New Summoning Variations! (Ascent/Descent, Infusion, Soul)

[Dova]

I have an RP planned, and I thought: "What better way to make it interesting than with new mechanics?" Of course, new types of Summoning in themselves might be a bit tricky for players to get their heads around, so forcing it on them probably wouldn't be for the best. However, I eventually decided to do something similar to what the Anime did when introducing new Summoning Mechanics: Vary them! For example, ZEXAL has Rank-Up, the 5Ds Anime had Dark Synchros whereas the TCG had Ultimaya, and GX had contact Fusion, and fusion not using Polymerization! So, introducing a variation on each current Summoning condition, I came up with some stuff that I liked. It may not be for everyone, however, so please tell me what you think!
 
[spoiler=Ascent/Descent Xyz Evolution] 
Method: If you are able to Special Summon an Xyz Monster of a specified Rank/Type/Attribute/Name, you can banish that Xyz Monster from your Extra Deck and instead use the Materials to Summon the Ascent/Descent Xyz Monster. This Summoned monster is normally 1 Rank higher than the banished monster, although this can vary by a little. Only specific monsters can be Summoned this way, and this is mentioned in the card lore. This is still an Xyz Summon, just another form of Evolution similar to Chaos Evolution. (Ascent/Descent refers to the Attribute of the monster you Summon; Descent for DARK and Ascent for LIGHT.)
 
Example:
 
Number 91: Thunder Spark Dragon (Actual Monster)
LIGHT - ✪✪✪✪ - Dragon/Xyz/Effect - 2400/2000
3 Level 4 monsters
Once per turn, you can activate 1 of these effects.
● Detach 3 Xyz Materials from this card; destroy all other face-up monsters on the field.
● Detach 5 Xyz Materials from this card; destroy all cards your opponent controls.
 
Number D91: Charged Abyss Dragon (Descended Version, the "Number D" is an idea I had for Numbers, and if it is included there would also be "Number A")
DARK - ✪✪✪✪✪ - Dragon/Xyz/Effect - 3000/2400
3 Level 5 DARK monsters / You can also Xyz Summon this card by using monsters you control that you can use to Xyz Summon a Rank 4 LIGHT Xyz Monster by banishing that Xyz Monster and using the monsters you control as Xyz Materials.

Once per turn: You can detach any number of Xyz Monsters from this card; destroy an equal number of cards on your opponent's side of the field. Once per turn, during your Standby Phase: You can target 1 of your banished monsters; attach it to this card as Xyz Material.
 
I control 3 Level 4 monsters. The Summoning conditions of Number 91 have been met, so I could Xyz Summon it, but instead, I banish it from my Extra Deck, and use the 3 Level 4 monsters to Xyz Summon Number D91 from my Extra Deck instead, using Descent Xyz Evolution.
 
Notes: I originally intended to have one name for this method, but I felt both names would fit. I still kinda want to include other Attributes, but I can't think of good names for them either. If you think you have something, please mention it below!

 
[spoiler=Infusion Synchro Summon] 
Method: You Infusion Synchro Summon by controlling a Tuner of the Level of the Infusion Synchro you wish to Summon, and a non-Tuner(s) who's Levels equal the Level of the Tuner. You then send these to the Graveyard as you would normally do in a Synchro Summon, then Synchro Summon that monster from your Extra Deck. If the Synchro Monster requires 2 or more Tuners, the non-Tuner(s)'s Levels must then equal the combined Level of the Tuners. Only specific Synchro monsters can be Summoned this way, shown by using an "=" instead of a "+" in the card text (e.g. "1 Tuner = 1 or more WIND non-Tuners") . Other than that, the Infusion Synchro monster is still a Synchro Monster, and an Infusion Synchro Summon is still a Synchro Summon.
 
Example:
 
Behemoth of the Deep (Infusion Synchro Monster)
WATER - ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪- Aqua/Synchro/Effect - 2600/2400
1 WATER Tuner = 1 or more non-Tuner monsters
Once per turn: You can banish 1 WATER monster from your Deck. During your Standby Phase, if this card was sent to the Graveyard last turn; You can target 1 Aqua-Type monster in your Graveyard: Special Summon it. You can only use this effect of "Behemoth of the Deep" once per turn.
 
I control a Level 7 Tuner, a Level 3 non-Tuner and a Level 4 non-Tuner. I then perform an Infusion Synchro Summon by sending those monsters to the Graveyard to Special Summon Behemoth of the Deep from my Extra Deck.
 
