Card Development Questions

[Jaedayr]

When an ability has both a positive and a negative effect, should it be coded with IsCurse$ True ? I am thinking yes but want to verify so that we are consistent in our card treatment. See the card I am working on below. Holding on commit until I get feedback.

Code: Select all

Name:Thorntooth Witch
ManaCost:5 B
Types:Creature Treefolk Shaman
Text:no text
PT:3/4
T:Mode$ ChangesZone | Origin$ Any | Destination$ Battlefield | ValidCard$ Treefolk.Other+YouCtrl | OptionalDecider$ You | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | Execute$ TrigPump | TriggerDescription$ Whenever you cast a Treefolk spell, you may have target creature get +3/-3 until end of turn.
SVar:TrigPump:AB$Pump | Cost$ 0 | ValidTgts$ Creature | TgtPrompt$ Select target creature | NumAtt$ 3 | NumDef$ -3 | IsCurse$ True
SVar:RemAIDeck:True
SVar:Rarity:Uncommon
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/thorntooth_witch.jpg
SetInfo:LRW|Uncommon|http://magiccards.info/scans/en/lw/144.jpg
End

[Sloth]

When an ability has both a positive and a negative effect, should it be coded with IsCurse$ True ? I am thinking yes but want to verify so that we are consistent in our card treatment. See the card I am working on below. Holding on commit until I get feedback.

Code: Select all

Name:Thorntooth Witch
ManaCost:5 B
Types:Creature Treefolk Shaman
Text:no text
PT:3/4
T:Mode$ ChangesZone | Origin$ Any | Destination$ Battlefield | ValidCard$ Treefolk.Other+YouCtrl | OptionalDecider$ You | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | Execute$ TrigPump | TriggerDescription$ Whenever you cast a Treefolk spell, you may have target creature get +3/-3 until end of turn.
SVar:TrigPump:AB$Pump | Cost$ 0 | ValidTgts$ Creature | TgtPrompt$ Select target creature | NumAtt$ 3 | NumDef$ -3 | IsCurse$ True
SVar:RemAIDeck:True
SVar:Rarity:Uncommon
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/thorntooth_witch.jpg
SetInfo:LRW|Uncommon|http://magiccards.info/scans/en/lw/144.jpg
End

In this case isCurse$ True should be applied, so the AI will try to kill creatures.

[Chris H.]

When an ability has both a positive and a negative effect, should it be coded with IsCurse$ True ? I am thinking yes but want to verify so that we are consistent in our card treatment. See the card I am working on below. Holding on commit until I get feedback.

Code: Select all

Name:Thorntooth Witch
ManaCost:5 B
Types:Creature Treefolk Shaman
Text:no text
PT:3/4
T:Mode$ ChangesZone | Origin$ Any | Destination$ Battlefield | ValidCard$ Treefolk.Other+YouCtrl | OptionalDecider$ You | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | Execute$ TrigPump | TriggerDescription$ Whenever you cast a Treefolk spell, you may have target creature get +3/-3 until end of turn.
SVar:TrigPump:AB$Pump | Cost$ 0 | ValidTgts$ Creature | TgtPrompt$ Select target creature | NumAtt$ 3 | NumDef$ -3 | IsCurse$ True
SVar:RemAIDeck:True
SVar:Rarity:Uncommon
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/thorntooth_witch.jpg
SetInfo:LRW|Uncommon|http://magiccards.info/scans/en/lw/144.jpg
End

In this case isCurse$ True should be applied, so the AI will try to kill creatures.

`
I agree with Sloth on this one. Until the AI gets substantially improved, it would be best to use "isCurse$ True" to give the AI a chance to kill creatures with this ab.

You may want to hold off on this type of card for a different reason though... Your current trigger would go off when a Treefolk is ressurected from the graveyard. Ugh.

"Origin$ Hand" would prevent this situation. Except that it would now trigger with Elvish Piper type abs. So we would need somesort of a "isCast True" type of parameter that would be set via the casting code for these type of cards to be rules compliant.

I wonder if Hellfish has any plans for this?

[Chris H.]

Wait a minute. We have a "T:Mode$ SpellCast" already in place. I see that we already have 187 cards using this type of trigger.

[Hellfish]

Hah, beat me to it, Chris.

That plus the IsCurse bit and it should be good to go.

