Card Development Questions

[swordshine]

We have a static ability "ETBTapped" which might be converted to a replacement effect.
Original:

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S:Mode$ ETBTapped | ValidCard$ Artifact.OppCtrl,Creature.OppCtrl | Description$ Artifacts and creatures your opponents control enter the battlefield tapped.

Converted:

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R:Event$ Moved | ActiveZones$ Battlefield | ValidCard$ Artifact.OppCtrl,Creature.OppCtrl | Destination$ Battlefield | ReplaceWith$ DBETBTap | Description$ Artifacts and creatures your opponents control enter the battlefield tapped.
SVar:DBETBTap:DB$ ChangeZone | Hidden$ True | Origin$ All | Destination$ Battlefield | Tapped$ True | Defined$ ReplacedCard

Will this conversion introduce bugs?

[timmermac]

As regarding Razia again, what about the ability of Glarecaster? Would a modification of that enable Razia?

[Marek14]

I wonder, will the decks need an optional Lurking Automaton parameter added so Conspiracy draft decks could be recorded properly?

[GregBonnu]

Not sure if this is the right spot to post this, but it appears the card Scouting Trek does not work properly. Instead of shuffling your deck & then putting a choice number of lands on top the order is reversed. Essentially, nothing happens as the lands are pointlessly shuffled back into the deck after you select them.

[friarsol]

Not sure if this is the right spot to post this, but it appears the card Scouting Trek does not work properly. Instead of shuffling your deck & then putting a choice number of lands on top the order is reversed. Essentially, nothing happens as the lands are pointlessly shuffled back into the deck after you select them.

We ask that all bug reports to be posted in the thread where you downloaded your release from. Additionally, check out the link in my signature for other useful tips.

[torridus]

I coded a card that isn't quite working properly. For some reason, Forge won't load when the .txt file is in the cards folder. It freezes, saying it's loaded 96% of the cards.

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Name:Medalliontest
ManaCost:3
Types:Artifact
T:Mode$ Phase | Phase$ Upkeep | ValidPlayer$ You | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | Execute$ TrigDiscard | OptionalDecider$ You | TriggerDescription$ At the beginning of your upkeep, you may have target opponent discard a card at random.
SVar:TrigDiscard:AB$ Discard | Cost$ 0 | ValidTgts$ Opponent | TgtPrompt$ Select target opponent | NumCards$ 1 | Mode$ Random
A:AB$ Reveal | Cost$ UB | Random$ True | ValidTgts$ Opponent | TgtPrompt$ Select target opponent | NumCards$ 1 | SpellDescription$ Target opponent reveals a card at random from his or her hand.

References I used for coding:

Nath of the Gilt-Leaf | Open

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Name:Nath of the Gilt-Leaf
ManaCost:3 B G
Types:Legendary Creature Elf Warrior
PT:4/4
T:Mode$ Phase | Phase$ Upkeep | ValidPlayer$ You | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | Execute$ TrigDiscard | OptionalDecider$ You | TriggerDescription$ At the beginning of your upkeep, you may have target opponent discard a card at random.
SVar:TrigDiscard:AB$ Discard | Cost$ 0 | ValidTgts$ Opponent | TgtPrompt$ Select target opponent | NumCards$ 1 | Mode$ Random
T:Mode$ Discarded | ValidCard$ Card.OppOwn | TriggerZones$ Battlefield | Execute$ TrigToken | OptionalDecider$ You | TriggerDescription$ Whenever an opponent discards a card, you may put a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token onto the battlefield.
SVar:TrigToken:AB$ Token | Cost$ 0 | TokenAmount$ 1 | TokenName$ Elf Warrior | TokenTypes$ Creature,Elf,Warrior | TokenOwner$ You | TokenColors$ Green | TokenPower$ 1 | TokenToughness$ 1
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/nath_of_the_gilt_leaf.jpg
Oracle:At the beginning of your upkeep, you may have target opponent discard a card at random.\nWhenever an opponent discards a card, you may put a 1/1 green Elf Warrior creature token onto the battlefield.

