[Finished][Striker] Cutthroat Cardmaker II

[Nathanael D. Striker]

Greetings card makers, and welcome to Cutthroat Card Maker. The rules here are very simple: four of you will compete in three card making challenges. At the end of each challenge, one of you card makers will be eliminated. For each challenge, I will give you requirements for a card you will prepare. We will then have ourselves a little auction, which if you win, you can inflict a sense of fear and dread onto your opponents. What's an auction without some points, so I have here 10,000 points. Each of you will receive 2,500 points to spend as you please, but be careful for if you win, you will only win the points you have remaining. So, who is willing to enter the competition?

[spoiler=Rules]

All YCM Rules apply

Only 4 contestants may participate with preference towards new contestants each contest.

Deadline for entry is a week after this post, unless the spots are filled.

Points available to each person for bidding will be represented in the Auction spoiler. Winner will receive whatever points they have remaining.

Skype is recommended, though not required for the auctions. If you have Skype, post or PM it to me, if it isn't in your profile, if you want to. If not, auctions will take place in group PM.

Auctions shall be held at my discretion, so be prepared to bid or accept the sabotage at any time.

Bids shall start at 50, and will go up by any multiple of 10 (e.g. A bids 50, B bids 60, C bids 100, etc.).

The judge shall not know about any of the sabotages, and no contestant shall tell them anything.

Cards are due 24 hours after the initial auction is finished, but this does not mean auctions won't happen during card making.

Cards are to be PM'd to me by the deadline.

I have the right to add rules.

 

[spoiler=Auction]

Giga: 2,170 points

VCR_CAT: 1,990 points

Blackened Carnage: 1,190 points

Tori-kun: 2,500 points

 

[spoiler=Card Requirement]

Round 1: Create a WATER monster with an alt Summon.

Round 2: Create a Main Deck boss that can also act as a Type-specific support card upon being destroyed.

Round 3: Retrain a monster that was originally released before or in the set Light of Destruction (LODT).

 

[(GigaDrillBreaker)]

Returning champ right here.

 

Haven't made cards in months, ought to be fun.

[Nathanael D. Striker]

Returning champ right here.

 

Haven't made cards in months, ought to be fun.

 

Considering it has been a year, I'll let the second rule slide (kept it in to maintain the template). Accepted.

[VCR_CAT]

Yo yo yo

[VampireofDarkness]

Here we go, I suppose!

[towitori]

I'll try this sure

[Nathanael D. Striker]

Yo yo yo

 

Welcome aboard.

 

Here we go, I suppose!

 

How am I not surprised? Sorry for the long wait for you to get your shot at this.

 

I'll try this sure

 

Alright then.

 

Whelp, all we need is a judge to get this started.

[Nathanael D. Striker]

Alright, we got our judge. Card requirements and auction PM coming up shortly.

[Nathanael D. Striker]

Judging has finally arrived. Our judge for this contest is Self-Destruct Button.

 

[spoiler=Round 1 Judging]

First a general comment, then an evaluation with points from 1 to 10, with 10 being the best, and 0 being pretty bad.

 

[spoiler=Giga]

 

Superancient Deepsea Usurper Megalodon

Level 7 WATER

Fish/Effect

If this card is in your hand or Graveyard: You can tribute any number of WATER monsters with total level/rank of 7 or more; Special Summon this monster, then, if the total level/rank of the monsters tributed is 14 or more, destroy all cards your opponent controls. You can only use this effect of "Superancient Deepsea Usurper Megalodon" once per turn.

