Whelp, That'll Be The Theme - Card Design Competition Discussion Thread

Submitted 1 year, 10 months ago by


Competition Theme: Whelp, That'll Be The Theme

Don't worry, Onyxia, we're getting right on it! Please, you have to help me, I don't know where to find any more Whelps!

  • You must create a card which synergises with Whelps, generates Whelps or is itself a Whelp

Loknax is looking to please Onyxia and summon forth a whole new brood of Whelps! Let's give these little Dragons one last ride!

As always, I can be reached through Discord or here on the site via PM if you have any issues to report.


Competition Phases

Here are the phases of this card design competition

  • Submission Phase: Starts on Mon, May 23 17:00 EDT (GMT -0400). Runs until Sat, May 28 17:00 EDT (GMT -0400)
  • Voting Phase: Starts on Sat, May 28 17:00 EDT (GMT -0400). Runs until Sun, May 29 16:00 EDT (GMT -0400)
  • Finalist Phase: Starts on Sun, May 29 17:00 EDT (GMT -0400). Runs until Mon, May 30 17:00 EDT (GMT -0400)
  • Winner Selected: After finalist voting concludes and we validate votes.

Discussion Thread Rules

No thread rules were added to this season. Please populate and manually edit this thread with them.

  • ShadowsOfSense's Avatar
    1500 1111 Posts Joined 10/23/2018
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago


    Competition Theme: Whelp, That'll Be The Theme

    Don't worry, Onyxia, we're getting right on it! Please, you have to help me, I don't know where to find any more Whelps!

    • You must create a card which synergises with Whelps, generates Whelps or is itself a Whelp

    Loknax is looking to please Onyxia and summon forth a whole new brood of Whelps! Let's give these little Dragons one last ride!

    As always, I can be reached through Discord or here on the site via PM if you have any issues to report.


    Competition Phases

    Here are the phases of this card design competition

    • Submission Phase: Starts on Mon, May 23 17:00 EDT (GMT -0400). Runs until Sat, May 28 17:00 EDT (GMT -0400)
    • Voting Phase: Starts on Sat, May 28 17:00 EDT (GMT -0400). Runs until Sun, May 29 16:00 EDT (GMT -0400)
    • Finalist Phase: Starts on Sun, May 29 17:00 EDT (GMT -0400). Runs until Mon, May 30 17:00 EDT (GMT -0400)
    • Winner Selected: After finalist voting concludes and we validate votes.

    Discussion Thread Rules

    No thread rules were added to this season. Please populate and manually edit this thread with them.

    Welcome to the site!

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  • Demonxz95's Avatar
    Senior Writer 2245 2628 Posts Joined 03/19/2019
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    I'd be very happy to give you guys all a Whelping Hand with your cards if you need it (hehe).

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  • linkblade91's Avatar
    Senior Writer Serra Angel 1700 2775 Posts Joined 02/09/2019
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    Can't think of a better way to phrase it right now, so here goes. This is obviously supposed to be paired with Nethrandamus, but it also works for Wrathscale Naga, Blood Herald, Flanking Maneuver, etc. The idea is that it would double the procs of whatever you're running that needs something to die:

    • Neth and Blood Herald upgrade twice as fast
    • Ur'zul Giant's Cost would decrease at twice the rate
    • Feast of Souls would draw twice the number of cards
    • Flag Runner gains +2 Attack per fallen ally
    • Wrathscale Naga shoots twice
    • Flanking Maneuver produces two 4/2 Demons on the back-end

    I wonder if it should cost 3, but the Whelp relies on other cards to maximize its output (and some of those cards have to die, too), so it might be fine.

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  • Wailor's Avatar
    Design Champion 640 707 Posts Joined 05/28/2019
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    We used the same art, linkblade 😅

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  • AeroJulwin's Avatar
    Fan Creator 305 174 Posts Joined 07/08/2021
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    Alternative version

    Wanted to include this for the sake of it. I liked the idea of making something like Treespeaker. I changed the effect because the transformation could be considered a sidegrade in some cases. And although Paladin has less support for it, the art shows a Bronze dragon, which I feel belong to Paladin.

