Cactus Game Design Message Boards

Due to Isaiah providing CBN protection to purple kings in the Throne decks currently dominating the meta we need more regardless of protect options for Defense. Wicked LS is key but not enough. Gideon's Ephod is great but needing a Judge to use it is rather cumbersome. Also artifacts can easily be dealt with by Joshua, the Conqueror. However, cards like Outsiders Brown/Crimson, Pagan Sailors, King Tiglath-Pileser, and Queen Maacah help mitigate this by allowing the defender to manipulate Ephod.

I think a dom slot is too much of a cost to deal with this. One option in my opinion is an artifact that does not have the Judge requirement of Gideon's Ephod. Also a multi-brigade territory class evil enhancement could fill this void as well. Even a multi-brigade evil character could work nicely. So I present the following.

1. Card Idea: Thirty Pieces of Silver (Ref: Matthew 26:15-16)

Type: Artifact

Identifier: May be activated on your Judas Iscariot.

Ability: If a hero with "negated" in the special ability enters battle all evil enhancements are regardless of protect abilities.

The last Thirty Pieces of Silver card was in the apostles set. The Biblical account is congruent with this ability as well.

The other option I have thought of is a multi-brigade territory class evil enhancement: Martyrdom of The Baptist.

2. Card Idea: Martyrdom of the Baptist (Ref: Matthew 14:8-9)

Brigade: Multi-Brigade.

Type: EE.

Class: Territory.

Ability: Place in territory: you may discard this card to make all evil enhancements this turn regardless of protect abilities. Upon placement you may discard a hero in play.

I think this could be a great option for those not wanting to deal with manipulating an artifact to handle protect abilities. The idea of the passage also fits with the ability nicely.

3. Card Idea: Judas Iscariot (Ref: Mark 14:10-11)

Numbers: 6/6.

Brigade: Crimson/Black

Identifier: Disciple.

Ability: All evil enhancements are regardless of protect abilities. Take an evil enhancement from reserve (or deck if The Chief Priests is in play). Cannot be interrupted.

I think this EC would fit nicely and not be OP. Judas needs an update anyway.

I honestly think we could use all three of these cards in the modern meta. What are your thoughts on these ideas?

Updated the abilities on these. What are your thoughts on these card ideas?

I like your ideas. However I think your Art is a bit OP. Being able to make EEs regsrdlessbof protect and decrease heroes by 3 and CBN is a bit much. I would like it more without the CBN. Maybe a CBP status? That way it can still be negated after its played. Just not before. But I think the others as they are are pretty good.

I'm always down for a bit more RoP, as long as it's not overbearing.

I'm not sure I'm a fan of how 30P is just "Ephod but better." Right now it's the same ability (sans the non-enhancement decrease) without the judge or OT limitations, plus CBN. I'm also not sure I agree with it being an idol - I made a tongue-in-cheek post a while back about certain evil kings counting as idols, and while there are certainly people for whom money or their rulers are an idol, and Judas may be one, the Redemption definition is a little more stringent.
My advice:
-drop the idol identifier
-drop the decrease
-add a condition (nothing as strict as needing a judge in play, but something that will make it so it isn't always active)
-maybe add a way to activate it somewhere other than an artifact pile (on Judas, make a fort of his gallows from Acts 1, etc)

This gives it more of a unique identity, while still fitting into what you're looking for. Activating somewhere other than the art pile allows it to be more flexible, while also making it more vulnerable (it can now also be targeted by anything that can remove whatever it's on). Perhaps the condition could be having more heroes than ECs in battle (or if you want to get crazy, 'have entered battle' so that AUtO and Josh get hit by it too), or maybe go the Overtaken route and if there's a hero with "negated" in the SA. Something that could activate every turn, but there's also ways to play around it.

I do kinda like Martyrdom, although the TC doesn't do much beyond give it the option to be Beheaded if you don't care about the RoP (since you can only play TC enhancements on your turn, when you're attacking instead of blocking). One idea would be to drop the discard and instead make it a destructible place like Paying Taxes/Treasures of War - "Place in territory: you may discard this card to make all evil enhancements this turn regardless of protect abilities." Gives you an option to dump it out of your hand and not waste initiative on it, but also being vulnerable in territory (and you can still play it in initiative if you want to).