Notes: This of course will lead to more Tuners with higher Levels, which is something I always thought would be cool, as I loved Dark Synchros in the Anime. Also, while this might dig into your resources a little bit, I plan to make the higher level Tuners a little more easily accesible, and perhaps also buff the Infusion Synchros to make up for that. Then again, level spam.deks could still make them easily, so maybe not.

 
[spoiler=Soul Fusion Summon] 
Method: When you Fusion Summon a Soul Fusion Monster, whether it be from a Spell, Trap, Monster Effect or even some form of Contact Fusion, the Materials are place in your Spell/Trap Zone equipped to the monster instead, and are treated as Soul Materials, which are both a new kind of card and a Spell/Trap Card. The Soul Fusion Monster then gains effects based on how many of these Soul Materials you have face-up, with 1 normally just giving it a small base effect, and can destroy Soul Materials instead of their own destruction. A Soul Fusion Monster is not bound in its effect or protection to the Soul Materials used to Summon it, and can use other monster's Materials instead of their own. These effects are inherent. If there are no Soul Materials face-up on the field, a Soul Fusion Monster banishes itself. Other than this, the Soul Fusion Monster is still a Fusion Monster, and can be Summoned using any normal way you could. You cannot Soul Fusion Summon if there is not enough space for all of the Soul Materials.
 
Example:
 
Elemental HERO Last Defender (Soul Fusion Monster)
EARTH - ✪✪✪✪✪✪- Warrior/Fusion/Effect - 2000/2500
1 "Elemental HERO" monster + 1 monster with a different Attribute to the other Soul Material
Fusion Materials for this card are equipped to this card as Soul Materials instead of going to the Graveyard. If this card would be destroyed, you can destroy 1 face-up Soul Material you control instead. If there are no face-up Soul Materials, banish this card. This card gains effects depending on the number of face-up Soul Materials you control:
● 1+: This card cannot be destroyed by battle.

● 2+: Once per turn, if another monster declares an attack: You can negate that attack, and, if you do, Special Summon 1 "Elemental HERO" monster from your Graveyard. If you Special Summoned an effect monster by this effect, it cannot attack this turn.
 
I have Polymerization in my hand, along with Elemental HERO Neos, and Elemental HERO Blazeman face-up on the field. I activate Polerymization, placing both HEROs face-up in my Spell/Trap Zone as Soul Materials, Special Summoning Elemental HERO Last Defender. Since there are 2 face-up Soul Materials, both effects of this Soul Fusion Monster can be activated.
 
Notes: Wasn't initially too keen on this mechanic, due to the S/T filling up, but I think it might work. This is actually based of an earlier idea I had called Sonex Summoning, check it out if you have the time! Chose Soul because I feel it's more like fusing the monster's Souls/Spirit than their actual bodies, as they stay on the field somewhat.

 

[~~~~]

The variations need to be written out on the card like Summoning conditions

[Dova]

Well, I see your point with the Xyz, but with the Fusion, since its normally Fusion Summoned, and the Synchro, as I already changed the requirements to include the "="...yeah. However, I also see your point when it comes to base effects. Gonna edit now though, thanks!

 

Any thoughts?

[Sluggaholic]

I just woke up, so I don't have much to say now to help with balancing any of the Summoning conditions.

 

But what about making EARTH evolutions be called "Entombed"?

 

Number E91: Grounded Nitron Dragon (The 'Entombed' version of Thunder Spark Dragon.)

EARTH - Rank 5 - Dragon-Type (Xyz) Monster

3 Level 5 EARTH Monsters/You can also Xyz Summon this card by using monsters you control that you can use to Xyz Summon a Rank 4 LIGHT Xyz Monster by banishing that Xyz Monster and using the monsters you control as Xyz Materials.

Effect: Once per turn, when your opponent would activate a card or effect that would destroy a card(s) on the field: you can detach 1 Xyz Material from this card; negate that effect and banish that card. Once per turn, during your Standby Phase: target 1 monster in your Graveyard and 1 card in your opponent's Graveyard; Special Summon that first target, and if you do, banish the second.

ATK 2400/DEF 3000

 

- - - - -

 

The general idea around the 'Entombed' Xyz monsters is that they're naturally more defensive monsters than their original counterparts, having abilities that support you defensively rather than offensively.

 

Gagagigo the Unearthed

EARTH - Rank 5 - Reptile-Type (Xyz) Monster

3 Level 5 Monsters/You can also Xyz Summon this card by using monsters you control that you can use to Xyz Summon a Rank 4 WATER Xyz Monster by banishing that Xyz Monster and using the monsters you control as Xyz Materials.