ATK: 3000/DEF: 2000

Comment: I like the card quite a bit due to its Name referencing Coelacanth and its summoning condition being pretty balanced despite working from the graveyard aswell as from the hand. What I don't like about it is how its nuke effect is really really costly and a little bit too impactful for a card recurring this easy. I'd have put its activation requirement somewhere around Level 9 or more and its effect just the destruction of 1 card on the field - it's much more accessible and has more utility overall, since the cost wouldn't be that absurd anymore. The last gripe I have with the card is its ATK - only RANK 7 monsters have ever reached the mark of 3000 ATK so far, and the limit for Level 7 monsters seems to be 2800. (As seen in Dark Armed Dragon or Blaster, Dragon Ruler of Infernos)

 

 

Overall Rating: 6/10

 

 

[spoiler=Carnage]

 

Humanoid Shark

4/WATER/Fish

1500/0

While this card is face-up on the field while you control a Level 5 WATER monster or while this card is in your Graveyard, its Level is treated as 5. If you control no monsters, you can Special Summon this card (from your hand). If this card is Summoned; you can send 1 "Shark" monster from your Deck to the Graveyard. You can banish this card from your Graveyard; Add 1 "Shark" monster from your Deck to your hand, except "Humanoid Shark". You cannot Special Summon monsters, except WATER monsters, during the turn you activate this effect. You can only use each effect of "Humanoid Shark" once per turn.

Comment: So this is the card that finally makes "Shark" a legitimate archetype! (It isn't until now, because none of the cards actually mention the name "Shark") And in what an amazing way it does just that - It is Level 5 while you control a Level 5 WATER monster or while it is in the Graveyard (which makes it useful for Rank 5 plays and makes it a target for Gazer Shark - arguably the best "Shark" card thus far), sets up your Gazer Shark by sendintg it from the Deck to the Graveyard and it ALSO searches another "Shark", except itself. I really like the card due to how well it supports the theme it was made for, and how it is designed and balanced overall. The alt summon condition is too simple for a card contest in my opinion, which is what keeps it from a 10/10 rating.

 

Overall Rating: 8,5/10

 

 

[spoiler=VCR Cat]

 

When you Summon a monster(s) with 2000 or more ATK: You can Special Summon this card from your hand, then, if that monster is a Level 5 or higher monster, Special Summon 1 "Drop Token" (Aqua-Type/WATER/Level 1/ATK 0/DEF 0). You can only use this effect of "Dewgemony, Lord of the Morning Mist" once per turn. You cannot Special Summon any monsters, except for WATER monsters.

Comment: This is, with the above Humanoid Shark, my favorite in this round. It basically screams "SUMMON TRISHULA" right when you read the Token-making effect, due to it easily fulfilling the requirement of 2 non-tuner monsters that Trishula has. All you need to do when you have this is summon a Level 7 monster, and boom, with this in the hand you have a Trishula up and ready. Aside from that, it has a few other uses, but the restriction it has is a bit too weak in my opinion. As a continuous effect, it only works while it is face-up on the field, so you can special summon whatever attribute you want after using it as Synchro Material. I would approve if it only triggered on WATER monsters with 2000 ATK or restricted you to summon only WATER monsters for the rest of the turn, but even so, it's pretty amazing.

 

 

Overall Rating: 8/10

 

 

[spoiler=Tori-Kun]

 

Manta Shark

WATER / 5*

Fish / Effect

ATK / 1000 DEF / 1600

If you control a face-up "Remora Shark", you can Normal Summon this card with Tributing. Once per turn: You can target 1 "Remora Shark" you control; equip it to this card. This card gains 600 ATK for each "Remora Shark" equipped to this card. You can send 1 card equipped to this card; destroy 1 card on the field. You can only control 1 face-up "Manta Shark".

Remora Shark

WATER / 5*

Fish / Effect

ATK / 1500 DEF / 1000

If this card was sent to the Graveyard; Special Summon it. If this card that was in your Spell/Trap Card Zone was destroyed by your opponent's card effect: You can target 1 card on the field: return it to its owner's hand. You can only use 1 "Remora Shark" effect per turn, and only once that turn.

