Card Development Questions

[moomarc]

From initial list of 27, I'm down to these last 15 cards. Could one of the pro-scripters here check my assessment of which of the remaining cards are scriptable, and see if I've got it right:

Basalt Golem ?: Remembered list doesn't seem to be accessable by triggered sacrifice. Maybe a script error.
Errand of Duty No: Banding
Giantbaiting No: Need Conspire mechanic
Helm of Kaldra No: Can't script attaching the set to the created token. Maybe if AF Attach were expanded
Kalitas, Bloodchief of Ghet No: The "if the creature dies this way" is a problem.
Keeper of the Beasts Needs Select AF. See hacked solution and comments below.
Lullmage Mentor Not sure: I don't think we can script the trigger
Master of the Hunt No: Bands with other
Ovinomancer Hacked solution might be possible, but waiting for Unless to support Cost objects
Phantasmal Sphere No: Can't script the pseudo Cumulative Upkeep
Rally the Horde No: Would have to remember multiple remembered lists to check last card exiled and count
Spiny Starfish Not sure: I don't think xCount can handle Valid Self.ThisTurnRegenerated
Tatsumasa, the Dragon's Fang No: Tastumasa is exiled before it can use RememberTokens
Tetravus No: Tokens 'can't be enchanted' not supported
Wort, the Raidmother No: Need Conspire mechanic

Basalt Golem | Open

Code: Select all

Name:Basalt Golem
ManaCost:5
Types:Artifact Creature Golem
Text:CARDNAME can't be blocked by artifact creatures.
PT:2/4
K:CantBeBlockedBy Artifact.Creature
T:Mode$ Blocks | ValidCard$ Creature | ValidBlocked$ Card.Self | DelayedTrigger$ DelTrigBlocker | RememberBlockingSource$ True | TriggerDescription$ Whenever CARDNAME becomes blocked by a creature, that creature's controller sacrifices it at end of combat. If the player does, he or she puts a 0/2 colorless Wall artifact creature token with defender onto the battlefield.
SVar:DelTrigBlocker:DB$DelayedTrigger | Mode$ Phase | Phase$ EndCombat | ValidPlayer$ Each | RememberCard$ Remembered | Execute$ TrigSacBlocker | TriggerDescription$ Sacrifice blocking creature at end of combat. If the player does, he or she puts a 0/2 colorless Wall artifact creature token with defender onto the battlefield.
SVar:TrigSacBlocker:AB$Sacrifice | Cost$ 0 | Defined$ Opponent | SacValid$ Creature.IsRemembered | SacMessage$ creature that blocked CARDNAME | SubAbility$ SVar=MakeToken
SVar:MakeToken:DB$Token | TokenImage$ C 0 2 Wall | TokenName$ Wall | TokenColors$ Colorless | TokenTypes$ Artifact,Creature,Wall | TokenPower$ 0 | TokenToughness$ 2 | TokenOwner$ Opponent | TokenAmount$ 1 | TokenKeywords$ Defender
SVar:Rarity:Uncommon
End

Keeper of the Beasts | Open

Code: Select all

Name:Keeper of the Beasts
ManaCost:G G
Types:Creature Human Wizard
Text:no text
PT:1/2
A:AB$ LoseLife | Cost$ G T | ValidTgts$ Opponent | LifeAmount$ 0 | CheckSVar$ X | SVarCompare$ LTY | SubAbility$ DBToken | SpellDescription$ Choose target opponent who controlled more creatures than you did as you activated this ability.
SVar:X:Count$Valid Creature.YouCtrl
SVar:Y:Count$Valid Creature.YouDontCtrl
SVar:DBToken:DB$ Token | Cost$ 0 | TokenAmount$ 1 | TokenName$ Beast | TokenTypes$ Creature,Beast | TokenOwner$ You | TokenColors$ Green | TokenPower$ 2 | TokenToughness$ 2 | SpellDescription$ Put a 2/2 green Beast creature token onto the battlefield.
SVar:RemAIDeck:True
SVar:Rarity:Rare
End

# Note:The LoseLife AF serves as a selector only

Ideally needs a Select AF that does nothing but pick targets, supports SubAbility/Delayed triggers, and checks activation restrictions. Currently the stack description makes this unuseable.

