New Card: Time Traveler (Seven Seas #27)

Years ago, many of my "sigcards" from the Yahoo Mailing List for Guardians CCG were incorporated into the fan-made expansion set Seven Seas. I have started to import my homebrew cards to this blog in case Phil, the Bar Fly's website ever goes away.

I'm sure I thought of the mechanic for mechanic for a card to disappear if it loses and, instead of going to your Creature Pen or Stronghold, it goes back into the Shield, but not until the Shield's next battle. This, of course, presents the possibility that the Shield will not have a future battle if it is destroyed. Deciding to call the creature with this ability a "Time Traveler" isn't much of a stretch of the imagination. Likewise, it seems like Wanderer is a better fit than Misc. Human or Wizard.

Time Traveler:  External, Vitality: 5, OCB: 1, Medim, Gold, Wanderer, CMP 0, Green bar. 
If Time Traveler loses his primary match-up, he disappears into the future and reappears the next time this Shield goes into combat.
If Shield is destroyed, Time Traveler is destroyed.
(Artwork: Mattingly, Text: C.J. Burke, Design: Cath)

A thought that hadn't occurred to me before, or if it did, occurred a Very Long Time Ago: You have the opportunity to reinforce your Shield before the Time Traveler returns. This could be a way to sneak an extra 5 points into a Shield. However, you have to be careful not to be over the Vitality limit at the end of the battle.

This is the last of the cards in in the proposed Seven Seas expansion, although there may be one or two others that are very similar to ones that I came up with. It could just be that different people came upon the same inspiration for a card name (particularly if it's a pun), or maybe like minds came up with the same new game mechanic. I know I had my own Gloop card, which was a tribute to Mike Ploog, except that mine actually affected cards with Ploog artwork, similar to Morb's Revenge.

After this, I'll likely start linking to more .sigcards, this time over at the Guardians page.

What's your opinion. Feel free to respond in the comments.

New Card: Wandering Serpent (Seven Seas #26)

Years ago, many of my "sigcards" from the Yahoo Mailing List for Guardians CCG were incorporated into the fan-made expansion set Seven Seas. I have started to import my homebrew cards to this blog in case Phil, the Bar Fly's website ever goes away.

I don't remember the origin of this card. I found the message from the mailing list on which it originally appeared. However, that was answering someone else's question about cards like Make Juice which create Power Stones. Before that was a discussion about the Non-existent Stiverin card. (Please note: It does NOT exist. You don't need to find one!)

It's a good ability but I couldn't tell you why I applied it to a dragon. The name doesn't ring any bells for me.

Wandering Serpent:  External, Vitality: 6, OCB: 0, Large, Flying, Beer, Dragon, CMP 0, red bar. 
Wandering Serpent gains primary opponent's terrain bonus instead of opponent.
(Artwork: Zug, Text: C.J. Burke, Design: Cath)

So if the opponent is +3 in Swamps, and the terrain is Swamps, then the Serpent gets the +3, not the opponent. This could backfire since a couple of cards (particularly the homebrew cards) have terrain penalties.

It's been a while, so offhand I couldn't say how unbalancing, if at all, a Vitality 6 dragon might be. I do like the artwork on this one.

What's your opinion. Feel free to respond in the comments.

New Card: Daffy Drake (Seven Seas #25)

Years ago, many of my "sigcards" from the Yahoo Mailing List for Guardians CCG were incorporated into the fan-made expansion set Seven Seas. I have started to import my homebrew cards to this blog in case Phil, the Bar Fly's website ever goes away.

For those who are unaware, a "drake" is a male duck. On the other hand, the word "drake" comes from draco and, in fantasy, can refer to dragons. So Daffy Drake is a dragon-ized variation of the more familiar Daffy Duck. Once you get past the pun, it's just a generic large, flying, channeling-receiver, with a five-point ranged attack.

Daffy Drake:  External, Vitality: 11, OCB: 0, Babes, Dragon, CMP 0, Green bar. 
5-pt. ranged attack
(Artwork: Sweet, Text: C.J. Burke, Design: Cath)

It's up to the player to decide whether to yell "Rabbit Season!" when playing, or "Woo Hoo! Woo Hoo! Woo Hoo! Woo Hoo!..." when winning a match-up.

If you think about it, Daffy should be immune to damage. But in that case, he shouldn't count for control of the space because he can't control anything any way. (Note: I'm joking. Both of those suggestions would really be unplayable.)

What's your opinion. Feel free to respond in the comments.

New Card: Nosferatu (Seven Seas #24)

Years ago, many of my "sigcards" from the Yahoo Mailing List for Guardians CCG were incorporated into the fan-made expansion set Seven Seas. I have started to import my homebrew cards to this blog in case Phil, the Bar Fly's website ever goes away.

