Climax Strike (written)

[heraldry_lord]

Climax Strike

Mana Cost: {2}{R}{R}

Instant

 

Damage can't be prevented this turn.

 

The next time a source of your choice would deal damage to a player or a permanent, it deals double that damage to that player or permanent instead.

[Mysty]

Climax Strike

Mana Cost: {2}{R}{R}

Instant

 

The next time a source of your choice would deal damage to a player or a permanent that player controls, it deals double that damage to that player or permanent instead.

 

This damage can't be prevented.

 

Generally, "the next time" effects will say "this turn" to prevent memory issues.

 

The term "a" isn't 'selective' unless it has the phrase "of your choice" after it (such as "a source of your choice"). However, the phrase "of your choice" is generally only used for choosing sources of damage or things that can't be targeted (colors, creature types, etc.). As such, writing "a player" essentially means "the next player it will strike", even if that isn't the one you 'intended'. If you wanted to choose a player, this should target that player, like so: "would deal damage to target player or permanent that player controls".

If you don't care about where the "next" strike lands, writing "that player controls" doesn't make any sense for referencing "a" player, since it will check if it will deal damage to ANY player. In which case, the card could read, without much loss of generality, "The next time a source of your choice would deal damage to a permanent or player this turn, it deals double that damage to that permanent or player instead" or, even more succinct and with slightly more loss of generality, "The next time a source of your choice would deal damage this turn, it deals double that damage instead.")

 

Also, the damage anti-prevention should be affixed to the end of the last sentence as "and that damage can't be prevented." Then again, I'm not sure that wording will do exactly what you want either, given how replacement effects work. This should work functionally the same as your current wording, though, whether it works as you intended or not.

 

You can guarantee that it works as 'intended' and give the climactic feel to the entire turn with a "Damage can't be prevented this turn." as the first paragraph of the card. (Move everything else to being the second paragraph.)

[heraldry_lord]

Generally, "the next time" effects will say "this turn" to prevent memory issues.

 

The term "a" isn't 'selective' unless it has the phrase "of your choice" after it (such as "a source of your choice"). However, the phrase "of your choice" is generally only used for choosing sources of damage or things that can't be targeted (colors, creature types, etc.). As such, writing "a player" essentially means "the next player it will strike", even if that isn't the one you 'intended'. If you wanted to choose a player, this should target that player, like so: "would deal damage to target player or permanent that player controls".

If you don't care about where the "next" strike lands, writing "that player controls" doesn't make any sense for referencing "a" player, since it will check if it will deal damage to ANY player. In which case, the card could read, without much loss of generality, "The next time a source of your choice would deal damage to a permanent or player this turn, it deals double that damage to that permanent or player instead" or, even more succinct and with slightly more loss of generality, "The next time a source of your choice would deal damage this turn, it deals double that damage instead.")

 

Also, the damage anti-prevention should be affixed to the end of the last sentence as "and that damage can't be prevented." Then again, I'm not sure that wording will do exactly what you want either, given how replacement effects work. This should work functionally the same as your current wording, though, whether it works as you intended or not.

 

You can guarantee that it works as 'intended' and give the climactic feel to the entire turn with a "Damage can't be prevented this turn." as the first paragraph of the card. (Move everything else to being the second paragraph.)

 

Thanks much.  Made the changes.