Comment: Basically a 2-card-destruction combo. You use Foolish Burial / Genex Undine or other means of sending Remora Shark to the Graveyard (OR, even better: Humanoid Shark!), use its effect to Special Summon it back from the Graveyard, and then Normal Summon the Manta Shark from your hand to use its effect, equipping the Remora Shark. The low stats of Manta Shark make it hard to keep it on the field for 1 turn or more, so you will most likely just use its effect right away, destroying 1 card on the field. Both of them fulfil the alt-summon condition just fine (both are a bit simple though!), so much for the good points. What I don't like about them is how Remora Sharks second effect is almost unusable: First off, the combo you use to set them both up requires you to Special Summon your Remora Shark with its effect, so you can't use its second effect during your turn no matter what. If your opponent MSTs it, its simply just gone with no compensation. If you set them up, you will most likely want to blow something up with them, as Manta Sharks stats - as already mentioned - are very bad and its too easy for it to be overrun, so it isn't worth it to just have it hang around on the field and risk your opponent spinning the Remora or overrunning the Manta. The hard OPT on Remora just screws up the second effect and makes it absolutely irrelevant.

 

 

Overall Rating: 6,5/10

 

 

I hope I am reasonable with my ratings and thoughts, and that I didn't miss any combos or interactions of the cards.

The person eliminated is the one with the lowest rating, which is Giga in this case. Sorry to him, and better luck next time.

 

Greetings,

Self-Destruct Button

 

 

 

Sorry Giga, but unfortunately I'll need those points back in this case. Thank you for returning from Cutthroat Cardmaker I.

[Nathanael D. Striker]

Alright, Round 2 has been judged.

 

[spoiler=Round 2 Judging]

[spoiler=VCR Cat]

Cannot be Normal Summoned/Set. You must Special Summon this card from your hand by banishing 3 monsters with different names from your Graveyard, and cannot be Special Summoned by other ways. You can discard 1 card: Banish up to 5 monsters from your opponent's Graveyard, and if you do, this card gains 100 ATK for each card banished. You can only use this effect of "Vanguard of the Sanctuary" once per turn. If this card is destroyed by your opponent’s attack OR by your opponent’s effect and sent to the Graveyard: You can banish this card from your Graveyard and target 1 Fairy-Type monster in your Graveyard; add that target to your hand.

Comment: So it's a Warrior that supports Fairies and to an extent Rank 7-based decks. Its summoning condition is rather simple, but also makes sure that it cannot be used in the early game, since you will most likely not have 3 monsters with different names in the graveyard (and no targets for its float afterwards). Regardless of what Deck you are playing it in, you get an easily summonable beatstick that disrupts your opponents Graveyard for a discard, meanwhile boosting itself to up to 500 ATK. Based on the matchup dependance of the card - as not all decks use their Graveyard accordingly - I don't really see it being played in any Main Deck, but rather in the Side Deck of Decks that quickly setup their Graveyard and therefore can meet its summoning condition with ease - bar, of course, Fairy-Type Decks because of its float. There is not much else I can say about it, the card doesn't really blow me off my seat, but isn't bad either. Solid all around.
 

Overall rating: 7/10

 

[spoiler=Carnage]

Cannot be Special Summoned, except by the effect of a "Dark Ruler" Card. This card is also always treated as a Fiend-Type monster. During either player's Main Phase or Battle Phase: You can reveal this card in your hand; Immediately after this effect resolves, Tribute Summon this card. If this card is Normal Summoned: You can add 1 "Sinister Yorshiro" or "Dark Ruler" Spell/Trap Card from your Deck to your hand. If this card is destroyed (by battle or by card effect); You can Special Summon 1 Level 8 DARK Fiend or Dragon-Type monster from your hand or Deck. You can only activate each effect of "Dark Archfiend Dragon Ha Des" once per turn.

