[MtG Format] Planeswalker Command Highlander (PCH) | Early thoughts

[Delibirb]

I just started twiddling with this idea in my head today, so bear with me and offer suggestions not only for rules but for a banlist.

In addition to (or supplementing) normal MtG Rules:

• 40 card decks, 1 of which is a Planeswalker, the other 39 cards are non-Planeswalker cards of the color identity of the Planeswalker
• The format is Singleton, including Basic Lands (Every card can have only 1 copy in the deck)
• The Planeswalker starts the game in the Command Zone with their initial Loyalty counters and represents the player (Combat and Spells that target players can be directed towards the Planeswalker as well as the player
• Both players' start with Life equal to the total initial Loyalty of their Planeswalkers (So a Narset Transcendant v. Nicol Bolas would begin with 11 Life)
• Players do not lose the game by not being able to draw
• The Planeswalker is not in play, but its abilities can be used. It cannot be cast from the Command Zone.
• Players lose when their life becomes 0 or lower

Some things still need fleshing out but let me know what you think. (AKA I know its really bad atm but I want it to be better and a fun casual format)

[Simping For Hina]

So...pretty much Pack Wars, but instead of having 2 basic lands of each type already set, we have about 7 lands in the deck? Not a fan. This seems low variance and annoyingly problematic. You also pretty much make Green walkers crap except for 2 Garruk, which aren't that great anyways. And Nicol Bolas pretty much just stops any deck before anything is done. Let's destroy things, and not have the planeswalker have the ability to be attacked. Isn't Goblin Guide going to be the only notable creature that stops Nicol Bolas, but not even then?

 

The problem is: 20 cards is a fucking small amount when 33% of the deck should be lands, which are singleton anyways. And allowing Plansewalker abilities be used without having any affect against each other or have the ability to be attacked is crap.

 

I would rather just have Planeswalkers as commanders, not like the Commander Set 2014 one. This is a horribly constructed format without really set up to making them game fun. Low variance without much to set up, or balance, is not worth it to even attempt.

 

EDIT: So...I misread with the planewalker being your life, pretty much. So that means that Goblin Guide is just better and Nicol Bolas is still boss. That is already two cards for a deck, you're welcome. And honestly, the idea of Loyalty being life and the lowest ability affecting that just makes the combat way too much to remember. It is too much set up for a fast and mediocre game.

 

I don't know how this game would transpire, but I don't think it would go well.

[Delibirb]

So...pretty much Pack Wars, but instead of having 2 basic lands of each type already set, we have about 7 lands in the deck? Not a fan. This seems low variance and annoyingly problematic. You also pretty much make Green walkers crap except for 2 Garruk, which aren't that great anyways. And Nicol Bolas pretty much just stops any deck before anything is done. Let's destroy things, and not have the planeswalker have the ability to be attacked. Isn't Goblin Guide going to be the only notable creature that stops Nicol Bolas, but not even then?

The problem is: 20 cards is a f***ing small amount when 33% of the deck should be lands, which are singleton anyways. And allowing Plansewalker abilities be used without having any affect against each other or have the ability to be attacked is crap.

I would rather just have Planeswalkers as commanders, not like the Commander Set 2014 one. This is a horribly constructed format without really set up to making them game fun. Low variance without much to set up, or balance, is not worth it to even attempt.

EDIT: So...I misread with the planewalker being your life, pretty much. So that means that Goblin Guide is just better and Nicol Bolas is still boss. That is already two cards for a deck, you're welcome. And honestly, the idea of Loyalty being life and the lowest ability affecting that just makes the combat way too much to remember. It is too much set up for a fast and mediocre game.

I don't know how this game would transpire, but I don't think it would go well.

We can easily forbid Nicol Bolas for this format. And as I said, I'm happy to make alterations to rules such as the lowest ability loss rule. It can simply be 0 and we can perhaps make the initial loyalty the combined total?

Like I said, I know it's terrible as is but I'd like suggestions to make it playable while maintaining the essentials.

[Simping For Hina]

Make it 50, 60, or 100 card singleton. Life instead of loyalty.

[Delibirb]

Make it 50, 60, or 100 card singleton. Life instead of loyalty.

Made it 40 because smallish deck is important to the format Imo. Also separated Life and Loyalty, but the Planeswalkers still start with Loyalty Counters.

[Delibirb]

Made a small adjustment, more of a clarification really, in that the Planeswalker cannot be cast from the Command Zone. It is always there and its abilities can be used.

 

Also changed the name, PCH sounds better to me, personally.

 

Any other thoughts on the format or cards that should be forbidden for it? Regrettably I'm not very in-tune with the MtG card pool.

[Spinny]

What about the new Planeswalkers that have to be transformed?

[Delibirb]

What about the new Planeswalkers that have to be transformed?

I'd say 1 of 3 things to them.

 

A: You cannot use them as a Commander, but can use them in your main deck as a non-Commander*

B: You can use the Planeswalker side as your Commander, but cannot use these cards in your Main Deck.

C: You cannot use them in this format

 

*May or may not be able to be transformed

 

Which would people like better? I know they're new and interesting so I'd prefer either A or B myself.

[Spinny]

I would like B. Liliana is bae.

[Delibirb]

Sounds fine to me, at least for now.

[Simping For Hina]

Does just just completely eliminate Gideon from the format, then?

[Delibirb]

Does just just completely eliminate Gideon from the format, then?

I'd say, as it stands right now, you can use the cards in your main deck but cannot transform them. We don't want to have to remove cards without good reason.

[Simping For Hina]

Not the new one.

 

I am talking about Gideon Jura and Gideon, Champion of Justice.

[Delibirb]

Not the new one.

 

I am talking about Gideon Jura and Gideon, Champion of Justice.

I'd say no, since their abilities can be used and becoming a creature doesn't cast them, so even though they're in the Command Zone, using their abilities to become creatures temporarily puts them on the battlefield.