Card Development Questions

[jmartus]

yay thanks guys for adding Rathi Dragon one of my favorite cards

[moomarc]

Would Overabundance be too unfair to the AI at present? Otherwise easy enough to script.

[squee1968]

On a similar note, would this script for Megatherium be unfair to the AI? Maybe someone could add an SVar Mana needed.

Code: Select all

Name:Megatherium
ManaCost:2 G
Types:Creature Beast
Text:no text
PT:4/4
K:Trample
T:Mode$ ChangesZone | Origin$ Any | Destination$ Battlefield | ValidCard$ Card.Self | Execute$ TrigSac | TriggerDescription$ When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, sacrifice it unless you pay {1} for each card in your hand.
SVar:TrigSac:AB$Sacrifice | Cost$ 0 | Defined$ Self | UnlessCost$ X | UnlessPayer$ You
SVar:X:Count$InYourHand
SVar:RemAIDeck:True
SVar:Rarity:Rare
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/megatherium.jpg
SetInfo:MMQ|Rare|http://magiccards.info/scans/mm/en/259.jpg
Oracle:Trample\nWhen Megatherium enters the battlefield, sacrifice it unless you pay {1} for each card in your hand.
End


I swear that I had this card scripted before I saw Sloth's flurry of "sacrifice unless" cards.

[jeffwadsworth]

On a similar note, would this script for Megatherium be unfair to the AI? Maybe someone could add an SVar Mana needed.

Code: Select all

Name:Megatherium
ManaCost:2 G
Types:Creature Beast
Text:no text
PT:4/4
K:Trample
T:Mode$ ChangesZone | Origin$ Any | Destination$ Battlefield | ValidCard$ Card.Self | Execute$ TrigSac | TriggerDescription$ When CARDNAME enters the battlefield, sacrifice it unless you pay {1} for each card in your hand.
SVar:TrigSac:AB$Sacrifice | Cost$ 0 | Defined$ Self | UnlessCost$ X | UnlessPayer$ You
SVar:X:Count$InYourHand
SVar:RemAIDeck:True
SVar:Rarity:Rare
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/megatherium.jpg
SetInfo:MMQ|Rare|http://magiccards.info/scans/mm/en/259.jpg
Oracle:Trample\nWhen Megatherium enters the battlefield, sacrifice it unless you pay {1} for each card in your hand.
End


I swear that I had this card scripted before I saw Sloth's flurry of "sacrifice unless" cards.

It is quite different from those. This is a mana cost, those are non-mana.

[Sloth]

Would Overabundance be too unfair to the AI at present? Otherwise easy enough to script.

The AI could kill itself for some unimportant spell, so i would say too unfair.

On a similar note, would this script for Megatherium be unfair to the AI? Maybe someone could add an SVar Mana needed.

You have to differentiate between cards only the human can use and cards that force the AI to play differently (which it mostly can't).

[jeffwadsworth]

Testing Sedris, the Traitor King. The keyword Unearth:2 B shows up on the creature cards, but the flashback window is clear. Does anyone see a problem with the script?

| Open

Name:Sedris, the Traitor King
ManaCost:3 U B R
Types:Legendary Creature Zombie Warrior
Text:no text
PT:5/5
S:Mode$ Continuous | Affected$ Creature.YouCtrl | AffectedZone$ Graveyard | EffectZone$ Battlefield | AddKeyword$ Unearth:2 B | Description$ Each creature card in your graveyard has unearth 2 B.
SVar:Rarity:Mythic
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/sedris_the_traitor_king.jpg
End

[friarsol]

Isn't Unearth one of those keywords that are pre-parsed? If so, granting Unearth wouldn't really do anything.

