The MetaDragons

Naardaas · The MetaDragons

(Level One) Mercury Dragon (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon
Effect: This card cannot attack unless you control [Alchemy Seal]. When you play this card, add 1 Level 2 or lower MetaDragon from your deck to your hand, exceot [Mercury Dragon].
ATK: 1900
DEF: 1200

Aarikku's Notes: Done!

(Level Three) Bronze Amphithere (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon
Effect: While you control a Metal Dragon with a different name, +1500 ATK. If this card is destroyed while you control [Alchemy Seal], add 1 Level 2 or less Dragon from your Deck to your Mana Zone.
ATK: 3000
DEF: 3300

Aarikku's Notes: Done!

(Level 4) Cobalt Wyvern (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon
Effect: This card cannot attack your opponent directly. +300 ATK for each other Metal Dragon you control.
ATK: 4000
DEF: 4000

Aarikku's Notes: Done!

(Level One) Tin Wyrm (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon
Effect: If this card is destroyed while you control [Alchemy Seal], place it in your Mana Zone.
ATK: 800
DEF: 800

Aarikku's Notes: Done!

(Level Four) Silver Hydra (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon
Effect: While [Alchemy Seal] is in play, this card can attack twice per turn by tapping 1 Mana.
ATK: 3600
DEF: 2500

Aarikku's Notes: Done!

(Level Five) Gold Basilisk (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon
Effect: This card cannot destroy monsters by battle. Once per turn, by tapping 1 Mana while [Alchemy Seal] is in play, you can chnge an attack target to this card. At that time, it gains 500 ATK until the battle ends.
ATK: 4700
DEF: 4000

Aarikku's Notes: Done!

(Level Six) Titanium Dragon (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon · Dragon
Effect: This card can only be played while [Alchemy Seal] is in play and 6+ MetaDragons are in your Graveyard or in play (Do not tap Mana). This card has Spell immunity while [Alchemy Seal] is in play. Tribute any Metal monster: this card gains the ATK of the tributed monster until the End Phase.
ATK: 4800
DEF: 4800

(Level Two) Brass Lindworm (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon
Effect: Once per turn, you can scrap 1 [Brass Lindworm] from your deck to have this creature gain 500 ATK until the turn ends.
ATK/ 2300
DEF/ 1000

(Level Two) Steel Lung (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon
Effect: When this creature is played, scrap 1 card from your hand and draw 2 cards.
ATK/ 2200
DEF/ 2000

(Level Three) Alchemy Seal
Field Spell
Instead of drawing during your normal draw, you can move 1 MetaDragon from your Graveyard to your hand. When you have 6 or more MetaDragons of different names among your field ad Graveyard, only once, you can add 1 [Titanium Dragon] from your Deck to your Hand.

Aarikku's Notes: Done!

(Level X) Buster Ore
InstantSpell Card
Play a Level (X) MetaDragon from your deck.

(Level Two) Buster Mining
Spell Card
Scrap 1 MetaDragon from your hand. Special Summon a MetaDragon with a lower level from your Discard Pile.

(Level One) Buster Alchemy
Spell Card

(Level One) Buster Alloy
Spell Card

(Level ???) Orichalcum Wing
Item Spell Card

(Level Two) Buster Wrath
Trap Card

Naardaas' Note: These designs are currently being altered. The new ones will be posted later.

Aarikku

Hm... I don't really like the idea of it gaining an effect for Colourless Mana; Spells and Traps count as Colourless, so it's exceedingly easy to do.

If you change it to Earth, Dark... maybe Storm? That'd be much better.

Naardaas · Errata: The First Metal Dragon

(Level Three) Mercury Dragon (Fire/Metal)
Category: Metal Dragon
Effect: This card gains the following effects depending on the cards in your Mana Zone - FIRE: +1000 ATK. DARK: If this card is destroyed, you can play 1 Level Three Dragon from your Deck.
ATK: 2500
DEF: 2500

Aarikku

Wonderful! Add a picture and I'll put it in the game.

Pyrah

That sounds like an amazing card.

Aarikku

Agreed. We just have to get a picture...

EDIT: I think I might change this guy to pure METAL when it goes into the game. Just so that it takes more strategy to use it successfully.

Naardaas · Alrighty

You can change it to pure metal. BTW, I've got a great picture ready, but my scanner doesn't work I'm afraid I have to bring my designs on Sunday.

Aarikku

Hm... make sure you colour it, and use something other than pencil crayons if possible. Though they're easiest to use, markers would look way better in the game if you can pull them off.

Also, if you could give it some sort of background, that would be awesome, though I might be able to Photoshop one in.