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  • MrRhapsody's Avatar
    Child of the Night 800 135 Posts Joined 05/28/2019
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    I'll go with these three, not really sold on any of them, thoughts? (And remember, no need to comment on all of them, just your favorite is enough for me).

    And since I skipped feedback last week due to personal problems, I'll give an early feedback this time.

     

    Demonx95
    That's a nice cute card, but if I got it right, it can Discover and cast any kind of spell right? If so, this is kinda broken as it is, since cards like Immortalized in Stone, The Garden's Grace and Party Up! exists. If that is not the case and it only Discovers targeteble spells, then you should clariffy it ( And also increase the cost a bit since the highroll potencial would still be extreme).

    Linkblade
    It's a good card, but there's something about it that is bothering me and I can't really tell what it is. Maybe it's the name, or the art, the wording,or the effect seens more legendary worth. I don't know, I think I'll wait to see what other people think to give a proper feedback later. Balance wise, I think it's good as it is, cards that double effects like Brann Bronzebeard and Baron Rivendare usually have decent stats, specially the class exclusives ones like Bolner Hammerbeak.

    Wailor
    Pretty good callback to Murazond, the Infinite. Not really a problem of the card, but I think you would gain extra points if the art actually portray an Infintity Whelp, I don't think there's any Infinity Whelp artwork out there, but a little editing would do the trick.

    AeroJulwin
    I like the idea of transforming Whelps into Drakes more, but I could see the Paladin version using the transformation effect too if you rather go by the Bronze Dragon flavour. Also I think the art could be better, the current one is kinda off the Hearthstone standards.

    Do you also like Elden Ring? Then you should check out my Elden Ring inspired Duels Heroes!

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  • linkblade91's Avatar
    Senior Writer Serra Angel 1700 2775 Posts Joined 02/09/2019
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    Early(?) feedback...guess we're moving kinda slow this week.

    Show Spoiler

    MrRhapsody - "Lord Nefarius" is spelled without the O. Regardless, I like Single Broodmother the most, despite my absolute hatred of Discard. It has a lot of interesting use-cases, although (ironically) there might not have been too many great options in Descent of Dragons outside of Dragonqueen Alexstrasza. The card would fare better in the future, though, with the updated Core Dragons.

    AeroJulwin - I would consider using the Transform version as a Paladin card, even if they'd rather buff things straight-up. Although there are more Whelps in Priest (if we count Wild), so…maybe it's fine as is on the gameplay side.

    Wailor - Isn't this a Dragon Priest version of Vanessa VanCleef? I know it connects to Murozond the Infinite, but still: kind of takes away from her uniqueness. They have the same stats and Cost, to boot :P

    Demonxz95 - Potentially really strong if you focus on big untargeted spells like MrRhapsody alluded. Tip the Scales is another one; you don't even need to play Prismatic Lens or High Abbess Alura first.

    1
  • Wailor's Avatar
    Design Champion 640 707 Posts Joined 05/28/2019
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    Thanks for reminding me Vanessa VanCleef exists, linkblade. I haven't played constructed regularly since Descent of Dragons, so I totally forgot about her existence.

    Here's a new version of Infinite Whelp (which also uses a new artwork as MrRhapsody suggested), as well as the new Onyxia's Brat. It might also be similar to an existing card, as it's a pretty obvious effect for Warrior, so let me know if this is the case.

    EDIT: Updated Onyxia's Brat to trigger after surviving damage (instead of simply taking damage).


    Feedback:

    Demonxz95
    I agree with MrRhapsody and linkblade that it should search for targeted spells only, and it'd still probably need a Cost increase. I mean, even if you pull something reasonable like Blessing of Kings, you're still summoning a 6/5 that thins your deck for 4 Mana. Not super crazy, but that's far from the high end of this card.

    Besides that, I'd probably use a Dragon-related watermark (either an existing one or not, like the one I used for Infinite Whelp), as, if this card existed outside a Dragon-themed expansion, the token would definetly be a Silver Hand Recruit. I know it sounds very minor, but for me, it would make the card way more believable.

    linkblade91
    I don't know if I like how it synergizes with such an abstract mechanic, to be honest. Also, as it is right now, it seems like it also makes Deathrattles trigger twice, which would be quite OP for a vanilla 2 Cost minion.

