Zarian, Fallen Angel

[netherspirit]

This is a guy from my set. In the story he was once prince, but after being found guilty of various crimes he loses his power and is thrown into the pits of Gok'lor, where the only food he gets is other criminals who are thrown in there. After this takes place his brother Aerian soon takes reign as prince of the land.

Zarian, Fallen Angel
2BBB
Legendary Creature - Angel
Put a -0/-1 counter on Zarian, Fallen Angel: Zarian, Fallen Angel Gains Flying until end of turn.
Sacrifice a creature: Zarian, Fallen Angel gets +2/+2 and gains Fear until end of turn.
5/3
Once a Prince of Aerian, Zarian was cast into the cavernous pits of Gok'lor, where he sat, feasting off other traitors cast into the darkness.

In the story he only has 1 wing, so I felt that for him to be able to fly he should weaken himself, hence the -0/-1 counter.
The sacrifice a creature effect is meant to mimic him devouring other creatures for strength, but like any other snack the energy wears off after a while.

Current Wording:

Zarian, Fallen Angel

Legendary Creature - Angel
 : Zarian, Fallen Angel gains flying until end of turn and doesn't untap during your next untap phase.
Sacrifice a creature: Zarian, Fallen Angel gets +2/+2 and gains Fear until end of turn.
6/3
Once a Prince of Aerian, Zarian was cast into the cavernous pits of Gok'lor, where he sat, feasting off other traitors cast into the darkness.

[andrewpate]

To date, Angels are only female in Magic.  Also, they are always artificial lifeforms.  This is probably not the correct creature type for this flavor.

[netherspirit]

Well, I'm willing to break a few boundaries with my set, and beings that's not a boundary that could have any bad effects I'm willing to push it. Is it OK power wise though?

[Anusien]

We don't do odd counters, like -1/-1.  What about him coming into play as a 2/0 with 3 +1/+1 counters, and removing those for flying?

By the way, male angels are okay I would imagine.

But yeah, the power level is fine.

[netherspirit]

I had considered the whole +1/+1 counters idea, but I only wanted his toughness to decrease, rather than his power as well. What's so bad about -0/-1 counters anyway?

[parallax]

Because when you have a bunch of creatures that use +1/+1 counters and one guy that uses -0/-1 counters it's confusing. Even more confusing is when you graft a +1/+1 counter onto this guy. Now you have to keep different kinds of tokens for the +1/+1 counters and the -0/-1 counters. Notice that there hasn't been any cards that use P/T-changing counters other than +1/+1 recently?

[Norm4eva]

One of the arts for Fallen Angel depicted a male, I'm almost positive.
At any rate, Magic tries to stay away from 'non +1/+1' power/toughness altering counters, for all the reasons already listed.
Does this 'do enough' to merit being Legendary?  As it stands it's basically just an oddly reimagined Fallen Angel.

[parallax]

Does this 'do enough' to merit being Legendary?  As it stands it's basically just an oddly reimagined Fallen Angel.

It represents an important storyline character for his set. That's enough to get legendary status, I believe.

[andrewpate]

One of the arts for Fallen Angel depicted a male, I'm almost positive.

Fallen Angel only has 3 artworks:  the Anson Maddocks version (wing scar), the Arnie Swekel version (black feathered wings) and the Matthew Wilson version (tattered black wings).  All of these are female, as are all other Angels.

@counters
Wizards has stated an official policy of using only +1/+1 counters for size-changing effects.  Coldsnap is an exception because it was designed to feel old; it breaks several such rules (counters, as well as Lands always tapping for mana, etc.).  Unless you want to "push the boundaries" in this way, as well, you'll have to go with something like Anusien's version.

[jro]

It's okay to use just "Zarian" in the text box after the first usage of "Zarian, Fallen Angel".  For an example, see Rakdos the Defiler or Garza Zol, Plague Queen.  Also, I don't see how you can fit flavor text on this card using the modern day templating rules, because it's just too wordy.

