Isochron Spellbomb

[Ephraim]

(Yes, the name is [probably] just temporary)

Isochron Spellbomb

Artifact

~This~ comes into play tapped.

Imprint -- When ~this~ comes into play, you may search your library for an instant card and remove it from the game.

, , Sacrifice ~this~: You may copy the imprinted instant card and play the copy without paying its mana cost.

I liked the Nemesis Seals and I like Mirrodin's Spellbombs - the idea of having a disposable artifact or enchantment that can perform a similar task to some other card really appeals to me. However, functionally, they were limited. I thought it would be interesting to create a card that allowed the caster to charge the spellbomb with whatever spell he wanted to. The uses are limited, though. High casting cost instants aren't particularly common and this can't be used the turn it comes into play anyhow, automatically giving the opponent a turn's notice to deal with it or to prepare for the damage. Furthermore, like the other spellbombs, it's one use only, so the imprinted instant had better be good. Things like Decree of Savagery, Searing Wind, and Opportunity all come to mind.

In fact, now that I look of some of the plays that this makes possible, I think I'm going to up the mana cost and activation cost by 1 each, before I've even gotten around to posting the 'current wording' post.

[Ephraim]

Current Wording:

Isochron Spellbomb
{4}
Artifact
~This~ comes into play tapped.
Imprint -- When ~this~ comes into play, you may remove an instant or sorcery card in your hand from the game.
{1}, {T}, Sacrifice ~this~: You may copy the imprinted card and play the copy without paying its mana cost. Play this ability only any time you could play the imprinted card. (If it has X in its mana cost, X is 0.)

[twinky]

It should have the clause about spells with X in their casting cost in parentheses (If the spell has X in its casting cost, X is 0).

[Jacob Orlove]

Searing Wind, anyone?

[Ephraim]

I assume you don't think it's fair, even as it is costed now and with the one-turn delay between casting and being able to use it?

Would it work better/be more interesting if I made it something like the following:

Isochron Spellbomb

Artifact

~This~ comes into play tapped.

Imprint -- When ~this~ comes into play, you may search your library for an instant or sorcery card with converted mana cost less than or equal to X and remove it from the game.

, Sacrifice ~this~: You may copy the imprinted card and play the copy without paying its mana cost. Play this ability only any time you could play the imprinted card.

[Jacob Orlove]

The 4 and 3 version is probably okay, but I like the X version much better.

[Ephraim]

Now it just feels more like a bad tutor to me. I suppose it always was, really. I could make it even more like the namesake cards and give it a static mana cost (probably ), but only have it remove instants or sorceries (of any mana cost) from your hand, then have it ,{T},Sacrifice ~this~: etc.

[Jacob Orlove]

But it lets you play off-color and mana intensive spells easily. And it lets you save them in play. The X version is actually probably too good.

[Ephraim]

Let's see...Would it feel "tacked on" to require an upkeep cost, or to tap the card? That way, it requires a constant investment to be always active. Something like:

Isochron Spellbomb

Artifact

~This~ comes into play tapped.

Imprint -- When ~this~ comes into play, you may remove an instant or sorcery card in your hand from the game.

, , Sacrifice ~this~: You may copy the imprinted card and play the copy without paying its mana cost. Play this ability only any time you could play the imprinted card.

At the beginning of your upkeep, tap ~this~ unless you pay .

[mouth]

At that cost, and changing the "search library" into "from hand", not to mention that it CIP tapped, you don't need any more detrimental effects.

I was concerned with the "search library", because Searing Wind and... maybe something else could be abused with it, but this is fine. The copy is still counterable, so it isn't incredibly abusable.

[Ephraim]

I'm just brainstorming now, trying to come up with ideas that make this card useful, interesting, and not broken. Here's the latest idea. What say you? Fair? Balanced? Too complicated?

Isochron Spellbomb

Artifact

~This~ comes into play tapped with X charge counters on it.

Imprint -- When this comes into play, you may remove an instant or sorcery card in your hand from the game.

, , Sacrifice ~this~: You may copy the imprinted card and play the copy without paying its mana cost. Play this ability only any time you could play the imprinted card. Y is the imprinted card's converted mana cost minus the number of charge counters on ~this~. If Y is less than 0, Y equals 0.

[Matt]

Okay, that's getting hideously complex.

[Ephraim]

Okay. I'm just going to go with the idea that imprints any instant/sorcery from your hand and be done with it.

[outta_names]

How would this thing work with Welder?

[Ephraim]

It still comes into play tapped and requires you to remove a card in your hand from the game. If you're counting on Welding this into play a lot, you've almost certainly built your deck around it, which doesn't seem like a winning idea.

[outta_names]

Ah. I must have missed the last card update. I was thinking this card removed an Instant/Sorcery from your deck, not your hand.

[Ephraim]

It may require a new name. Post 'em if you got 'em. However, although I initially thought the name was kind of campy, it does offer a pretty good idea of what the card does. I'm happy with the name as it is. If you're not, you've got...

24 Hours

[Matt]

Closed and added.[/color]