Hired Torturer | Open

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Name:Hired Torturer
ManaCost:2 B
Types:Creature Human Rogue
PT:2/3
K:Defender
A:AB$ LoseLife | Cost$ 3 B T | ValidTgts$ Opponent | LifeAmount$ 2 | SubAbility$ DBReveal | SpellDescription$ Target opponent loses 2 life and reveals a card at random from his or her hand.
SVar:DBReveal:DB$ Reveal | Random$ True | Defined$ Targeted
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/hired_torturer.jpg
Oracle:Defender\n{3}{B}, {T}: Target opponent loses 2 life, then reveals a card at random from his or her hand.

Other "reveal at random" stuff includes Planeswalker's Mirth, Merfolk Spy, etc

Does "ValidTgts$ Opponent" just not work for Reveal abilities? Should I use something like Wand of Ith's code instead?

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A:AB$ Reveal | Cost$ 3 T | ValidTgts$ Player | TgtPrompt$ Select target player | Random$ True

[swordshine]

I coded a card that isn't quite working properly. For some reason, Forge won't load when the .txt file is in the cards folder. It freezes, saying it's loaded 96% of the cards.
Does "ValidTgts$ Opponent" just not work for Reveal abilities? Should I use something like Wand of Ith's code instead?

I added your card into my cardsfolder and it didn't freeze. I don't know what happened to you. "ValidTgts$ Opponent" is OK.

[Bog Wraith]

Not sure if this is where to post a card request question so if it needs to be moved please do so.

The only card from MTGO's Vintage Masters not in the Forge database is Volrath's Shapeshifter. I was wondering if this card can be made or is it something that is not likley to be added in the future.

[Marek14]

Not sure if this is where to post a card request question so if it needs to be moved please do so.

The only card from MTGO's Vintage Masters not in the Forge database is Volrath's Shapeshifter. I was wondering if this card can be made or is it something that is not likley to be added in the future.

Volrath's Shapeshifter is strange. It has something very similar to copy ability, but it's technically classified as text changing because it has to be applied after control changes. Different layering.

[Bog Wraith]

Am I correct in inferring from your post that that this might make the card almost impossible to code into Forge?

[friarsol]

Am I correct in inferring from your post that that this might make the card almost impossible to code into Forge?

I don't think it's as bad as Equinox, but it definitely has a chance to be in the last handful.

[Bog Wraith]

Ok, thank you both for the info.

[HarePaiR]

Attempting to code Rock Hydra, even though you smarter folks say it can't be done! Let me know if I've run into the problem yet...I have a feeling this can be done but I'm getting null_pointer exceptions during testing.

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Name:Not Rock Hydra
ManaCost:X R R
Types:Creature Hydra
PT:0/0
K:etbCounter:P1P1:X
SVar:X:Count$xPaid

R:Event$ DamageDone | ActiveZones$ Battlefield | IsCombat$ True |ValidTarget$ Card.Self+counters_GE1_P1P1 | ReplaceWith$ CombatCounters | SVars$ CombatCounters,RemainingCombatDmg,Z | References$ CombatCounters,RemainingCombatDmg,Z | PreventionEffect$ True | Description$ If damage would be dealt to CARDNAME, prevent that damage and remove that many +1/+1 counters from it.
R:Event$ DamageDone | ActiveZones$ Battlefield | IsCombat$ False |ValidTarget$ Card.Self+counters_GE1_P1P1 | ReplaceWith$ NonCombatCounters | SVars$ NonCombatCounters,RemainingNonCombatDmg,Z | References$ NonCombatCounters,RemainingNonCombatDmg,Z | PreventionEffect$ True | Description$ If damage would be dealt to CARDNAME, prevent that damage and remove that many +1/+1 counters from it.
SVar:CombatCounters:AB$ RemoveCounter | Cost$ 0 | Defined$ ReplacedTarget | CounterType$ P1P1 | CounterNum$ 1 | SubAbility$ RemainingCombatDmg
SVar:NonCombatCounters:AB$ RemoveCounter | Cost$ 0 | Defined$ ReplacedTarget | CounterType$ P1P1 | CounterNum$ 1 | SubAbility$ RemainingNonCombatDmg
SVar:RemainingCombatDmg:DB$ DealDamage | Cost$ 0 | Defined$ ReplacedTarget | DamageSource$ ReplacedSource | CombatDamage$ True | NumDmg$ Z
SVar:RemainingNonCombatDmg:DB$ DealDamage | Cost$ 0 | Defined$ ReplacedTarget | DamageSource$ ReplacedSource | CombatDamage$ False | NumDmg$ Z
SVar:Z:ReplaceCount$DamageAmount.Minus1
SVar:Picture:http://www.wizards.com/global/images/magic/general/rock_hydra.jpg
Oracle:Rock Hydra enters the battlefield with X +1/+1 counters on it.\nFor each 1 damage that would be dealt to Rock Hydra, if it has a +1/+1 counter on it, remove a +1/+1 counter from it and prevent that 1 damage.\n{R}: Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to Rock Hydra this turn.\n{R}{R}{R}: Put a +1/+1 counter on Rock Hydra. Activate this ability only during your upkeep.