Naardaas

Now, for the fun to begin. Once I determine them, I'll post the powers of "Bronze Amphithere", "Cobalt Wyvern", "Tin Wyrm", "Silver Hydra", "Gold Basilisk" and their Ultimate Card, "Titanium Dragon"! Players beware, you're in for a scare. (Adapted from R. L. Stein quote.)

Pyrah

I'm already interested in this Metal/Dragon deck you're building, Naardaas. I'd definitely like to see their effects soon.

Aarikku

Just FYI, according to Wikipedia the word is Amphiptere.

I'm curious about these guys too! I don't want to replace Sarah's METAL cards, but she hasn't replied to my emails in a while. Bring on the Metal Dragons, Naardaas!

Naardaas

Well, I still go by Amphithere. Like here. Dragon #2: Bronze Amphithere.

(Level Four) Bronze Amphithere (Metal)
Category: Metal Dragon
Effect: This card gains the following effects depending on the cards in your Mana Zone - FIRE: +1000 ATK. - LIGHT: If this card is destroyed, add 2 Level 1 Dragons from your Deck to your Mana Zone.
ATK: 3300
DEF: 3300

Aarikku

I'm not gonna lie - I'm not a huge fan of Mana acceleration in a game like this. That's why I nerfed Order Up. Also, in Shmod, 4300 ATK is nigh impossible to beat. You'd have to fuse or melt a 10-turn Dragon. Perhaps for the Level-4 ones, you should try effects that don't increase ATK.

Naardaas

Alrighty then. I'll errate Amphithere while I release the Tin Wyrm.

(Level Four) Bronze Amphithere (Metal)
Category: Metal Dragon
Effect: This card gains the following effects depending on the cards in your Mana Zone - FIRE: +1000 ATK. - LIGHT: If this card is destroyed, add 1 Level 1 Dragon from your Deck to your Mana Zone.
ATK: 3000
DEF: 3300

(Level One) Tin Wyrm (Metal)
Category: Metal Dragon
Effect: If this card is destroyed, place it in your Mana Zone.
ATK: 800
DEF: 800

Aarikku

I was actually thinking... not Mana acceleration. At all. But, I guess it does have to be destroyed to get the effect, and someone who summons that only to have it die deserves something.

The Wyrm I'm not fond of for the same reason. It might work something like this...

"I charge Living Lunch, tap it for Wyrm guy!"
"I destroy Wyrm guy with miscellaneous Level One monster."
"Well, I charge something else, and tap all 3 for ginormous Metal monster!"
"Zomg! A full turns worth of Mana advantage!"

Though I'm thinking of making a few adjustments to the main workings of Shmod. If I do, it should make Tin Wyrm better for the game.

Naardaas

Meanwhile, Cobalt Wyvern can join the party.

(Level 4) Cobalt Wyvern (Metal)
Category: Metal Dragon
Effect: If you have a LIGHT Mana, +1000 ATK. If you have a DARK Mana, -1000 ATK.
ATK: 4000
DEF: 4000

Aarikku

I don't see really what the point of Wyvern is. It's almost like its supposed to have a side-effect, but that's easily avoided by just not using Dark Mana.

Naardaas

But, see, other Metal Dragons require them or their effects.

Aarikku

But as of now, none of the Metal Dragons have any reason to be run in the same deck, with the exception of Tin Wyrm. In fact, if you have effects like DARK: -1000 ATK, it gives players way more reason to use them separately.

This game's quite like Yugioh - cards need a base to focus around. The Crystal Beasts have the self-Spell card thing, Gladiator Beasts have the tag mechanic. In Shmod, the Desert theme has the field card that brings them together; Solar Lizards have the search abilities (in fact, it's almost impossible to separate them) and the Blastblaze theme has one monster and then all its other monsters are effectless without it.

You need something to bring your cards together. Right now, they're more like... the Goblin monsters of Yugioh. They look alike; they do similar stuff, but they're all made for separate decks.

Naardaas

Funny you should menton Crystal Beasts, the Titanoum Dragon is the Rainbow Dragon figure among them. Alright, what type of effects would you recommend to unite them?

Aarikku

I dunno. They're your cards, not mine.

Pyrah

How about a field card specifically for Metal Dragons? *shrugs*

Aarikku

That's a start, but I think it's the monsters themselves that are the problem.

Naardaas

You're both right. Wait, I know. In Yugioh, "The Six Samurai" are a powerful theme that gain effects from each other's presence I'll keep that in mind while I redesign them. I'll also create a Field Spell.