Comment: Next up, we have the review of Carnages 1.000.000th DARK support card! And what an awkward one. Awkward not because of the card itself, but because of the Archetype it creates. I have stated last time, that no "Shark" card as of yet makes "Shark" a legitimate Archetype, because that would require the cards to function specifically with other "Shark" cards and therefore mention them in their effect text - which none of them do. "Dark Ruler" Spell/Trap cards are another example of this, but not really as close to an Archetype as "Shark"s are, because Dark Ruler cards alone don't really make for a usable Deck. With all that storytelling out of the way, let's bedin the actual review. What we have here is an impossbily summonable Fiend/Dragon Hybrid that searches otherwise unserachable cards that mainly support Fiend-Type monsters. An interesting twist is that the card it searches makes it much easier to use the card itself - meaning that if you run this, you will also run Sinister Yoroshiro. (To all of those who don't know: Sinister Yoroshiro lets you Normal Summon a Level 5 or higher fiend without tribute each turn, as a continuous trap card with a protective side effect.) I think it's safe to say that you will mostly use Yoroshiro or its effect to summon it, rather than the only way to Special Summon the card - which is "The Puppet Magic of Dark Ruler". (Again quick info for all who don't know: "The Puppet Magic of Dark Ruler" lets you Special Summon a Fiend-Type monster from the graveyard given you banish monsters with the same total Level you control as a cost) You can search it on the Normal Summon, but I think Sinister Yoroshiro is agreeably the better target for this, as the Dark Archfiend Dragon only gets its search effect when Normal Summoned, so it's pretty risky to run Puppet Magic as you already have better ways of revival via Call of the Haunted or, if you want to go that route, Soul Charge. (Okay, they are at 1 or Traps but still much better than Puppet Magic, even when searchable.) Now for the last part of the card - the float: (notable targets are: Dark Horus; Darkstorm Dragon; Archfiend Emperor, the first Lord of Horror; Invader of Darkness; Archfiend Empress; Belial - Marquis of Darkness; Grapha; The Suppression Pluto) It Special Summons a Level 8 DARK Fiend or Dragon from the Deck, which realistically will only be one of the Archfiend-targets. What it comes down to is: If you can get this on the board with Yoroshiro or its effect, you can search another Yoroshiro to set up a future Archfiend Empress or Emperor, then follow to threaten your opponent into using resources with its float. Overall, as awkward as the card seems at first, its execution is pretty amazing and as such, I really approve the thought behind it. But as always, I have something to criticize. I don't like that the float triggers upon destruction only - I mean, destruction by battle is fine and all, but I don't see why it triggers on something that the card you can summon it with protects it from: Effect destruction. I'd have really liked it if it would have prevented targeting (requires a different effect overall though!), making it a real Boss that is hard to get around because of itself and Yoroshiros protection, but as it is, it is fine either. Another thing is how little Dragon targets there actually are - only 2 of the cards I listed are Dragons, and as such, that part could have been left out, even though it does make sense flavor-wise.
 

Overall Rating: 7,5 / 10

 

 

[spoiler=Tori-Kun]

You can Special Summon this card from your hand by banishing 1 Rock-Type monster you control. You can only Special Summon "Icicle Golem" once per turn this way. Monsters your opponent controls cannot attack during the turn they were Summoned. If this card is destroyed by a card effect and sent to the Graveyard: banish it from your Graveyard; Special Summon up to 2 Level 4 or lower Rock-Type monsters from your hand and/or Graveyard. You can only use this effect of "Icicle Golem" once per turn.

Comment: And what do we have here? A semi-boss monster maindeckable in Rock-Type based decks. Out of all the submitted cards, it's by far the easiest to summon, as banishing only 1 Rock-Type is fairly easy to achieve even in the first turn. It gives all your opponents monsters Summon Sickness as known from other card games like, for example, Hearthstone, which is its form of protection and basically its only on-field effect. Upon being destroyed by a card effect, it lets you Special Summon 2 Level 4 or lower Rocks from your hand or Graveyard - a simple float, as all other candidates also have. There isn't much else to say or discuss about it, but I have a major problem with the design of the card: Block Dragon. It has a similar Summon Condition (banishing 3 EARTH monsters from the Graveyard), the same Level, same ATK, completely inverted protection (for all Rocks though!), and a similar-ish float. I am sorry to say so, but I think this card could differ much more from Block Dragon, and could give more reason to run it over the former. The only reason for that right now is, simply, that one doesn't run EARTH monsters. 
 

Overall Rating: 5/10

 

 
I hope you can understand my opinions and reasons, but I have to choose Tori-Kun to be eliminated this round. You did well, better luck next time!
 
And with that, this round should be concluded.
Greetings, Self-Destruct Button!

 

 

Sorry Tori. You put up a valiant effort in your fight here at Cutthroat Cardmaker, but your time has now come to an end.

 

For our remaining survivors, requirement coming up shortly.