Tatsumasa, the Dragon's Fang | Open

Code: Select all

Name:Tatsumasa, the Dragon's Fang
ManaCost:6
Types:Legendary Artifact Equipment
Text:Equipped creature gets +5/+5.
K:eqPump 3:+5/+5
A:AB$ Token | Cost$ 6 Exile<1/CARDNAME> | TokenAmount$ 1 | TokenName$ Dragon Spirit | TokenTypes$ Creature,Dragon,Spirit | TokenOwner$ You | TokenColors$ Blue | TokenPower$ 5 | TokenToughness$ 5 | RememberTokens$ True | DelayedTrigger$ DelTrigDies | TokenKeywords$ Flying | SpellDescription$ Put a 5/5 blue Dragon Spirit creature token with flying onto the battlefield. Return Tatsumasa to the battlefield under its owner's control when that token dies.
SVar:DelTrigDies:DB$DelayedTrigger | Mode$ ChangesZone | ValidCard$ Creature.IsRemembered | Origin$ Battlefield | Destination$ Graveyard | TriggerZones$ Exile |Execute$ TrigReturn | TriggerDescription$ Return CARDNAME to the battlefield under its owner's control.
SVar:TrigReturn:AB$ChangeZone | Cost$ 0 | Origin$ Exile | Destination$ Battlefield | Defined$ Self | SubAbility$ DBCleanUp
SVar:DBCleanUp:DB$Cleanup | ClearRemembered$ True
SVar:Rarity:Rare
End

[Sloth]

Here is a slightly more elegant script for Keeper of the Beasts:

| Open

Name:Keeper of the Beasts
ManaCost:G G
Types:Creature Human Wizard
Text:no text
PT:1/2
A:AB$ Token | Cost$ G T | ValidTgts$ Opponent | CheckSVar$ X | SVarCompare$ LTY | TokenAmount$ 1 | TokenName$ Beast | TokenTypes$ Creature,Beast | TokenOwner$ You | TokenColors$ Green | TokenPower$ 2 | TokenToughness$ 2 | SpellDescription$ Choose target opponent who controlled more creatures than you did as you activated this ability. Put a 2/2 green Beast creature token onto the battlefield.
SVar:X:Count$Valid Creature.YouCtrl
SVar:Y:Count$Valid Creature.YouDontCtrl
SVar:Rarity:Uncommon
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/keeper_of_the_beasts.jpg
End

I think it works correct ruleswise.

Basalt Golem has multiple problems (RememberBlockingSource and RememberCard for delayed triggers do not exist).

Tatsumasa, the Dragon's Fang should work in the future (since already submitted cards have this problem too).

Spiny Starfish should be doable, I will try to implement this.

EDIT:
Spiny Starfish should be scriptable now. Use RegeneratedThisTurn in count.
Tetravus should also be scriptable, the keyword "CARDNAME can't be enchanted." is now available.

[moomarc]

Thanks Sloth. I hadn't realised you could just slot ValidTgts in like that. It works perfectly as far as I can tell. So down to 14 on my list

Edit: And thanks for the new parameters.

[Iran]

Is possible to script Haakon, Stromgald Scourge? I think I see a way to play cards from graveyard.

[Sloth]

Is possible to script Haakon, Stromgald Scourge? I think I see a way to play cards from graveyard.

I'm not sure about "but not from anywhere else". There are funky rules interactions.

[Sloth]

Testing Crown of Convergence. Does anyone spot the issue with this part of the script?

| Open

S:Mode$ Continuous | Affected$ TopLibrary.SharesColorWith+Creature+YouCtrl | AddPower$ 1 | AddToughness$ 1 | TopCardOfLibraryIs$ Creature | Description$ As long as the top card of your library is a creature card, creatures you control that share a color with that card get +1/+1.

