Friendship is Card Games: Imposing Sovereigns II · 12:43pm Feb 9th, 2020
As promised, this week I present a collection of cards based on the entries to the second Imposing Sovereigns contest. As with last time, the name of each card links to the story that inspired it. See here for an easier to scan breakdown. Now, let’s get right to the cards.
Burden of Responsibility W
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature can’t attack.
As long as enchanted creature’s controller is the monarch, enchanted creature can’t block and its activated abilities can’t be activated.
Harmony's Guidance 1W
Instant
Choose one —
• Target creature gains double strike until end of turn.
• Prevent all damage that would be dealt by target creature this turn.
Destiny dictates misses as much as hits.
Solar Judgement 1W
Instant
Destroy target nonwhite creature.
Those not utterly devoted to Celestia meet their doom at the executioner’s blade… if they are lucky.
Petrified Interlude 1WW
Enchantment
Vanishing 2 (This enchantment enters the battlefield with two time counters on it. At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a time counter from it. When the last is removed, sacrifice it.)
You can’t cast spells.
Your life total can’t change.
Price of Victory 2W
Instant
Target player sacrifices an attacking creature.
Gravestorm (When you cast this spell, copy it for each permanent put into a graveyard this turn. You may choose new targets for the copies.)
The Empire still stood. Too many did not.
Ponkamancy 2W
Sorcery
Search your library for a planeswalker card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library. If that card is a Pinkie, the next planeswalker spell you cast this turn costs 2W less to cast.
Speak her name and she is there.
Hurricane Guardian 2WW
Creature — Elemental
Flying, double strike, vigilance
1W: Prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to and dealt by Hurricane Guardian this turn.
The Fan of the Four Winds needs no elaborate traps or ancient temples. It looks after itself.
2/1
Stormbreaker Captain 3WW
Creature — Pegasus Soldier
Flying
When Stormbreaker Captain enters the battlefield, you become the monarch.
Other creatures you control get +1/+1 as long as you’re the monarch.
“For Fluttershy! For the Alliance!”
3/3
Delegate U
Instant
You may choose new targets for target spell that targets you.
“You should be more than capable of handling this minor trifle.”
—Princess Celestia, to Raven
Sparkle Acolyte UU
Creature — Pony Cleric
Skulk (This creature can’t be blocked by creatures with greater power.)
Whenever Sparkle Acolyte deals combat damage to a player, draw that many cards.
The Foals of Moondancer revere Twilight through reading wherever and whatever they can.
1/1
Pass the Torch 1U
Instant
Attach all permanents attached to target creature to another target creature with the same controller. Move all counters from the first creature onto the second.
Draw a card.
Every generation prepares the way for the next.
Peel Back the Veil 1U
Instant
Until end of turn, target creature has base power and toughness 4/4, gains flying, and becomes a Pony Pegasus Unicorn in addition to its other types.
Draw a card.
Within each of us is a princess.
Lost Scion of Griffonstone 2U
Creature — Griffin Citizen
Flying
Ascend (If you control ten or more permanents, you get the city’s blessing for the rest of the game.)
U: Transform Lost Scion of Griffonstone. Activate this ability only if you have the city’s blessing.
2/2
Gallus, Prince of Prosperity
(U) Legendary Creature — Griffin Noble
Flying
Other Griffins you control get +1/+1.
At the beginning of your upkeep, create a Treasure token. (It’s a colorless artifact with “T, Sacrifice this artifact: Add one mana of any color.)
3/3
Lethemantic Arrest 2U
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
Enchanted creature doesn’t untap during its controller’s untap step.
At the beginning of the upkeep of enchanted creature’s controller, that player puts the top two cards of their library into their graveyard.
Scream into the Dreamscape 1BB
Sorcery
Target opponent discards two cards. Each other opponent discards a card.
Decades after she vanished, the first sign of Celestia was a deafening wave of psychic agony.
Imperial Scorn 2B
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, you may have the monarch lose 2 life.
“How is it, usurper?” hissed the rubble. “How does it feel to sit in a dead mare’s chair and call it your throne?”
Lunar Influence 2B
Enchantment — Aura
Enchant creature
At the beginning of your upkeep, sacrifice a creature other than enchanted creature.
Enchanted creature gets +3/+3 and has menace.
