Overwhelm

[Ephraim]

Overwhelm
{B}
Instant

Destroy target creature that was the target of another spell or ability this turn.

***

This is a fairly simple concept. The idea of things being vulnerable as a result of being the target of a spell or ability is a very black concept (Skulking Ghost, Tar Pit Warrior, etc.) Creature destruction is also black's domain. Keeping with tradition, the mana cost is {B}, the colour WotC has set for black creature destruction spells that have the potential to kill any creature (see: Death Stroke, Devour in Shadows)

[Ephraim]

Current Wording:

Overwhelm
{B}{B}
Instant

Destroy target creature that was the target of another spell or ability this turn.

"You were weak before and you are weak now. Yawgmoth has no use for you."
--Gix, Yawgmoth praetor

[Matt]

This is beyond awesome.

[Jacob Orlove]

Yes.

Perhaps something Phyrexian for the flavor text? They were big on getting rid  of the weak.

[Ephraim]

Suggested flavour text:

"You were weak before and you are weak now. Yawgmoth has no use for you."
--Tsabo Tavoc, Phyrexian General

[Jacob Orlove]

Gix > Tsabo Tavoc

I'm not really sure what I was trying to ask for in terms of flavor text, but I don't think that was it. Still, it's not bad, so whatever. [/i]

[Ephraim]

"Know the weak by their virtue. Punish their weakness with death"
--Phyrexian Scriptures

[Jebus]

I think this is overcosted.

You could drop it to 1B or even B I think.

[Ephraim]

Any particular reason why you thought it was overcosted? I figured that there were a lot of cheap, reusable effects that target creatures, not to mention that other players also enchant, equip, pump their creatures, etc. Between the two, I figured it was worth the cost. Also, there's the previously mentioned trend for black spells that have the possibility of killing any creature to cost {B}.

[Jebus]

I don't think there is a specific trend for all targeted black removal to cost BB.  Only the really good ones will (and some bad ones).

This is circumstantial or requires extra effort to kill something.

[Ephraim]

The two I noted in particular were Death Stroke, which is circumstantial (it requires the creature to be tapped) and Devour in Shadows, which requires additional effort (life payment equal to the creature's toughness.) Both of those cost {B}. I suppose that Smother is also circumstantial though, and it only costs . I presumed that because Death Stroke could theoretically kill any creature that didn't have protection from black, it was more utile than Smother. Similarly, any cheap, reusable targetted effect can be used to make this a universal creature-killer. In fact, in the presence of Icy Manipulator, this becomes four more copies of Death Stroke.

[Jebus]

And death stroke sucks.

Cost it how you want.  I won't agree with it though, but that's just me I guess.

[Ephraim]

Actually, it's significantly better than that, because this is an instant. If Death Stroke were an instant, it'd be a lot better than it is, since it could kill most attacking creatures on the spot.

[Jacob Orlove]

"Know the weak by their virtue. Punish their weakness with death"
--Phyrexian Scriptures

Like I said in IRC, I like this. I'm still wondering if there's a better word here than "virtue". Something that evokes being in the line of fire.

[Ephraim]

That's where we differ. You wanted to emphasize the functionality that allows me to target a creature with something and then kill it with this. I wanted to emphasize the functionality that allows me to kill something that my opponent has targeted with an enhancement.

[Jacob Orlove]

Your version is fine, though.

[Matt]

"You were weak before and you are weak now. Yawgmoth has no use for you."
--Tsabo Tavoc, Phyrexian General

I like this a lot but only if you attribute it to Gix, whom it sounds EXACTLY like. The Scriptures' language is a lot more flowery ("Your filligree gaze carves us, and the scars dance upon our grateful flesh.") than what you wrote.

They're also not as directly commanding. For example, they wouldn't say "Know the weak...," they'd say "Let the weak be known..." That gives it a sense that the speaker has no conception that its will might not be done, which is very Phyrexian.

[Ephraim]

I'm going to go with the idea that Matt likes, because I like it more, as well. At first the idea of using something from the Phyrexian Scriptures seemed like a good idea, but I want this to be a little more personal and grim. Back to the original idea, with Gix instead of Tsabo Tavoc.

24 Hour Clock

[Matt]

Closed and added.[/color]