My new art for "the Spoils"

[joshlytle]

Josh, any thoughts on this card design?

If you want my honest, no-holds-barred opinion...here goes.

I think this is a very good card concept. If we were brainstorming for a set, I'd definitely put this one in the database. However, I already know that the card is overcosted for what it does, and it probably wouldn't be rare. I'd immediately suggest that the card be lowered to uncommon, its cost number should become 3, and its icons should become 3.

Another issue is that we don't have the concept of generic character tokens in The Spoils (at least not yet). If you notice, the only tokens we have are Micromajigs. In Seed, we introduced "evil" Micromajigs, which happen to be exactly what this card wants to put out (I know they have 3 speed instead of 1, but that's good). So I'd change around the flavor of the card a bit to make it more consistent with the existing mechanics.

I also think this card is a little too much like Lugubrious Fingertrap, so I'd take away the "cannot block" part of its effect. This would balance out the card nicely, and that's how we'd begin playtesting it. So here is what the card would become:

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ART: Change it a bit to show tiny evil micromajigs bursting from the victims skull.

Mind Hatchery
Uncommon
3 OOO
Arcanist Item - gear

ATTACH TO CHARACTER

The attached character cannot attack.

At the start of your turn, you may put a Micromajig token with Covert into play.

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If we HAD to keep the card rare, kept it's art and name, and keep it at it's current cost and abilities, I'd suggest one change.

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Mind Hive
Rare
4 OOOO
Arcanist Item - gear

ATTACH TO CHARACTER

The attached character cannot attack or block.

At the start of your turn, you may search your deck for a "lurker" card with numeric cost 4 or less and reveal it. If you do, put it into play.

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[ShadeMemory]

Joshlytle, thank you for card analysis. It's really interesting for me, because i'm R&D member too (for my own indie TCG Boomb.it (running with russian language )) and cards design is solid part of my life.

Second variant looks much better (Arcanist micromajigs? Orly?! ), but i think lurker with cost 4 each turn is too powerful. Maybe 3 or so :P
I just like to play with mono-arcanists and think: players need some powerfull cards as reason to use mono-faction decks. This "feature" can refresh metagame

I realy realy hope the Spoils team rescue this game. The Spoils must be alive!

P.S. Joshlytle, how about Mind Hive art? Do you like it? :P
P.P.S. I think various creature tokens in TCG can be used for "generate" more fun and interesting mechanics. Token cards itself can be a prize on tournaments, promos or so.

[joshlytle]

Second variant looks much better (Arcanist micromajigs? Orly?! ), but i think lurker with cost 4 each turn is too powerful. Maybe 3 or so :P

P.S. Joshlytle, how about Mind Hive art? Do you like it? :P
P.P.S. I think various creature tokens in TCG can be used for "generate" more fun and interesting mechanics. Token cards itself can be a prize on tournaments, promos or so.

The reason I selected 4 as the number was to encourage people to actually use the card. It's quite a setup, and a time delay, for this card to start working. Also, it's high cost will be restricting. The second design wasn't my preferred design, but it's the type of power you'd want to see from a rare like this. An alternative way to balance the card is simply to put any lurker (regardless of its numeric cost) into your hand each turn, instead of into play. This would be fine too. In fact, it's probably best if it was just any Arcanist character, now that I think about it. So you'd have:

Mind Hive
Rare
4 OOOO
Arcanist Item - gear

ATTACH to Character

The attached character cannot attack.

At the start of your turn, you may search your deck for an Arcanist character card and reveal it. If you do, put it into your hand.
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I like the art for Mind Hive too. It shows a lot of the features that belong in a piece of The Spoils artwork.

Regarding character tokens, I left this undefined for a reason. I will expand the character token system in the future if it makes sense to (and if I actually get a chance to). But for now I didn't feel like going with the system that MTG already uses.

[Eldridge]

Great funcard!!! How did you made it???

[Brad Meine]

I had forgotten about this. I thought the card concept and art were really, really awesome. Kudos.

[mces0421]

To be honest with, I am scared at first when I saw your art work. But really, your such a great artist

[aptanor]

Dude, thats amazing! We need another Arcanist gear that impedes the opponent.

[KazzuN]

very very nice artwork and the card is playable.

[Fire Marshall]

Dude, thats amazing! We need another Arcanist gear that impedes the opponent.

Quotidian Bracelet

attach to character

attached character bounces between players each turn.

hehe

[ImInneren]

The Picture looks very great. It wouldn´t wonder if I see it as a card in future!