R1 Grimer 70HP [P]
Devolves from Muk
Reversed
http://media.pldh.net/pokemon/gen6/xy-animated/088.gif
[size=x-small]NO.88 Sludge Pokémon HT: 2'11" WT: 66.1 lbs.[/size]
Ability: Sludge Drain
You may play this Pokémon from your hand onto your opponent's Bench as a Basic Pokémon. As long as this Pokémon is on your opponent's Bench place 2 damage
counters on your opponent's Active Pokémon between turns. If this Pokémon becomes your opponent's Active Pokémon, put this card and all cards attached into
their respective owner's discard pile.
[P] Poisonous Assembly
Search your deck for up to 3, in any combination, of Grimer and Muk and place them into your hand. Shuffle your deck afterward.
Weakness [P]x2 Resistance
Retreat [C][C]
Sludge exposed to X-rays from the moon transformed into Grimer. It loves feeding on filthy things.
I find the mechanic you have devised quite interesting, and something perhaps viable in a series of expansions. However, I find one particular problem that
could arise. Imagine someone of little knowledge transferring from the video games to the TCG or vice versa. Poor little Mollly learnt about how Cubchoos
become Beartics in the TCG, but when she plays the VG, discovers the Cubchoo she caught using her last Ultra Ball isn’t actually as powerful as she thought
previously. I can see the mechanic possibly working, but it’d have to be performed
very carefully. On the other hand, the mechanic is quite nice for a
knowledgable fan, being able to use otherwise weak Pokemon to star in their deck. The mechanic also stops donking, which is unhealthy for the game, imo.
Sludge Drain is really interesting, however poses a lot to think about from the technical aspect (which I’ve mostly addressed in the wording area). I think
PCL tried venturing into interaction with the opponent’s side through Team Flare Gear, but the design space is really quite new, and due to this, a design
like this could be the subject to a lot of rulings. And lots of rulings doesn’t exactly make a good design. I think the ability could actually be a nice way
to achieve one of the forgotten win conditions of benching your opponent out with the right combination, but the effect feels a bit unfun when activatable
during Turn 1, and possibly hindering your opponent right from the outset.
Poisonous Assembly is quite nice. It is quite synergetic with the ability to achieve the win condition as previously mentioned, however is at a low energy
cost and still not too powerful considering the Pokemon with the attack is a little Grimer.
Wording errors:
- “as a Basic” should be “as if it was a Basic”
- There should be a comma between “Bench” and “place”.
- There should not be a comma after “3” and “combination”.
- “into their” should be “in its”
- Grammatically the “owner’s” should be “owners’” as you are referring to multiple owners.
- “Grimer and Muk” should be “Grimer or Muk”.
- You don’t need “respective” in the Ability.
- You don’t “place” in the PTCG, you “put”. Error x2
- There needs to be an “ at any time between turns,” between “Bench” and “place”
- When can I use this Ability? The correct structure would be something like: “At any time during your turn
(before your attack), you may…”.
- There needs to be clarification text that states who may attach cards onto the Grimer.
- There needs to be clarification text on exactly who’s Pokemon Grimer is on your opponent’s bench.
- These two clarifications can probably be worded as this: “As long as this Pokémon is on your opponent's Bench, this Pokémon counts as 1 of your opponent’s
Pokémon, treat it as if it were 1 of your opponent’s Pokémon and, at any time between turns, place 2 damage counters on your opponent's Active Pokémon
between turns.” As a result of this text, it will be automatically assumed you take prize cards if Grimer is KO’d while on the bench.
- Clarification is also needed on what happens if Grimer is removed from play for some other reason, such as by an AZ. You should be able to replace “If this
Pokémon becomes your opponent's Active Pokémon” as “If this Pokémon is removed from the Bench for any reason” instead.
Creativity/Originality: 18/20
(An overall synergetic and unique approach to a variety of different game mechanics.)
Wording: 0/15
(Lots of minor errors; multiple major and clarification errors.)
Believability/Playability: 14/15
(Potential problems with the mechanic.)
Total: 32/50