Naardaas

(Level Four) Bronze Amphithere (Metal)
Category: Metal Dragon
Effect: While you control a Metal Dragon with a different name, +1000 ATK. If this card is destroyed while you control [Alchemy Seal], add 1 Level 1 Dragon from your Deck to your Mana Zone.
ATK: 3000
DEF: 3300

(Level 4) Cobalt Wyvern (Metal)
Category: Metal Dragon
Effect: This card cannot attack level 4 or lower monsters. +200 ATK for each other Metal Dragon you control.
ATK: 4000
DEF: 4000

(Level One) Tin Wyrm (Metal)
Category: Metal Dragon
Effect: If this card is destroyed while you control [Alchemy Seal], place it in your Mana Zone.
ATK: 800
DEF: 800

Aarikku

I assume [Alchemy Seal] is the Field card (I'm sure I've invented a card with the same name before!), so I'll propose one change:

Naardaas

You rock, so consider it done. By the way, here's a bit of a view of Alchemy Seal

(Level Three) Alchemy Seal
Field Spell
Instead of drawing during your normal draw, you can move 1 Level 3 or lower Metal Dragon from your Graveyard to your hand. When you have 6 or more Metal Dragons of different names anomg your field ad Graveyard, you can add 1 [Titanium Dragon] from your Deck to your Hand.

Naardaas

Oops. Foprgot to say that it's Level Three.

Aarikku

There's an Edit button on the top-right area of every post. Alchemy Seal looks cool, I must say.

'Tis a good thing I named the current booster set 'Force of Dragon'.

Naardaas

And by the time I arrive Sunday all Metal Dragons 'cept [Titanium Dragon] shall be ready. I want that one to have some hype to it.

Aarikku

Hype from two people? *eyebrow raise*

Naardaas

Point taken. Still, I plan to make it, like its Yugioh counterpart, arrive slightly later so that I can decide the most powerful effect for it I can. It will have a similar summon, and extremely high points. Mwu-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Aarikku

Alas. I already ripped off Rainbow Dragon for one of my themes. Meh well - I can change it.

Naardaas

Not necessary. Apart from what I said, its effects are much different, ie more based on its dominance. Keep your card as is; mine isn't written in stone yet.

Aarikku

Right-o... but I'm not really focusing on that theme right now. I'm doing a lot of dragons instead.

Naardaas

Sounds like a plan. Meanwhile...

(Level Four) Silver Hydra (Metal)
Category: Metal Dragon
Effect: While [Alchemy Seal] is in play, this card can attack twice per turn by tapping 1 Mana.
ATK: 4000
DEF: 2500

Aarikku

It should have less ATK - the only two monsters that can attack twice are Lightning Element; a Fusion that costs (2) and Cerebus, a Level One with 1200 ATK that requires a specific type of discard.

Maybe 3000?

Naardaas

Compromise... 3400. Also, I tap mine [Gold Basilisk]

(Level Five) Gold Basilisk (Metal)
Category: Metal Dragon
Effect: This card cannot destroy monsters by battle. Once per turn, by tapping 1 Mana while [Alchemy Seal] is in play, you can chnge an attack target to this card.
ATK: 4500
DEF: 4000

Aarikku

Basilisk I've no troubles with. And 3400 I can live with.

Naardaas

Then it's done. And even though this isn' complete, here's a sneak at [Titanium Dragon]

(Level ???) Titanium Dragon (Metal)
Category: Metal Dragon
Effect: This card can only be played while [Alchemy Seal] is in play and 6 or more [Metal Dragons] are in your Graveyard (you do not tap Mana). ???
ATK: ????
DEF: 4000

Aarikku

Ooh. By Jesus, I wonder what it does. It looks so... yeah, that was sarcasm. Only I'm allowed to make marketing gimmicks!

Naardaas

Believe whatever you want, but this is no marketing gimmick. I don't want to show the entire thing yet, that would be no fun. But it shall come soon. Mwu-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Pyrah

xD you're a bit crazy a times Naardaas, but I like your tactics. I look forward to seeing Titanium Dragon's full effects.

Naardaas

Why, thank you, Pyrah. You're too kind. And do not fret... it shall be here by tomorrow's end.

Broken Wings

Hmm, a metal deck huh? Sounds interestingly familiar to me... Though, I've never tried this online...

Naardaas

Bonjour a Chateau de Naardaas, Broken Wings. The Metal Dragons are not based on your designs (which impress me somewhat) in any way; they are biomechanoid in appearance, and are not for Fusion, though they go well with Tetra Armoured Dragon.

