The Universals [I think I did a good job on this set. Revolves around peeking.]

[DARKPLANT RISING]

[center]The Universals were originally in my head as an archetype revolving around declaring stuff in your opponent’s hand, but I decided just that will make them OP. So I decided to give them cost-ish things. The good part: they became heavier. The bad part: They turned out even “better” to the point of quite possibly meta-worthy.

There are several “Types” of the Universals. The first type is the low-level Universal Beast-Warriors that have effects revolving around discarding “The Universal” monsters and activating effects that allow you to peek at the opponent’s hand. The second type is the low-level Universal Winged Beasts that have effects that activate like DWs. Their names contain apostrophes. The third type is the Level 5 Universal Guardians with 0 ATK and 3000 DEF that swap their ATK and DEF in the presence of a higher Universal. The fourth type is the Level 7 Universal Beasts that “lock” cards in your opponent’s hand so you can abuse it. Their names consist of 2 words. The fifth type is the Level 8 Universal Gods with 3000 ATK, each name consisting of a single English word.

All names except the Universal Guardians and the Universal Gods are from the Slovanian language. Why did I make them so? No real reason – just random naming.
[spoiler=The Universals]
[spoiler=The Universal Beast-Warriors]
[img]http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/6430/115072s.jpg[/img]
Once per turn: Discard 1 "The Universal" monster and declare a card name. If the declared card is in your opponent's hand, draw 1 card.

[img]http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/1063/115072b.jpg[/img]
When this card is Summoned: Select 1 Level 4 or lower "The Universal" monster in your Deck, except "The Universal Sekira", and add it to your hand, OR Discard 1 "The Universal" card and declare 1 card name. If the declared card is in your opponent's hand, destroy 1 card on the field.

[img]http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/9241/115072t.jpg[/img]
Once per turn: Discard 1 "The Universal" monsters, and declare 1 card name. If the declared card is in your opponent's hand, select 1 "The Universal" monster in your Graveyard, and Special Summon it.

[img]http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/1682/115072g.jpg[/img]
When this card is destroyed: Discard 1 "The Universal" Card and declare 1 card name. If the declared card is in your opponent's hand: Special Summon this card. If this card Special Summoned by its own effect leaves the field: Banish it.[/spoiler]
[spoiler=The Universal Winged Beasts]
[img]http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/9686/115072sw.jpg[/img]
If this card was discarded by the effect of an "The Universal" card: You can destroy 1 card on the field.

[img]http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/7481/115072.jpg[/img]
If this card was discarded by the effect of an "The Universal" monster: You can Select 1 card in your opponent's Graveyard; Banish it.

[img]http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/5028/115072u.jpg[/img]
If this card was discarded by the effect of an "The Universal" card: you can Special Summon this card.

[img]http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/7481/115072.jpg[/img]
Cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. If this card was discarded by the effect of an "The Universal" card; you can Special Summon it. As long as this card remains face-up: All "The Universal" monsters you control inflict Piercing Damage.

[img]http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/7481/115072.jpg[/img]
If this card was discarded by the effect of an "The Universal" card: You can Special Summon 1 Level 5 or lower "The Universal" monster from your Deck.[/spoiler]
[spoiler=The Universal Guardians]
[img]http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5635/115072q.jpg[/img]
Cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. When you control more than 2 "The Universal" monsters: You can Special Summon this card (from your hand). While you control a Level 8 "The Universal" monster: This card's ATK and DEF are switched, and this card can attack up to two times in the same Battle Phase. While in Attack Position: This card cannot by destroyed by battle.