    AeroJulwin
    I am alone in this, but I prefer the buff version, as the transform one can backfire if you have beefy Whelps.

    However, if you end up going with the transform version, I agree with other people that it should also be a Paladin card, as both Bronze Dragons and Divine Shield are pretty much Paladin things.

    MrRhapsody
    I'm not a fan of Lord Nefarius, but the other two cards are my favorite so far. You're having a very good season, to be honest.

    Single Broodmother is probably my favorite of the two, as her effect is very creative and the name very funny. linkblade is probably right about the watermark, so maybe she should use the Onyxia's Lair one.

    Onyxia, Mother of Corruption is also very cool, as the Corrupt effect is a very natural upgrade, and the fact you can only Corrupt her by playing 10-Cost minions makes her balanced. If you end up going with her, I suggest using the current artwork for the Corrupted version. For the base form, you could probably use her undead self, as none of her three existing iterations have used it.

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  • BasilAnguis's Avatar
    Dragon Scholar 835 421 Posts Joined 05/29/2019
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    Basically, hit an enemy and you'll damage yourself as well, or hit yourself/friendly minion directly to draw a card.

    • Wailor - I love infinite Whelp, however it might be slightly too good for an epic given he's essentially a better Vanessa VanCleef. Onyxia's Brat is fine too.
    • MrRhapsody - Lord Nefarious is OP in druid with Scale of Onyxia. Corrupted Onyxia is nice on flavor but a board full of dragons is again very very strong. Dragonqueen Alexstrasza only have you 3 dragons really. Raid Boss Onyxia is very played today so corrupting a 9 mana card is not that hard. And again, druid. Single Broodmother for me is the best, a 5 star card. Love the flavor, the effect is powerful but not OP, overall great.
    • AeroJulwin - Paladin indeed doesn't really have much whelp generating cards. I feel in general this Whelp buff effect is just too narrow to be good, cause it only really has synergy with 2 or 3 cards total. Also priest rarely if ever has divine shields.
    • linkblade91 - Interesting idea! Never seen this before. not sure if it's too good or not, could really do some swingy turns with a bunch of burst from Wrathscale Naga, then dropping 2 Ur'zul Giant for free. Still, i like it.
    • Demonxz95 - Does it work like High Abbess Alura? If so it's even stronger than her before her nerf. you get 2 of them and it doesn't rely on the Spellburts. Admittedly the whelp is weaker than a 3/6. Best outcomes are Tip the Scales, Libram of Hope, Dinosize, Spikeridged Steed. IMO it's too good at 4 mana and the fact it doesn't actually use the spell. The idea is solid though, if you can balance it.

    I'll boop you 

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  • Demonxz95's Avatar
    Senior Writer 2245 2628 Posts Joined 03/19/2019
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    I've updated Whelping Hand to be 5 mana, and I feel like this is probably the highest I can go or else it becomes too expensive to be practical since it does also warp your deckbuilding. Regarding some comments, the aspect of it being able to grab non-targeting spells is intentional and if I wanted to limit it to only targeted spells, I don't really have enough text space to do that.

    And a new card, Blacktalon Boss. I had a previous Whelp synergy card earlier, but I deleted it because it was so fucking boring that I almost felt embarrassed to keep it in the post. This one is still incredibly boring, but it does still seem more exciting than that other card. I just wanted a Whelp synergy card. Whelp, here we go again.

    Feedback time!

    Linkblade91
    I like the card effect, though I unfortunately can't really help with the wording. I must ask though, are Deathrattles intended to trigger twice with it?

    Wailor
    Both pretty solid cards. I like them.

    AeroJulwin
    I do like some Whelp synergy cards for this comp, but I feel like they should probably be Neutral since there's otherwise not enough cards for them to work. Pretty nice card though.

    MrRhapsody

    Lord Nefarious feels like it has too RNG-dependent for me (and incredibly strong in Druid), and Onyxia, Mother of Corruption feels like a Carnival Clown with bigger stats.