[Nathanael D. Striker]

[spoiler=Round 3 Judging]

When you usually remake a card, you generally choose one that hasn't seen play in a long, long time, due to how sub-par its effect is compared to its artwork or lore. Fog King doesn't exactly fall into that category, with him being sidedecked frequently at the moment due to the popularity of monarchs. But this is where VCR Cat's card becomes interesting: It takes a card that doesn't really fit its own name or design effect-wise, and turns it into something that does.

 

On the other hand, Yamatano Dragon Scroll is just what I previously stated: A pretty useless Normal Monster that never saw play in any deck, and didn't even see its TCG release to this day. Why would you remake this card? Because there's quite some potential in it, as Carnage shows us in this example of what the card could have been. Now which of these two hits the mark better? let's find out together.

What I must say about both of them is how amazing the hit the mark if you compare their Name and Art with what they actually do. If I think of a "Fog King" [or: "Veiled Haze King"], I think of a vicious monster that hides in the mist, never to be hit with anything and always one step ahead of you, evading any attack directed at it. Looking at the actual card, it does literally that - it manipulates the direction that attacks and targeting effects fire at - thereby evading them altogether for the most part, as you will mostly not choose it to be the target itself. Gameplay-wise, the card has its uses. It can protect your monsters from any targeting effect by just changing the target to something you don't mind losing, or if the effect your opponent uses allows for it, even change the target to their own card. This also means that a Veiled Haze King being the only card you control will do pretty much nothing for you. "Dragon Summoning Scroll" works similarly - If you only have it alone, it doesn't do all that much for you. But if you have other dragons to work with it, You're on: You can Special Summon it to the field with the greatest of ease just by controlling no monsters, and if you happen to have another Dragon-Type monster, you can tribute both of them to Special Summon a stronger Dragon-Type from your Deck. [Obligatory Primary Target section: Red-Eyes B. Dragon; all Odd-Eyes Dragons; Red-Eyes Black Flare and Toon Dragon; Arkbrave Dragon; Blue-Eyes White Dragon; Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon; Tyrant Dragon; White Night Dragon; Darkstorm Dragon] Now you might think: "But if I need another Dragon to work with this, does it really pay off?" - and the answer is yes. Because the two Archetypes using this card best both have an absolutely marvellous target to tribute with it: "The White Stone of Legend" and "The White Stone of Ancients" in Blue-Eyes, and "The Black Stone of Legend" in Red-Eyes decks all get effects upon being used with this card, if it is a search, some recovery, or a Special Summon from the Deck during the End Phase - getting that on top of the Dragon that the Scroll provides you with is totally worth it. So what is there left to say? Both cards' stats, effect, summoning condition and name prove the point that Carnage and VCR Cat both really deserve to have come that far here. I can only say the following to any cardmaker reading this:

This is what retrains should look like!

Now with that out of the way, I can happily declare the winner of this competition. While the Dragon Summoning Scroll is an amazingly thought out card, its concept and execution are on point and I have literally nothing to criticize about both cards, I feel like the "Veiled Haze King" just hits the relation between what one feels the card should do, and what it actually does, a slight bit better. I see why people wouldn't agree with this decision, but as both cards are equally as good in my opinion, that's what it comes down to for me. Carnage - you did an amazing job, and I hope to see you in the next contest aswell. But this time, VCR Cat is the #1.

 

Greetings, Self-Destruct Button

 

 

Sorry Carnage, but that means you get to put your points back into the case. Valiant effort, my good sir. Congratulations VCR_CAT for your victory, and enjoy your 1,990 points. You have earned every last one.

 

Wrap-up coming up later.

[Nathanael D. Striker]

[spoiler=Cutthroat Cardmaker Wrap-up]

Striker: Alright mate, time for the wrap up. I'd like your thoughts on these sabotages, what you would have done if you won the item, and what you would have done if you got the item.

 

[spoiler=Round 1]

For reference, the requirement was to make a WATER monster with an alt Summon.

