#example designs

[inventors-fair]

Typal Examples and More

Many thanks to Storm for pointing these cards out, but there are a few more cards from MTG history that have properties we're looking for in this contest:

The thing about Dragon's Approach and Slime Against Humanity is that they also have the unlimited-number clause; considering that those are half the examples we have, it might be a good idea to stray away from this constraint specifically. But Step Through is a phenomenal example because the Wizards in MH2 were...varied, to say the least. They were all situated in Grixis colors (UBR) and looked for a variety of archetypes. Maybe you had a token-making Wizard, maybe it helped with Delirium, or maybe discarding Step Through allows you to cast your Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar that you picked up P1P1!

I'll also note that tokens are an interesting combination to look at. When you're browsing sets, are there any creature types that don't appear on tokens that you could make tokens for? Would that combination of token-plus-type impact someone's deck choices or card selection?

Regardless, we've been digging up a couple of examples, and want to show you what we've cooked up—

@loreholdlesbian designed a nightmarish combat trick from Ikoria that combines counters, menace-matters, and the Nightmare creature type into one horrific attack. The power of the effect makes the flavor of the Nightmare typing all the more effective—i.e. it's the creatures that are born from the psyche that are best at navigating the psychic terrain. This could just put a menace counter on any creature, but at common that would be far too easy to jam any one-mana creature with this spell; Nightmares matter here.

@teaxch brought the idea for an artifact to the table, one from the modern Amonkhet that looks to accompany the rebuilders of the world. I shaped the flavor for this one with some minor tweaks including the cycling, but most of the time this card would be used for either an artifact shell (to represent the rebuilding) or a sorcery-based tempo deck (to represent questions as opposed to the instant-speed answers). Having a Sphinx in your hand to cast would just be an added benefit that might be an extra boon for any Sphinx Commander players.

Actually, that's another note: sometimes these limited cards will significantly affect Commander! Keep that in mind for how you're designing. Maybe your card would possibly help in limited but definitely help in Commander.

And as a last note, I came up with an Ixalanian card that I should add an art description to, but I wanted to get this post up first and foremost. Scouts on Ixalan can be found across multiple groups, but if the future of Ixalan perhaps doesn't involve the heavy typal and features a variety of outcasts and explorers together, this card can represent why you might need a specialist in your party.

Hope this is a useful resource! Have fun, everyone. @abelzumi

[asfodeltide]

for artists against apartheid

[rookflower]

starting a petition to end this dichotomy in warrior cats designs forever

[shortnotsweet]

This technically applies to my Stepmother AU in which Alicent is around six years older than Rhaenyra, and occupies a wicked stepmother role as opposed to ex ‘friends-to-first loves-to-enemies’. Despite lacking the foundation of shared girlhood, both find simultaneous comfort and rivalry in one another, and undergo a gravitational pull. A young Rhaenyra’s eagerness to participate in swordplay and political affairs at a young is accommodated for, and she grows up with a sword in one hand and the weight of experience in another, which further helps pave her way to the throne.

Alicent’s Costuming

Alicent’s clothing is almost entirely bottle, emerald, or forest green. While there is layering present in her skirts and jackets, the accent should always be a darker green than the base color. The fabric is deep, rich, and retains an undeniably high-quality luster. Look to velvets and silks. Gold embroidery lingers around her sleeves, neck, and hemline to elevate the coloring.

Metallic embellishments should be almost military-like, and appear heavy. Contribute to the imagery of chains or shackles in addition to her status

Draws inspiration from historically accurate stiffness and Victorian shapes, with a tapered waist, imposing, puffy sleeves, and a high neckline. Despite inaccuracies, this shape is evocative of someone elegantly and conservatively feminine, repressed, and capable of exerting power over others. Reference a classic, trussed hourglass shape. Skirts should be notably heavy and full; may make noise in movement

The coloring and shapes remain relatively consistent but lack variation; this is to demonstrate a lack of freedom and exploration, as well as an adherence to conventional feminine roles

Despite these limitations, her costuming should always be put-together, coordinated, and unquestionably fashionable. Tight sleeve cuffs may be accompanied by a more traditionally medieval fan sleeve

Shoes should stick mostly to slippers, or flat designs

In this AU, her hair leans more towards a dark brown instead of auburn, as her show counterpart. This is mostly due to faux-book accuracy and to simplify the sketch process, since keeping her hair darker in comparison to Rhaenyra’s lighter hair translates more easily in uncolored renderings.

Keep her hair either in a tidy bun or pulled back and loose; avoid too many intricate shapes, braids, or styles. Occasionally, the hair will hang loose. Lean into medieval or royal headpieces, clips, coverings, etc.

Rhaenyra’s Costuming

Rhaenyra’s clothes are primarily black and red, occasionally accented or substituted with neutrals such as beige, white, or gray. Exceptions may include blue or yellow, but she generally stays in this color palette.

