Lordy's Guide to Card Making ~ Archetype Guide Posted!

[Lord Ursus]

This is the official guide book to getting your card making going here in YCM.

 

Things you will want to know and do:

1. Do read the rules. You will really not like to have your threads closed without knowing why.

2. How to upload your cards: When you are done making your card in the card maker, simply click on the card’s image on the right side of the screen, and await a link to appear under it. When making a new thread, paste the link in there, and the card will be visible without members having to open attachments, which, you should bear in mind are not very wanted in this section, and will cause your thread to be locked.

3. About vanillas: If you choose to make Normal monsters, please bear in mind that some users think of them as non-creative waste of paper, so make sure you follow up with some other cards as well, to show what you can do.

4. Behavior here on YCM: As you very well know, YCM is a place where people have the same rights for having fun, so we try to maintain a rudimentary social standard. As such, there are some people here who think that some people are not very skilled with card making, and resort to flaming. Let me remind you that this is not allowed here. If you think that other people makes worse cards than your own, then either don’t comment at all, if you don’t have anything positive to say, or show them how to improve. Not all comments you are going to get will be good, you can be sure of that, but don’t give up because of it.

5. The Reputation System: We do have a reputation system here, and there you get the option of giving a negative reputation point to other people, but let me advice you to have a very good reason before you do so, as unprovoked negging is strongly discouraged. Also, don’t revenge neg. If you got a negative reputation point from another member, there are 2 possibilities: Either they had a good reason, or they are being jerks. If it is the second one, write to a moderator, and he/she will fix it.

 

Images

 

Images are, as you might know can be very difficult to come by. Therefore, some members have taken it upon themselves to create images for all of us to use. You may find the work of these members in the Showcase Forum. But, if they do not want you to use their work, you will simply have to deal with it. Some members also requires that you uses a disclaimer, where you write that it is their work.

 

Good sites for images:

 

http://forum.yugiohcardmaker.net/thread-18348.html

http://forum.yugiohcardmaker.net/thread-114309.html

http://forum.yugiohcardmaker.net/thread-160642.html

http://forum.yugiohcardmaker.net/thread-133431.html

 

(I was sadly forced to remove very notable sources, but if you really want to know of them, PM me.)

 

OCG

OCG, which stands for “Official Card Grammar” can be the most difficult part of card making, and you will find that it is perhaps the most important part of your cards. OCG is the special grammar that shows how effects are to be written, and Junk Raver has been so lovely as to create one for the forum to use. It has been re-edited by Jovi Siagian, and can be found here, posted by Icyblue. Be sure to take a good look into it before you plunge into your card making.

 

 

[spoiler=[b]Making cards:[/b]]

 

[spoiler=Making Singles]1. Making singles:

There are several ways to get started, but the most common ones are:

- You have gotten a really good idea for a card(s).

- You have found a really good picture.

- You have thought of a really cool name.

- You want to dedicate it to someone as a tribute.

 

Let’s say you found a really good picture, say, like this:

 

Open up the card maker.

 

You now have a blank card waiting for your touch of creativity.

 

 

Right-click on the image we found and go to properties. Then copy the url address and paste into the empty space where it stands Picture URL. Press “Generate”.

 

I now have this on my screen:

 

So, let’s give her a name. I think she looks like some sort of necromancer knight/paladin kind of thing, so I will call her “Tyra the Necro Paladin”. So I enter that into the name text box.

Note: Remember to cap the first letter of each part of the card’s name, with the exception of “a”, “of”, “and” and “it”. There may be more like those, and I will add them when I find them. Oh, and we will make her an effect monster.

 

This is how it looks like now:

 

The next thing I want to do know is entering a Set ID. I write ANSC (Short for A New Single Card) and EN001 (The EN part is found on most cards these days, so I use it quite a lot, if not all the time when making cards. The 001 part means that it is the first card of the set.) Now, next to the Set ID, is a little empty square. Check that one and save the card. This way, it will be saved into a set, without you having to go through all your other cards to find it.

 

Ok. Now it’s time for the most difficult and funny part of making a single, the effect. Now, look at the image and see what you can see from it. I see a knight with some skulls, presumably of dark magic, so I reckon she is some sort of necromancer. I choose to let her have an effect based on the Graveyard.

 

I write, “Once per turn, you can Special Summon 1 monster from your Graveyard.”

 

That’s a little short, yes? And overpowered to boot. Remember when you make your cards that they should not be overpowered. Powerful, yes, by all means, but do not enhance the card too much.