Now this works for something like ValidCards$, but has issues with Affected$.

I've added the property "SharesColorWith TopOfLibrary". It's untested but should do the trick:

Code: Select all

Affected$ Creature.SharesColorWith TopOfLibrary+YouCtrl

[jeffwadsworth]

Testing Cloud Cover. This fires even if the target of the spell or ability is a permanent you do not control.

| Open

Name:Cloud Cover
ManaCost:2 W U
Types:Enchantment
Text:no text
T:Mode$ BecomesTarget | TargetsValid$ Permanent.YouCtrl+Other | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | Execute$ TrigBounce | OptionalDecider$ You | TriggerDescription$ Whenever another permanent you control becomes the target of a spell or ability an opponent controls, you may return that permanent to its owner's hand.
SVar:TrigBounce:AB$ ChangeZone | Cost$ 0 | Origin$ Battlefield | Destination$ Hand | Defined$ TriggeredTarget
SVar:Rarity:Rare
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/cloud_cover.jpg
End

Does anyone see the issue?

That's strange ... I don't see anything wrong with it. It needs to be ValidTarget, not TargetsValid. I've done the same sort of thing plenty of times.
It does need a ValidSource$ parameter (SpellAbility.YouDontCtrl ?), though, because the card has that restriction.

The reason TargetsValid$ is in there was due to my previous testing with Mode$ SpellAbilityCast which apparently does not allow one to specify a TriggeredTarget for the Defined$. Anyway, all is well now.

[jeffwadsworth]

Testing Crown of Convergence. Does anyone spot the issue with this part of the script?

| Open

S:Mode$ Continuous | Affected$ TopLibrary.SharesColorWith+Creature+YouCtrl | AddPower$ 1 | AddToughness$ 1 | TopCardOfLibraryIs$ Creature | Description$ As long as the top card of your library is a creature card, creatures you control that share a color with that card get +1/+1.

Now this works for something like ValidCards$, but has issues with Affected$.

I've added the property "SharesColorWith TopOfLibrary". It's untested but should do the trick:

Code: Select all

Affected$ Creature.SharesColorWith TopOfLibrary+YouCtrl

Cool. Actually, you mean TopCardOfLibrary. Works perfectly.

[Iran]

Is possible to script Garza's Assassin and Deepcavern Imp?
I think the cost of Recover and Echo keywords of these cards is dificult to implement... Am I right?

[jeffwadsworth]

Is possible to script Garza's Assassin and Deepcavern Imp?
I think the cost of Recover and Echo keywords of these cards is dificult to implement... Am I right?

The first card is interesting. I will test it.

[Iran]

Is possible to script Garza's Assassin and Deepcavern Imp?
I think the cost of Recover and Echo keywords of these cards is dificult to implement... Am I right?

The first card is interesting. I will test it.

With Deepcavern Imp I can do this deck

"Madbent!" | Open

3 Keldon Megaliths
7 Mountain
10 Swamp
4 Tresserhorn Sinks

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24 lands

4 Deepcavern Imp
4 Gathan Raiders
4 Rakdos Guildmage
3 Reckless Wurm
4 Shadow Guildmage
2 Undertaker

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21 creatures

4 Fiery Temper
4 Persecute
4 Rift Bolt
3 Smallpox

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15 other spells

With Garza's Assassin I can do this deck

"Naoko Sato's Monoblack The Rack Discard" | Open

2 Ghost Quarter
18 Swamp
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21 lands

4 Dark Confidant
2 Garza's Assassin
4 Mindlash Sliver
4 Ravenous Rats
3 Stromgald Crusader

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17 creatures

3 Call to the Netherworld
2 Cruel Edict
4 Cry of Contrition
4 Funeral Charm
2 Phyrexian Totem
4 Smallpox
4 The Rack

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23 other spells

[moomarc]

It looks like Tetravus still can't be done without additional code. The script so far is:

Tetravus | Open

Code: Select all

Name:Tetravus
ManaCost:6
Types:Artifact Creature Construct
Text:no text
PT:1/1
K:etbCounter:P1P1:3
K:Flying
T:Mode$ Phase | Phase$ Upkeep | ValidPlayer$ You | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | Execute$ TrigToken | TriggerDescription$ At the beginning of your upkeep, you may remove any number of +1/+1 counters from CARDNAME. If you do, put that many 1/1 colorless Tetravite artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield. They each have flying and "This creature can't be enchanted."
SVar:TrigToken:AB$Token | Cost$ SubCounter<X/P1P1> | TokenAmount$ ChosenX | TokenName$ Tetravite | TokenTypes$ Artifact,Creature,Tetravite | TokenOwner$ You | TokenColors$ Colorless | TokenPower$ 1 | TokenToughness$ 1 | TokenKeywords$ Flying<>CARDNAME can't be enchanted. | RememberTokens$ True
SVar:X:XChoice
T:Mode$ Phase | Phase$ Upkeep | ValidPlayer$ You | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | Execute$ TrigPutCounters | TriggerDescription$ At the beginning of your upkeep, you may exile any number of tokens put onto the battlefield with CARDNAME. If you do, put that many +1/+1 counters on CARDNAME.
SVar:TrigPutCounters:AB$PutCounter | Cost$ Exile<Y/Creature.isRemembered/Tetravite> | Defined$ Self | CounterType$ P1P1 | CounterNum$ ChosenX | CostDesc$ Exile any number of tokens put onto the battlefield with CARDNAME.
SVar:Y:XChoice
SVar:Rarity:Rare
End

Basically only the first XChoice is occuring, so I think we need an XChoice2 with ChosenX2 or YChoice with ChosenY. The other problem is that the isRemembered restriction on the second trigger is causing there to be no valid targets. Hopefully I'm just doing something wrong.

There may be more issues though. I may be wrong, but I don't think the card is 100% rules compliant as exiling the tokens or removing the counters aren't technically costs. Instead they should trigger the abilities so that the opponent could, for instance, wait for you to remove counters then Stifle putting the tokens in play. If that is the case then we're even further from scripting this because we'd have to support multiple remembered lists that can be counted and cleared individually.

[friarsol]

There may be more issues though. I may be wrong, but I don't think the card is 100% rules compliant as exiling the tokens or removing the counters aren't technically costs. Instead they should trigger the abilities so that the opponent could, for instance, wait for you to remove counters then Stifle putting the tokens in play. If that is the case then we're even further from scripting this because we'd have to support multiple remembered lists that can be counted and cleared individually.

I don't believe trigger costs are paid while the trigger is on the stack. I believe they are paid while it's resolving (which is correct)

[jeffwadsworth]

Is possible to script Garza's Assassin and Deepcavern Imp?
I think the cost of Recover and Echo keywords of these cards is dificult to implement... Am I right?

The Imp can not handle Echo non-mana costs. Anyway, the Assassin will be ready once the keyword Recover is fixed.

| Open

Name:Garza's Assassin
ManaCost:B B B
Types:Creature Human Assassin
Text:no text
PT:2/2
K:Recover:PayLife<X>
A:AB$ Destroy | Cost$ Sac<1/CARDNAME> | ValidTgts$ Creature.nonBlack | TgtPrompt$ Select target nonblack creature | SpellDescription$ Destroy target nonblack creature.
SVar:X:Count$YourLifeTotal/HalfUp
SVar:Rarity:Rare
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/garzas_assassin.jpg
End

[Iran]

About Malfegor and Springjack Pasture? Is Possible to script them?
Exists the Remember$Discarded? Can the third abilitie of the Springjack Pasture can be script with Any parameter?

This Way:

A:AB$ Mana | Cost$ Sac<X/Creature.goat> | Produced$ Any | Amount$ ChosenX | SubAbility$ DBGainLife
SVar:DBGainLife:DB$ GainLife | Cost$ 0 | LifeAmount$ ChosenX
SVar:X:XChoice#XChosenX