Combat Mechanic

Summary:

Looking for a Combat Mechanic

Combat Mechanic

Pasteur 19 Nov 2012 19:14

I've been working a lot on a set skeleton and permutations of mechanics for Frontier, but I'd like to ask for some help. One thing the set doesn't seem to have so far but could really use is a Timmy-friendly combat-oriented mechanic.

Similar to what Bushido did for Kamigawa and Ally did for Zendikar — simple is good, all-upside is good, and creature-focused is good. If it can be top-down Western, all the better, but I'm confident in the ability to Westernize a melviny mechanic, too.

Do we have any ideas for this sort of thing? It can be keyworded or not, an old mechanic or new - rough outlines are very acceptable.

Re: Combat Mechanic

elektriktoad 19 Nov 2012 20:00

Nimble (this creature can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.)

Thief 2B
Creature - Rogue
Nimble (this creature can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.)
When ~ deals combat damage to a player, gain a gold counter
1/2

Obviously it's a mechanic best on smaller creatures (see Sneaky Homunculus and Amrou Kithkin). If the set uses gold to ramp into giant wurms or eldrazi, Nimble makes those smaller creatures useful in the late game. One potential strike against it is that it's not all upside— you don't really want to make creatures with Nimble bigger with auras or sorcery-speed pump.

Re: Combat Mechanic

HavelockV 19 Nov 2012 23:17

Whether or not that ends up in this set, I really dig how straightforward and concise the mechanic is!

Re: Combat Mechanic

Prophylaxis 21 Nov 2012 21:31

Assail (Whenever you attack with three or more creatures, EFFECT)

Stun (Whenever this creature deals combat damage to another creature, tap that creature. It doesn't untap during its controller's next untap step.)

Re: Combat Mechanic

Jay Treat 21 Nov 2012 22:30

None of these are great, but maybe they'll help. Very hard to find a new simple combat mechanic, much less one that screams a specific theme.

Take Cover (Whenever ~ blocks or becomes blocked, you may tap an untapped land you control. If you do, ~ gets -1/+1 until EOT.)
or
Take Cover (Whenever ~ blocks or becomes blocked, it gets -X/+X until EOT, where X is its power or less.)

Quick-Draw (Whenever ~ blocks or becomes blocked, you may have it get -1/-0 and gain first strike until EOT)

Double-Fisted (~ may block an additional creature. Double the damage dealt by ~ while it's blocking or blocked by a single creature.)

Gang-Up (~ can't be blocked unless each attacking creature is blocked.)
Based off Bass's Team Strike.