on static rules text like your example but if you wanted something like Encroach:

Black Scourge of the Brine (http://www.spoilsinventory.com/pics/SCL/Black Scourge of the Brine.full.jpg)

ENCROACH: [G][G][G][G][G]
COST: Pay 1.
EFFECT: This turn, this card gains Covert.

you could just say:

Black Scourge of Loyalnessness

ENCROACH: Loyalty [G]
COST: Pay 1.
EFFECT: This turn, this card gains Covert.


This would also not hurt draft as much. (depending on the balance of loyalty abilities verse non-loyalty usage)


I mean heck... you could even still allow for the reg thresh requirements for certain abilities/ruels text:

Black Scourge of Psudo-Loyalnessness

ENCROACH: [G][G][G][G][G]
COST: Pay 1.
EFFECT: This turn, this card gains Covert.

Loyalty [G]
This card gains Covert.


I mean you have a billion ways to balance and control it and make it very usable.