Effect: (Should we give Xyz cards that don't naturally have effects their own unique effects, or should we keep them vanilla? That's a question we should pose.)

ATK 2800/DEF 2950

 

- - - - -

 

Just food for thought.

[ParadoxCaller]

I must say I'm intrigued! I also like the concept of tweaking already existing Summoning mechanics for dramatic effects! A funny sidenote is that Accel Synchros were also a Synchro sub-type in the anime for some reason.

 

A few thoughts: Is Ascent/Descent Xyz ONLY gonna revolve around Light and Dark monsters? Cause I think it would be better to just pick either Ascent Xyz or Descent Xyz for the name and make it so you can instead Summon an Xyz Monster of equal Attribute but under the same conditions. Or instead of equal Attribute, make it a "reverse" Attribute thing, where you instead Summon an Attribute counterpart

 

Infusion Synchros I think are fine. I just have a problem with the wording "1 Tuner = 1 or more non-Tuner monsters". I'd rather it said something like "You Synchro Summon this card by using 1 Tuner monster that has the same Level as 1 or more non-Tuner monsters you control"

 

For Soul Fusion I take it they're supposed to be a Contact Fusion variant? So I think it would better if you, instead of using a Fusion card, can Fusion Summon the Soul Fusion Monster by placing its materials in the S/T Zone and then they become Equip Cards to the Soul Fusion Monster. Something like "You Fusion Summon this card by placing the above Fusion Materials in your Spell & Trap Card Zone, then equip those cards to this card."

 

Of course these are just my thoughts. I have no idea of how you have planned to further evolve these concepts or what kinds of support cards you have in mind. But on another note, I'm interested in this RP you spoke about were you want to feature these Summoning mechanics

[Dova]

Thanks for the name, Fushi! I think if I'll give each Attribute a different name I'll have to also just give 1 all encompassing name.

 

I must say I'm intrigued! I also like the concept of tweaking already existing Summoning mechanics for dramatic effects! A funny sidenote is that Accel Synchros were also a Synchro sub-type in the anime for some reason.

A few thoughts: Is Ascent/Descent Xyz ONLY gonna revolve around Light and Dark monsters? Cause I think it would be better to just pick either Ascent Xyz or Descent Xyz for the name and make it so you can instead Summon an Xyz Monster of equal Attribute but under the same conditions. Or instead of equal Attribute, make it a "reverse" Attribute thing, where you instead Summon an Attribute counterpart

 

I mentioned in the notes, I wanted to include other names for the other the attributes, but again, that is mostly for effect. I'm trying to find a all encompassing name, though.

Infusion Synchros I think are fine. I just have a problem with the wording "1 Tuner = 1 or more non-Tuner monsters". I'd rather it said something like "You Synchro Summon this card by using 1 Tuner monster that has the same Level as 1 or more non-Tuner monsters you control"

 

What's your problem with it? I mean, I personally really loved the idea, and I am willing to accept that there is a problem, but what's wrong with it?

For Soul Fusion I take it they're supposed to be a Contact Fusion variant? So I think it would better if you, instead of using a Fusion card, can Fusion Summon the Soul Fusion Monster by placing its materials in the S/T Zone and then they become Equip Cards to the Soul Fusion Monster. Something like "You Fusion Summon this card by placing the above Fusion Materials in your Spell & Trap Card Zone, then equip those cards to this card."

 

Soul Fusion monsters can be Summoned in ANY method a normal Fusion monster can be Summoned. They can either be Contact Fusion, Monster/Trap effect, or normally through Polymerization. Of course, I could make it a Contact Fusion variant, but I wanted it to connect it with the Summoning Method more

Of course these are just my thoughts. I have no idea of how you have planned to further evolve these concepts or what kinds of support cards you have in mind. But on another note, I'm interested in this RP you spoke about were you want to feature these Summoning mechanics

 

Thank you, for your interest and your comment!

[ParadoxCaller]

What's your problem with it? I mean, I personally really loved the idea, and I am willing to accept that there is a problem, but what's wrong with it?

 

 

It's just the wording "1 Tuner = 1 or more non-Tuner monsters". If you break it down in just words it would sound like this: "One Tuner equals one or more non-Tuner monsters", which doesn't make much sense grammatically. I may come of a some sort of grammar nazi but that's basically my problem with it. Other than I get the concept and find it interesting