Butchered at Birth

[Guardian]

Butchered at birth
1B
Enchantment
When a non-artifact creature comes into play, sacrifice ~this~: that creature's controller sacrifice that creature. It's abilities are not triggered.
quote

The idea is having a gang waiting to butcher, kill the newborn. Of course, since it killed right at birth, I don't want CIP abilities to be triggered if there are any. How could Phage could kill her cheating master (does nopt pay the mana cost) if she does not even get a chance to breath at birth? Artifact creatures should remain unaffected because they are created, not born.

Of course, the ability is very black and it was costed low because it's:
a) Symmetrical.
b) Does not do anything if a creature is in play.
c) Has no choice about what is going to die. Opponent could dump a low cost creature before dropping a bomb.
d) Doesn't affect artifact creatures.

I don't know about the wording though.

Current version:

Slaughter of the Soul
1B
Enchantment
If a non-artifact creature would come into play, instead sacrifice ~this~ and put that creature in its controller's graveyard.

Changes:
- Wording: Toad, Malhavoc
- Name: Jacob, me

[Malhavoc]

I see it more like a creature than an enchantment. Something like:

Butcherer of babies
1BB
Creature
1/1
If a non-artifact creature would come into play, sacrifice ~this~ and put that creature into its owner's graveyard.

Using the "would come into play" wording you can remove the creature before it comes into play, thus avoiding any comes-into-play effect.

[Ephraim]

It isn't exactly this, but isn't this functionally, "Whenever a player casts a nonartifact creature spell, sacrifice this. If you do, counter that spell." ?

EDIT: Never mind. Obviously, there are other ways to get creatures into play, besides casting them.

[Toad]

Proper ruling would be

If a non-artifact creature would come into play, instead sacrifice ~this~ and put that creature in its controller graveyard.

[Malhavoc]

It isn't exactly this, but isn't this functionally, "Whenever a player casts a nonartifact creature spell, sacrifice this. If you do, counter that spell." ?

Functionally speaking, yes (almost). Flavor-wise, no. If we can find a better wording which does not include counterspelling, it would be better.

@toad:  :lol:  I fixed my text while you were writing the same exact thing.  

[MrZuccinniHead]

while the name is quite grotesque, the ability is quite fun.  I could see this being a card costing UB too.

[Malhavoc]

while the name is quite grotesque, the ability is quite fun.  I could see this being a card costing UB too.

Instead of UB, why not BG? Being both black and green makes sense: you know, all the death/life stuff... Being a gold car could let us raise its power a bit, something like a 2/2 creature maybe (similar to meddling mage in some way?)

[Ephraim]

I understand the reasoning behind why you let this hit black creatures, but not artifact creatures. However, that is very uncharacteristic of black kill spells. Many can hit neither black nor artifact and a few hit artifact, but not black. Some hit all creatures, regardless of colour. Ashes to Ashes and Broken Visage are the only kill spells I can see that hit black, but not artifact creatures.  Catacomb Dragon also has an ability that hits black, but not artifact creatures (although it can't hit Dragons), but it isn't exactly a kill ability. Nonetheless, all of those cards are old enough that I think more modern design principles should dictate what this should be able to hit. I'd say either all creatures or exclude black creatures as well (If you need flavour justification, consider that some of them can be conjured up out of a pool of blood and muck, like Carnophage or Carrionette and don't need to be born either)

[Jacob Orlove]

Also, that name needs to be toned down a little.

[fattzzach]

I say leave it as an enchantment, it is very similar to standstill which is imo an awesome card both flavorwise and developmentallywise.

[Guardian]

I have a few questions I must address:

Jacob, what is so worng with the name? It's just "more in yor face" than what people are used to.

Ephraim, I know black usually doesn't kill black things, but certain black cards allow you to do so (Minion of Leshrac, Royal Assassin). Sometimes, we have to break rules a little to make fun things. And I don't see my card as being broken:) And UB is out of question for me just to justify it hitting black creatures.

And all of you, I prefer this card as an enchantment. As a sorcery or instant, it has memory issues and those are not fun. It doesn't make sense as an artifact as it would give removal to colors which usually don't have access to creature removal. And as a creature, it's just plain weak as it can be killed easily. Let's leave it as an enchantment.

[Ephraim]

I don't object to it being able to kill black creatures, as long as it can also kill artifact creatures. Black kills artifact creatures more readily than it kills black creatures -- as far as I'm concerned, that's part of black's fundamental nature. I'd rather not create a card that violates that.

[Guardian]

I believe that once in a while, rules can be broken just a little. Forget that black usually doesn't kill black creatures. Red has gotten a card drawer (Browbeat) and nobody complained, even if it's blue territory. Same for white, that got Pursuit of Knowledge, even if it came out manyyears ago. I'm sure Puschkin would agree with me:)

[Jacob Orlove]

Jacob, what is so worng with the name? It's just "more in yor face" than what people are used to.

Magic is a game for people of all ages. If our goal here is to be taken seriously by Wizards, then we have to consider whether our card names are appropriate. I think this name could be toned down a little, especially considering that creatures coming into play are being summoned, not birthed.

[Guardian]

Would Ritual of Abortion be a better, less shocking name?

[Ephraim]

No. Abortion is one of those words that I think we ought to avoid -- especially if it's actually going to refer to killing a creature. You could swipe a name from Legend of the Five Rings and call it "Slaughter the Scout"

[Guardian]

Slaughter of the Soul then? Very black. There cards that have soul in the name in recent sets (Remove Soul, March of Souls, Sever Soul, Soul Feast), so I believe this one would be right. And At the Gates is a very good death metal band too hehe.

[Jacob Orlove]

Slaughter of the Soul is fine.

[Guardian]

24h clock

[Matt]

Closed and added.[/color]