[img]http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/8923/115072a.jpg[/img]
Cannot be Normal Summoned or Set. When you control more than 2 "The Universal" monsters: You can Special Summon this card (from your hand). While you control a Level 8 "The Universal" monster: This card's ATK and DEF are switched. If this card destroyed a monster and sent it to the Graveyard: Select 1 "The Universal" monster in your Graveyard; add it to your hand. While in Attack Position: This card cannot be destroyed by battle.[/spoiler]
[spoiler=The Universal Beasts]
[img]http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/9772/115072k.jpg[/img]
If you control no monsters: Reveal this card in your hand; Declare 1 card name, and if the declared card is in your opponent's hand, Special Summon this card. If not, send this card to the Graveyard. Discard this card; Select 1 card in your opponent's hand. Until your opponent's 2nd End Phase after this effect's activation, it is revealed continuously, and your opponent cannot discard it or send it to the Graveyard as an cost or effect he/she controls, or play it.

[img]http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/9772/115072k.jpg[/img]
Tribute 1 "The Universal" monster; Special Summon this card (from your hand). When this card is Summoned: Select 1 card in your opponent's hand. Until your opponent's 2nd End Phase after this effect's activation, it is revealed continuously, and your opponent cannot discard it or send it to the Graveyard as an cost or effect he/she controls, or play it.

[img]http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/7481/115072.jpg[/img]
When a "The Universal" monster you control is destroyed by battle: Special Summon this card (from your hand). When this card is Summoned: Select 1 card in your opponent's hand. Until your opponent's 2nd End Phase after this effect's activation, it is revealed continuously, and your opponent cannot discard it or send it to the Graveyard as an cost or effect he/she controls, or play it. [/spoiler]
[spoiler=The Universal Gods]
[img]http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/7481/115072.jpg[/img]
Reveal 1 "The Universal" monster in your hand, except this card; discard the revealed monster, and Special Summon this card (from your hand or Graveyard). Up to three times per turn: Declare a card name (You cannot declare the same card name twice in the same turn by this effect); If the declared card is in your opponent's hand, place 1 "The Universal Counter" on this card (MAX. 3). Remove 3 The Universal Counters from this card; select and activate one of the following effects: -Draw 1 card. -Select 1 "The Universal" monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it.

[img]http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/3081/115072w.jpg[/img]
Retun 2 "The Universal" monsters in your Graveyard to the Deck; Special Summon this card (from your hand). Up to three times per turn: Declare a card name (You cannot declare the same card name twice in the same turn by this effect); If the declared card is in your opponent's hand, place 1 "The Universal Counter" on this card (MAX. 3). Remove 3 The Universal Counters from this card; select and activate one of the following effects: -Destroy 1 card on the field. -Select 1 "The Universal" monster in your Graveyard; Special Summon it.
[/spoiler][/spoiler]

Rep to constructive criticism.[/center]

[Giriel]

Interesting effects, but some seem too strong, especially once you activate the effect of a Universal Beast. You should add something like "You cannot declare the same card name more than once per turn" to balance it a little.
And Ra'Hel is just way to overpowered. Discarding him by the effect of a "Universal Beast-Warrior" is way to easy and global piercing damage is just beyond overkill. Ra'Hel + one of the Guardians + whatever = Serious damage. You should either split up his effect or at least reduce his ATK.
But apart from that I like the concept.

[DARKPLANT RISING]

Actually I was going to make Ra'Hel a near-Vanilla, sort of the Wulf position of the Universals, but I decided that would make him underpowered, at least in today's meta. I gave it Piercing to make it better.

Ya know, I'm aiming to make this tournament-worthy. Look at Agents. Earth is a walking Trishula that sets up 4 Fairies in the Grave. I suppose Piercing doesn't hurt. Besides, Life Points don't really matter.

But thanks.

[DARKPLANT RISING]

Bumped.

[DARKPLANT RISING]

Another.

[Giriel]

[quote name='Darkplant - FEAR' timestamp='1321017970' post='5632501']
Actually I was going to make Ra'Hel a near-Vanilla, sort of the Wulf position of the Universals, but I decided that would make him underpowered, at least in today's meta. I gave it Piercing to make it better.

