New counterspell

[Necrologia]

I've been thinking about variations on this card for sometime, and I suppose it's time to see what everyone else thinks.

Original Version
Name here
{U}
Instant
Counter target spell. During your next main phase, add up to colorless mana to your mana pool and you lose {X} life.
Some vague reference to a bus if at all possible.

Obviously there have been many attempts at a fixed Mana Drain over the years, but I think now seems like the perfect time for a card like this to see print. Despite what many seem to believe, when WotC dropped Counterspell from the base set they simply wanted some more freedom in designing counters, not that the card itself was too strong. Counterspells, like burn spells, result in pointless and boring decks if too many exist in a format at any given time. So far wizards has printed 2 expansions and I'm yet to see any real indication of the next new counter, so I figured I'd give it a shot.

What I'm trying to decide now is how powerful this card is. Right now it acts like nice turn 2 play, followed by a strong turn 3. The problem is after that they're largely dead. Paying 8 to counter a Juggy is a marginal deal at best, while regular old counterspell is just getting better and better as your opponent ramps up to more expensive spells. The only other point I feel needs to be pointed out is that blue does still get some acceleration in the current color pie, so it's not like this is a black Disenchant or anything. See Vedalken Engineer for an example.

Current Version
Scathing Rhetoric
{U}
Instant
Counter target spell. During your next main phase add colorless mana to your mana pool, equal to the spell's converted mana cost. This mana cannot be used to play spells.
Cavaliers duel with sabres, Wizards duel with scathing rhetoric.

[Jacob Orlove]

The problem with cards like this is that they're generally either way too good (which this one almost certainly is), or completely unplayable. Instead of tacking a massive drawback onto a huge advantage, just make something that's more balanced to begin with.

[Necrologia]

That's the trouble I've been having. The line between broken and trash is so very, very small, and some abilities are just too broken no matter what the drawback. LED is a great example of one such ability.

 That said I'd like to try anyway, as I'd really like to see a playable counterspell at UU other than the original. Every counterspell since alpha has seemingly been 3 cc with an irrelevant add on (Dissipate), 1U with a “or pay X” clause, or a 6 cc Spelljack.

I guess it's also a pretty nifty mental exercise to actually fix some Type 1 classics. The power 9 all have a balanced equivalent (sans Lotus) so I figured I might as well try to repair the tier 2 cards like Bazaar, Drain, and Shop which are pretty broken in and of themselves.

[Matt]

Why not make it a fixed amount of mana instead of X?

[brendan]

Or get rid of the life loss and make the mana not usable for playing spells.

That way burn is much more likely. Couldn't use it for powering huge card drawing, will, intuition, wish, whatever ridiculous bombs.. Could use it for making kickass decrees, or drawing cards with treasure trove!

[Ephraim]

I like Brendan's idea. Hehe. The mana can't be used to cast spells. That's diabolical and funny. Suggested names for such a card:

Burning Denial
Scalding Denial
Scathing Denial
Scathing Rhetoric (my personal favourite)

[rvs]

I must say I like Brendan's idea a lot.

[Necrologia]

Brendan is my new hero.

Scathing Rhetoric
{U}
Instant
Counter target spell. During your next main phase add colorless mana to your mana pool, equal to the spell's converted mana cost. This mana cannot be used to play spells.

Is there room for flavor text on this? Something along the lines of "I countered Bob's spell, but at what cost?"

[Jacob Orlove]

There's probably room for a Jaya Ballard one-liner on here, but it would have to be good.

[Ephraim]

Flavour text suggestion: Cavaliers duel with sabres. Wizards duel with scathing rhetoric.

[Frappie]

"Is that it? Thanks."
              -Jaya Ballard Task-Mage

[Necrologia]

24 hour clock.

[Jacob Orlove]

I don't really like that flavor text--using the card name like that feels cheesy.

[brendan]

Frappie's suggestion seems pretty cool to me.

[Necrologia]

I don't mind it, but I couldn't come up with anything better either. I'm also a little tired of Jaya Ballard but if that's the concensus I can cope.