Glacial Ray

Comparing Parasitic Mechanics

I think arcane and energy are very similar in a functionally parasitic sense. Stuff like Glacial Ray and Kodama's Might are optimizing-parasitic. I think this is VERY similar to the energy cards, like Harnessed Lightning and the Thrivers. And cards that just produce energy seem just as parasitic as all splice cards (besides Evermind). I think the way you've defined functional parasiticism, it applies to almost no cards, which is why we assume you mean optimization parasitism without context.

Here’s a different deferent way to think of functional parasitism. When you look at the card, ask “did I get to do everything this card says it can do?”. For Splice onto Arcane, that’s using the ability splicing it onto another card. That requires at least one other card, one that is arcane (specifically from that block which is what makes it parasitic). An energy card (that produces and uses energy) doesn’t require another card to function. That is the difference.

Energy Cards Evermind Glacial Ray Harnessed Lightning Kodama's Might Parasitic Splice

Understanding Parasitism

By your definition of parasitic, Evermind was the only "truly" parasitic Splice card. You can cast Harnessed Lightning or Glacial Ray as a mediocre removal spell, but there's not much point in doing so without other energy affects. (There's nothing wrong with Energy as a mechanic; I'm just nitpicking.)

There’s functional parasitism and optimization parasitism. The former keeps the card from fully functioning without the use of another card from its subset (unique to the set). A card that produces energy but can’t spend it has a part of the card nonfunctional without another energy card (one that can spend it).Optimization parasitism involves cards that can function completely by themselves without the need of any other cards, but because of synergy between cards can often be better optimized playing other cards with the mechanic.For example, a card that produces and uses energy (assuming the use is equal to or less than the production) is a lot like a Serrated Arrows type card which comes with a limited number of uses. Energy is mostly optimization parasitism. The designs allow you to drop just one energy card in a deck or a packet of cards rather than always having to play a whole deck of energy cards.

Cast Energy Cards Evermind Glacial Ray Harnessed Lightning Limited Mechanics Parasitic Serrated Arrows Splice

Kamigawa's Cold Damage

The red cold flavored direct damage spells from Kamigawa block (ie frostwielder, glacial ray)- would you say this experiment was effective? Is this a type of thing the creative team might try again?

I think it was a mostly failed experiment.

Frostwielder Glacial Ray Kamigawa Red Spells

Glacial Ray Feedback

How was Glacial Ray received? (As in, the idea that an ice spell is red and not blue)

Not well. Blue being ice (as it’s both water and cold) is pretty entrenched.

Blue Glacial Ray Red

Red Spell Flavor Variety

Isn't Creative a little sick of giving fiery names to "deal N damage" red spells? Now that I know about Glacial Ray, I think it's pretty cool, and think it could be neat to see red dealing other types of non-fire-based damage. For example, the Earthquake tradition suggests earth damage, like a column of earth shooting up to hit a creature.

If you go back through the history of burn spells, the creative team have tried just about every kind of flavor for direct damage that you can imagine.

Creatures Flavor Glacial Ray Red See Red Spells

Red Spell Names

Why are so many of Red's direct damage spells named after lightning, fire, boulders, magma, fire, burning and fire? Kamigawa had "Glacial Ray" and I don't see a reason that, "Kick in Butt" or "Manslaughter" couldn't be very Red spells.

Glacial Ray was actually quite controversial. The reason most direct damage spells are named after elements and natural effects is that we tend to name direct damage spells after the type of damage it is rather than how it is affecting the victim.

Controversies Glacial Ray Kamigawa Red Spells

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