Strong focus is drawn to her shoulders and neckline, sometimes with embroidered or embellished detailing. She often has strong, angular shoulders in her dresses or jackets, occasionally theatrically pointed. Off-the shoulder necklines emphasize her collarbones and a certain broadness.

There should be decent variety in her clothing; there is a hypothetical outfit for every occasion and more (for battle, for riding, everyday, formal, feasts, everyday, etc.), and most should be composed of multiple pieces and utilize generous layering. This includes under-fabric, belts and corsets, jackets and doublets, draped fabric for aesthetic purpose, and even functional capes.

Most of her clothes should provide visual aid for movement; additional fabric to her skirts, for example. Her clothes should be highly stylized but still easy to move in. In riding and battle gear, it is presumed that she wears pants and boots under her skirts, even if they are not visible.

Shoes lean more into boot cuts, still practical but should have a sleek and uniform quality to them. When she walks, she should make some kind of noise. Shoes should usually be black or potentially red, the latter for decorative purposes.

Overall her style should be more contemporary and lean into the fantasy element. She’s not opposed to oriental details or showing skin, and her costumes should reflect both couture-height drama and period-reliant aspects. Longer lines and diagonal hems mean she is not as devoted to an hourglass shape, and her high collars should always be decorative in some respect.

Keep her hair long and mostly loose, sometimes pulled back. Small braids should be implied as incorporated. Occasional hairstyles feature complicated braids. With the exception of highly decorative braided styles, simple buns should be avoided unless accompanied with very high necklines.

Avoid headpieces that are not either a) her crown or b) ceremonial.

[epicthemusicalstuff]

See, every time Jorge mentions Cirque du Soleil being a possible inspiration for a live stage version, I get excited all over again by the possibility of puppetry. The show Awakening is a great example of what can be done with large puppets, both remotely controlled, and those moved by humans!! I think that style of puppetry would be amazing in Epic, particularly for all the creatures such as Polyphemus, Scylla, and maybe even some of the gods. And the fight between Circe and Odysseus too!!!

(shown below are two examples of Puppets from Awakening that I adore, and whose technology I can 100% see being in Epic!!!!)

[sadclowncentral]

i love when people get more loud and outgoing and happy to talk to strangers after having a drink or two it's fun to watch people come out of their shell however i am like that sober alcohol just makes me unable to mask my autism. which means partying with me is like this

friend: you were right man the people here are so cool i've made so many friend alrea- dude are you okay you are so quiet all of a sudden

me who has not blinked in 5 minutes: yes. can i please list aircraft designations in alphabetical order now

[canisalbus]

I've had Ludovicas girlfriend on the brain for months and finally sketched her out. I see her as the opposite to machete in that she has dark colours and softer shapes. Her ears and facefur kinda blend together and she gets big soft browneyes..

.

[rusty-gloinks]

finished their redesigns!!

[sysig]

Those wacky skeletons ♥ (Patreon)

[nattikay]

OC lineup! All the characters that currently exist in this "story"

[inventors-fair]

Who are you? Where are we? ~

Here are a couple examples I swiped from our fellow judges as well as one that I threw together today because I remembered that Brain Stone exists.

@stormtide-leviathan showed up on an elk with Kenrith the Cursed, a twist on Kenrith's Transformation showing my liege as a poor giant massive Elk dude. This card works showing the story moment from the creature's perspective rather than the event's perspective, which itself was represented on an Aura. In a larger set, it fulfills a commander niche if need be with the white activation (although, tbh, I dunno what kind of deck I'd build) as well as some kind of GW equipment subtheme, while remaining a cool mono-G card to slam down.

@starch255 brought a statue to the table! And then knocks it off like a cat. I legitimately thought this was already printed flavor text which is why I included it here, but nope, it's a florence original, and it's REALLY well-written. The name comes from the card of the same name, and it's the same event, but this time, the Gruul swooped in to really make life worse for the people on the ground. This card, as a removal spell, focuses on the aftermath of the toppling rather than the grand push. Very neat! And a fun design.

I did some voidy-void stuff because I, too, was running out of time. That said, I thought about what a cool draft land would look like when played by the most annoying control players I've faced at my LGS (Just kidding, love you, K~) and why they'd run this as a one-of. It's a silly advantage card whose art direction may or may not feature a shirtless Teferi. The void of Zhalfir has been featured before, and this card takes its flavor text from Desynchronize from BRO. Hopefully the connection fits for y'all.

The point is, a LOT has changed, but the story is the same. What new angles will YOU come up with?

@abelzumi

[knightforflowers]

started listening to graduation for the first time last week

(Original image under the cut)

[falmerbrook]

This post was made by the Anti-Green Pact Society

[axel-tiredstudent]

Sneak peak! 1 of the 10 characters I've done (so far)

[elizakai]

have funky little bads concepts

(they’re stupid and silly <3 )

[dizzybevvie]

You're the sunflower/I think your love would be too much