Touched by Darkness

[Jacob Orlove]

Or like, "Darktouched Mercenary" except then he'd have to be an actual Merc.

[dandan]

Renegade Knight, Touched by Darkness

Fallen Hero, Touched by Darkness

(Maro would make this - Knight, Touched by Darkness)

I like the structure but don't think we should name him. The tradition of Black Knight comes from knights who kept their identity secret, rather than a liking for evil. This fits in well with a Knight, fallen from grace, forbidden from using his former name and title, possibly from above, possibly by his own guilt and implies a leaning to the dark side.

P.S. Dandan, Touched by Darkness? If I ever win the Invitational, you can look forward to this card.

[JAG]

do we have any examples of cards with this naming scheme that are not legendary?  I can't think of any in recent memory.  I'm fairly sure the "Noun, title" is reserved for Legendary creatures, which this is not intended to be.

-JM

[dandan]

Clock on this one too!

This is so old it is a Samurai!!!

[Shmn]

I don't quite like the idea of strength and toughness increases on this guy. I don't think he was meant to grow stronger, and his experience and unorthodox methods would be better implemented in another way.

I think the mana cost should include both white and black. His pursuits are good but his methods are questionable. And as he is essentially both, the cost would have to be paid with both.

Here's my suggestion:

Grey Knight
WB
2/2
Shadow; Vigilance; Grey Knight can block creatures without Shadow.
"The shadows must be cleansed from within." -X, Knight of the Y

Although Soltari have Shadow, it feels much more like a black ability - or a shroud if you will. I guess you could describe it as 'a touch of darkness' which is why I think it would suit someone living a life in between the spectrum of light and darkness well. Vigilance, as a white ability reflects his goodness and experience. And the last ability is due to his dual nature (moves in the shadows at night, valiantly protects the brotherhood by day?).

It's also keeping it rather simple, and - in my opinion - balanced.

[dandan]

My objections to forcing someone to pay Black mana are rather strong on this one. I had to be clubbed into submission using smoked herrings to force me to make even one of the mana symbols W/B. He doesn't grow stronger, he gets far harder to kill in combat, he is able to kill bigger and bigger things in combat, he hits more effectively but a Shock will always toast him (unless you are daft enough to try it when he is fighting).

[Shmn]

As I understood your original concept, this guy was touched by darkness, which led him to adapt unorthodox methods. Initially there was no implication for continuous growth, even though from the beginning it had the skill to learn from it's enemies. Learning from enemies and growing in strength, though, are in my opinion essentially different, which is why I resent those abilities on this guy. You could alter my suggestion by making the mana cost W/BW, allowing it to be paid completely in white. Then it could be reworded: "When ~ comes into play, if you paid black mana to play ~, it has Shadow and can block creatures without Shadow". So purely in white it would still be a WW 2/2 with Vigilance which is not bad.

[dandan]

The current version does not grow in size. It can get Bushido but against an intelligent opponent a Shock will kill it. It is logical that an experienced fighter is more effective in combat and can wreak more damage against an opponent. Given pump and jump Knights I'm pretty sure this is not pushing the power-curve.

I like the Shadow guy but the concept is different - another 'dark' White guy but not quite what I was trying to get with 'Touched by Darkness'. The idea that he views himself as White but others may see him as having turned to the dark side.

[Darkenslight]

What about:

Noble Touched by Darkness

Creature - Human Knight

Whenever ~ blocks or is blocked by a creature, put a +1/+1 Counter on it.  If that creature was black, put 3 +1/+1 counters on it instead.
Remove a +1/+1 counter from ~: ~ gains your choice of First strike, Protection from Black or Protection from White.

When a nobleman is croseed, he often becomes well-versed in the art of stalking his prey.

[dandan]

I think I prefer him not to get bigger. I want to convey the increase in skill and also the fact that he is prepared to use methods that might be shunned by more orthodox 'White', hence the combat abilities.

[dandan]

Clock (on my version not the one above!)