Hidden Keywords

[Sloth]

In order to support some cards that give some traits to permanents, but which do not give abilities to them ruleswise like Bubble Matrix, Dense Canopy or Cloak of Mists, I want to add another type of keyword to cards (besides Intrinsic, Extrinsic and OtherExtrinsic):

HiddenKeywords

What's special about them?:

- They won't be displayed.
- They won't get recognized by cards like Muraganda Petroglyphs.
- They won't be removed by cards like Humility or Snakeform.

My plan to implement them is not set in stone, but I think about doing it like with OtherExtrinsicKeywords:

- Not to change anything in enPump, eqPump, stPump, spPump , abPump etc. , I will just add "hidden" in front of the keyword in the cardfile.
- In addExtrinsicKeyword, if the keyword starts with hidden, the keyword will not be stored but redirected to addHiddenKeyword.
- getHiddenKeyword() gets called in getKeyword() and will deliver the strings without "hidden".
- getUnHiddenKeyword() will just be the old getKeyword(). To be used by getText() and Muraganda Petroglyphs etc.

Any complains or thoughts?

[Rob Cashwalker]

If I understand the issue correctly, it's really a matter of dealing with the layering of effects.

Starting with a vanilla 1/1 creature, Muraganda Petroglyphs would give it +2/+2. Enchant that creature with Cloak of Mists, and you should still end up with a 3/3 unblockable creature, right?

Bubble Matrix should be handled purely by the damage handling code, it shouldn't be granting damage prevention to the creatures.

[Sloth]

If I understand the issue correctly, it's really a matter of dealing with the layering of effects.

Starting with a vanilla 1/1 creature, Muraganda Petroglyphs would give it +2/+2. Enchant that creature with Cloak of Mists, and you should still end up with a 3/3 unblockable creature, right?

Bubble Matrix should be handled purely by the damage handling code, it shouldn't be granting damage prevention to the creatures.

It doesn't really have to do with layering. All these cards work like Bubble Matrix. They don't grant abilities to the creatures, but characteristics. Magic Compr. Rules 112.11.

It's just easier for us to treat these as abilities (and at the moment we do with all the mentioned cards). It would need alot of new keywords to implement the cards we already have (imagine cards like Infiltrate).

[Sloth]

I've submitted my first draft of hidden keywords. Just add "HIDDEN " in front of a keyword and it won't be displayed.

example:

Code: Select all

Name:Bubble Matrix
ManaCost:4
Types:Artifact
Text:no text
K:stPumpAll:Creature:0/0/HIDDEN Prevent all damage that would be dealt to CARDNAME.:No Condition:Prevent all damage that would be dealt to creatures.
SVar:RemAIDeck:True
SVar:Rarity:Rare
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/bubble_matrix.jpg
End


Code: Select all

Name:Gaseous Form
ManaCost:2 U
Types:Enchantment Aura
Text:Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to and dealt by enchanted creature.
K:Enchant creature
K:enPumpCurse:HIDDEN Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to and dealt by CARDNAME.
SVar:Rarity:Common
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/gaseous_form.jpg
End


[Sloth]

Hidden keywords are now displayed separately as non-ability characteristics.

Card text will be displayed for example like this:

Code: Select all

Flying

Non ability characteristics:
Indestructible, Unblockable


I guess it's more user friendly to show what's going on (Especially with instants like Withstand Death)

[friarsol]

Definitely, that Treefolk game took way too long and I couldn't figure out why I couldn't kill anything. I somehow managed to win, but it was brutal.

[Chris H.]

Hidden keywords are now displayed separately as non-ability characteristics.

`
This may help the user base with their bug reporting.

[silly freak]

Hidden keywords are now displayed separately as non-ability characteristics.

Card text will be displayed for example like this:

Code: Select all

Flying

Non ability characteristics:
Indestructible, Unblockable


I guess it's more user friendly to show what's going on (Especially with instants like Withstand Death)

these are not characteristics, though. i'd suggest the word "features". i know it's picky, but why settle for less

[Sloth]

these are not characteristics, though. i'd suggest the word "features". i know it's picky, but why settle for less

I'm ok with "features". Any other opinions or suggestions?

[Chris H.]

I'm OK with either "characteristics" or "features". Having the "Non ability " in front will help to emphasize the point is not a normal ability.

[friarsol]

Well according to the rules http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/Indestructible they refer to it as a "quality" that's probably as good as any generic adjective.

[Sloth]

I settled to call it features, because quality won't refer to all of the possible hidden keywords (I guessed).