[Chris H.]

Hah, beat me to it, Chris.

That plus the IsCurse bit and it should be good to go.

`
I'm still working on my second cup of coffee.

[Jaedayr]

Thank you all for the feedback and for showing me a trigger I haven't used before.

[Jaedayr]

This works but I am not sure this is the best way to make it work. I don't really like the idea of the SP$DealDamage activating the trigger of the same card. Any suggestions or is this how it should be done?

Code: Select all

Name:Giant's Ire
ManaCost:3 R
Types:Tribal Sorcery Giant
Text:no text
A:SP$DealDamage | Cost$ 3 R | Tgt$ TgtP | NumDmg$ 4 | SpellDescription$ CARDNAME deals 4 damage to target player.
T:Mode$ DamageDone | ValidSource$ Card.Self | ValidTarget$ Opponent | IsPresent$ Giant.YouCtrl | Execute$ TrigDraw | TriggerDescription$ If you control a Giant, draw a card.
SVar:TrigDraw:AB$Draw | Cost$ 0 | Defined$ You | NumCards$ 1
SVar:Rarity:Common
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/giants_ire.jpg
SetInfo:LRW|Common|http://magiccards.info/scans/en/lw/170.jpg
End

[Hellfish]

I think Sol's idea of a conditional AF would serve all cards like this well. I have no clear picture on how such an AF would look,though.

EDIT: Edited, reading through comprules.doc

[friarsol]

I think Sol's idea of a conditional AF would serve all cards like this well. I have no clear picture on how such an AF would look,though.

EDIT: Edited, reading through comprules.doc

Yea it's a bit different than other AFs. I'd think we would have something like an IsPresent parameter and PresentCompare and two additional SubAbilities based on whether the condition is true or false.

So this one would look something like

Code: Select all

A:SP$DealDamage | Cost$ 3 R | Tgt$ TgtP | NumDmg$ 4 | SubAbility$ SVar=DBCondition | SpellDescription$ Lightning Blast deals 4 damage to target player. If you control a Giant, draw a card.
SVar:DBCondition:DB$ Condition | IsPresent$ Giant.YouCtrl | PresentCompare$ GE1 | TrueCondition$ DBDraw
SVar:DBDraw:DB$ Draw | NumCards$ 1


Condition might also handle coin flips or a bunch of other things. Unfortunately my free time has dried up and I have some other things I want to do before I could even think about getting around to this.

[Chris H.]

We have a few cards that could be added using the generic aura keyword code. This code currntly uses the following keywords:

K:Enchant Artifact
K:Enchant Creature
K:Enchant Enchantment
K:Enchant Land
K:Enchant Wall

`
You can add " Curse" to the end of these keywords and this will tell the code that the AI should target a card controlled by the human as these curse auras have a negative impact rather than a good buff type of bonus.

Please note that the Type and the Curse portion must start with an uppercase letter. The keyword will not work if you use lowere case.

Spirit Shackle is a good example of how this is used as a curse:

Spirit Shackle card text | Open

Name:Spirit Shackle
ManaCost:B B
Types:Enchantment Aura
Text:no text
K:Enchant Creature Curse
T:Mode$ Taps | ValidCard$ Card.AttachedBy | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | Execute$ TrigPutCounter | TriggerDescription$ Whenever enchanted creature becomes tapped, put a -0/-2 counter on it.
SVar:TrigPutCounter:AB$PutCounter | Cost$ 0 | Defined$ Enchanted | CounterType$ M0M2 | CounterNum$ 1
SVar:Rarity:Common
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/spirit_shackle.jpg
SetInfo:4ED|Uncommon|http://magiccards.info/scans/en/4e/47.jpg
SetInfo:LEG|Common|http://magiccards.info/scans/en/lg/31.jpg
End

I added some code to the generic aura keyword and it will now check to see if this string follows the "Enchant "{Type} part of this keyword " you control". This in turn will limit the human to targeting just his/her cards and will not let the AI cards be selected.