 

I write, “Once per turn, by paying 800 Life Points, Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower monster from your Graveyard.”

 

It’s still a little short, so why not give it another effect? Perhaps further developing its effect? I choose to do that.

 

I write, “Once per turn, by paying 800 Life Points, Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower monster from your Graveyard. A monster Special Summoned this way gains 500 ATK and cannot attack.”

 

Now everyone can see that this card is taking a twist into the creative corner. I need to make this card actually work with raising my monster’s ATK while they cannot attack.

 

I write, “Once per turn, by paying 800 Life Points, Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower monster from your Graveyard. A monster Special Summoned this way gains 500 ATK and cannot attack. During your Standby Phase, send all monsters Special Summoned by this effect to the Graveyard to destroy 1 face-up monster on the field with less ATK than the sent monster(s)."

 

I’m happy with the effect, so I’m going to keep it that way.

 

Now for the Level. Deciding what Level this card is, it will decide how powerful it really is. The image shows a young girl, so my guess is that she is not that powerful, so I make her Level 4.

 

This is what we’ve got this far:

 

 

Now it is time to give it a type and an attribute. We’ve got 22 types to choose from, but seeing as Divine Beast-type cards are very frowned upon, at least in the Realistic Card’s section, we will not use that one. We have in fact been very lucky with deciding the type for this card, which resembles a human knight, because the most fitting type is Warrior, and that, everyone can see. Since it has to do with dark magic, I make her a DARK attribute monster.

 

The card:

 

 

Now let’s decide her stats. Since her effect says she has to be on the field for 1 turn to activate her best effect, it is important that she is able to survive attacks for that turn. My opinion is that giving her a lot of DEF is probably the right thing to do. After a little thinking, I give her 700 ATK and 2000 DEF.

 

Now it is time to give her a rarity. I think she is quite powerful, but not very durable, so I decide to make her a Rare card.

And now we finish the card with the final step, Creator, year and serial number. I write Creator: Lord Ursus, Year: 2009 and press the “Random” buttom next to the serial number space.

 

Here is the result:

 

 

 

[spoiler=Making Sub-Types]2. Making Sub-Types.

Ok, I'll give it a try at sub-types:

 

Creating Sub-types is very necessary for YCMakers who wants to unfold their skills in a different way than singles.

 

Heres some main concepts for sub-types: A sub-type has, as many of you know, the name of the sub-type written next to its original type, and the cards within a sub-type share 1 or more effect. If they don't have an effect in common, you cannot call them a sub-type, regardless if the sub-type is written on the card.

 

When thinking of a sub-type, try this:

What should the sub-type's name be? (PS: By making a sub-type based on something you like, you'll have a good time making them)

Think of a concept the set will unfold on. (Spell/Trap destruction, Life Point gain/power manipulation]

 

Try unfolding the set on a way they have never been done before.

Example: I have long before begun with a sub-type I wanted to call Mind monsters. And, I can tell you, I had a heck of a problem thinking out their effect in common.

 

I started by thinking, "Hey, what does really a mind work upon?" It took me a moment or two before it hit me: Minds work on mentality! So now, I started thinking of the best way to express mentality on the cards. At long last, I decided that the Mind monsters should have their own kind of ATK and DEF, Mind Power!

 

When unfolding the sub-type, it is very good to play on their eventual weaknesses or strengths and making them better. (Example: Spirit monsters return to its owner's hand at the end of the turn it's flipped face-up or summoned, so Takahashi made the spell card, Spiritual Energy Settle Machine, which prevents them from doing that)

 

So, remember all this and what you have learned in Making Singles and put a creative effort into every card. Think, what does the set need? But do not use every part of the Making Singles part, as there, you will try to make the card stand out on its own, (although making it work better with already existing cards will raise your score) but here we want the card to work on a common niche; something they have in common, so synergy is extremely important.

 

If you think as I have done here when making a Sub-Type, congratulations! You have made a working sub-type!

 

 

[spoiler=Making Archetypes]3. Making Archetypes.

In this chapter, I will talk about Archetypes, and learn you to make your own.

 

What is an archetype, you may ask. An archetype is an assortment of cards that goes under a shared name, or specification. I will use two examples to explain:

- The Elemental Heroes is an archetype where the defining property is their name. The “Elemental Hero” part in their name is proof that they belong in a single archetype. Their support is often named using a part of this. Examples: Elemental Recharge and Hero Signal.