[jeffwadsworth]

If the Discard AbilityFactory had "Optional$" we could trample foes with Lim-Dul's Paladin.

| Open

Name:Lim-Dul's Paladin
ManaCost:2 B R
Types:Creature Human Knight
Text:no text
PT:0/3
K:Trample
T:Mode$ Phase | Phase$ Upkeep | ValidPlayer$ You | Execute$ TrigDiscard | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | TriggerDescription$ At the beginning of your upkeep, you may discard a card. If you don't, sacrifice CARDNAME and draw a card. Whenever CARDNAME becomes blocked, it gets +6/+3 until end of turn. Whenever CARDNAME attacks and isn't blocked, it assigns no combat damage to defending player this turn and that player loses 4 life.
SVar:TrigDiscard:AB$ Discard | Cost$ 0 | NumCards$ 1 | Mode$ TgtChoose | Optional$ True | RememberDiscarded$ True | SubAbility$ DBSacrifice
SVar:DBSacrifice:DB$ Sacrifice | ConditionCheckSVar$ X | ConditionSVarCompare$ EQ0 | SubAbility$ DBDraw
SVar:DBDraw:DB$ Draw | NumCards$ 1 | ConditionCheckSVar$ X | ConditionSVarCompare$ EQ0 | SubAbility$ DBCleanup
SVar:DBCleanup:DB$ Cleanup | ClearRemembered$ True
T:Mode$ Blocks | ValidCard$ Creature | ValidBlocked$ Card.Self | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | Execute$ TrigBlockedPump | TriggerDescription$ Whenever CARDNAME becomes blocked by a creature, CARDNAME get +6/+3 until end of turn.
SVar:TrigBlockedPump:AB$Pump | Cost$ 0 | Defined$ Self | NumAtt$ 6 | NumDef$ 3
T:Mode$ AttackerUnblocked | ValidCard$ Card.Self | Execute$ TrigUnBlockedPump | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | TriggerDescription$ Whenever CARDNAME attacks and isn't blocked, it assigns no combat damage to defending player this turn and that player loses 4 life.
SVar:TrigUnBlockedPump:AB$ Pump | Cost$ 0 | KW$ HIDDEN Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt by CARDNAME. | SubAbility$ DBLoseLife
SVar:DBLoseLife:DB$ LoseLife | Defined$ Opponent | LifeAmount$ 4
SVar:X:Remembered$Amount
SVar:Rarity:Rare
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/lim_duls_paladin.jpg
End

[jeffwadsworth]

While testing Entrails Feaster, I noticed that a ChangeZone Origin$ Graveyard ChangeType$ Creature will only access your graveyard. Is there any technique that would allow it to access both graveyards?

| Open

Name:Entrails Feaster
ManaCost:B
Types:Creature Zombie Cat
Text:no text
PT:1/1
T:Mode$ Phase | Phase$ Upkeep | ValidPlayer$ You | Execute$ TrigExile | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | TriggerDescription$ At the beginning of your upkeep, you may exile a creature card from a graveyard. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on CARDNAME. If you don't, tap CARDNAME.
SVar:TrigExile:AB$ ChangeZone | Cost$ 0 | ChangeType$ Creature | ChangeNum$ 1 | Origin$ Graveyard | Destination$ Exile | Optional$ True | IsCurse$ True | RememberChanged$ True | Hidden$ True | Chooser$ You | SubAbility$ DBPutCounter
SVar:DBPutCounter:DB$ PutCounter | CounterType$ P1P1 | ConditionCheckSVar$ X | ConditionSVarCompare$ GE1 | SubAbility$ DBTap
SVar:DBTap:DB$ Tap | ConditionCheckSVar$ X | ConditionSVarCompare$ LE0 | SubAbility$ DBCleanup
SVar:DBCleanup:DB$ Cleanup | ClearRemembered$ True
SVar:X:Remembered$Amount
SVar:Rarity:Rare
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/entrails_feaster.jpg
End

[ArsenalNut]

While testing Entrails Feaster, I noticed that a ChangeZone Origin$ Graveyard ChangeType$ Creature will only access your graveyard. Is there any technique that would allow it to access both graveyards?

