Toy Spider

[netherspirit]

Hey all! This is one of the coolest ideas I've had for a while, it's pretty simple but at the same time could be quite powerful.

Toy Spider
1
Artifact Creature
1: Toy Spider becomes a noncreature artifact.
1: Toy Spider becomes a creature.
1/1

Well there it is, any suggestions or opinions? I'm not sure if I've used the correct wording for the first ability, but I think it gets across what I want it to do.

Current Wording:

Toy Spider
 
Artifact
Toy Spider comes into play with a charge counter. As long as Toy Spider has a charge counter on it, it is a creature.
 : Remove all charge counters from Toy Spider.
 : Put a charge counter on Toy Spider.
1/1

[Polynomial P]

I'd suggest using a counter if you are going to make this a permanent change. That way there is no chance for confusion/cheating with this dude in play. I like the idea overall though.

[netherspirit]

Thanks for the feedback!

I've reworded it like this:

Toy Spider
 
Artifact Creature
Toy Spider comes into play with a charge counter. As long as Toy Spider has a charge counter on it, it is a creature.
 : Remove all charge counters from Toy Spider.
 : Put a charge counter on Toy Spider.
1/1

[ELD]

Why make it a spider?  Spiders can generally block flying creatures.  Flavorwise it seems like Chucky, or a generic possessed clown doll.  Picture someone trying to explain that the doll attacked them, but no one believes it.  I think your wording is off.  The way it is now, removing all charge counters wouldn't make it stop being a creature, as it's a 1/1 artifact creature.  I think you need to have the card be an artifact that becomes a creature. 

[netherspirit]

Why make it a spider? Because that's what the art I found showed.

And you're right about my wording, I mistyped it, I'll update the original post.

[Polynomial P]

I'd suggest this wording:

Toy Spider

Artifact
Toy Spider comes into play with a charge counter. As long as Toy Spider has a charge counter on it, it is a creature with power and toughness equal to its casting cost.
 : Remove all charge counters from Toy Spider.
 : Put a charge counter on Toy Spider.

[andrewpate]

I agree.  I'm not sure about the rules for conditionally being a creature while having "Creature" as a printed type.  It should be a noncreature artifact while not in play, and become a Creature due to its abilities.  Polynomial P's wording is one good way.

[Anusien]

I agree.  I'm not sure about the rules for conditionally being a creature while having "Creature" as a printed type.  It should be a noncreature artifact while not in play, and become a Creature due to its abilities.  Polynomial P's wording is one good way.

Nah, this is fine.  I feel like the wording that the Hidden/Opal creatures got is much more complex and less elegant; I'd much rather have the creature power and toughness printed on the card where it's easier to find, but that's only valid if it starts out a creature.  (For proof, look at the cycle in the Great Design Contest with the creatures that turn into enchantments).  However, in order to give it power and toughness, it needs to start out a creature.  Plus, otherwise you're paying for a 1/1.

[andrewpate]

You could be right, but I see this as different from creatures that can change into enchantments (no need to look at the GDS, there are the Licids).  Opals are the way they are, as are cards like Thunder Totem, for a reason.  The difference is that the "default" state of these cards (and this one) is noncreature status.  This becomes a creature when it has a charge counter on it.  Similarly, the Opals become creatures under certain circumstances.  Like I said, you may be right, and it may be fine.  But it seems to me that if it were fine to put 5/5 in the bottom right corner of Phyrexian Totem, they would have done it, because they like doing things like that (like how Veteran Armorer is not a 2/1 affected by his own ability).  That's just my opinion; I could be wrong.

[parallax]

Actually, it's for a 1/1 that's nearly impossible to kill. As long as you have open, this card doesn't die to Wrath of God, targeted removal (except Putrefy), combat damage or even -X/-X effects. It's the ultimate blocker.

CARDNAME

Artifact
As long as CARDNAME has a charge counter on it, it is a 1/1 artifact creature.
: Add a charge counter to CARDNAME.
: Remove a charge counter from CARDNAME.

Unless the card has a flyer-hosing ability (preferably "CARDNAME blocks as though it had flying."), it simply cannot be a spider. If you're trying to make cards based on existing artwork, you'll need to use a different concept.

[Norm4eva]

Yeah, generally Spiders have "can block as though it had flying", that flavor seems to be mainly reserved for them.
Parallax also brought up something I'd been meaning to bring up.  This card is basically a weird Nether Spirit.  It's not just the ultimate blocker, they swing after WoGs and Mutilates and shit.  With any kind of mana open, this guy is really, really hard to kill.  I'm not trying to make it sound like a house or anything, but the ability to just turn off its 'creatureness' is a pretty big deal.  I like this card a lot, but I'm not entirely convinced that 1 is the right cost.

[Matt]

Yeah is definitely too cheap for this. would be about right, or you could increase the ability costs.

[parallax]

Actually, I think "Any player may play this ability." might be a more interesting tweak.

[andrewpate]

I disagree.  Then it's just becoming a Flailing Soldier gimmick that will never get played.  But I also think that raising the cost of the switch removes some of the "toggle" flavor.  I like the idea of just ramping up the cc until the power level is acceptable, wherever that ends up.  From a design standpoint, I think the card is finished (aside from the bit about getting the "1/1" out of the corner).