Last Thoughts

Cipher Card Costs

Following up, I actually said Last Thoughts was a "slightly better" Curiosity, not strictly worse. I'm not bothered about its power. What I was getting at is Curiosity costs U and we're paying 3 for a cantrip, which is probably the most a cantrip has cost since Ember Shot. I'm curious why R&D was so conservative here when, unlike other ciphers, this is a combination of very familiar effects. Did the Curiosity comparison not come up?

The development was well aware of Curiosity. Why was the card 3U instead of 2U? Because the development team has learned that it is dangerous to push card drawers. We do every once in a while but it has burned us more than just about any other type of card.

Ember Shot Game Design Last Thoughts

Card Cost Comparison

I'm curious about why Last Thoughts was costed 3U for a card that's effectively Curiosity with an ETB trigger. Curiosity costs U and you can usually get a card plus a small effect for 1 or 2 CMC. I know you guys were extra careful about cipher, but isn't a slightly better Curiosity pretty much a known quantity that doesn't have to be so conservatively priced? I'm not complaining or anything -- I just think it's weird.

If I Shock the target of your Curiosity, you get nothing. I Shock the target of your Last Thoughts, you still get the card. It’s not strictly worse. Also, remember that if played correctly, the card will net you two cards, one when you play it and very soon thereafter when the targeted creature deals combat damage.

Cipher Creatures Enter The Battlefield Last Thoughts Mana Value

Curiosity Comparison

Comparing Curiosity and Last Thoughts makes me a miserable for the massively overcosted cipher. Can go and do a sort of negative high-five (low five?) Development for me, could you? Maybe give them a stern look.

Remember that Curiosity can be Naturalized and if they blow up the creature you target, you get zero cards.

Cipher Creatures Last Thoughts

Rarity Decisions

Given that Last Thoughts and Mental Vapors are a mirrored pair why were they printed at different rarities? It seems odd, especially given that the stronger one is at common.

There are many reasons why cards move rarities, limited play being probably the largest reason. We’ve long decided that mirror pairs don’t have to be at the same rarity. We do it when we can but when another factor supersedes, we’re okay with it.

Card Printing Last Thoughts Limited Mental Vapors Rarity

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