It promises the world and delivers the void.
Pretender to the Throne 2B
Creature — Unicorn Rogue
When Pretender to the Throne enters the battlefield, you become the monarch.
When Pretender to the Throne dies, target opponent becomes the monarch.
“You can’t prove a negative. Ergo, nothing says I can’t be a princess.”
3/2
Soul Sacrifice 2BB
Sorcery
As an additional cost to cast this spell, pay half your life, rounded up.
Search your library for two cards and put them into your hand. Then shuffle your library.
Legends say Sombra gave away his very cutie mark for more dark power.
Corrupt Regent 3B
Creature — Unicorn Noble
Whenever another creature dies, create a Treasure token.
After she banished her sister, Celestia sank into depression and the country fell into far less benevolent hooves.
2/3
Mount Aris Avenger 3B
Creature — Hippogriff Assassin
Flying
When Mount Aris Avenger enters the battlefield, destroy target tapped creature an opponent controls.
A moment of distraction is all she needs to turn a patrol ship into a bloodbath.
2/1
Void-Gaze Watcher 3B
Creature — Horror
Deathtouch
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a +1/+1 counter on Void-Gaze Watcher and you lose 1 life.
Void-Gaze Watcher can’t attack unless its power is 5 or greater.
They do not stalk their victims. They grow towards them.
2/2
Sombran Revivalist 3BB
Creature — Pony Warlock
Exploit (When this creature enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice a creature.)
When Sombran Revivalist exploits a creature, return target creature card from your graveyard to the battlefield.
“Bleed for the true king.”
3/3
Arrogant Conqueror 4B
Creature — Unicorn Noble
When Arrogant Conqueror enters the battlefield, you become the monarch.
Whenever you become the monarch, each opponent loses 2 life.
”A lovely city, Canterlot. So glad I haven’t sacked it yet.”
3/4
Executioner of the Realm 4B
Creature — Human Noble Assassin
Each non-Human creature enters the battlefield with an additional -1/-1 counter on it.
“The bearded idiot banishes them. I make sure they stay banished.”
3/3
Pot of Hemlock 4B
Enchantment
Whenever a player draws a card, that player gets a poison counter.
3: You can’t get counters this turn. Any player may activate this ability.
“Any plot that involves Celestia will inevitably involve tea.”
—Sunset Shimmer
Umbrum Legion 5B
Creature — Horror
Whenever Umbrum Legion attacks, creatures defending player controls get -1/-1 until end of turn.
The Crystal Empire lived on the brink of destruction, armies of darkness forever trying to swallow its light.
4/4
Chrysalis’s Audacity 1R
Instant
Target attacking creature gets +5/+0 and gains trample until end of turn.
For centuries, the changeling line of succession was chosen by subtlety and guile. Then Chrysalis started blasting everything that moved.
Inevitable Betrayal 1R
Enchantment
At the beginning of your upkeep, if there are six or more creatures on the battlefield, sacrifice Inevitable Betrayal. When you do, gain control of target creature until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn.
Forge Dancer 2R
Creature — Human Shaman
When Forge Dancer enters the battlefield, target creature gets +2/+0 until end of turn. If that creature is equipped, it also gains double strike until end of turn.
The fire-callers of Nitor weave their magic through careful motions of body and heart.
2/1
Hinndian Insurrectionist 2R
Creature — Donkey Noble Rogue
Haste
When Hinndian Insurrectionist enters the battlefield, gain control of target creature the monarch controls until end of turn. Untap that creature. It gains haste until end of turn.
“King Cranky has paralyzed our nation. We must dissent.”
2/2
Discord, Clown Prince 3R
Legendary Creature — Chimera Shaman
The first red spell you cast each turn costs 1 less to cast.
When Discord, Clown Prince dies or is put into exile from the battlefield, return him to the battlefield transformed.
The dragon war was but the next step in a life of struggle and madness.
3/2
Discord, Avatar of Chaos
(R) Legendary Planeswalker — Discord
Whenever a creature attacks Discord, Avatar of Chaos, flip a coin. If you win the flip, that creature is attacking you.
+1: Exile the top card of your library. You may play it this turn.
-X: Discord deals X damage to target creature or planeswalker. If that permanent would die this turn, exile it instead.