Aarikku

Still, it might be annoying to use the Shmod filters for Metal monsters, and come up with... like,

Gold
Gold Basilisk
Silver
Silver Dragon-Synonym
Tin
Tin Wyrm
Mercury
Mercury Dragon

Meh well. At least I don't have to make many Metal cards anymore.

Naardaas

Well, that's always good news. But, hey, the rest of my dragons are undoubled, and it should be easy enough to tell the difference. By the way, here's more of [Titanium Dragon] to chew on.

(Level ???) Titanium Dragon (Metal)
Category: Metal Dragon
Effect: This card can only be played while [Alchemy Seal] is in play and 6 or more Metal Dragons are in your Graveyard (Do not tap Mana). While [Alchemy Seal] is in play, ???. If [Alchemy Seal] is destroyed, ???.
ATK: 8500
DEF: 4000

Naardaas

Well, now that [Titanium Dragon] is done, check out the start of [Buster Ore]

(Level X) Buster Ore
Spell Card
Play a Level (X) Metadragon from your deck.

Aarikku

I'ma edit your original post to include all the Metal Dragons, just so everything's easier to look at.

Naardaas

Okay.

Aarikku

Hm... I missed Buster Ore. *shrug* There doesn't seem to be any problem there.

Naardaas

Then the Deck is completed. For now.

Naardaas

These are my proposals for the errata'd cards. Please note that Lindworm and Lung were not here originally.

(Level One) Tin Wyrm (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon · Dragon
Effect: If this card is destroyed while you control [Alchemy Seal], place it in your Mana Zone.
ATK: 800
DEF: 800

(Level Two) Brass Lindworm (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon · Dragon
Effect: Once per turn, you can scrap 1 [Brass Lindworm] from your deck to have this creature gain 500 ATK until the turn ends.
ATK/ 2300
DEF/ 1000

(Level Two) Steel Lung (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon · Dragon
Effect: When this creature is played, scrap 1 card from your hand and draw 2 cards.
ATK/ 2200
DEF/ 2000

(Level Three) Mercury Dragon (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon · Dragon
Effect: If you have a MetaDragon in your Mana Zone, this card gains 1000 ATK. If you control a FIRE Mana, it gains Spell Immunity.
ATK: 2500
DEF: 2000

(Level Three) Bronze Amphithere (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon · Dragon
Effect: While you control a MetaDragon with a different name, +1500 ATK. If this card is destroyed while you control [Alchemy Seal], add 1 Level 2 or less Dragon from your Deck to your Mana Zone.
ATK: 3000
DEF: 3300

(Level Four) Cobalt Wyvern (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon · Dragon
Effect: This card cannot attack your opponent directly. +300 ATK for each other MetaDragon you control.
ATK: 4000
DEF: 4000

(Level Four) Silver Hydra (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon · Dragon
Effect: By tapping 1 Mana while you control [Alchemy Seal], this card can attack twice this turn.
ATK: 3600
DEF: 2500

(Level Five) Gold Basilisk (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon · Dragon
Effect: Any creature that battles this card is not destroyed in Combat. Once per turn, by tapping (1) while [Alchemy Seal] is in play, you can change an attack target to this card; at that time, it gets +500 ATK for the battle.
ATK: 4700
DEF: 4000

(Level Six) Titanium Dragon (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon · Dragon
Effect: This card can only be played while [Alchemy Seal] is in play and 6+ Unique MetaDragons are in your Graveyard or in play (Do not tap Mana). This card has Spell immunity while [Alchemy Seal] is in play. Tribute any Metal monster: this card gains the ATK of the tributed monster until the End Phase.
ATK: 4800
DEF: 4800

(Level Two) Buster Mining
Spell
Scrap 1 MetaDragon. Summon back 1 MetaDragon from your discard pile with a lower cost.

Aarikku

Mercury Dragon's much better; all the others are mostly the same. The theme still suffers from having only a single Level One monster.

Naardaas

This any better?

And since you like Mercury better, I'll errata the beginning post to include this new effect.

Aarikku

Eh, not really. They've all got offensive effects; there's no reason to play them for less Mana than their Level. It's just that the theme itself suffers by having only high-level cards.

Naardaas

So, what, I drop the levels on the cards to be lower naturally?

Aarikku

I dunno what to do. I'd almost recommend starting from scratch.

Naardaas

That'd take too long. I have a deadline for my series and I need their effects finished in time to use them.

Aarikku

Well, it's entirely up to you. Especially considering you've already gone ahead with making the two new MetaDragons, despite our disagreements.

Naardaas

Well, I'll give it some more thought for the final versions. But you are happy with Mercury now, right?

