Extreme Trinket Mage

[SpencerForHire]

Now that the first of my home brewed set's (mythic rare) tutor cycle is looking  fairly complete (http://www.themanadrain.com/index.php?topic=38598.0) I'll bring on the second card...

Each card is going to be an extravagant tutor of some type utilizing or originating from past mechanics.  The black card utilized cascade as a tutor, the next card is using a play on affinity.  I'd like to aggressively cost all of these (as they are mythic rares) but I don't want them to just be absurd so please keep me in check community.


Creature - Human Artificer

Affinity for artifacts (This spell costs 1 less to cast for each artifact you control.)
When <this> comes into play, search your library for an artifact with converted casting cost equal to or less than
the number of artifacts you control and put that card into your hand.

2/2


I was very tempted to increase the power level of this guy since he is a measely 2/2 but making the tutor option to place the card in your hand or graveyard but that seemed asking for trouble so I refrained.

Current version:

Keeper of Relics

Artifact Creature - Sphinx

Flying.
When Keeper of Relics enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice an artifact.  If you do, search your library for an artifact with converted mana cost less than or equal to the number of artifacts you control and put it onto the battlefield.  Then shuffle your library.

4/4

[Anusien]

Converted mana cost, not casting cost.

I like it.  I would make it an artifact creature if you can for flavor reasons.

[SpencerForHire]

I need a name suggestion for this beaut as well.

[Darkenslight]

Master of Artifice for the name?

Other than that, seems strong.

[Wagner]

Seems a little weak to me. Look at Fabricate, even if you have 5 artifacts in play, it will still cost UUU, which is harder to cast, and you will still not have access to any artifact you want, but you get a crappy 2/2.

A couple of way to fix that, you could put a bigger body on there, 4/4 max.

OR

When <this> comes into play, search your library for any number of artifacts with total converted casting cost equal to or less than
the number of artifacts you control and put that card into your hand.

Still not busted, sure, you can take all artifacts that cost 0, but even then, you will likely get a 2CC and a 3CC artifact.

[Anusien]

The problem with getting any number is then immediately it's a draw 7.

I agree with reducing his maximum cost (I forgot about Fabricate).  Maybe you could give him a cooler ability instead.  How broken is Tinkering for something with CMC <= the number of artifacts you control?  Something like:


Artifact Creature - Human Artificer
Affinity for artifacts (This spell costs 1 less to cast for each artifact you control.)
When <this> comes into play, you may sacrifice an artifact.  If you do, search your library for an artifact with converted mana cost less than or equal to the number of artifacts you control and put it onto the battlefield.  Then shuffle your library.
2/2

[SpencerForHire]

" You just payed  for all 5 moxen and a lotus, grats."

Not exactly something I'd be happy with.



As for Anusien's suggestion, this seems like something we could do after looking at the relative power level of other cards.

[Wagner]

" You just payed   for all 5 moxen and a lotus, grats."

Not exactly something I'd be happy with.



As for Anusien's suggestion, this seems like something we could do after looking at the relative power level of other cards.

So will you cast this guy with 5 artifacts in play that aren't Moxen? Anyway, I didn't proprose this ability for a deck/format that would run Moxen, he would be crappy anyway in those.

I like the Tinker option, but it still feels kind of weak. For UUU, you can Tinker for an artifact with CC 5, but at the time you can cast this guy, you should have no problem paying 5 to play an artifact, so it seems like it would not help you much, you would still only get an extra 2/2. Also, if you only have 4 artifacts, you pay 4 to get an artifact that costs 4, which is pretty weak, and it gets worse from there.

Not sure the power you want him to have, but this definitely feels like a rare, so it should have a bigger effect.

How about giving him another ability like: Artifacts spells you play cost 2 less to play?

[Harlequin]

How about not making him an artifact?  That way he's not too abusable with welder and doesn't chain with himself.

[SpencerForHire]

The artifact was to make him more competitive and synergistic but I do think that it's a toss up.  Does anyone think removing a from the cost would make this too insane?  What about lowering the colorless cost?  I'm all ears.

[Matt]

The biggest problem with making him an artifact is that a lot of players won't remember to include him when counting how many artifacts they control.

[jro]

The biggest problem with making him an artifact is that a lot of players won't remember to include him when counting how many artifacts they control.

It is kind of strange that you search for an artifact costing 1 more than your "affinity discount".

I'm not sure that this guy really works in a sensible manner.  Let's say you've just got him and a bunch of basic lands.  You pay 8 for him and he searches something that costs 1.  That's the worst trinket mage ever.  Now let's look at the other end-- you've got a ton of artifacts in play.  He costs UUU and gets something that costs 5 or maybe even more.  That's very good.  Point being, there's already incentive to keep him in hand until you have a bunch of artifacts in play.  Giving him affinity might make sense if he was dangerous when you controlled too few artifacts, but he's not.

I think he can just cost UUU and skip the affinity.  He'd then vary between an awkward costed Trinket Mage and a Fabricate attached to a 2/2.

Either way, I don't think this guy makes for a good mythic rare. He's a utility guy with a very mechanic-driven ability, not the kind of thing that knocks your socks off.

[SpencerForHire]

If it's knock your socks off we could easily make him a 4/4 creature, remove the affinity and just cost him higher.  Make him a Serra Angel/Tinker as it were.

[SpencerForHire]

Keeper of Relics

Artifact Creature - Sphinx

Flying.
When Keeper of Relics comes into play, you may sacrifice an artifact.  If you do, search your library for an artifact with converted mana cost less than or equal to the number of artifacts you control and put it onto the battlefield.  Then shuffle your library.

4/4

[jro]

Keeper of Relics

Artifact Creature - Sphinx

Flying.
When Keeper of Relics comes into play, you may sacrifice an artifact.  If you do, search your library for an artifact with converted mana cost less than or equal to the number of artifacts you control and put it onto the battlefield.  Then shuffle your library.

4/4

That's so much better.  It's a big flier that gives you a not-quite Tinker.  I think it could possibly cost 4UU.

[Matt]

Being a sphinx is, approximately, infinitely cooler than a human wizard.

[Anusien]

Sphinxes are one of the best tribes there is.

Replace the first "comes into play" with "enters the battlefield" and I love it.

[SpencerForHire]

24 hour clock.

[jro]

I just want to say that I think this thread is a great example of somebody turning their concept into a really good final product.  Well done, OP.