4
Flarewing Sniper 3R
Creature — Pegasus Archer
Flying
Whenever a creature with flying you control attacks, Flarewing Sniper deals 1 damage to target creature.
Daybreaker reforged her army in her image, giving them both her form and her temperament.
2/1
Dragonlands Diplomat 3RR
Creature — Dragon Advisor
Flying
Council’s dilemma — When Dragonlands Diplomat enters the battlefield, starting with you, each player votes for scream or burn. Put a +1/+1 counter on Dragonlands Diplomat for each scream vote. It deals 1 damage to each other creature for each burn vote.
2/2
Sisters' Bond 2G
Sorcery
Choose a creature type, then reveal the top five cards of your library. Put up to two cards of the chosen type revealed this way into your hand and the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Whitewing Commander 3G
Creature — Human Archer
Reach, vigilance
Converge — Whitewing Commander enters the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it for each color of mana spent to cast it.
“The elves called bows stupid! We’ll show them!”
1/1
Retroactive Incarnation 3GG
Sorcery
Reveal cards from the bottom of your library until you reveal a creature card. Put that card onto the battlefield, then shuffle your library.
The Fire of Friendship’s potential blossomed into a force that had always existed.
Ring of Canterlot 2
Artifact — Equipment
Equipped creature has lifelink.
At the beginning of your upkeep, put a +1/+1 counter on equipped creature if it’s white.
Equip 1
Love is a magic all its own.
Storm King Fragment 3
Artifact
T: Add one mana of any color in your commander’s color identity.
2, T: Put a charge counter on Storm King Fragment.
Whenever your commander enters the battlefield, remove all charge counters from Storm King Fragment. For each counter removed this way, put a +1/+1 counter or a loyalty counter on your commander.
He’ll be back. Just wait.
Yakyakistani Rocket 5
Artifact — Vehicle
Flying
Yakyakistani Rocket can block only creatures with flying.
When Yakyakistani Rocket is put into a graveyard from the battlefield, it deals 5 damage to each creature and planeswalker.
Crew 4 (Tap any number of creatures you control with total power 4 or more: This Vehicle becomes an artifact creature until end of turn.)
6/4
Astral Orrery 6
Artifact
Untap all colorless permanents you control during each other player’s untap step.
The sisters began their tenure as celestial mechanics before either of them knew what she was doing.
Joy Hive Guard 2(wb)U
Creature — Shapeshifter
You may have Joy Hive Guard enter the battlefield as a copy of any creature on the battlefield except it has lifelink.
“Nopony here but us Pinkies."
0/0
Harsh Assessment 3(rw)
Sorcery
Target creature deals damage to itself equal to its power.
Neighsay took a long, hard look at himself, and did so with all the critical skill he applied to prospective schools.
Elope 3WB
Sorcery
Target player exiles two creatures they control.
“I don’t know when or even if we’ll be back. But I love her.”
—Princess Flurry Heart
Luna, Wirespace Princess 3WB
Legendary Artifact Creature — Avatar
Alicorn (This card is also a Pony Pegasus Unicorn.)
Whenever an artifact or creature an opponent controls deals damage to you, that permanent’s controller sacrifices it.
WB: Artifacts and creatures you control gain lifelink until end of turn.
4/4
The Bloodstone Crown 3RG
Legendary Artifact
Creatures you control get +2/+2 and their activated abilities can’t be activated.
1RG, T: Target creature you control fights target creature you don’t control.
It fans instinct into an all-consuming inferno.
Cathedral of the Moon
Land
T: Add C
1, T: Add X mana in any combination of colors in your commander’s color identity, where X is the number of times your commander has been put into the command zone from the battlefield this game.
All of Luna’s life is carved into the walls so none may forget it.
Oh, that's an interesting card. I was curious to see what you'd make of it, and it's not completely unlike what I imagined myself after you announced you'd be doing them.
Yay!
I continue to be impressed by what you come up with when you make these. Fun stuff.
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Ponkamancy's cost reduction will apply even if "the next planeswalker spell you cast this turn" isn't a Pinkie at all... and thanks to Khalni Hydra and cost increasers, nonwhite planeswalkers will have their generic cost reduced by 3. (Seriously, that's the only place I can find where this ruling applies in the real game, making it significantly outnumbered by the cards that "special-case" it so this doesn't happen)
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Imperial Scorn's trigger is optional, which you'll be glad for when you're the monarch. However, only combat damage can transfer the monarchy, and Imperial Scorn isn't damage at all. Nice try, though.