I've eliminated the abilities that aren't causing problems at the moment. I'm trying to make it so you can kill the Hydra even if it is equipped with toughness boosters (I believe this is what makes its prevention effect different from Protean Hydra).

I'm trying to use the en-Kor creatures as a template (kudos to whoever coded those!). This is sort of a recursive script...is that my problem? The idea is that when damage is dealt to the hydra, check to see if it has any counters. If so, remove a counter and deal damage-1. When no counters, just deal the damage.

Perhaps subability damage does not trigger damage Events because it doesn't use the stack?

Null pointer exception:
Description: [I was dealing damage to a 4/4 Not Rock Hydra with a Chain Lightning when this occurred.]

NullPointerException | Open

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Forge Version:    1.5.32-SNAPSHOT-r-1u
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.10.1 x86_64
Java Version:     1.8.0_25 Oracle Corporation

java.lang.NullPointerException
   at forge.game.ability.AbilityUtils.calculateAmount(AbilityUtils.java:646)
   at forge.game.spellability.SpellAbilityCondition.areMet(SpellAbilityCondition.java:379)
   at forge.game.ability.AbilityUtils.resolveApiAbility(AbilityUtils.java:1230)
   at forge.game.ability.AbilityUtils.resolve(AbilityUtils.java:1214)
   at forge.player.HumanPlaySpellAbility.playAbility(HumanPlaySpellAbility.java:138)
   at forge.player.HumanPlay.playSpellAbilityNoStack(HumanPlay.java:195)
   at forge.player.PlayerControllerHuman.playSpellAbilityNoStack(PlayerControllerHuman.java:223)
   at forge.game.replacement.ReplacementHandler.executeReplacement(ReplacementHandler.java:236)
   at forge.game.replacement.ReplacementHandler.run(ReplacementHandler.java:135)
   at forge.game.replacement.ReplacementHandler.run(ReplacementHandler.java:81)
   at forge.game.card.Card.preventDamage(Card.java:5441)
   at forge.game.GameEntity.addDamage(GameEntity.java:58)
   at forge.game.ability.effects.DamageDealEffect.resolve(DamageDealEffect.java:161)
   at forge.game.ability.SpellApiBased.resolve(SpellApiBased.java:50)
   at forge.game.ability.AbilityUtils.resolveApiAbility(AbilityUtils.java:1232)
   at forge.game.ability.AbilityUtils.resolve(AbilityUtils.java:1214)
   at forge.game.zone.MagicStack.resolveStack(MagicStack.java:467)
   at forge.game.phase.PhaseHandler.startFirstTurn(PhaseHandler.java:972)
   at forge.game.GameAction.startGame(GameAction.java:1379)
   at forge.game.Match.startGame(Match.java:71)
   at forge.match.MatchUtil$2.run(MatchUtil.java:201)
   at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1142)
   at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:617)
   at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:745)


[Marek14]

I think one problem is that the Hydra should be able to "pick and choose" which damage will be prevented and which will be not if it doesn't have enough +1/+1 counters. Most obvious application would be in combat against multiple creatures where you might want to preferrably prevent damage from a lifelinker to stop its controller from getting life. Some cards like this might be held back until damage prevention will be robust enough to handle this.

[HarePaiR]

Ah, I see. So if not all damage is being prevented, you should be able to choose which damage, among simultaneous damage sources, gets prevented. I didn't even know you could do that! I assumed there was always some order. Thanks for the rules knowledge!

Isn't that also true for all the en-Kor, though? For example, redirecting deathtouch damage from a black source to a White Knight? I guess that's rather narrow, and I quite like having the en-Kor available.