Mana Singularity [Was: Mana Cylix]

[twinky]

I had this idea when I was half-asleep in bed last night, I'm surprised I remembered it this morning when I woke up. ...anyway, this card is supposed to be a tapless accelerator that affects everyone, like Mana Flare. Of course, I had to disallow artifact and X spells, and I think allowing the Cylix to affect activated abilities would be overkill.

Any thoughts?

Mana Cylix
5
Artifact
Whenever any player plays a spell, that player may choose to pay only the colored portion of that spell's mana cost. Artifact spells are paid for normally. If a spell has X in its mana cost, X is zero.

Edit: Turns out "Mana Cylix" is taken, so I renamed the card to "Mana Singularity."

_____________________________ ___________

Current wording:


Mana Singularity

4

Artifact

All spells cost up to 2 less.

[DerangedHermit]

There is already a Mana Cylix. Cool idea, still.

[twinky]

Oops. Time for a new name...

[The Grim Reaper]

I like the idea but I think it might be a bit too powerful. For example, time stretch would cost 2 mana? Yawgmoth's Bargain -2, minds desire -2, force of will -2, wheel for one!?

I know it costs 5 mana, but its type 1 folks. The king of mana acceleration!

[twinky]

That's true, it's broken with Welders. What's the best way to fix that?

[The Grim Reaper]

Uhhh

You could add "If ~this~ would be put into a graveyard from anywhere, remove it from the game instead"

That would probley fix it. I would also suggest upping the mana cost to at least 6.

[twinky]

Good idea, I'll do that.

[twinky]

Is this balanced? Useful? Can/should it be tweaked?

[Jacob Orlove]

This is actually really, really strong. If you can get it out, you can suddenly start playing cards like Opportunity for much less than you should be able to, almost like Dream Halls.

Also, the reshuffle clause should be on a separate line.

[Frappie]

i know this is a bit off the charts but make it an enchantment that costs for colorless, otherwise it will get tinkered and welder all around the place. Another possible idea is to make it a legendary land that has a "When CARDNAME comes into play, pay 5 mana or sacrifice CARDNAME". I think that this being an aritfact is too dangerous in terms of playability, but this is a fantasy thing so go for it.
Watch out when i tinker for it and whispers of the muse for as much as i want.

Frappie

[Jacob Orlove]

One potential solution would be to make this white or multicolored. Then we could at least up the colored mana requirements. It'd be a lot like Mirari's Wake was in T2 -- if you can untap after casting it, you basically win.

[Frappie]

what if it had an upkeep like Cummulative: WUBRG2.

if so time to bust out the crystal quarry.
Overall it does need something that would hinder its playability. I think that a card like this needs another affect like "at any time any player may skip their next turn to remove from game CARDNAME" because your opponent is gonna get this effect first. and their gonna untap first so its gonna be a gamble if you think thay got something

Frappie

[twinky]

Watch out when i tinker for it and whispers of the muse for as much as i want.

That doesn't work, because buyback, kicker, and so forth are not considered part of a spell's mana cost... unless I'm sorely mistaken.

I dunno that this would be in flavour for white, but that idea is definitely worth thinking about. Or possibly some kind of cumulative upkeep, as was also suggested.

What if, in addition to this, I gave it a Naked Singularity effect? Each colour of land produces a different colour of mana? That makes the ability harder to abuse while also discouraging the mono-colour strategies  that the card's ability would normally support.

[twinky]

I thought of a new "fix." Now when the Singularity comes into play, all of your lands get nuked (I may add a "can't be regenerated" clause as well). The other guy's lands are still fine, and he gets to use the effect first, making it an even riskier play, because you have to come back from a mana deficit. (Of course, Moxen get around this.)

[twinky]

Is this still broken? Or is it okay now?

[Jacob Orlove]

This is getting really complicated. Why not just have it make all spells cost {2} less, and tone down the disadvantages and casting cost?

[twinky]

You're right. How does it look now?

Mana Singularity
4
Artifact

As an additional cost to play Mana Singularity, sacrifice two untapped lands.
All spells cost up to 2 less.

[Jacob Orlove]

Remove the land sacrifice. It's already symmetrical.

[twinky]

Done.

[Jacob Orlove]

I really want this to cost 3, but I'm afraid that might be too good.

[firebird365]

Is there a way to make this card less like [card]Helm of Awakening[/card]?

Also, I think the name implies that mana loses its characteristics, as opposed to making things cost less. If I think of another name, I'll edit.

For a "Mana Singularity" card-name, I would probably use something like:

(P.S. Sorry for clogging the thread, I'll remove these if it bothers anyone)

-----

Mana Singularity

Artifact

During each player's turn, they may tap target untapped land to add to their mana pool.

-----

(Added)

Another idea for a mana-singularity card:

Mana Singularity
???
Artifact

If a player taps a land for mana, that player's opponents may add mana to their mana pool.

[twinky]

All these attempts at errata and still nobody (including myself) is satisfied... I think that means it's time to let this one die.