Aarikku

Mercury you should change back to 2500 (3700 and Spell Immunity on a Level Three's too much), but it does go better with the other MetaDragons now. So yeah, I'm cool with Mercury.

I do recommend adding 'Dragon' to all their categories. Give them support from Cave Nest, Dragons' Spire and Dragon's Fury.

Naardaas

Okay, I'll fix that.

Also, the Art I gave you for Transmutation can now be used for Buster Mining instead, which I'll post the effect for.

Aarikku

Alright.

Naardaas

Happy now, Leric-san? Or at least happier?

Aarikku

Make Buster Mining Level Two, and it's fine.

Naardaas

Okay, if there are no further matters then these can become their official effects.

Aarikku

I really don't like the Cost-lowering effects, and something bugs me about Gold and Wyvern's battling restrictions. Ah well - take away the cost-lowering, and they're fine.

Naardaas

I can kill the battle restrictions if ya like. D'ya mean take it away for those 2 or all 3 with it?

Aarikku

No, leave them. They are needed.

It occurs to me suddenly how ridiculously powerful Lindworm is. I really don't think I can support a 2800-ATK monster that lets you summon Titanium Dragon that easily.

Naardaas

The 2800 thing only lasts the turn, but - oh yeah, the Gold can cover for it.

Then again, this kinda makes up for the derogatory pieces of the theme. I could restrictit though.

And you didn't answer my last question.

Aarikku

Yes I did. 'Leave them' means 'leave the battle restrictions'.

As I said to Pyrah, you can't balance bad cards (or below-par cards, since these aren't what I'd call 'bad') with unfairly good ones.

Aarikku

Hey, I just noticed the cards in Buster Mining's picture. Nice work on Living Bullet!

Naardaas

First off, my last question was "D'ya mean take it away for those 2 or all 3 with it?". Meaning the less Mana thing. And as I said, I can put a limitation on Lindworm.

Aarikku

Okay. Making the discard from the hand would easily balance it (though that might make it not worth it anymore).

It just needs something that makes it so that it can't summon Titanium Dragon singlehandedly and/or without any effort whatsoever. Maybe it should be a Level One monster that deck-scraps a MetaDragon when it dies.

Naardaas

Okay, I put a stumbling block in. He's the last monster you play that turn.

Aarikku

That... doesn't help at all.

Naardaas

Alright. Wait, I know!

Aarikku

Interesting. I'm cool with that.

Naardaas

Is court adjerned then, or have you rebuttle testimony?

Or, in non-matephor, anything else?

Aarikku

I can't think of anything.

Normally I'd rush off to go fix the Lackey versions, but considering no one really uses Lackey, there's not much of a point. Alas.

Naardaas

Well, now that everything is settled, can the 2 new cards come to life?

Aarikku

You mean three? No probalo. Give me a sec...

Naardaas

YEE-HAW!

Aarikku

You really have to start making them squarer. But viola!

Naardaas

I'm so happy Eric. Thank you very much!

Aarikku

No problem.

Aarikku

Since you wanted to have another go at Mercury Dragon, might I recommend making it a Level One with a completely different effect?

Naardaas

Mercury Dragon needs a redo. How's about:

(Level Three) Mercury Dragon (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon - Dragon
Effect: While you control a MetaDragon Mana, this card gains 1000 STK. While you control [Alchemy Seal], it gains Immunity to Spells.
STK/ 2500
GRD/ 2000

Aarikku

So it's now just a Noble Dragon with Spell Immunity. I really don't like that.

Naardaas

Alright, what would you recommend?
EDIT: Oh, sorry. Didn't notice your initial post about redoing Mercury.

Aarikku

Um... it should be a Level One beatstick.

Naardaas

Well, it still needs an effect. All MetaDragons have effects. But I like what I hear so far.

(Level One) Mercury Dragon (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon - Dragon
Effect: ???
STK/ 1900
GRD/ ???

Aarikku

Obviously. But 1900 might be too high for a really good effect.

Naardaas

Not a great effect; more like Blazing Fox. One positive, one negative.

Aarikku

We should move away from Mana effects, though. MetaDragons need a good first-turn monster.

Naardaas

Of course. I'm just saying, two effects that arrive at "+-0".

Aarikku

Well, it's your theme, so 'tis all up to you.

Naardaas

Well, I just may have something.

(Level One) Mercury Dragon (Metal)
Category: MetaDragon - Dragon
Effect: If you do not control [Alchemy Seal], this card cannot attack. When you play this card, select a Level Two or lower MetaDragon from your deck, except [Mercury Dragon], and add it to your hand.
STK/ 1900
GRD/ 1200

The MetaDragons

Errata: The First Metal Dragon

Alrighty