What is "Q"? Answer is right here.

Jacois · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 398

After several hearfelt attempts, we have a winner in Coboney....

T: ~ deals 1 damage to target creature or player. If this is the first time you played this ability since the beginning of your last upkeep untap ~.

Perfect. The only real problem is memory work, for the times you use it during your upkeep, then you have to really think about whether or not it was used when it's your opponents end step.

The reason I started this thread (and the last) and the reason I called my initial thread "What is Q?", is because I believe Q will make this much easier.

Prodigal Wizard 1UU
Creature - Human Wizard
Q : Deal 1 damage to target creature or player
1/1

So I ask again, what is Q? Q is a half tap. If the creature is untapped, you can turn it 45 degrees instead of the full 90 for it's effect. If the card is half-tapped, you can halftap it again to make it fully tapped. This opens up design space, as well as clearing up space in the text box.

What do you think?

Jorbes · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 246 Location: Netherland

IMO, half tapping a card is gonna create a big big mess (in casual games at least)

Note that i am not saying I dont like it or that you're wrong about Q (btw, I think you are but i have no idea myself, so i'll just agree with you instead Wink

)

This will force players to clearly arrange their permanents.
You see a lot of half-assed tapping in casual play rooms like the public library, it annoys me somewhat, so this could finally create some inner peace.

I wonder how MWS would handle this though... Razz

Jacois · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 398

Mirror_Image · Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 7

cloysterd · Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 47

Is this just speculation or do you have some reason to think that Q is a tap-twice thing?

Ronnan · Joined: 08 May 2005 Posts: 139

T: ~ deals 1 damage to target creature or player. If this is the first time you played this ability since the beginning of your last upkeep untap ~.

this wont let you respond while its on stack

Jacois · Joined: 05 Sep 2004 Posts: 398

Avata · Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 356

No.

WotC works pretty hard to keep extra bookkeeping out of the game, and this just screams extra bookkeeping.

only-3 · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 54

Noname1 · Joined: 20 Jul 2007 Posts: 7

tapping counter clock-wise seems like a better solution but still pretty bad i think

Jorbes · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 246 Location: Netherland

Ggerg · Joined: 04 Sep 2005 Posts: 202

0: deal 1 play this ability only once per turn
T: deal deal one

or

0: deal 1 play this ability only once per turn, and only during your turn
T: deal 1

...i think that's about as close as you can get.

djww19 · Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Posts: 396

Honestly, I don't think that's what Q is. Like Avata said, WOTC like to keep it simple. It would become too much work on the players.

Have they confirmed it's an actual ability? I heard one rumor floating around that Q dealt with the hybrid colorless mana cycle that was around, like Beseech the Queen (2/B 2/B 2/B).

Vedrfolner · Joined: 04 Apr 2006 Posts: 868

the "half tap" ability would require many words on each card using it.

I am sure that isn't it.

It surely isn't something that would allow free spells of some sort. They have screwed up with those abilities many times now - they should have learned...

The most successful mechanic they have created for some time, is the equip ability of artifacts. Equipment. They are part of the normal mtg world now.

What about Fortresses?

Name: Wooden Watchtower

Type: Artifact Creature - Fortress

Casting cost: 2

Rarity: Common

Power/Thoughness: 0/4

Text:

Defender

Creatures that are attached to Wooden Watchtower get +0/+2.

2: Attach target creature you control to Wooden Watchtower. Play this ability only when you could play a sorcery.

(Creatures that are attached to an untapped Fortress cannot be the target of spells or abilities an opponent controls. Whenever a creature that is attached to a Fortress attacks, unattach it.)

another example card:

Name: Castle Phyrexia

Type: Legendary Artifact Creature - Fortress

Casting Cost: 5

Power/Thoughness: 1/8

Rarity: Rare

Text:

Defender

2: Attach target creature you control to Castle Phyrexia. Play this ability only when you could play a sorcery.

3: Regenerate target creature you control that is attached to Castle Phyrexia.

Tap: Put a 1/1 black Skeleton creature into play.

The only thing that doesn't quite fit the theme of a siege or battle, is that they are creatures. An alternative would be to make them more similar to Planeswalkers. That they come into play with a certain amount of counters which are removed by combat damage or the redirection of burn.

Name: Castle Phyrexia

Type: Legendary Artifact - Fortress

Casting Cost: 5

Rarity: Rare

Text:

Castle Phyrexia comes into play with 8 Fortress counters.

Pay 2 life, Tap: put a Fortress counter on Castle Phyrexia.

2: Attach target creature you control to Castle Phyrexia.

3: Regenerate target creature you control that is attached to Castle Phyrexia.

Remove a Fortress counter, Tap: put a 1/1 black Skeleton creature into play.

(Creatures attached to an untapped Fortress cannot be the target of spells or abilities an opponent control. When a creature that is attached to a Fortress attacks, unattach it.)

(The Fortress counters is dealt with the same way as the Planeswalker's counters; Players may either attack the opponent or the fortress, non-combat damage can be redirected to a fortress, and resolved damage removes that many Fortress counters. If a fortress has 0 Fortress counters, it is put into the graveyard.)

This way, Wrath of God doesn't destroy a building.

only-3 · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 54

Vedrfolner has a great idea. But I still think nobody will guess it untill we actually see it. Shadowmoor previews start on monday, who knows we might find out then.