I was able to add a card and to convert a couple of cards for the last beat version to this new form. Some examples:

Bloodfire Infusion card text | Open

Name:Bloodfire Infusion
ManaCost:2 R
Types:Enchantment Aura
Text:no text
K:Enchant Creature you control
A:AB$ DamageAll | Cost$ R Sac<1/Card.AttachedBy> | ActivatingZone$ Battlefield | ValidCards$ Creature | NumDmg$ X | CostDesc$ R, Sacrifice enchanted creature: | ValidDescription$ each creature | SpellDescription$ CARDNAME deals damage equal to the sacrificed creature's power to each creature.
SVar:X:Sacrificed$CardPower
SVar:RemAIDeck:True
SVar:Rarity:Common
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/bloodfire_infusion.jpg
End

Caribou Range card text | Open

Name:Caribou Range
ManaCost:2 W W
Types:Enchantment Aura
Text:no text
K:Enchant Land you control
K:stPumpAll:Card.AttachedBy:0/0/SVar=Token:no Condition:Enchanted land has "W W, Tap: Put a 0/1 white Caribou creature token onto the battlefield."
SVar:Token:AB$Token | Cost$ W W T | TokenAmount$ 1 | TokenName$ Caribou | TokenTypes$ Creature,Caribou | TokenColors$ White | TokenPower$ 0 | TokenToughness$ 1 | TokenOwner$ You | SpellDescription$ Put a 0/1 white Caribou creature token onto the battlefield.
A:AB$ GainLife | Cost$ Sac<1/Caribou.token> | CostDesc$ Sacrifice a Caribou token: | LifeAmount$ 1 | SpellDescription$ You gain 1 life.
SVar:Rarity:Rare
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/caribou_range.jpg
SetInfo:5ED|Rare|http://magiccards.info/scans/en/5e/290.jpg
SetInfo:ICE|Rare|http://magiccards.info/scans/en/ia/235.jpg
End

OK, here are a few cards for people to look over, some of them might be good candidates.

Cloak of Confusion
Coalition Flag
Cocoon
Demonic Appetite
Dizzying Gaze
Earthlore
Emblem of the Warmind
Fire Whip
Hot Springs
Krovikan Plague
Mystic Might
Nature's Chosen
Spirit Loop
Tourach's Gate
Veteran's Voice

[Jaedayr]

Wall of Tombstones as shown below gets the appropriate toughness but at the end of the turn it resets back to 1. How can I get it to stay set until the next upkeep/trigger?

Code: Select all

Name:Wall of Tombstones
ManaCost:1 B
Types:Creature Wall
Text:no text
PT:0/1
K:Defender
T:Mode$ Phase | Phase$ Upkeep | ValidPlayer$ You | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | Execute$ TrigPump | TriggerDescription$ At the beginning of your upkeep, CARDNAME's toughness becomes 1 plus the number of creature cards in your graveyard.
SVar:TrigPump:AB$Pump | Cost$ 0 | NumDef$ +X |
SVar:X:Count$TypeInYourYard.Creature
SVar:Rarity:Uncommon
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/wall_of_tombstones.jpg
SetInfo:LEG|Uncommon|http://magiccards.info/scans/en/lg/43.jpg
End

[friarsol]

You shouldn't be using a Pump you should be using the Toughness setting portion of Animate.

[eidolon]

Is it ok to change "Look at target player's hand" into "Target player reveals his/her hand" so that you can use

Code: Select all

A:SP$Discard | Cost$ 0 | ValidTgts$ Player | NumCards$ 0 | Mode$ RevealYouChoose

for it?
(Discard 0 does not trigger cards like Megrim)

[Jaedayr]

You shouldn't be using a Pump you should be using the Toughness setting portion of Animate.

Using Animate has the same effect, the toughness is correct only during my turn and it is 1 during the AI turn.

Code: Select all

Name:Wall of Tombstones
ManaCost:1 B
Types:Creature Wall
Text:no text
PT:0/1
K:Defender
T:Mode$ Phase | Phase$ Upkeep | ValidPlayer$ You | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | Execute$ TrigTough | TriggerDescription$ At the beginning of your upkeep, CARDNAME's toughness becomes 1 plus the number of creature cards in your graveyard.
SVar:TrigTough:AB$Animate | Cost$ 0 | Toughness$ X |
SVar:X:Count$TypeInYourYard.Creature/Plus.1
SVar:Rarity:Uncommon
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/wall_of_tombstones.jpg
SetInfo:LEG|Uncommon|http://magiccards.info/scans/en/lg/43.jpg
End