Backstreet Archetype

[Kazuchika Okada]

I was not really sure if I should put this in Casual or Advanced Multiples, but since it has a weird mechanic, I'll just leave it here. The idea behind these came thanks to @Tinkerer suggesting an archetype named "Backstreet" in the Archetype Game, and I actually thought what I did was cool so I tried to build on it with some test cards.

 

[spoiler=Cards]Backstreet Look-out
EARTH - Level 4 - Warrior / Effect - 1500 ATK / 1000 DEF
While this face-up card is in your Main Monster Zone, your opponents cannot target "Backstreet" monsters in your Spell/Trap Zone for attacks.
If this card is Normal or Special Summoned to your Spell/Trap Zone, add 1 "Backstreet" card from your Deck to your hand, except "Backstreet Look-out".

Backstreet Guard-dog
EARTH - Level 3 - Warrior / Effect - 500 ATK / 1200 DEF
If there is a monster in your Main Monster or Spell/Trap Zone, you can Special Summon this card in that same Zone. While this card is face-up on your Spell/Trap Zone, your opponent cannot target monsters in your Main Monster Zone for attacks.

Backstreet Boy
EARTH - Level 1 - Warrior / Tuner / Effect - 200 ATK / 0 DEF
If you Normal or Special Summon this card in your Main Monster Zone, you can banish the top card from your deck face-down, then Special Summon one "Backstreet" monster from your deck to your side of the field (the monster can be Special Summoned to your Spell/Trap Zone if "Shady Backstreet Business" is face-up on your side of the field), except "Backstreet Boy".
If you Normal or Special Summon this card in your Spell/Trap Zone, during this turn, you can declare a number from 1 to 4: This card's Level becomes the declared number.

Backstreet Vigilante
EARTH - Level 6 - Warrior / Synchro / Effect - 2500 ATK / 2000 DEF
1 Tuner + 1 non-Tuner monster
A Synchro Summon of this card can only be conducted if at least one of the Materials are in your Spell/Trap Zone. When this card is Synchro Summoned, you can target one "Backstreet" monster in your GY and Special Summon it in your Spell/Trap Zone. While this card is face-up on your side of the field, Field Spell Cards you control cannot be targeted by card effects.

 

Backstreet Sniper

EARTH - Rank 4 - Warrior / XYZ / Effect - 2300 ATK / 1000 DEF

2 Level 4 EARTH Monsters

A XYZ Summon of this card can also be conducted by overlaying the required materials in your Spell/Trap Zone. While this card is in your Main Monster Zone, once per turn, you can detach one XYZ Material from it: Send one "Gambler" card from your Deck to the GY, then you can attach one "Gambler" monster from your hand or GY to this card. While this card is in your Spell/Trap Zone, you can detach one XYZ Material from it: It can attack your opponent directly from the S/T Zone this turn. 

 

Backstreet Rigger

EARTH - Rank 4 - Warrior / XYZ / Effect - 2700 ATK / 500 DEF

3 Level 4 "Gambler" Monsters

A XYZ Summon of this card can only be conducted by overlaying the required materials in your Spell/Trap Zone or by overlaying a "Backstreet Sniper" with 3 Materials. Once per turn, you can detach one XYZ Material from this card: Destroy up to two cards on either your opponent's S/T Zone or hand. This effect can't be negated and cards/effect cannot be activated in response to it.

 

Shady Backstreet Business
Field Spell Card
Once per turn, you can add 1 "Backstreet" Monster from your Deck to your hand. The controller of this face-up card can Normal or Special Summon "Backstreet" monsters in the Spell/Trap Zone (These monsters can still be targeted for attacks). Your opponent cannot attack directly if you have a monster in your Spell/Trap Zone. If this card leaves the field: Banish all monsters in your Spell/Trap Zone.

Role Swap
Quick-play Spell Card
(This card can only be activated while you control "Shady Backstreet Business".)
Target 1 face-up monster you control, then activate one of these effects:
° If the monster is in your Main Monster Zone, Special Summon it in your Spell/Trap Zone.
° If the monster is in your Spell/Trap Zone, Special Summon it in your Main Monster Zone.
Afterwards, add 1 Field Spell Card from your Deck or GY to your hand.

 

Hidden Trap Hole

Trap Card

(This card is always treated as a "Backstreet" card.)

If your opponent summons a monster(s) while you control a Backstreet monster in your Spell/Trap Zone, you can send this card from your hand to the GY to negate the summon and banish that monster(s).

 

 

Please do tell me what you think of this thingy, and how it could be more interesting. Thx :)

[Tinkerer]

*pokes head in*

 

Did someone say Tinkerer?

