Poison Game

[Limbo]

I was thinking about what a red card using the "hide a number of items" mechanic combined with poison counters would look like, and I came up with the following rough draft:

Grab the Viper
Casting cost involving red
Sorcery
Each player hides at least one item, then all players reveal them simultaneously. Each player gains poison counters equal to the number of items he or she revealed. The player who revealed the most items then puts a ?/? red Viper creature token into play that has: "Whenever ~this~ deals damage to an opponent, that player gets ? poison counters.
Auch. Auch. Auch. Auch. Now gimme that. Knorft, Goblin Commander. Last words.

The flavor of this card looks clear to me, where all the mages try to grab a viper from a basket, getting bitten in the proces.

The P/T of the viper, the amount of poison counters and its casting cost (do we need green in there?) are all up for discussion. Also, this could make several small vipers instead of a big one. It could even give each player vipers equal to the number of counters. Ideas / suggestions?

Current Wording
Grab the Viper
RR
Sorcery
Each player hides at least one item, then all players reveal them simultaneously. Each player gains poison counters equal to the number of items he or she revealed. The player who revealed the most items then puts a 1/1 red Viper creature token into play that has First Strike and "Whenever ~this~ deals damage to an opponent, that player gets one poison counter.
This deadly game is a test of resolve for Xolot warriors with aspirations of command.

Changes:
Ephraim / Bram : 1/1 First Strike
Bram: CC
Bram: Flavourtext

[Bram]

Hey, that's a pretty friggin' good idea. No thoughts on the mana cost yet, as this is obviously sort of unprecedented, but I definitely like this idea and it deserves further attention.

[ELD]

One thing to consider: posion counters are not going to be played by your opponent.  You can always hide 9 things without fear.  The question is what happens if both players reveal 9.  Is the viper riped in half from both people grabbing it?

[Limbo]

One thing to consider: posion counters are not going to be played by your opponent.  You can always hide 9 things without fear.  The question is what happens if both players reveal 9.  Is the viper riped in half from both people grabbing it?

In "our" set there are already 16 cards that add or remove poison counters. Adding to that poison cards already exist AND there is talk of re-introducing poison as a mechanic all add to the usability. And if not, it still should turn up a very nice card in flavor.

You are right, if no mage gives up, the snake will be ripped in half.

By the way, this would obviously be nice to play in addition to other poison cards, to prevent your opponent from ever being able to hide 9 objects, as that would cause an insta-loss in the presence of one or more poison counters on said mage.

[Limbo]

Ok, I will start the kickoff with asking if this creates a 2/2 that deals 2 poison damage as well for RR is ok.

[Ephraim]

I like the idea, but I'm very cautious about cards that deal out two poison counters at a time -- especially since this card is going to result in the player who doesn't get the snake having poison counters too. I'd rather it just deal out 1 poison counter and be a 1/1 first striker or something.

[Limbo]

I like the idea, but I'm very cautious about cards that deal out two poison counters at a time -- especially since this card is going to result in the player who doesn't get the snake having poison counters too. I'd rather it just deal out 1 poison counter and be a 1/1 first striker or something.

The thing is I don't want it to be too strong powerwise, as it would kill damagewise before you can win poisonwise. First strike is a nice way to make it stronger. However:

Ideas:

1/1, First strike, 1 poison counter for RR
1/1, Double strike, 1 poison counter for 1RR
2/2, 2 poison counter for RR

What about the double striker, is it too strong?

[Bram]

def. 1/1 first strike.

[Limbo]

Ok, so if it is a 1/1 with first strike, how far can we push on the manacost? RR, 1R or even R?

[Bram]

What concerns me slightly is that we have several cards that make good use of the fact that you have poison counters. With this card, it's real easy to poison yourself up to 9 (meaning you always get a 1/1 first strike poisoner).

Venatog
1BG
Creature -- Atog
1/2
Remove a poison counter from target player: Venatog gets +4/+4 until end of turn. Play this ability only once each turn.

Make this 5/6 for nine turns straight.

Quiacatl's Incarnation
3BBGG
Legendary Creature -- Avatar
0/7
If a player would get a poison counter, that player gets two poison counters instead.
1, remove a poison counter from target player: Put a 1/1 green Snake creature token into play under that player's control.

Well this sort of speaks for itself.

I'm thinking a heavy color commitment would fix any problems before they emerge (plus the hiding game seems decededly red to me). Hence, I vote for RR.

[Limbo]

Ok, I agree on the RR thing, so now we are left with the name and possible (probably short) flavourtext. I actually like Grab the Viper (or something along those lines), but we definately need a better / more refined flavortext.

Ideas?

[Bram]

The name is fine.

Flavor text:

This deadly game is a test of resolve for Xolot warriors with aspirations of command.

[Limbo]

I like the flavourtext, but would like to know where the Xolot comes from.

On that subject, why are there 4 servants and 4 workers, and why are you one of them?

[Bram]

Read the rest of the flavor texts in the Aztec/Poison master list as well as the Aztec theme thread for a little more information on the imaginary Xolot (or Xolotl) race.

Regarding your other question: um, what? You eman my signature? You're prety close, but actually it says:

Ya tvoi sluga, ya tvoi rabotnik - I am your servant/slave, I am your worker.

The origin of the word 'robot' is работник, rabotnik or worker. And as a moderator in this site, I am both your servant and your worker. Hence the sig, and custom title.

[Limbo]

Hmm, concerning your sig, babelfish made the Я into "4" instead of "I am" apparently. Makes more sense now

About the card. It looks finished now, so how about a 7,6394372684109761169064206418807*PI hour clock?

[Matt]

You could go get the character for the backwards 'R' but you couldn't find one for pi?

[Limbo]

You could go get the character for the backwards 'R' but you couldn't find one for pi?

All hail copy/paste.

[Matt]

Closed and added. Next time do a clock.[/color]