The Team So Far

• Dudibus
• EpicLevelCommoner
• Confused
• Tequilasaurus
• Kithkin_FieldMarshall

Current Decklist


A Few Things Before We Start . . .

• Themes for Christmas world (flavor and how that impacts mechanics)
• Color Scheme (while a five color deck might be interesting, it'll probably be in our best interest to stick to two or three)
• Mana Distribution (etbt lands, regular lands, and nonland ratios: see next post)

Alright, on mana distribution . . . I noticed that we're not just designing cards to be put into the deck, but that we're also building the deck itself including mana sources.

What I would like us to do in regards to this is to establish how many etbt lands and how many lands total we'll be running based on a flexible curve and how many cards will be in the deck (read 30).

The (somewhat misleading) formula I use to determine total lands is thus:
Lands ~ 30 * Top / (6.5 + Top); where Top is the Top of our curve (excluding 0 CMC).

Similarly, the formula I use to determine ETBT lands is similar:
Lands ~ 30 * (Bottom - 1) / (6.5 + Bottom); where Bottom is the Bottom of our curve (excluding 0 CMC).

For example if we're running only 2 CMC to 5 CMC, ideally we should have 13 lands, 4 of which enter the battlefield tapped.

Possible themes/mechanical ideas:
Cold - Tapping/Snow/Hibernation Mechanic?/
Generosity - Donate Mechanic?/group hug effects/
Fun/Joy/Toys - Minigame mechanics/novelty artifacts/
Food/Drink? - Temporary permanents

Thematically, there isn't much difference between Halloween and Christmas: both are about receiving boons when we're younger, and, as we get older, it becomes more about companionship with other people.

However, whereas "Trick or Treat" was originally intended to punish others for a lack of generosity, the concept of being good all year long seems to represent diligence; the presents/companionship their reward. This seems to be mirrored in the aspect of Santa's workshop, where the elves (gnomes? I don't think M:tG elves are quite Santa elves) toil 365 days of the year to create toys just for the satisfaction of giving them to children (or something like that).

Thus, I present my first submission for this deck:

Santa's Workshop
Land
At the beginning of your end step, if each creature you control didn't attack this turn, create a 1/1 colorless Construct artifact creature token named "Toy". Otherwise, create a colorless artifact token named "Coal". It has ", Sacrifice Coal: Add to your mana pool."

I like it, but mechanically, it does not feel like a land.

Making cards to expedite our process, since we only have a few days.

Goodwill on Earth
Enchantment
At the beginning of each end step, if no creatures attacked this turn, put a Peace counter on ~. Otherwise, remove a Peace counter.
As long as there are four or more Peace counters on ~, prevent all damage creatures would deal.

Krampus
Legendary Creature - Demon
Flying, Haste, Trample
When ~ deals combat damage to a player, exile target creature that player controls until Krampus leaves the battlefield.
5/4

Charity's Reward
Sorcery
Choose left or right.
Each player secretly chooses a permanent he or she controls. Reveal those permanents; the player who chose the permanent with the highest converted mana cost gains that much life, then each player gains control of the permanent chosen by the player in the chosen direction.

Candycane
Artifact
Sacrifice Candycane: Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn. Draw a card.

Good Will on Earth: I love this! Also gives a "build around me" vibe as well: say hello to Christmas Fog!

Yuletide Caroling -
Instant
Creatures can't attack this turn.
At the beginning of your end step, if no creatures attacked this turn, return Yuletide Caroling from your graveyard to your hand.

Angelsong? ("Hark! The Herald Angels sing"? Not sure what song it is from)

Holy Day? (see above: not sure if two reprints of the same effect would be acceptable though )

Good King Wenceslas -
Legendary Creature - Human Soldier
You may choose not to untap Good King Wenceslas during your untap step.
: For as long as Good King Wenceslas remains tapped, other creatures do not untap during their controllers' untap step.
2/4

Virgin Mother -
Creature - Human
At the beginning of each end step, if no creatures attacked this turn, put a peace counter on Virgin Mother. Then if there are twelve or more peace counters on Virgin Mother, you win the game.
0/2

Just some food for thought.

Gifts Aplenty
Sorcery
Each player gains 6 life and draws two cards.

Warmth of Heart
Sorcery
Each opponent skips his or her next combat step and draws a card.

Angelprint
Snow Enchantment Creature - Angel
As an additional cost to cast ~, tap an untapped creature you control.
~ enters the battlefield with toughness equal to that creature's toughness.
0/0

Snowball Fight
Instant
Until end of turn, all creatures gain ": Tap target creature."

The List
Legendary Artifact
Whenever a creature an opponent controls attacks, put a Naughty counter on The List.
, sacrifice The List: Up to X target permanents your opponents control become colorless artifacts named Coal with "Sacrifice Coal: Add to your mana pool.", where X is the number of Naughty counters on The List.