I honestly like Judas (although I'd rather he be two colors instead of seven). The search and RoP together might be a bit strong, especially with CBI, but I think he's iconic enough to be on the stronger side. I miiiight make him CBP instead.

Quote from: Bobbert on September 02, 2020, 09:43:14 AM

-maybe add a way to activate it somewhere other than an artifact pile (on Judas, make a fort of his gallows from Acts 1, etc)

Here ya go. 

Spoiler (hover to show)

I agree with Bobbert though that it probably shouldn't be the "all berries" version of Ephod. I think he's right that it probably wouldn't fit Redemption's definition of an idol and it is N.T. so it wouldn't have the characteristics that make Ephod worthwhile, although in the future if N.T. artifacts get similar synergy cards to O.T. arts and idols then 30 Pieces becomes a much better card for the same effect. Perhaps something like "Evil Enhancements used by N.T. humans are regardless of protect abilities". That way N.T. themes get a boost and it works for your opponent as well. Maybe that tames it too much since N.T. themes will likely be more common after the release of GoC, but something along those lines might be better.

So was the reference to  "GoC" a spoiler to a new set that I haven't heard about yet? Glory of Christ?

Quote from: TheJaylor on September 02, 2020, 01:56:45 PM

Quote from: Bobbert on September 02, 2020, 09:43:14 AM

-maybe add a way to activate it somewhere other than an artifact pile (on Judas, make a fort of his gallows from Acts 1, etc)

Here ya go. 

Spoiler (hover to show)

I agree with Bobbert though that it probably shouldn't be the "all berries" version of Ephod. I think he's right that it probably wouldn't fit Redemption's definition of an idol and it is N.T. so it wouldn't have the characteristics that make Ephod worthwhile, although in the future if N.T. artifacts get similar synergy cards to O.T. arts and idols then 30 Pieces becomes a much better card for the same effect. Perhaps something like "Evil Enhancements used by N.T. humans are regardless of protect abilities". That way N.T. themes get a boost and it works for your opponent as well. Maybe that tames it too much since N.T. themes will likely be more common after the release of GoC, but something along those lines might be better.

So was the reference to  "GoC" a spoiler to a new set that I haven't heard about yet? Glory of Christ?

Honestly don't remember if/where any announcements about it have been posted, so for now I guess just glean what you can from Gabe's non-finalized spoiler from a few days ago in this thread.

Quote from: dermo4christ on September 03, 2020, 01:31:12 PM

Quote from: TheJaylor on September 02, 2020, 01:56:45 PM

Quote from: Bobbert on September 02, 2020, 09:43:14 AM

-maybe add a way to activate it somewhere other than an artifact pile (on Judas, make a fort of his gallows from Acts 1, etc)

Here ya go. 

Spoiler (hover to show)

I agree with Bobbert though that it probably shouldn't be the "all berries" version of Ephod. I think he's right that it probably wouldn't fit Redemption's definition of an idol and it is N.T. so it wouldn't have the characteristics that make Ephod worthwhile, although in the future if N.T. artifacts get similar synergy cards to O.T. arts and idols then 30 Pieces becomes a much better card for the same effect. Perhaps something like "Evil Enhancements used by N.T. humans are regardless of protect abilities". That way N.T. themes get a boost and it works for your opponent as well. Maybe that tames it too much since N.T. themes will likely be more common after the release of GoC, but something along those lines might be better.

So was the reference to  "GoC" a spoiler to a new set that I haven't heard about yet? Glory of Christ?

Honestly don't remember if/where any announcements about it have been posted, so for now I guess just glean what you can from Gabe's non-finalized spoiler from a few days ago in this thread.

Looked up GoC acronym and here are my favorites!

Geeks on Call
Game of (the) Century
God's own Country
Grouchy old Cripple.  Apparently a blog, don't know anything about it, just think it is a funny name!

All of the feedback on these card ideas has been heard and taken into account. I have updated all three cards accordingly. Let me know your thoughts on these updated card ideas! Thanks @Bobbert, @TheJaylor, @Sean, and @dermo4christ for your helpful thoughts!