Flexible White Creature

[dandan]

I was considering the idea of an X/X creature for X in Green but the recent feedback to my Good Green Common thread suggest that simplicity is often confused with boring.

As a result I think I can add a twist and make a White card. White is traditionally weak with mid-sized creatures.

Lynch Mob
X
Creature - Townsfolk
Lynch Mob is White
When Lynch Mob comes into play, target opponent gains X life
X/X


The idea is that you get a little time (life) as the Mob forms but then they'll come for you. Trample is a possibility.

For some reason I like the idea of a Lynch Mob for 0.

I can't see it being cast for less than 3 very often and it isn't that good at higher casting costs. However a 3/3 for 3 or a 4/4 for 4 is a powerhouse in White these days so I have left Trample alone.

Latest Version

Lynch Mob
XW
Creature -- Townsfolk Mob
1/1
Lynch Mob comes into play with X +1/+1 counters on it.
Whenever you gain control of Lynch Mob, target opponent gains X life.

Changes
Matt-heavy use of common sense sadly lacking in the original
Jebus - proper wording

[Matt]

Maybe you should have to pay the X with white mana. Otherwise, maybe it should be

Lynch Mob
XW
Creature -- Townsfolk Mob (there is at least one Mob already!)
1/1
Lynch Mob comes into play with X +1/+1 counters on it.
When Lynch Mob comes under your control, target opponent gains X life.

[Bram]

Agreed. We don't want Kobold-like creatures in this fine establishment

I don't think White gets efficient large creatures anymore. Matter of fact, I dont think White gets large creatures at all other than the odd Angel or Dragon/Wurm (which are either overcosted or have mhuge drawbacks). The only 3/3 for 2W and 4/4 for 3W are Haunted Angels and Ageless Sentinels, both with drawbacks much more massive than a little lifegain for the opponent. (A 2/2 for 1W is obviously no problem, however).

Just stating history facts, though. I don't believe this is overpowered and I like Matt's version.

[dandan]

Changed to Matt's version (at the expense of the 0/0 creature for 0)

It's hard to argue with perfection.

It is a pretty good mid-range creature but I hardly think it is overpowering.

[Jebus]

You could keep the 0/0 for 0 option by going with something like:

Lynch Mob
X
Creature - Townsfolk
Spend only White mana on X.
Lynch Mob is White
When Lynch Mob comes into play, target opponent gains X life
X/X

Of course, nothing wrong with Matt's wording, except one minor nitpick.

"When Lynch Mob comes under your control..."

This phrase is awkward.  Do you mean Comes into play under your control?  It's always going to come into play under someone's control.  That someone is going to always be "you" (you being whoever it came into control under) so the extra text seems unneeded.  Unless there was something else you were going for.

[Matt]

You could keep the 0/0 for 0 option by going with something like:

Lynch Mob
X
Creature - Townsfolk
Spend only White mana on X.
Lynch Mob is White
When Lynch Mob comes into play, target opponent gains X life
X/X

Of course, nothing wrong with Matt's wording, except one minor nitpick.

"When Lynch Mob comes under your control..."

This phrase is awkward.  Do you mean Comes into play under your control?  It's always going to come into play under someone's control.  That someone is going to always be "you" (you being whoever it came into control under) so the extra text seems unneeded.  Unless there was something else you were going for.

Two Points:
1. That would force this to be in only 100%-white decks. No one likes that.
2. I was going for "don't Control Magic a Lynch Mob". Should it be worded, "When you gain control of Lynch Mob"?

[Jebus]

You could keep the 0/0 for 0 option by going with something like:

Lynch Mob
X
Creature - Townsfolk
Spend only White mana on X.
Lynch Mob is White
When Lynch Mob comes into play, target opponent gains X life
X/X

Of course, nothing wrong with Matt's wording, except one minor nitpick.

"When Lynch Mob comes under your control..."

This phrase is awkward.  Do you mean Comes into play under your control?  It's always going to come into play under someone's control.  That someone is going to always be "you" (you being whoever it came into control under) so the extra text seems unneeded.  Unless there was something else you were going for.

Two Points:
1. That would force this to be in only 100%-white decks. No one likes that.
2. I was going for "don't Control Magic a Lynch Mob". Should it be worded, "When you gain control of Lynch Mob"?

1.  Understandable.

2.  "Whenever you gain control of Lynch Mob..." would be the appropriate text for that type of effect.

[dandan]

Wording changed to "Whenever..."

I can live with no 0/0 for 0 in order to keep the card simple (elegant). I think the card is balanced as it manages to be both good and bad in my estimation. I think that means that it sucks less badly than other White mid-range creatures. It is about as good as it gets for White in Limited, although even that isn't that good.

[Matt]

Well monowhite got a 3/4 nontapper for 3 in Darksteel. This isn't quite as good but it's still useful. It's a damn sight better than Grollub, for instance.

[dandan]

24 hour clock

[Matt]

Screw it, I feel like this is done, so I'm not going to wait for dandan to get off his hiney. I mean ass.

Closed and added.