Yule the Hearthwarmer
Legendary Creature - Treefolk Avatar
If damage would be dealt to ~, add that much to your mana pool instead.
"And he did so love the world, that he gave his only begotten branches."
2/7

Yule the Ornamented
Legendary Creature - Treefolk Avatar
Yule the Ornamented enters the battlefield with three +1/+1 counters.
0/4

Herald's Horn
Artifact - Equipment
Equipped Creature has ": Put a creature card from your hand onto the battlefield."
Equip

Bag of Sweets
Artifact
: Tap target creature and put a +1/+1 counter on it.

Star Pilgrimage
Enchantment
Put three 0/1 white Cleric Lord creature tokens onto the battlefield.
Whenever a Cleric Lord token attacks, put a Star counter on Star Pilgrimage.
Remove seven Star counters from Star Pilgrimage: Put a 15/15 white Avatar creature token with indestructible onto the battlefield.

Bounteous Celebration
Sorcery
Each player puts a 1/1 colorless Toy artifact creature token onto the battlefield, gains 2 life, draws a card, then proliferates.

Frankincense
Legendary Artifact Creature - Myr
: Each player draws a card.
1/1

Gift Exchange
Instant
Tap all creatures. For each creature tapped this way, it's controller chooses an opponent to gain life equal to its power.

Guilt
Creature - Incarnation
Whenever an opponent draws a card, that player taps an untapped creature they control.
1/3
(probably not fitting, but it'd be strong in the deck)

Festivation
Sorcery
Put a +1/+1 counter on each permanent, then proliferate.
(I think I'm stretching for ideas)

Bequeath
Enchantment
: The next time you would draw a card this turn, target opponent draws a card instead.

Candysnap Dispenser
Artifact
: Target opponent draws a card and gains control of ~, you gain 2 life.

Toyland Waltz
Sorcery
Each player puts X 1/1 colorless Soldier Construct artifact creature tokens onto the battlefield.

Feast of Days
Enchantment
At the beginning of each upkeep, put a Feast counter on ~, then each player gains X life, where X is the number of Feast counters on ~. When ~ has 12 or more counters on it, sacrifice it.

Wow. Nice work guys. I'll post a bunch of stuff today once work basics are completed.

GENERIC CARDS:

Secret Santa
Instant
Reveal a random card from target opponent's library. If it is a permanent put it onto the battlefield. Otherwise you may cast the revealed card without paying its mana cost.

Elf Helper
Creature - Elf
: Add to your mana pool. Spend this mana only to cast artifact spells.
1/1

The Spirit of Christmas
Instant
Target player reveals their hand. That player must cast a spell this turn if able.

Dysfunctional Family
Enchantment
Creatures can't be blocked by more than one creature.

Gifts Received
Sorcery
Each player creates X artifact tokens named Present with ", sacrifice Present: Draw a card."

Drowning In Debt
Sorcery
Each players life total becomes equal to their hand size.

Flying Reindeer
Creature - Beast
Flying, protection from blue
2/2

POSSIBLE MECHANICS:

Treat (Whenever this creature enters the battlefield target opponent may have it enter with a +1/+1 counter on it. If they do, that opponent draws a card.)
Gift (You may have target opponent gain control of this whenever you could play a sorcery.)
Good Will - At the beginning of your end step, if you didn't attack with this creature this turn, X happens.

Treat Cards:

Elf
Creature - Elf (C)
Treat
1/1

Reindeer
Creature - Beast (U)
Treat
If reindeer has a +1/+1 counter it has flying.
2/2

Loved One
Creature - Human (R)
Lifelink, treat
If Loved One doesn't enter the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter, it has protection from creatures.
2/2

Mrs. Claus
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard (M)
Treat, treat, treat
Opponent's must Treat your creatures.
3/3

I think the design space on that one is quite large.

It would be fun if we could work out something with the Halloween guys to round out Trick or Treat (Trick could be target opponent discards a card to make it enter with a -1/-1 counter).

GIFT CARDS:

Wooly Sweater
Artifact - Equipment
Gift
Equipped creature has protection from snow.
Whenever you Gift Wooly Sweater, gain three life.
Equip

New Tie
Artifact - Equipment
Gift
Equipped creature can't be blocked.
Whenever you Gift New Tie, draw a card.
Equip

Jewelry
Artifact - Equipment
Gift
Equipped creature must be blocked if able.
Whenever you Gift Jewelry, add three mana of any color to your mana pool.

I have no idea how balanced they are.

