Pandora's Box - Revamped!

[The Grim Reaper]

As if workshop decks wern't powerful enough, I present to you:

Pandora's Box
3
Artifact
You may play ~this~ at any time that you could play an instant.
When ~this~ comes into play, draw a card and counter target spell unless its controller pays 5 life.
It is said to contain both good and evil, but one has yet to discover its true power.
       -Ancient Horodric Legend

This card should be an interesting addition to the current card pool because it is the first artifact counterspell. Of course this might be too powerful with welders. Should I reduce the life cost? Is it too powerful? Not powerful enough?

Discuss please!

CURRENT VERSION:

Harbinger's Charm

Instant
Choose one: Counter target spell, draws 2 cards and lose 2 life, or deal 3 damage to target creature or player.
It is said to contain both good and evil, but one has yet to discover its true power.

[skecreatoR]

It seems to strong for the casting cost. It is like turn 1 Island > Daze, except this nets you a card. I would make it a 4cc artifact, as it is too powerful at its current price.

[rvs]

The name has to go. It's already used in the Magic Shandalar game, and therefore unfit to be the name of any of our cards.

I'd say it's an interesting card, but it HAS to cost 4 mana. Compare to Dismiss.

[Ephraim]

The flavour text, or at least the attribution, has to go. The Horadrim (adjective form Horadric) are the powerful ancient mages in the Diablo games. We've already nixed a card name for being related to D2, so this needs to change.

As for the card's ability, I don't think this is really the realm of artifacts. Especially since it seems to me that this is only an artifact to make possible a colourless counterspell. It doesn't do anything while it's in play and really should be blue. There was an argument recently over a white card that was straddling the boundary by countering a spell in a white-flavoured way. This counters a spell in a way that is, if anything, black. I'd expect something like this of a card that costs (maybe , if you take away the cantrip). I don't think it's appropriate for an artifact at all.

[The Grim Reaper]

I gave it a CC of 4 origionally, but decided to let you guys decide. I will change the cost to 4. As for the name, does anyone have any suggestions? I think an artifact counterspell is an interesting idea, and not really that out of flavour. Wizards has been messing a lot with the color wheel recently anyway.

Ok, let the name and flavour text suggestions begin!

[GerryMander]

We are not giving all colors access to a colorless counterspell.  It will not be an artifact.   is probably the best casting cost for this.

[The Grim Reaper]

How about instead of "counter target spell" I change it to "Change target of target spell"? Would that make it alright to be on an artifact? Should I remove the "If they pay 5 life" clause if I do this?

[Ephraim]

I don't think that's a good artifact ability, either. They just printed a target-changing card in Darksteel.

Shunt (Rare)
Instant
{R}
Change the target of target spell with a single target.

If you're dead set on proceeding with this card, I think you must keep some sort of way for the spell's controller to work around the effect - and I think that paying 5 life is too much. You're suggesting giving this ability to an artifact with a converted mana cost 1 higher than the coloured counterpart which has 2 coloured mana in its cost - and you've made it a cantrip. To give this ability to an artifact, I'd say a mana cost no less than , an easier work around (2 life or , you pick), and lose the cantrip.

[The Grim Reaper]

Modified

[Matt]

It's kind of annoying that once this is in play, it does literally nothing. Why couldn't this just be an instant (and give it a color, obviously - black or blue probably)? It's not like we haven't seen spells named after objects before - think Merchant Scroll.

[The Grim Reaper]

It's kind of annoying that once this is in play, it does literally nothing. Why couldn't this just be an instant (and give it a color, obviously - black or blue probably)? It's not like we haven't seen spells named after objects before - think Merchant Scroll.

I was thinking of this also, perhaps I should make the effect weaker and add some effect while its in play? Any suggestions on that?

[Ephraim]

I protest once again that I think that this is a bad idea. There's no need for a colourless counterspell. If you insist that there is, you're wrong. The colour pie exists for a reason and you're looking to throw it out the window. The current form of this card is as good as:

Get Inspiration or Mana Leak (your choice!) for .

Now, you've doubled the converted mana cost of Mana Leak, which is good. But you've kept the same converted mana cost as Inspiration, which is bad, since this is colourless. Then you've gone and put them together on one card, which should further increase the converted mana cost. This card needs to be a bad spell. As it is, blue would play this card. It needs to be bad enough that even a mono-red deck would have to think carefully about adding it, over the alternative of splashing blue.

I think the heading of your first post in this thread is quite insightful.

As if workshop decks wern't powerful enough

This card is far from necessary and I continue to get the impression that you're just trying to make artifact based decks stronger than they already are.

[The Grim Reaper]

I protest once again that I think that this is a bad idea. There's no need for a colourless counterspell. If you insist that there is, you're wrong. The colour pie exists for a reason and you're looking to throw it out the window. The current form of this card is as good as:

Get Inspiration or Mana Leak (your choice!) for .

Now, you've doubled the converted mana cost of Mana Leak, which is good. But you've kept the same converted mana cost as Inspiration, which is bad, since this is colourless. Then you've gone and put them together on one card, which should further increase the converted mana cost. This card needs to be a bad spell. As it is, blue would play this card. It needs to be bad enough that even a mono-red deck would have to think carefully about adding it, over the alternative of splashing blue.

I think the heading of your first post in this thread is quite insightful.

As if workshop decks wern't powerful enough

This card is far from necessary and I continue to get the impression that you're just trying to make artifact based decks stronger than they already are.

>.<;;

OK I agree with you. I'll give in, it's far too powerful and out of flavour. Time for a revamp!

Lets try this!

Harbinger's Charm

Instant
Choose one: Counter target spell, draws 2 cards and lose 2 life, or deal 3 damage to target creature or player.
It is said to contain both good and evil, but one has yet to discover its true power.

I like this card much better. It reminds me of the charms from Planeshift except more powerful (ie: A rare). It provides the 3 fundamentals of each colour wrapped up in a very useful card. Many decks are UBR today so I can see this being used as a Cunning Wish target or a possible 3-4 of in a control deck.

One question remains - Is it too powerful?

[rvs]

Like I said, the name has to go. So shoot it down.

[The Grim Reaper]

Renamed - Please suggest names if you don't like it.

[Ephraim]

Not a bad name, but I think the word you're looking for is 'Harbinger' (not harbRinger)

[The Grim Reaper]

Not a bad name, but I think the word you're looking for is 'Harbinger' (not harbRinger)

*slaps forehead* DOH!

(goes to change it)

Hey, is it too powerful guys? Or do you like it?

[GerryMander]

It costs 3 different colored mana, so it is ok if the abilities are a little good.

[Matt]

Yeah, it's almost impossible to make an overpowered 3-color card.

[GerryMander]

Overpowered 3 Color Card

Instant
You win the game.  You win the next game as long as you control a permanent.


back on track.  This is fine.  I like 3 color cards, especially .

[Jacob Orlove]

I like 3 color cards, especially .

Yeah, those colors are UBR cool.

This card is cool. Nothing it does is even good at that casting cost, but doing all three is probably just enough to let it see some play.

[The Grim Reaper]

*Sets up the 24-hour Bomb*

[Bram]

All your cards are belong to us.