Ya know, I'm aiming to make this tournament-worthy. [...] I suppose Piercing doesn't hurt.[...]
[/quote]

I don't think you should counter game breakers with game breakers but rather with creative effects or well targeted bouncing/destruction/banishing. Piercing damage is fine but not making it a global effect.
Either way: Today's meta sucks anyways. Just look at the (Legendary) Six Samurais, Machina Gadget or other staple-ridden decks without any interesting thing about them. (Check out the World Championship '11 Top 8 results: one Agent-Fairy, [i]four[/i] Junk Doppel, one Machina Gadget and two Six Samurai decks. Every single person has almost the same deck, most have basically the same Extra Deck anyways (Stardust, Black Rose, Colossal Fighter, Catastor, Ice Barrier Dragons etc.).
[i]That's where this game stops making fun.[/i]

I'm not here to diss you or your cards, you have some sweet ideas there, but I'm just saying that you should stick to your guns and make it tournament worthy without ruining the actual concept.

[quote]Besides, Life Points don't really matter.[/quote]

I might be pretty old-school but the last time I checked they mattered [b]a lot[/b]. I think not having any makes you lose, right? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Btw: Don't know which card you were referring to.
[quote]Look at Agents. Earth is a walking Trishula that sets up 4 Fairies in the Grave.[/quote]

[DARKPLANT RISING]

...Actually.

Most of the time, Life Points don't matter. The only time in which it matters is when you lose, or when you can't afford that Solemn Warning you just drew right after that BLS.

tl;dr (The internet rarely reads stuff,) Ra'Hel's piercing effect is an extra I just added for no real reason because it would change nothing either way.

Also, you can't talk meta without Agent Earth.

[Tentacruel]

These are really really cool. I've seen this pictures before, but they work better with this set. To be honest the effects are all great, but it would be nice to see a little more variety. Not so much that they drift from the main theme, but just a few more differences between different monsters. I do like the way the different effect-types play together so well like Lightsworns or Darkworlds. Also, Universal Dragon is a little overpowered in terms of being so easy to Summon. Especially with a draw effect like that.

[Bahamut - Envoy of the End]

Interesting concept, can't think of anything else that makes that bigger deal of hand revealing control, so creative points there.

Archtype with 5 specific sub-categories, each with different characteristics. Hmm.... okay, not too keen on that idea. Well none of them are bigger than 5 cards, with 16 members in total. My favourites are the Beasts and Beast Warriors, as they (obviously) have the most synergy. Oh the fun that could be had picking out your opponents Honest or Gorz. Mwahaha. I'm perfectly happy with the way they trigger their effects and summoning (despite later comments) and think they are generally very good.

So veering in a near completely off direction, the DW style Winged Beasts feel a bit unnatural/out of place with their effects given what the rest of the archtype does, and a bit 'having it both ways'. Don't mind the odd card doing that (see Gusto Grif or the like) but feels like a different species within a species too much. Their effects are very good just... not a fan I'm afraid.

Find both boss monsters extremely cheap to summon in the Grapha mould. I also might be being dense, but their declare opponents hand effects trigger three seperate times a turn right? So you could call the same card three times right? Personally bit unsure about that, but I guess most people won't have three cards in their hand when they're summoned. Also: Not that its a big deal, but were they the only two pics you could find for boss monsters? They don't look as boss as the Guardians or regular Beasts.

Finally the names are great.

[Gojira/Godzilla]

Good cards, 8.99/10. interesting names, great effects and awesome pics, you should make more

[Tentacruel]

[quote name='Verz Bahamut' timestamp='1321109068' post='5634650']
I also might be being dense, but their declare opponents hand effects trigger three seperate times a turn right? So you could call the same card three times right? Personally bit unsure about that, but I guess most people won't have three cards in their hand when they're summoned.
[/quote]
I assume the three times a turn is so you have three chances to find a card, and if you already know a card name, you can get three counters all at once.

[DARKPLANT RISING]

...Oh, I totally forgot that part.

Fixing...Thanks.

[DARKPLANT RISING]

Bumped.