My Comments On GDS2 Episode 2

http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/119z

This round of submissions didn't seem very exciting. Then again, Commons usually aren't very exciting and the competitors are getting a better feel for what is common and what isn't.

ETHAN FLEISHER
Turn back time should cost 2UU as it's a cantripped Boomerang. If it was "non-land permanent" then it could be 3U as it would be Cantripped Disperse.

JON LOUCKS
Illuminate doesn't seem to have really been changed from the previous challenge, just cleaned up a little. Still don't like it, especially at Common.

Lightspeed Lookout and Roofglide Moth should be Blue.

Expose: I really like this as white removal in a block with Morph.

Beacon ability doesn't really belong at Common.

SHAWN MAIN
Assault does not feel like a blue mechanic. How many creatures you are attacking with seems green, red, or maybe white (in that order).

Desperate Denial feels rather narrow.

DEVON RULE
Mobilize AND Mandate seems a little overkill, though Mobilze in all 5 colors (ala Allies) might work okay. Mandate seems like a very nice White mechanic.

SCOTT VAN ESSEN
Feels like too many sacrifice effects.

DANIEL WILLIAMS
Don't like the Flash/Instants-matter theme.

Stake A Claim's looter effect doesn't belong in Green and feels wonkily tacked on in general.

I hope he keeps Showdown. It's good but simply doesn't belong at Common, ala Imprint.

JON WOODWARD
Consume sacrificing Auras feels wrong. I understand it works with the Auras-matter theme of the set, but "Creatures or Auras" just doesn't grok. "Creature or Enchantment" would be much better but then can't be in Black (it can't destroy Enchantments). I think the mechanic has to only allow you to consume creatures.

Desiccate seems too good at 2 mana even as a Sorcery. Even if it's okay in Limited & Block, in most formats it's "2 mana = destroy target creature."

Necromantic Infusion seems fine as a Grim Discovery variant.

MY RANKINGS FOR THIS CHALLENGE
Devon Rule
Scott Van Essen
Jon Woodward
Daniel Williams
Shawn Main
Ethan Fleisher
Jon Loucks