{"ops":[{"insert":"This is an idea for its own unique kind of singleton format using the class cards instead of legendary creatures like in commander, in some ways meant to represent the players themselves or something like dnd characters fighting one another, weather that be in a 1v1, a multi-person free for all, a group against an archenemy, or any mix of things. \n\nThe format itself is a constructed 60 card singleton deck (excluding basic lands) with your choice of any one class card in the command zone and up to 15 cards in the sideboard. The color identity of the main deck and the sideboard can include up to 3 colors, one of which must be one of the colors of the deck's chosen class card. Importantly, the chosen class card does not function as a spell or permanent or counted as one of the 60 cards in the main deck or the 15 in the sideboard, instead functioning as an emblem for the player that never leaves the command zone and cannot be targeted or cast. This Class Emblem initially has no function to the player and starts at level 0. The Class Emblem represents level 0 and its other levels by starting with a number of Training Counters on it equal to the cards mana value plus the total mana needed to activate it's level 2 and level 3 abilities. At the beginning of each player's upkeep they remove a training counter from their class emblem and are able to remove additional training counters during their turn at sorcery speed by paying 1 generic mana, increasing by an additional 1 generic mana each time"},{"attributes":{"background":"#ffffff","color":"#001d35"},"insert":" during the same turn, much like planechase. "},{"insert":"The cumulative cost to remove Training Counters resets at the end of each player's turn so if a player chooses on their turn to pay one generic mana to remove a Training Counter, the next payment on that turn would cost 2 generic mana, followed by 3 generic mana, continuing ad-infinitum until either all Training counters are removed or when the turn ends. When Training counters equal to the Class Emblem's casting mana value are removed the first ability of the Class Emblem becomes active, bringing it to level 1. This is not counted as casting an enchantment spell or an enchantment entering the battlefield as it doesn't leave the command zone hence the reason for the class being considered an emblem. Due to this, any class cards that have an effect when they enter are instead considered or reworded to say \"When this class becomes level 1....\" In order for the Class Emblem to become level 2, Training Counters equal to the total mana value needed to pay the level 2 cost must be removed and the same is true for level 3. The starting hand total remains at a normal 7 as with most other formats while the starting life total varies depending on the chosen class, that being 20 plus the number of Training Counters your Class Emblem starts with.\n\nCleric Class as an example Class Emblem costs a total of 10 mana to both cast and get to level 3 so it would start with 10 Training Counters and the player themselves would start at 30 life. Cleric Class costs 1 white mana to cast so it's mana value is 1 meaning once the first Training Counter is removed it's level 1 ability will become active leaving 9 training counters left. After 4 more Training Counters are removed Cleric Class becomes level 2 and will have 5 Training counters remaining, which once those are removed the class becomes level 3 and has all of its abilities active. During the Cleric Class Emblem Player's first upkeep and all other subsequent upkeeps on their turn they will automatically remove a Training counter from their Class Emblem and, at sorcery speed, are able to pay 1 generic mana to remove another counter, this cost increasing by 1 generic mana for each time it is paid, the increase in cost resetting at the end of their turn. This means that for the Cleric Class player, their level 1 ability becomes active automatically during their first upkeep\n \nFor those who want a more technical wording of the emblem. A majority that is listed here are special abilities so they don't go on the stack and aren't able to be interacted with.\n\n\"This Emblem begins the game with X Training counters on it, where X is its mana value plus its level 2 and level 3 level ability costs.\"\n\"Your starting life total is 20 plus X.\"\n\"At the beginning of your upkeep, remove a training counter counter from this emblem.\"\n\"When a number of training counters equal to this emblem's mana value are removed, you gain control of it's level 1 class ability.\"\n\"When a number of training counters equal to this emblem's level 2 level ability are removed, you gain control of it's level 2 class ability. This ability only triggers if you control it's level 1 class ability.\"\n\"When a number of training counters equal to this emblem's level 3 level ability are removed, you gain control of it's level 3 class ability. This ability only triggers if you control it's level 1 and level 2 class abilities.\"\n\"Pay {1}: Remove a training counter from this emblem. This ability costs an additional {1} for each time it's been activated this turn. Activate only as a sorcery.\"\n\nAlternative health idea. Step 1: Health Pool Maximum; during each cleanup step, if a player's life total is above their HPM, their life total is set to their HPM. This is not considered damage or loss of life. Step 2: Each player starts at 20 life with a HPM of 20. Once their classes first level is unlocked, their HPM and current life total increase by the amount of training counters needed to unlock it. This is not considered gaining of life. This increase of HPM and current life total applies to the class emblem's level 2 and level 3 abilities as well. \n\nThis is the overall gist of the format and much like commander is meant to be used as a casual deck format, perhaps a bit broader than the usual 4 person game to be used in a multitude of different game modes from 1v1, 3 or more free for all, two headed giant, the star system, Archenemy, or anything else you and your fellow players have in mind. \n\nThis format is also simply an idea that I have had and would need testing to see what works and what doesn't, especially the starting health values. As far as ban lists goes either Commander or Legacy, up to you. I have also had the idea of both a general ban list for all the class cards as well as potentially specific bans for each class to prevent 1 card or uninteractable combos from being included but I'd first need to look at what classes have easy combos. \n\n\n\n\n\nIn an attempt to answer some questions that might come to mind regarding specific parts of this custom format, various potential questions and answers I could think of will be left here at the bottom.\n\nWhy a Class? The class itself is meant to represent the player and whatever distinct abilities the player themselves would potentially have in a fantastical setting. \n\nWhy an Emblem? Extending off of why I chose class cards to provide each player with their own personal form of distinct benefits within the gameplay, unlike commander my goal on this front was that I wanted something that could be used that wouldn't go away by simply getting removed or countered, a constant piece that opponents must worry about as well as a constant piece you must worry about your opponents having. The class represents the abilities that a player has so they are meant to continuously exist until the player themselves are removed.\n\nWhy a Sideboard? While there is potential in changing cards between games for better matchups against opponents in something like a best to 3 or best to 5 the Sideboard exists in this instance more so for companions and other spells and effects that deal with the Sideboard like the Learn mechanic and wish spells.\n\nWhy differing starting life totals? The idea behind this is that in many games from table top to video games different classes commonly have different health totals and this was my way of representing that within this format. I also think the different life totals in the old Vanguard format was interesting and I wanted to recreate it in some way. \n\nWhy Training Counters? In a way the training counters are meant to represent gaining xp in a game to eventually level up. These counters are removed through paying generic mana and also removed at upkeep so that even if a player is lacking in mana they are at least able to potentially do something on their turn other than simply draw, discard to hand size, and pass the turn.\n\nHow should I keep track of these Training Counters? A good method I have thought of is to have 3 different 6 sided dice, each die place over each level of the Class Emblem representing the number of counters needed to be removed for the specific level to be active. Back to using Cleric Class as an example the die over level 1 of Cleric Class would be at a 1 while the dice for level 2 and level 3 would initially start at a 4 and a 5 respectively.\n \n"}]}