DFC Preview: Koriand'r <>Starfire, Justifier

Blinded by the light…or is that the shine from his forehead?  Presenting…

BALDSDAY!

This week we take a detour from our normal Thursday unveiling to show you something so hot, I had to break out my asbestos gloves once again. By this time you are all aware of my love for fan created content and can understand my excitement. (It’s simply infectious!)

So this week I am extended the privilege of previewing a new card from the DFC fan created set. I understand that this card was created by Chris ‘Guglio’ Guglielmelli, and he sure did not disappoint. So without further delay, I present to you Koriand’r <> Starfire!

First off, her stats are within normal range for a 6 drop…just a little low on the DEF.  She also possesses Flight and Range, just like ever other version of her in the game to date, so we have consistency of concept right off the bat.  But then that is reinforced in her text.  Koriand’r is always either stunning an opposing character or playing games with your opponent’s formation.  This one accomplishes both feats in the same card without being overpowered.

While her text is powerful, she is one Pathetic Attempt away from being effectively textless for her controller.  Lots of characters have that drawback…but let’s see how she fares with it.

The next thing I notice is that she if not a Teen Titan:  She has the Darseid’s Elite and Anti-Life affiliations.  This version of Koriand’r must represent a character that was not really a ‘good guy’ in the truest sense of the term.  Or maybe she played the part of double agent.  I am unfamiliar with the storyline.  (I don’t read anything other than Iron Man, so sue me.)  But the choice of affiliations means something important or she would definitely be a Teen Titan.

So, how did the creator manage to make a character this powerful, balanced?  We got a new Keyword.  How dope is that?  Well, here is an excerpt from ‘Guglio’ that explains the new Flaw keyword better than I could hope to.

FLAW FAQ:

Some cards in this set have the Flaw keyword followed by a payment power.

1.  A Flaw payment power can be used by all opponents, and cannot be used by its controller.

2.  A Flaw payment power with a usage restriction (ie, "Use only once per turn.") can be used up to its restriction by each opponent.

3.  No effect or modifier you control can restrict an opponent from using the flaw powers of cards you control.

For example, if you control Lex Luthor, Metropolis Mogul and a character with a flaw power, your opponents may still use that flaw power even though Lex Luthor would ordinarily restrict them from using the payment powers of characters and equipment.

4. No effect or modifier you control can explicitly negate an effect created by a flaw power on a card you control. (Effects you control can still indirectly negate Flaw powers on cards you control by invalidating their targets).

For example, if an opponent uses the flaw payment power of Koriand'r <> Starfire, Justifier to remove Koriand'r <> Starfire's powers, and you control a character equipped with a Utility Belt, you may exhaust that character to attempt to negate the effect created by Koriand'r <> Starfire's power. However, since the effect cannot be negated by any effect you control, the Utility Belt's effect will do nothing on resolution.

Well, that’s definitely a flaw for the character, and I don’t mean in the ‘this card is broken’ sense…I mean that’s a damn good way to work a keyword called ‘Flaw’.

While I have no idea how this card will interact with others in the Fan Set, I am sure of one thing:  The Anti-Life affiliation is going to be used for something good one way or another, otherwise there wouldn’t be such a cool way to get the affiliation.

This idea sent me thinking about the possibilities that follow:  Will these ‘Flawed’ characters become the next hot item, or is it merely a keyword to balance power?

While Koriand’r losing her powers is a hefty drawback (like any flaw should be) it has to be since her power is so good.  This does provide additional balance, but I am guessing that much more thought went into this than just another mechanism to balance power.  While that would not be a failure by any stretch of the imagination, I have learned that when our best and brightest card designers put their mind to it, they develop really cool and well thought out stuff.

But then I started thinking in deeper terms and concepts…maybe getting the Anti-Life Affiliation is a drawback.  This would be the perfect side effect to removing a character’s power since the 2 endurance loss is an easy decision to make in light of Koriand’r’s power.  Until we know how good or bad Anti-Life affiliation can be, mark me off for 2 endurance loss any round you have this beauty on the board.

If this concept was coupled with something that prevented the payment of life by an opponent, then the Flaw effect could be effectively negated while not technically negating the power since it would never trigger to enter the chain.  This may be something more along the lines of what the creators had in mind.

So, sign me up!  Unless of course gaining the Anti-Life affiliation is like passing kidney stones…I have had enough of that for the time being.

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Comments

[Ike E Bear]

Very nice. She certainly presents some interesting dilemmas to your opponent.