Rescue Dog

[Ephraim]

Rescue Dog

Creature -- Hound
1/1

Sacrifice Rescue Dog: Untap and regenerate target creature.

***

I think the idea here is pretty clear. You have this big ol' Saint Bernard with a little barrel of something invigorating that it can carry to other creatures in need. Because of the two abilities, this ought to have a variety of uses. I suppose that this changes combat math ever so slightly, since you can attack with everything, knowing that at the very least, you can untap a chump to block (and it won't die!) That aside, the hound can absorb a kill spell, whether you need the untap or not. Unlike Death Ward, this at least comes with a body and some added functionality besides. I figured this was a nice, common addition to the other hounds I've been creating lately. I'm not absolutely sure of the templating on this. I couldn't think of any other cards where an ability with two transitive verbs acted on a single creature. Alterative wordings would be something like, "Untap target creature. Regenerate that creature." or the reverse "Regenerate target creature. Untap that creature." I suppose because regeneration taps the creature, the second wording may actually yield subtly more functionality. That said, before I even get to the current wording, the current wording is changing, but you all get to see the thought process that lead there. This card deserves some good flavour text, but it's a little late for me to think of anything good. I'll make sure this gets flavour-fied before I clock it.

***

Current Wording:

Alpine Mastiff

Creature — Hound
1/1

Sacrifice Alpine Mastiff: Untap target creature. Regenerate that creature.

Rockslides are so frequent along the Inzel Pass that the hounds have been trained to live on the mountainside, returning only as duty requires.

[Bardo]

You have this big ol' Saint Bernard with a little barrel of something invigorating that it can carry to other creatures in need.

So he's a lot like Snow Hound then? I've always loved that picture. Sappy, but kinda sweet.

Your's however, is far better cost.

"If you're starving, eat your horses, your dead, or yourself -- but never eat your dog." Sound advice.

[Ephraim]

You have this big ol' Saint Bernard with a little barrel of something invigorating that it can carry to other creatures in need.

So he's a lot like Snow Hound then? I've always loved that picture. Sappy, but kinda sweet.

Your's however, is far better cost.

"If you're starving, eat your horses, your dead, or yourself -- but never eat your dog." Sound advice.

Yeah, I looked up Snow Hound while preparing this card just to make sure I wasn't overstepping any boundaries. Of course, the sad thing is, this dog is kind of begging to be eaten.

[Bardo]

Of course, the sad thing is, this dog is kind of begging to be eaten.

Who could eat something with that face? I'd sooner eat that dude picking weeds.

But if the dog was carrying any hooch in that thing around his neck -- as Snow Hounds are wont to do -- I couldn't eat him out of principle. I'd sooner starve...

[dandan]

Much as I like this (hell, I liked Snow Hound too), Wizards have already printed this card, albeit without the untap ability.

[Ephraim]

To which card are you referring, Dandan? The only card I see that bears much resemblance is Vigilant Martyr, from Mirage. That sacrifices to regenerate a creature, but also comes with a random enchantment-protection ability as well. You wouldn't happen to be thinking of Benevolent Bodyguard, would you? That sacrifices to give a creature protection from a colour until end of turn.

[dandan]

I was thinking of both of them although couldn't remember their names. Both tend to sac to save a creature. Untapping the creature too seems a little greedy. That alcohol under the dog's neck would surely render you horizontal.

[Ephraim]

It doesn't have to be alcohol, you know. The dog could be carrying a little barrel full of some restorative potion. This is the Magic universe, after all. Mechanically, I don't think that it's asking all that much. Benevolent Bodyguard isn't all that great a card, so I don't have a problem in making a card that may be better than it is. Since Vigilant Martyr has an additional ability, I don't think it's fair to say this can't.

[Ephraim]

I've given this some suitable flavour text. It isn't fantastic, but it isn't bad, either. I've give a tentative 48 hours for review and discussion before I call for this card to be closed and added.

[Matt]

This feels like a placeholder name.

[dandan]

No more so than Snow Hound. I'm fine with Rescue Hound.

I think I'd like an 'If you do' clause before the untap so this isn't used merely to untap something but other than that, this card is fine.

[Matt]

Only if English isn't your first language, or if you're 95% of American high shcool students. "Snow hound" is a common enough phrase, "rescue dog" sounds like a superhero's pet.

Go, Rescue Dog! Catch that burning building jumping from that woman!

[dandan]

http://www.ardainc.org/
http://www.carda.org/
http://www.nsarda.org.uk/
http://www.iro-dogs.org/index.php?lang=2
http://www.carda.bc.ca/

Still, what do they know about the use of the English language?

[Ephraim]

I really have to go with Dandan on this one, Matt. I was pretty sure I had the right idea when I named this, but Dandan provided all the evidence that I was too lazy to look up.

[Matt]

I don't think either of you understands my objection. I don't care whether it's a real term or not, it sounds ridiculous. "Rescue hound" would be acceptable (though not great), "rescue dog" sounds like a superhero's pet.

[Ephraim]

I don't think it sounds that bad, but you seem pretty vehement. How about "Potion Bearer?"

[dandan]

As I read your objections, they appeared to be that only a foreigner or an illiterate American high school student would use such a name (clearly implying that it is incorrect) that whereas Snow Hound is a common enough phrase, Rescue Dog isn't. Well it is correct and it is common, at least in terms of people that talk about dogs that rescue people.

You not liking the sound of the name is another matter, and one that most of us would accept more readily if it were not accompanied by comments questioning the intelligence of anyone liking the name. Can you imagine how insulting it is to be likened to an American high school student?

It also occurred to me that this is a prime candidate for Snow-covered Mountainwalk.

(any spelling errors above are due to me writing it slightly tongue-in-cheek)

[JAG]

spelling errors like "Snow-covered-Mountainwalk"? 

I'm not sure this really needs a name change, but i suppose if you don't like it, i'm not adamant about it being Rescue Dog either.

-JM

[Ephraim]

It just occured to me that no matter how I word this ability, it's not going to untap the creature after regenerating it. If somebody casts Lightning Bolt on my creature, I either have to respond to the Bolt with this creature's ability, putting up a Regeneration shield and untapping the creature or pass my opportunity to do so. If I let the Lightning Bolt resolve, I won't get priority again until after the creature has been put into the graveyard as a state-based effect. Therefore, I'm going to switch to a slightly different wording just so that the order of the effects doesn't imply that the ability can untap the creature after it regenerates.

[Matt]

Buddy, I've BEEN an American high school student. Chew on that for awhile!

You could word it as "Regenerate target creature. The next time that cretaure regenerates this turn, untap it."

[Bardo]

I don't think it sounds that bad, but you seem pretty vehement. How about "Potion Bearer?"

Matt is right. Hearing the phrase "Rescue Dog" makes me chuckle. In fact, I even here a little theme song when the phrase comes to mind, like Mighty Mouse or Underdog.

"Potion Bearer", sadly, is not much better.

How about "Alpine Mastiff" -- or some such. There are a couple of good names at Wikipedia on the topic.

[dandan]

I thought the whole point of the Untap ability was that it gave this something useful to do if Regeneration wasn't that useful. Tim pings for one, Rescue Dog flies through a barrier of American High School books (many of them not yet coloured in) and rejeuvenates aforementioned Tim by allowing him to suckle on his potent juices, allowing Tim to shoot once again.

Wanting to Untap after Regeneration seems a touch greedy. I'd want an 'If you do' clause in there so it makes it a choice between nothing or Regen+Untap.

[Ephraim]

I like Alpine Mastiff.

[Jacob Orlove]

You should fix the rules text too. Other than that, looks good!

[Bram]

Closed and added.