| Open

Name:Entrails Feaster
ManaCost:B
Types:Creature Zombie Cat
Text:no text
PT:1/1
T:Mode$ Phase | Phase$ Upkeep | ValidPlayer$ You | Execute$ TrigExile | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | TriggerDescription$ At the beginning of your upkeep, you may exile a creature card from a graveyard. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on CARDNAME. If you don't, tap CARDNAME.
SVar:TrigExile:AB$ ChangeZone | Cost$ 0 | ChangeType$ Creature | ChangeNum$ 1 | Origin$ Graveyard | Destination$ Exile | Optional$ True | IsCurse$ True | RememberChanged$ True | Hidden$ True | Chooser$ You | SubAbility$ DBPutCounter
SVar:DBPutCounter:DB$ PutCounter | CounterType$ P1P1 | ConditionCheckSVar$ X | ConditionSVarCompare$ GE1 | SubAbility$ DBTap
SVar:DBTap:DB$ Tap | ConditionCheckSVar$ X | ConditionSVarCompare$ LE0 | SubAbility$ DBCleanup
SVar:DBCleanup:DB$ Cleanup | ClearRemembered$ True
SVar:X:Remembered$Amount
SVar:Rarity:Rare
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/entrails_feaster.jpg
End

Look at the Cemetery Reaper script, it uses a similar mechanic.

[jeffwadsworth]

While testing Entrails Feaster, I noticed that a ChangeZone Origin$ Graveyard ChangeType$ Creature will only access your graveyard. Is there any technique that would allow it to access both graveyards?

| Open

Name:Entrails Feaster
ManaCost:B
Types:Creature Zombie Cat
Text:no text
PT:1/1
T:Mode$ Phase | Phase$ Upkeep | ValidPlayer$ You | Execute$ TrigExile | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | TriggerDescription$ At the beginning of your upkeep, you may exile a creature card from a graveyard. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on CARDNAME. If you don't, tap CARDNAME.
SVar:TrigExile:AB$ ChangeZone | Cost$ 0 | ChangeType$ Creature | ChangeNum$ 1 | Origin$ Graveyard | Destination$ Exile | Optional$ True | IsCurse$ True | RememberChanged$ True | Hidden$ True | Chooser$ You | SubAbility$ DBPutCounter
SVar:DBPutCounter:DB$ PutCounter | CounterType$ P1P1 | ConditionCheckSVar$ X | ConditionSVarCompare$ GE1 | SubAbility$ DBTap
SVar:DBTap:DB$ Tap | ConditionCheckSVar$ X | ConditionSVarCompare$ LE0 | SubAbility$ DBCleanup
SVar:DBCleanup:DB$ Cleanup | ClearRemembered$ True
SVar:X:Remembered$Amount
SVar:Rarity:Rare
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/entrails_feaster.jpg
End

Look at the Cemetery Reaper script, it uses a similar mechanic.

No, that is a targeted card.

[jeffwadsworth]

Testing Mindblaze. Does anyone see any issues with this script? It produces a "Defined" null error within the AB DealDamage. If TargetedPlayer is used for the Defined, it does not give an error, but damage is not dealt.

| Open

Name:Mindblaze
ManaCost:5 R
Types:Sorcery
Text:no text
A:SP$ NameCard | Cost$ 5 R | ValidCards$ Card.nonLand | ValidDesc$ nonland | SubAbility$ DBChooseNumber | SpellDescription$ Name a nonland card and choose a number greater than 0. Target player reveals his or her library. If that library contains exactly the chosen number of the named card, CARDNAME deals 8 damage to that player. Then that player shuffles his or her library.
SVar:DBChooseNumber:DB$ ChooseNumber | Min$ 1 | SubAbility$ DBDig
SVar:DBDig:DB$ Dig | DigNum$ X | ValidTgts$ Player | TgtPrompt$ Select target player | Reveal$ True | NoMove$ True | RememberRevealed$ True | DestinationZone$ Library | LibraryPosition$ 0 | LibraryPosition2$ 0 | SubAbility$ DBDamage
SVar:DBDamage:DB$ DealDamage | NumDmg$ 8 | Defined$ Targeted | ConditionCheckSVar$ Y | ConditionSVarCompare$ EQZ | SubAbility$ DBCleanup
SVar:DBCleanup:DB$ Cleanup | ClearRemembered$ True
SVar:X:TargetedPlayer$CardsInLibrary
SVar:Y:Remembered$Valid Card.NamedCard
SVar:Z:Number$ChosenNumber
SVar:Rarity:Rare
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/mindblaze.jpg
End

