Tourmaline Portal | Tourmaline Portal

[OdinVanguard]

--Optional--

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Tourmaline Portal / Tourmaline Portal
Cost: 6 / 5
Stats (if creature or weapon): -NA-
Ability(ies):

• unupgraded: " : Draw 2 cards if either is non-creature, shuffle it to your deck, reready this ability, and gain 2 quanta."
• upgraded: " : Draw 2 cards if either is non-creature, shuffle it to your deck, reready this ability, and gain 2 quanta."

See this thread: http://elementscommunity.org/forum/card-ideas-and-art/tourmaline-portal-tourmaline-portal/msg1198269/#new

[serprex]

Simplify as "Draw a creature"

[timpa]

If I understood it right using the skill may:

A) Do nothing
B) Draw a creature for 2
C) Draw 2 creatures for 4

depending on RNG

+ deck shuffling

+ unless C happened you can use the skill again this turn (which I'm strongly against)

[OdinVanguard]

If I understood it right using the skill may:

A) Do nothing
B) Draw a creature for 2
C) Draw 2 creatures for 4

depending on RNG

+ deck shuffling

+ unless C happened you can use the skill again this turn (which I'm strongly against)

That is correct.

It doesn't absolutely have to re-ready, although that is a mechanic I would like to make actually work in some way (conditional re-readying).

Why are you so strongly against re-readying? It is a mechanic I would like to make actually work in some way (conditional re-readying). It doesn't have to be on this card if people think it detracts too much, but I would like to find a way to make it actually balanced and useful at some point.

[timpa]

I think it makes it too reliable for the effect. Unless you drew all your creatures already you'd always draw at least one creature (for 2 /creature). Plus, if you draw exactly one creature you get the creature and can use the permanent again. After thinking a bit, how about making the skill cost 2 , but attempting to draw only one creature and refunding 1 only. That way using the skill can have 2 outcomes:

* Drawing a creature for 2
* Wasting 1 , but you get a new chance at drawing a creature.

Since it makes the card less efficient you could reduce the cost too. For the upgrade you could then improve the efficiency a bit by making the ability cost 1 , but with no refunds (so if you do draw a creature you only spend 1 )