I know that Undead are already over-powered, but this seems like a natural choice for a card. I'm sure the name came first before deciding just what sort of ability it should have. Removing creatures totally from combat, instead of only not allowing them to attack, was a different mechanic to play with. I don't know how well it would have worked.

Nosferatu: External, Vitality: 12, OCB: 0, Medium, Babes, Undead, CMP: 1, Green bar. 
Can only channel to vampires
Command: Choose a creature from your opponents combat hand (at random). Remove it and Nosferatu from combat this round. They don’t count towards the control of the space. Each one comes back to its shield at end of combat.
(Artwork: Beauvais, Text: C.J. Burke, Design: Cath) Note: Cath added a lot of bats...

I have to go through my original notes to see if I counted Nosferatu as a Vampire or not. It would make sense that it is, but it would also make the text box even longer.

If there's one thing wrong that sticks out is it your opponent only has one creature, then this is an automatic win for the Nosferatu holder. I'm not sure I like that.

What's your opinion. Feel free to respond in the comments.

New Card: Floral Princess (Seven Seas #23)

Years ago, many of my "sigcards" from the Yahoo Mailing List for Guardians CCG were incorporated into the fan-made expansion set Seven Seas. I have started to import my homebrew cards to this blog in case Phil, the Bar Fly's website ever goes away.

I'm sure that I came up with the ability before I came up with a name for this one. I was probably thinking that Nymphs could be a theme deck in itself instead of a sub-theme supporting another class.

Floral Princess: External, Vitality: 7, OCB: 1, Medium, Gold, Nymph, CMP 3, Red bar. 
Can channel to Nymphs only, even Nymphs that cannot normally receive channeling.
(Artwork: Fields, Text: C.J. Burke, Design: Thierry)

After you have multiple Nymphs, you need a card that channels to them.

What's your opinion. Feel free to respond in the comments.

New Card: Mystic Nymph (Seven Seas #22)

Years ago, many of my "sigcards" from the Yahoo Mailing List for Guardians CCG were incorporated into the fan-made expansion set Seven Seas. I have started to import my homebrew cards to this blog in case Phil, the Bar Fly's website ever goes away.

I like how this card turned out. I don't remember what spurred the name "Mystic Nymph" or if I came up with the ability first. I know that it had nothing to do with Mystic Seaport because I haven't been there since the 80s.

Mystic Nymph: External, Vitality: 5, OCB: 1, Medium, Gold, Nymph, CMP: 0, Red bar. 
+3 Vitality on any Location Terrain
(Artwork: Fields, Text: C.J. Burke, Design: Thierry)

Obviously, this won't do much good without the expansions that added Location Terrain cards. Even then, how likely are they to show up? Still, it would fit in with a Nymph deck, or a, say, Knight/Nymph combo deck.

What's your opinion. Feel free to respond in the comments.

New Card: Fallen Angel (Seven Seas #21)

Years ago, many of my "sigcards" from the Yahoo Mailing List for Guardians CCG were incorporated into the fan-made expansion set Seven Seas. I have started to import my homebrew cards to this blog in case Phil, the Bar Fly's website ever goes away.

While I believe that Demons & Devils are over-represented (although not as much as Undead, thanks to Necropolis Park), and that Angels are underrepresented, I wouldn't let something like that stop me from suggesting a card idea that I like. 

And it didn't stop the folks behind Seven Seas from coming up with three different images for the Fallen Angel card.

Of the three, the second one is my favorite, but she doesn't look "fallen". The third doesn't look much like an Angel. The first is nice, but he(?) seems more like some kind of spectre or spirit. Plus, the downward held sword reminds me a little of images of  Michael the Archangel, who is usually portrayed striking down in that manner. 

Fallen Angel: Elemental, Vitality: 4, OCB: 1, Medium, Gold, Devil, CMP: 0 Red bar. 
Immune to Angels
(Artwork: Royo (2nd image)/Caldwell(3rd image), Text: C.J. Burke, Design: Cath)

(If anyone knows who painted the first image, please leave a comment.)

Immune to Angels, but not immune to fire. Also, she (or he) doesn't fly. Clipped wings, I guess.

What's your opinion. Feel free to respond in the comments.

New Card: Li'l Devil (Seven Seas #20)

Years ago, many of my "sigcards" from the Yahoo Mailing List for Guardians CCG were incorporated into the fan-made expansion set Seven Seas. I have started to import my homebrew cards to this blog in case Phil, the Bar Fly's website ever goes away.

What's a good name for a little devil? Why, Li'l Devil, of course! I'm sure that's something I was called a bit when I was younger. There isn't anything unique about the card. Basically, it has stats that goes with its name. I like the image. It makes me smile for some reason.