    Single Broodmother is definitely my favorite of the three. I really like it.

    BasilAnguis
    Something about the card feels weird to me and I'm not even exactly sure what it is, but the balance seems quite fine.

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  • BasilAnguis's Avatar
    Dragon Scholar 835 421 Posts Joined 05/29/2019
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    Adjusted the text slightly, maybe it looks better now.

    • Demonxz95 - Whelping Hand seems much better now. You're right about Blacktalon Boss being boring, don't think it's better than your original idea.

    I'll boop you 

    0
  • Hordaki's Avatar
    Dragon Scholar 650 264 Posts Joined 05/28/2019
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    Whelp, so much for being back every week. Stupid finals. Anyway.

    It took me a lot of time to find good wording for a Deathrattle until I remembered Reborn and figured this would fit well in Galakrond.

    I'll try to give feedback later today or tomorrow.

          -Hordaki (rhymes with Mordecai)

           Check out the Tactician custom class!

    2
  • linkblade91's Avatar
    Senior Writer Serra Angel 1700 2775 Posts Joined 02/09/2019
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    I think I fixed my issue with Deathrattles proccing by a simple addition of the word "other":

    You want another minion to die, not yourself.

    Additional Feedback:

    Show Spoiler

    Hordaki - Bone Whelp is neat. I wonder if it could cost 3, because it's inherently weaker than Restless Mummy to start, and only gets better after the third-or-so attack. Even then, you have to keep hurting yourself to proc the Reborn.

    BasilAnguis - I really like cards that encourage decision-making, and this is that :) You can proc your eggs with this, or trigger various other Warlock-y things. The only use-case that sucks is hitting your own face to draw the card, as your Hero Power or Kobold Librarian would arguably be better. The other thing that irks me is how close you are to the "2/2/2 deal 2 to yourself to deal 2" dream lol

    Demonxz95 - Increasing the cost of Whelping Hand…helps. Blacktalon Boss is boring; I would definitely stick with your first idea.

    Wailor - The new Infinite Whelp is more interesting and different from Vanessa, but I also worry that it became *much* better. Now you can swipe just about anything; how often will your opponent play 4 or more cards in a turn?

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  • Wailor's Avatar
    Design Champion 640 707 Posts Joined 05/28/2019
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    New version of the Whelp. Its effect is again very similar to Vanessa VanCleef, but the fact it's a Deathrattle makes it quite interesting to play around for your opponent: on the one hand, it gives them more control; but on the other hand, it makes using removal more punishing. It could also be a part of a hypothetical Deathrattle Dragon Priest.

    Let me know if you prefer this card or Onyxia's Brat, which I posted in my previous comment.


    Feedback:

    Demonxz95
    An improvement over the previous version. About the targeted spell not fitting the text, I think it would because adding that would allow you to drop the "(if possible)" part of the text. I know you still want it to cast any spell, but just to let you know.

    BasilAnguis
    Pretty cool and flexible card. Not much to add, sorry.

    Hordaki
    Probably my new favorite card, but linkblade is right about the cost.

    linkblade91
    The wording is much better now, but I'm still not a huge fan of the effect. Other people seem to really enjoy it, so I encourage you to go with it nevertheless.

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  • anchorm4n's Avatar
    Toybox Tactician 1895 2309 Posts Joined 03/13/2019
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    Great work everybody! I can't remember the last time I rated so many cards 4 or 5 stars. Good luck to all of you! 

    I notice I am confused. Something I believe isn't true. How do I know what I think I know?
    Harry James Potter-Evans-Verres, hpmor.com

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  • Demonxz95's Avatar
    Senior Writer 2245 2628 Posts Joined 03/19/2019
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    Hey, you know what goes pretty well with that new 9-mana Paladin spell? *wink, wink*

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  • linkblade91's Avatar
    Senior Writer Serra Angel 1700 2775 Posts Joined 02/09/2019
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    Good luck to the finalists!

    0
  • linkblade91's Avatar
    Senior Writer Serra Angel 1700 2775 Posts Joined 02/09/2019
    Posted 1 year, 10 months ago

    Congratulations to MrRhapsody! Your Warlock cards are doing well :D

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