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: While Lunar Influence's sacrifice obviously isn't optional, there's nothing stopping you from not controlling any creatures other than the one it's enchanting and nothing punishing you for doing that. I mean, I guess the nature of the game kind of punishes you for only having one creature but that doesn't count.
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: By the time you draw your card for the turn, you've already untapped your lands in the untap step and had a chance to activate abilities in the upkeep step. As such, in most cases you're only getting the poison counter from Pot of Hemlock if you deliberately avoid paying. Furthermore, that will then protect you for the rest of your turn if you draw additional cards later. And then Nekusar comes around with his wheels and Windfalls and such and you have to pay again, but you tapped out during your own turn. Sorry, you're dead.
Inside Baseball Alert: Ring of Canterlot is a play on Ring of Thune and the rest of its cycle; I had to look up the white member because the only one worthy of notice was the blue one and even that one wasn't actually good.
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: There's nothing stopping you from using Storm King Fragment to put loyalty counters on a creature other than this being pretty pointless. There's nothing stopping from using Storm King Fragment to put +1/+1 counters on a planeswalker other than the fact that Gideon probably won't be a legal commander by the time the card is released (he gets eaten by the next Brawl rotation and being dead makes it hard to get new cards in Standard).
Stupid Complicated Game Alert: Triggered abilities are not activated abilities, to say nothing of continuous abilities. This matters for lots of cards, although only two of the ones in this blog.
Oh, the Pot of Hemlock is a great card and also fittingly atmospheric.
So many ideas.
It continues to be really fun, watching you come up with all these :)
And so FoME makes a card based on a story that I wrote based on another story I wrote (and cards FoME made based on that story) which was based on a card from a card generator powered by cards FoME made. I can't help but feel some small draw to keep this silly chain going.
Anyhow, leave it to FoME to capture the heart of a story in the mechanics of a card game.
Nice stuff to see. I still need to get around to reading more of the entries. Always the worst at actually reading things.
Very interesting design with a negative to being the monarch.
Technically speaking, a creature dying requires they hit the graveyard, and replacement effects such as Rest in Peace or sending the Commander to the Command Zone if it would be placed into another zone) prevent that. Accordingly, Cathedral of the Moon doesn't work particularly well outside of a number of specific commanders you don't mind having in your graveyard.
That said, another excellent card-shaped distillation of several stories. The ones I recognized fit quite well.
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The idea that Squee the goblin is somehow Luna's greatest acolyte amuses me.
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It's fun coming up with them too. Of course, if that weren't the case, I wouldn't building new barrels so I could scrape their bottoms.
5200003
Yaks best at silly recursion!
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Argh. I keep forgetting that it's a replacement and not a trigger. The Cathedral's been renovated to play nice with most commanders. Even if Squee riding Luna is an amazing mental image.
I love what you did for Lethemantic Arrest! It fits really well with the themes of the story, and it uses the game mechanics to help rreinforce them--exactly the sort of stuff that I love!
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Any goblin riding any MLP-style pony is an amazing mental image, and would happen about two seconds after they ended up in the same place.
Elope is wonderful, these are all super fun
I went and made you some card art for this one because the flavor gave me a giggle.
Thank you for the lovely array of themed cards! I particularly like the one you made for my story. So very fitting in both the word play and the card effect.
How many Imposing Sovereign contests do we need to do before we can turn it into a set?
The Bloodstone Crown is perfect. I have to imagine that its paired Bloodstone Scepter would have a tap-to-gain-control-of-target-creature effect, which would hard-counter the Crown's activated ability.
These were fun! I'm glad I asked for them. I also appreciated the recurrent Monarch theming; it's one of those keywords too recent for my MTG knowledge, but very on point here.
Thank you! It's delightful and generous of you to pay a little homage to other authors on the site in this your own trademarked way. A very sweet extra reward for entering your contest
And I have to appreciate the flavourfully-appropriate way that if the Pretender to the Throne gets in dire straits and uses the Magician's Exit, both coronation effects will trigger, but she gets to choose the order they resolve, so she can ensure she ends up on top when the smoke clears.
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