GOOD WILL CARDS:

Caroler
Creature - Human Singer (C)
Good Will - At the beginning of your end step, if you didn't attack with this creature this turn, target creature can't attack you on it's controllers next turn.
1/1

Toy Maker
Creature - Elf Crafter (U)
Good Will - At the beginning of your end step, if you didn't attack with this creature this turn, create a 1/1 artifact creature token named Toy Soldier.
3/1

Wise Man
Creature - Human Wizard (R)
Good Will - At the beginning of your end step, if you didn't attack with this creature this turn, draw two cards.
4/4

Santa, Lord of Christmas
Legendary Creature - Human Wizard (M)
Treat, Good Will - At the beginning of your end step, if you didn't attack with this creature, put a permanent from your hand onto the battlefield under target players control.
Whenever a card is gifted, draw a card.
6/6

Please design this card....

Really love the artwork.... so xmas....

K_FM

Candy Cane Dragon
Creature - Dragon
Flying
Whenever Candy Cane Dragon enters the battlefield each opponent creates an artifact token named Candy Cane.
Sacrifice a Candy Cane: Target Candy Cane Dragon can't attack this turn. Any player may activate this ability.
7/7

Or, if Gift is implemented.

Gift a Candy Cane: Target Candy Cane Dragon can't attack this turn. Any player may activate this ability.

If we are forced to keep the 4/4 then I would drop the cost to .

I like Gift from a flavor perspective, but from a balance perspective seems somewhat swingy, especially since your opponent can "regift" it to you and you to them and so on and so forth. In fact, if that's how it would be best used, why don't we change it to the following:

Gift (At the beginning of your end step, target opponent gains control of ~).

I was actually considering a split card Naughty//Nice and suggesting the Halloween peeps do something similar with Trick//Treat. However, since this is a contest where each team is competing against the other, I'm unsure if it would be advised to collaborate for sake of thematic synchronization.

Anyhow, I believe we got our flagship concepts down, and as such, taking into account the cards suggested so far, we have a pretty good backbone for the deck.

Gift had the stipulation of only being done as a sorcery, but I am fine with the phase restriction since it serves pretty much the same purpose.

I really like the change on Good Will be "a creature" instead of "this creature" because it really balances it out.

Personally I'm not a big fan of making 'serious' religious cards since my view of religion would be considered highly irreverent. But I don't care that much so if everyone else wants it thats fine.

We could make "Naughty and Nice" as creature types. For instance Selfish Brat could be a Naughty Creature - Human. We could have a bunch of fun with that one. I'll post more tomorrow . We need some more input from some of the others!

Indeed: speak up people!

Also, I feel like I could rename the "Mystery Gift" from Tenenbaum and the "Gift for the Messiah" from Wise Man ... maybe just rename them both "Christmas Present" since they're functionally similar?

Speaking of those cards by the way, is having three distinct ways to win too much for a control deck? So far, Nutcracker and/or Toy Maker go wide, Peace on Earth goes big (and could probably use some sort of evasion), and Tenenbaum acts as a one-sided Howling Mine Wall for mill-win.

As for religion, meh . . . I only suggested the Feast of Stephen because of the song Good King Wenceslas (for Irish heritage, not religion, same with Tenenbaum and my German heritage). . . not even sure if it itself is Christmas related.

Can I suggest we decide upon the colors for the deck first? Unless we are serious about going 5 colors for the deck.

And school is killing me.

White is going to be the core color I feel. As for supplementary colors, some combination of red green and black I feel would work: blue feels too calculating to be Christmas related.

For some reason Selesnya themes seem to match the spirit of the season. Red is probably better for neutral christmas cards while black seems better for things like Grinch or Scrooge.

My vote would be white/green Christmas Turbofog.

If we could swing White, Red and Green it would certainly fit flavor wise. But White and Green is the best for two colors.

We are very short on time, so I think the only way this is going to get finished is by decided exactly what we want in the deck and getting the cards picked. We could do it like a mini contest where we give the criterias and then vote? We couldn't have more than a 24 hours period though because of time being an issue. For instance:

All cards must be Christmas themed. Mechanics are open to editing. If you think of a better way to do it, please post it. Imagination is key.

1) Create three creatures with Good Will at common, uncommon and rare respectively.
2) Create three noncreature permanents with Gift at common, uncommon and rare respectively.
3) Create three instants or sorceries that are Christmas themed.
4) Create a Legendary Santa creature/planeswalker.
5) Create three creatures that are Christmas Themed but don't use any mechanics.
6) Create some lands, either duals, legendaries (The north pole, santas workshop, whatever), or mana fixers in some way.

The above was just a suggestion. After people post cards, we can pick from those + the ones that have already been posted and vote on them (if we have time) or just pick someone to be lead developer to pick if time is too short.

At work right now, but yeah: we only have a few days left.

Rework of the land I posted:

Santa's Workshop
Land
~ enters the battlefield tapped.
T: Add W to your mana pool.
Good Will - You may pay W. If you do create a toy soldier creature token.

Another land for G

Candycane Forest
~ enters the battlefield tapped.
T: Add G to your mana pool.
Good Will - You may pay G. If you do, you gain 2 life.

And another for dual.

Family Home
Land
T: Add G or W to your mana pool.
Gift
No one should spend Christmas alone.