Mechanically, I don't see why it needs two different effects that give it evasion abilities.  Especially since the one uses an ugly counter type.  And 2BBB is an awkward mana cost, too.  3BB for a Legendary 5/3 that eats guys to pump and gain fear would be a lot more in line with modern card design.

And I totally don't get the flavor of this.  How is he an Angel if he's a prince?  And how does he fly if he's trapped in a pit?  For that matter, how does he attack?

[netherspirit]

And I totally don't get the flavor of this.  How is he an Angel if he's a prince?  And how does he fly if he's trapped in a pit?  For that matter, how does he attack?

He's a Prince purely because different worlds work in different ways, the entire kingdom was established by his family, and as such he's inherited the title of Prince.

VERY big pit, all I need to say I guess, not everyone survives the fall. Certainly enough room to fly though.

He attacks bare handed, or with any rubble etc laying around. Obviously he needs to attack to kill any one who survives the fall, after all, food's no good if it's still moving.

[Norm4eva]

Does this 'do enough' to merit being Legendary?  As it stands it's basically just an oddly reimagined Fallen Angel.

It represents an important storyline character for his set. That's enough to get legendary status, I believe.

Forgive me but that's a dated way of thinking.  When Legends was first introduced you had Legendaries running around doing overcosted things and they were attached to overcosted bodies (generally!); the modern Legend tends to have such utility or effect that they must be Legendary to prevent being abusive.  You have to admit a bit of power creep has occured between Adun Oakenshield and Akroma, Angel of Wrath.
I mean, if he's a guy from whatever storyline is going on, great, make him a Legend.  But chances are, if he's special enough to be worth making a Legend he's more standoutish than an awkward Fallen Angel.  Buff it, or take the Legendary off, but as is it's not really screaming "Hi, I'm too broken to show up next to myself."

[netherspirit]

Would making his power and toughness bigger justify the legendary status then?

[chrissss]

I would make him stronger. He isn't that broken at all imo.

btw, one wing? someone is going to get in trouble for plagiarizing Final Fantasy XII : Advent Children :p

[Godder]

He could be 6/3 for 3BB quite safely, which would represent great offensive power, but also a certain fragility. The card is very powerful in Limited where a ready supply of cheap creatures would see this as an 8/5 Fear for 5, so would need to be Rare, but it's safe enough for Constructed.

-0/-1 counters (or any similar effect) suggest that flying is permanent debilitating for the character concerned, whereas -1/-1 till end of turn suggests temporary weakness only, and recovery just requires some rest. Of the two, the latter seems more likely to me, so I'd suggest that.

[Mindstab_Thrull]

In that case, Godder, why not something like:

Put a -1/-1 counter on ~: ~ gains flying until end of turn.

At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a -1/-1 counter from ~.

.. It depends how long it takes him to recuperate from the strain, and using one wing to let you fly when you should be using two but don't have two can be considered highly strenuous that it requires more time to recover.

[netherspirit]

.. It depends how long it takes him to recuperate from the strain, and using one wing to let you fly when you should be using two but don't have two can be considered highly strenuous that it requires more time to recover.

That's why I want to make the weakening permanent rather than until end of turn.

[Godder]

Size-modifying counters that aren't +1/+1 are bad, yo. If the after-effects are bad, perhaps "~this~ doesn't untap during your next untap step" is a good representation.

[netherspirit]

Oooh, good idea Godder, think I'm gonna use that.

[Mindstab_Thrull]

If you're worried about -1/-1 counters, how about this idea then:

Base size 3/0
Comes into play with three +1/+1 counters on it
Remove a counter to give it flying til EOT
At the beginning of your upkeep, if it has less than three counters on it, put a +1/+1 counter on it

If you want to stick with the size-depreciating method, you can try it this way, as it essentially accomplishes the same thing as the -1/-1 counter route.