Alternate Timeline

[Upinthe]

Alternate Timeline 
Enchantment

Your opponents lose life at the end of each phase or step equal to the amount of mana that was emptied from their mana pool. (Mana that was not used to play spells or abilities.)

Parallel pasts exist to show us a better future



This is in light of the recent rules changes. I wanted a way to preserve the old rules, and the best way to do that is create cards that mimic the effects of old rules under the new system.

[RichardD]

Shouldn't it read like this then?

"Whenever mana is emptied from a player's mana pool, that player loses life equal to the amount of mana emptied from their mana pool."

[andrewpate]

Your wording would combo with things like Mana Short, which I don't think he wants.  That said, I still don't think that the posted wording is exactly how Wizards would do it.

The main problem I see with the card, though, is the fact that nobody would play it unless it was in a set with tons of awkward mana producers, in which case it might occasionally get boarded in for a Limited g2.  In practice, how often did you see mana burn over the course of its run?  I don't think I saw someone take mana burn as often as once per tournament.  This effect would probably be fine on a 0-cost artifact with flash, which would still see no play, let alone a enchantment.  Maybe do it as a Instant cantrip with "For the rest of the game, [opponents take mana burn]."  Compare to Crimson Wisps, which does something every time you play it.  This would not.

[Matt]

I think the best way to do this is to wait until Planechase comes out and make a fantasy card for the Planechase deck, instead of a fantasy card for your deck.