[spoiler=Item 1]

Our first item up for auction is a little something I like to call "choose a Level/Rank". I know two of you are familiar with this item, but not like this. Here I have the numbers 1, 4, 5, and 7. If you win this item, you get to choose the number you'd like to use for your card, and then you can assign each of your opponents one of the remaining numbers. So, who will give me 50 points to make their opponents' lives just a bit more difficult?

 

 

[spoiler=Item 2]

Seeing double? Well, that's the point. Win this auction and you can force one of your opponents to make two cards. They both must work together and have the Level/Rank you have been assigned. Now, send me your bids.

 

 

 

 

[spoiler=Round 2]

For reference, the requirement was to create a Main Deck boss (e.g. Machina Fortress, DAD, etc.) that can also act as a Type-specific support card upon being destroyed. That last part is open to interpretation.

[spoiler=Item 1]

 

Oh look, it's a pile of rocks and stun gun. I'm not auctioning off these two things, but what they represent. Win this auction and you can force one of your opponents to create a Main Deck boss that supports Rock Stun and their playstyle. *gives an evil laugh*

 

 

[spoiler=Item 2]

What? A FIRE Aqua-Type monster? How can an Aqua-Type monster be FIRE? That's blasphemy. Wait, this is a good thing. Win this auction and you can force one of your opponents to create a monster with an unconventional Attribute/Type paring like FIRE/Aqua. Also, part of its effect must incorporate it's Attribute in someway (e.g. burn for FIRE).

 

 

 

 

[spoiler=Round 3]

For reference, the requirement was to retrain a monster that was originally released before or in the set Light of Destruction (LODT).

[spoiler=Item]

I'm going to give one of you a choice. Win this item and you can choose the set your opponent must retrain a monster from. Doesn't that sound lovely?

 

 

 

 

 

Self Destruct Button:

Alrighty, let's get this started.

 

Round 1:

->Item 1: Had I won this item, I would have picked Level 4 myself and given the rest of the Levels randomly, but Level 5 for the person who has to make 2 cards due to Item 2. Had it been used against me, I wouldn't really have minded that, since the Level isn't really the most important part about a card, and I could have adjusted pretty easily.

->Item 2: I would have given it to the person who has to make a Level 5 with Item 1, but had I not known which one that would be, I would have picked the opponent I think is the most threatening to me. Had it been used against me, I would have made a set of 2 WATERs around Level 2 or 3 that synergize with each other, but don't necesserily need each other to do anything.

 

Round 2:

->Item 1: Had it been used against me, I'd have made a Level 7 Rock with around 2500 ATK that you can Special Summon by discarding a card or sh similar, and if you Special Summon it, you can search for a Rock from your Deck. If you would tribute a monster for its own effect, you could instead tribute a card from your hand with its effect, and it would float into another Rock most likely. That should support Rock Stun. Had I won it, similarly with Item 2 from R1, I would again have picked the opponent I think is the most threatening to me.

->Item 2: I'm not really sure what to say about this. To me, it doesn't really seem like a desirable item to get, since it's easy to play around. So it doesn't matter to me whom I'd have given it to either. Sorry. :/

 

Round 3: I'd have given my opponent one of the earliest boosters with cringy Normal Monsters, and tried to (probably) remake one of these had I been given such a choice. Not much to say.

 

Overall I approve the choice of Sabotages, they make your life as participant harder, but not that much as you can adjust to them just fine with enough card knowledge.

 

Striker: I'm sure you have figured out who got what Sabotage, right? Levels are obvious, Tori got the next three, and Darkness got the last one. How did they do?

 

Self-Destruct Button: Yeah, I have figured that one out. I was wondering why the Rock was Water anyway, during the judging, but it fit the theme so I didn't name it. They all did pretty well, maybe Giga fell into that trap by making a Lv7 3000 ATK, but other than that, I don't see the sabotages doing that much bad for the participants. They're just there to make it more interesting, anyway, right?

 

Striker: If you say so. My first thoughts with the sabotages were to make the round difficult for whomever got them. They turned more into an extended form of the card requirement, which still tests people I'd say.

 

 

 

Well, I'd call this a very successful Cutthroat Cardmaker. Thank you everyone for making this successful, and I look forward to Cutthroat Cardmaker III.