There isn't
too much to say about the card this time around. Obviously you can see that I've combined elements of the dual typing from both the EX era and the Steam Siege era, mainly because, without the white box around the attack text they had in the EX era, making a dual-type card with Darkness as one its types makes it really hard to read with the clouds effect. Splitting the background this way makes it consistent and readable for all types. If you're wondering, the
Bisharp Effect (where the text is both black and white) is present with a Darkness dual type Pokémon. I rather like the effect, but the sentiment certainly isn't universal among the faking community.
As last time, and with all future cards I make with the Omnium Template, the following is true:
- The wording is SM or the latest syntax of a specific effect if no such effect exists in the SM era.
- The layout for the attack area is based off of the classic/Neo era. Following that, "Ability" is written in the same red text as the ability name.
- All Omnium cards are meant to be balanced for the 2010-2011 Standard Rotation, or slightly more broadly any set from Diamond & Pearl base set to Noble Victories.
- Fonts and placements should be pixel-perfect as they were made using my templates, which places all the fonts exactly where they should be.
- Restored Pokémon in Omnium are treated the same as regular Stage 1 Fossil Pokémon from blocks like Base Set and Sun & Moon. They are Stage 1 Pokémon in all but name and still evolve into Stage 2 Pokémon.
I had thought about using a few different bug types for this entry, with Yanmega narrowly missing out. I knew from the beginning I wanted to use a type that hasn't been represented by that Pokémon yet, so when I found out that Anorith, one of my favorite fossil Pokémon, has yet to appear in the core TCG as a Grass type, I knew I had to go with him. Originally he was going to be just Grass type, but I just can't pass up an opportunity to make a card with two types. It's a mechanic that is simply underused in the TCG. I did make sure to focus heavily on the Bug typing with the attack and Ability, though. The Rock typing comes in mainly for (obviously) the type on the card and for the Water weakness.
The idea for an ability to trigger upon a certain kind of energy being discarded while retreating was an idea that was mentioned in the Discord server some time ago. I can't remember exactly who brought it up or even the original idea, but I really liked that idea for an Ability trigger, so I worked out a way that it would work on a bug type and used it for this.
The attack, on the other hand, I came up with on the spot while thinking of how I wanted to approach the card. I see this card as an early-ish game attacker with a built-in way to keep its attack relevant, even if it may end up meaning stacking energy on it that doesn't necessarily do anything else but keep that energy out of the discard pile. I imagine that 1) whatever Armaldo card I make for this will have a four-[G] Energy attack that does something fancy and 2) it can also be used in tandem with some energy mover in the form of an Ability or Trainer card to make it so you can recycle energy that would otherwise be spent retreating.
As for the Water weakness, that's a sort of umbrella for all "Rock" Fighting types in Omnium. Rocks sink in water, etc. I reserve the Grass weakness for "Ground" Fighting types as I think that makes more sense. Moreover, for Anorith specifically, his type combination actually neutralizes both his Grass and Flying weakness ("Bug" Grass types are normally weak to Flying in Omnium), so Water really is the most logical weakness in my opinion. I find it slightly bothersome that every official Anorith card is weak to Grass.
Another kind of trivial thing I wanted to mention was that, since I see CaC cards as more of "promos", I've opted to leave off the rarity. The presence of rarity on my entry for July is just going to be a case of early installment weirdness because honestly I didn't think of it (and it does feel kinda weird for a LEGEND card to not have a gold star on it).