Li'L Devil: Elemental, Vitality: 2, OCB: 0, Medium, Gold, Devil, CMP: 0 Red bar. 
Immune to fire
(Artwork: Caldwell, Text: C.J. Burke, Design: Cath)

Small enough that you can pack a few of them in a Shield, but they are vulnerable to non-Fire AOE attacks.

What's your opinion. Feel free to respond in the comments.

New Card: Tree Giant (Seven Seas #19 -- sort of)

Years ago, many of my "sigcards" from the Yahoo Mailing List for Guardians CCG were incorporated into the fan-made expansion set Seven Seas. I have started to import my homebrew cards to this blog in case Phil, the Bar Fly's website ever goes away.

This post has THREE cards in it. The first is my original .sigcard. The second is a card that I was credited with, because it was derived from my card. The third, I'm not credited with at all, but it's still derived from my original card. So I can claim some credit for all of these cards. Change my mind.

Tree Giant Mortal, Vitality 12, OCB 3, Large, Giant, CMP 0, red bar.
5-point ranged attack that can be used in the Woods and only in the Woods. +3 in the Woods.

Note that my card was a Giant and a Mortal. Also if it says that it can be used in the Woods, the rule on the card trumps the rule book. There isn't any need to point out that it breaks the rule. If I remember correctly, it was modeled on the Rock Giants -- really big, and throwers of rocks.

Here are the two "inspired" cards:

Thorn Tree Elemental, Vitality: 12, OCB: 3, Beer CMP: 0 Red bar, none.
5 pt. ranged attack that can be used only in the Woods (This overrides Woods ranged attacks restrictions)
+ 5 vs Flying Creature
(Artwork: Post, Text: C.J. Burke, Design: Thierry)

The page calls the Thorn Tree "Pricking Sloe-Tree", whatever that is.
The card is an Element (it's a tree) instead of a Giant. The stats are basically the same, except for the bribery icon. And instead of a terrain bonus, it now has a bonus vs flying, which is actually pretty useful. However, with an ability like that, I wouldn't want to waste it as a ranged-attack. Also, this ability isn't restricted to Woods terrain.

The Second one:

Old Willow Elemental, Vitality 4, OCB 3, Beer, Gold, Element, CMP 0, Green bar,
8-pt Ranged attack (can be used also in the Woods). When used as a ranged attack Old Willow is beaten as well. (Artwork: Hildebrandt, Text: Thierry, Design: Thierry)

Again, an Element with a ranged attack that can be used in Woods terrain, but if you use it, it's beaten. So it's a 4 that stacks as a 7 that gives 8 points, but gets beat when used. Seems like a waste to me. Also odd: why would this big old tree be a Vitality of 4? I guess it's ready to fall, and it's special attack is that it will take a bullet for you, so to speak.

Okay, I've snarked and complained enough. What's your opinion. Feel free to respond in the comments.

New Card: Lava Lord (Seven Seas #18)

Years ago, many of my "sigcards" from the Yahoo Mailing List for Guardians CCG were incorporated into the fan-made expansion set Seven Seas. I have started to import my homebrew cards to this blog in case Phil, the Bar Fly's website ever goes away.

Sometimes I used a series of .sigcards to fill a theme. Or I just posted a listed of theme-related cards. In this case, it was filling in some Elemental Lords to rule over the Elements.

This card was adapted to work with new cards that would exist in a Seven Seas expansion. Obviously, my original text didn't mention Volcanic Islands. This is fine. I have no problem with that.

Lava Lord Elemental, Vitality 9, OCB 1, Medium, Babes, Elemental Lord, CMP 0, red bar.
+5 Vitality in Mountains, -5 Vitality in Rivers and Lakes.
+10 Vitality in Volcanic Island, -10 Vitality in Seven Seas.
(Artwork: Fields, Text: C.J. Burke, Design: Cath), extra text added by Thierry

It's an interesting image. The spillover from the hand nearly obliterates the creature name. Good thing it's short!

I'm asking your opinion. Feel free to respond in the comments.

New Card: Huge Axeman (Seven Seas #17)

Years ago, many of my "sigcards" from the Yahoo Mailing List for Guardians CCG were incorporated into the fan-made expansion set Seven Seas. I have started to import my homebrew cards to this blog in case Phil, the Bar Fly's website ever goes away.

The first X-Men film came in 2000, and that's when Hugh Jackman came onto the scene (or at least, that's when I became aware of him). And "Huge Axeman" is a play on his name. (Were I to play this card, I would annoying say "Ackman" every time.)

This times in to Guardians with puns on O-Men, and Woolverine.

Huge Axeman Mortal, Vitality 8, OCB 5, Medium, Beer, Knight, CMP 0, red bar.
Text: Might is right.
(Artwork: Zug, Text: C.J. Burke, Design: Cath)

I got nothing else to add. Fierce in a Knight deck, I'd guess.

I'm asking your opinion. Feel free to respond in the comments.