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The Maestro's Challenge: X Marks the Spot
The Maestro's Challenge: X Marks the Spot
Written by The Maestro and CM Staff
For those that are tuning in after last month's issue, you'll know that a mysterious character named The Maestro had issued a design challenge open to everyone, which was to design a legendary creature card of an original character. An impressive 36 total designs were submitted, and the Custom Magic staff were very impressed by the overall quality that was seen. But of course, some winners had to be chosen, and The Maestro has some thoughts as well...
Perfect, most pleasant designers,
Hello hello hello, and welcome back! I am definitively delighted at each and every one of your enlightening entries for Episode 1: Meet the Cast. That said, a sizeable selection rose above the rest, to be highlighted here in my second transmission.
Third Place
Starke, Blade of Iron (Designed by thenobletheif)
The Maestro: This design, like that which it is made from, is stainless! While its referentiality eludes me, it is composed of clean, complimentary, correctly-balanced abilities and overall is pleasing to the eye, leading it squarely and fairly in the top 3.
CM Staff: Although it might not be the most mechanically splashy design, Starke showcases a tight collection of abilities that make for a compelling package. Menace acts as a sort of mechanical foundation to both the activated and triggered abilities, utilizing evasion to offset the risk presented by Defiant Leer and increase the opportunity of triggering Moxie. Even these abilities synergize, with the counters gained from Moxie eventually letting you activate Defiant Leer multiple times in a single turn! The card also makes fun use of the relatively new concept of flavor words, which Pokémon fans may recognize and/or appreciate.
Second Place
Hilda and Cyra, Dark Duo (Designed by ohmygod)
The Maestro: Ah, a devilish duo! I’m delighted. The doubling theme is doubtlessly delectably designed, with a lovely ludonarrative. With a smidge of fantastic flavor text, this already super submission would be positively perfect!
CM Staff: Hilda and Cyra does a fantastic job of tying flavor into succinct mechanical themes. Menace here does a great job of communicating how there are two characters present, and the token copies that the card generates really send the duo theme home. How the card plays into a somewhat niche space is also quite interesting, with stealing (both permanent and temporary) being a theme that is present though seldom seen in Black/Red. It really makes you excited to play those Acts of Treason!
First Place
Risky Betts, Golden Broker (Designed by Zax)
The Maestro: Risky Betts is a fantastic design, flavorfully and functionally. The colors correctly capture what I’d assume for the archetype, and the slot-like pseudo-ludonarrative is super-lovely! With a juicy jackpot payoff, Risky’s really rewarding, but not overtuned. For Zax’s pleasing performance, he is rewarded with the greatest honor: my favor, in the form of a colorful custom role. Congratulations!
CM Staff: This design immediately caught our attention as one that takes a super fun theme and expresses it in a unique and resonant way. The concept of turning dice rolling into a slot machine mini game is exciting not only from a flavor perspective, but from a mechanical one as well. The combination of innovation, fun, and technical execution on this design made it a real jackpot!
Like we mentioned above, there were a ton of awesome designs submitted for this challenge. Though we did have to settle on some winners, we hope you check out some of these honorable mentions!
And now, it appears The Maestro has his next challenge ready.
Episode 2: X Marks the Spot
For our deuxieme design debacle, I would like you to deliver to me an instant or sorcery spell featuring one or more Xs in its casting cost. Again, instructions of how to deliver your design shall be found within my home away from home within this server of yours, the #feedback and #showcase threads. My favorite submissions shall be published, alongside pleasant praise, in my next transmission, along with your next challenge. Work hard, for my show’s conclusion will coincide with the bestowment of a prize so grand as to illuminate thee for all time.
Good work, good luck, and good night!
-The Maestro
If you'd like to participate, please feel free to join the Custom Magic Discord Server! For some more specifics on how to submit, feel free to refer to the following:
Use the $design command on the Custom Magic Discord Server to submit your card. You can only submit one design to this challenge. Submitting a second design will erase your first one, and so on. If you submit multiple designs in one image, your submission will be ignored by The Maestro.
If you are not looking to showcase your submission in the #Showcase thread, you're not looking for feedback in the #Feedback thread (both found in #custom-designs on the Custom Magic Discord Server), or you're looking to submit your design more discretely, please use the #bot-spam channel. Do not spam the #custom-designs threads.
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