 

Joking aside, this looks like a neat little set of cards.  The only big thing I noticed that seemed "off" on my first look-through was Backstreet Business.  While it does explain that you can't be attacked directly, I think you'd need to specify that your opponent can attack your Backstreet stuff while they're in the Spell/Trap Zone.  Aside from that, I think the rest of the mechanic is pretty self-explanatory.

 

Functionally, the deck feels a bit like Morphtronics in that they have a binary set of effects, but they are not as limited in scope.  In terms of outside archetypes, this could potentially pair well with Sky Strikers as you'd never actually need to put monsters in your Main Monster Zone, which could be pretty neat.

 

Anyways, as for the cards themselves, there were just a couple things that confused me:

Backstreet Look-out seems to have awfully high ATK for a level 4 with a beneficial effect.  As a general rule of thumb, since Konami hasn't actually made a 2000+ ATK, Level 4 monster with an (outright) beneficial effect, it's a bit difficult to justify making one here without some kind of thematic relevance.

I think I misread Guard-dog's effect text during my first look-through.  I assume it means it can be SS'd to a S/T zone if you control another Backstreet monster in the S/T zone and vice versa for the MMZ.  However, when I first read it, I thought it replaced the monster in that Zone.  Can't really think of a wording change off the top of my head right now, but I would suggest clearing the effect up a bit.

 

All in all, I really like the theme and how it was implemented.  The cards are clear and, despite being a new mechanic, it does seem very straightforward on how it would work.  Love it!

[Kazuchika Okada]

I tried really hard to quote your post multiple times so I could answer everything but since I can't I'll just tryhard

 

[spoiler=good god almighty]Joking aside, this looks like a neat little set of cards. The only big thing I noticed that seemed "off" on my first look-through was Backstreet Business. While it does explain that you can't be attacked directly, I think you'd need to specify that your opponent can attack your Backstreet stuff while they're in the Spell/Trap Zone. Aside from that, I think the rest of the mechanic is pretty self-explanatory.

 

I agree with you. I tried a quick correction

 

 

[spoiler=this thing is so buggy]Backstreet Look-out seems to have awfully high ATK for a level 4 with a beneficial effect.  As a general rule of thumb, since Konami hasn't actually made a 2000+ ATK, Level 4 monster with an (outright) beneficial effect, it's a bit difficult to justify making one here without some kind of thematic relevance.

 

True. Corrected.

 

 

[spoiler=damn you bbcode]I think I misread Guard-dog's effect text during my first look-through.  I assume it means it can be SS'd to a S/T zone if you control another Backstreet monster in the S/T zone and vice versa for the MMZ (that's exactly it).  However, when I first read it, I thought it replaced the monster in that Zone.  Can't really think of a wording change off the top of my head right now, but I would suggest clearing the effect up a bit.

 

I can see where you're coming from, but I'm not sure on how I could make it less ambiguous, maybe someone more knowledgeable on PSCT could help there. :(

 

 

Thank you so much! <3

[Sup0sitwar]

I really like the idea but I can't stop thinking about a way to counter these cards, and except the fact that they can stop the attacks, I don't see any other big defense.

I think giving these cards more offensive power or another protection would be good, but it is just a suggestion.

If there are more of these cards to come, I would love to see them! :)

Also, are the Backstreet monsters allowed to attack from the Spell/Trap zone ? If so, I didn't see anything that specifies it.

[Kazuchika Okada]

I probably should have done this in the other post but I'm dumb sorry

 

(1) I really like the idea but I can't stop thinking about a way to counter these cards, and except the fact that they can stop the attacks, I don't see any other big defense.

(2) I think giving these cards more offensive power or another protection would be good, but it is just a suggestion.

(3) If there are more of these cards to come, I would love to see them! :)

(4) Also, are the Backstreet monsters allowed to attack from the Spell/Trap zone ? If so, I didn't see anything that specifies it.

 

(1) That also buggered me while I was making the archetype, probably one way to counter these cards would be being able to use cards like MST on the monsters sitting in the Spell/Trap Zone, but that could make the archetype become pretty weak so I'm still thinking on how to make it fair to play against besides the fact that it has to set up a good board to be strong.

(2) I think they do protect themselves pretty well but I agree with the offensive part.

(3) There are certainly more, so wait for them <3

(4) That was actually on my mind for a future Synchro so, spoilers hahahaha

 

Thank you so much!

[Kazuchika Okada]

Bump: Added in Backstreet Sniper, Backstreet Rigger and Hidden Trap Hole.