[ArsenalNut]

Testing Mindblaze. Does anyone see any issues with this script? It produces a "Defined" null error within the AB DealDamage. If TargetedPlayer is used for the Defined, it does not give an error, but damage is not dealt.

| Open

Name:Mindblaze
ManaCost:5 R
Types:Sorcery
Text:no text
A:SP$ NameCard | Cost$ 5 R | ValidCards$ Card.nonLand | ValidDesc$ nonland | SubAbility$ DBChooseNumber | SpellDescription$ Name a nonland card and choose a number greater than 0. Target player reveals his or her library. If that library contains exactly the chosen number of the named card, CARDNAME deals 8 damage to that player. Then that player shuffles his or her library.
SVar:DBChooseNumber:DB$ ChooseNumber | Min$ 1 | SubAbility$ DBDig
SVar:DBDig:DB$ Dig | DigNum$ X | ValidTgts$ Player | TgtPrompt$ Select target player | Reveal$ True | NoMove$ True | RememberRevealed$ True | DestinationZone$ Library | LibraryPosition$ 0 | LibraryPosition2$ 0 | SubAbility$ DBDamage
SVar:DBDamage:DB$ DealDamage | NumDmg$ 8 | Defined$ Targeted | ConditionCheckSVar$ Y | ConditionSVarCompare$ EQZ | SubAbility$ DBCleanup
SVar:DBCleanup:DB$ Cleanup | ClearRemembered$ True
SVar:X:TargetedPlayer$CardsInLibrary
SVar:Y:Remembered$Valid Card.NamedCard
SVar:Z:Number$ChosenNumber
SVar:Rarity:Rare
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/mindblaze.jpg
End

I added some null pointer checks in r13931 that fix the problem with "Defined$ Targeted". Also TargetedPlayer didn't work because its not a supported keyword in the getDefinedPlayers method.

[moomarc]

Just scripted Soulblast, but for some reason it deals twice the damage it's supposed to. Can anyone see the problem?

Code: Select all

Name:Soulblast
ManaCost:3 R R R
Types:Instant
Text:no text
A:SP$ DealDamage | Cost$ 3 R R R Sac<All/Creature> | NumDmg$ X | Tgt$ TgtCP | CostDesc$ As an additional cost to cast CARDNAME, sacrifice all creatures you control. | SpellDescription$ CARDNAME deals damage to target creature or player equal to the total power of the sacrificed creatures.
SVar:X:Sacrificed$CardPower
SVar:RemAIDeck:True
SVar:Rarity:Rare
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/soulblast.jpg
SetInfo:CHK|Rare|http://magiccards.info/scans/en/chk/190.jpg
SetInfo:10E|Rare|http://magiccards.info/scans/en/10e/236.jpg
Oracle:As an additional cost to cast Soulblast, sacrifice all creatures you control.\nSoulblast deals damage to target creature or player equal to the total power of the sacrificed creatures.
End

EDIT: Just tested further using Sac<Y/Creature> and SVar:Y:Count$Valid Creature.YouCtrl and the total is calculated correctly. You have to select each creature individually though so it's not ideal (especially if you happen to have 200 token creatures out for instance). So it seems there's a problem with how "All" is treated in a sacrifice cost. Any ideas on fixing it or should it just be posted with the xCount method?

[Sloth]

Just scripted Soulblast, but for some reason it deals twice the damage it's supposed to. Can anyone see the problem?

I think i've found and fixed the problem. Please try again.