- The Synthetic Angels is a different bunch. They are not defined with their name, but on their specialties. They work upon Counter Traps, which makes them an Archetype, as they have a common defining property.

 

Now that’s all good, but then, how do we make a working Archetype?

 

We will use the procedure from the previous tutorial and find an idea we want to further develop.

For the sake of this tutorial, I’ll make an Archetype right now.

 

Let’s see, what do I like to make? Well, I like to make DARK monsters, with good effects rather than power. But I think that for this time, I’ll make an Archetype with both.

 

I start out with thinking of what kind of restriction I’ll add, as a set full of monsters with good effects and good stats is rather overpowered. I think I’ll make them so that I cannot Summon or Set another monster while they’re face-up on the field.

 

Their effects now have to be extremely powerful, as I’m only allowed one monster at a time.

I start out with the first card to see what the set will be like.

 

I start just as in making Singles, and I end up with this:

 

Demigod Raga, Raging Fire

Level 4.

FIRE

1900 ATK / 1900 DEF

Warrior / Effect

As long as you control this face-up card, you cannot Summon or Set a monster. Once per turn, you can discard 2 cards from your hand to inflict 1500 damage to your opponent. If you do, this card cannot attack this turn. When this card is destroyed by battle, return up to 2 cards in your Graveyard to your hand.

 

So for the explanation:

As you see, it has a really powerful effect and high stats for its Level. The Archetype name I decided to have was Demigod. I figured demigods are arrogant and take pride in their power, so they will not have another monster steal their spotlight. I also thought that demigods are somewhat exotic, so I can freely make custom names for them. If you have trouble figuring out the Archetype names, I’m sorry to say that also have, and I cannot help you with that. Just sit down in your living room and think for a minute and it’ll come eventually.

 

Now for the support. I’ll have to figure out what the set really needs. I see that once my only monster is destroyed, I will have no defenses left. I also need something that’ll replace my monsters.

I think a little bit and come up with these three support cards:

 

Demigod Blast

Normal Trap

Activate only when an opponent declares an attack while there is a “Demigod” monster in your Graveyard. Destroy the attacking monster and inflict 1000 damage to your opponent.

 

Demigod Rite of Summoning

Normal Trap

Activate only when a “Demigod” monster you control is destroyed. Special Summon 1 Level 4 or lower “Demigod” monster from your hand.

 

Demigod Illusion

Quick-Play Spell

Return a face-up “Demigod” monster on the field to its owner’s hand and Special Summon 1 “Demigod” monster from your hand, except the returned monster.

 

The Archetype now has a strong structure, so now, I can simply add new monsters and new support cards until I’m happy with the result.

 

So think like me and you’ll be happy with the result. Remember, real Archetypes usually have 20-30 cards. Happy card making!

 

 

 

 

This thread will be edited regularly as I see fit to add something else.

 

Additionally, you may PM me if you wonder about pretty much anything.

 

Good luck and welcome to the world of cardmaking!

[Junk Raver]

As Icy has said to me previously, no more stickys will be made, so the best you will get is a Link in the rules thread.

 

remove the links for deviantart etc, it has got this site in trouble before.

 

Fix your errors, and altho you have worked hard, this thread is not needed.

[Lord Ursus]

Hhm. Ok. :/

 

I'll do that.

[~Wright~]

bummer.... I like it. :(

[◎Kaleidoscope]

Personally, I think this is very helpful when it come to images.

[-DOOM]

I can't understand why this is not necessary..... so much effort for nothing.... But great work Ursus!!

[Wanderley]

i think it is a good idea ;)

[~Wright~]

I know! I wish this was stickied. In some section at least. It's definitely sticky-worthy.

awesome image sources! It's sticky worthy for that alone.

[Lord Ursus]

Thank you guys.

 

I reckoned it would be nice for new members to know these things.

[cmc1234]

that sucks

 

i can tell you worked really hard on this thread

 

i wish it could be stickied

 

Definitely would help the new members

 

But i will defiantly tell new members to look at this thread for help in the future

 

So dont worry, it mite not get sticked but it will verey useful.

[Jazin Kay]

Posting in an awesome thread.

[Lord Ursus]

Thank you all.

 

I want as many new members as possible to look at this.

[~Wright~]

Here's a free bump. But, for it to not classify as spam, I have to say something related to the topic.

 

something related to the topic.

okay, that wasn't funny. Anyway, I love this tutorial. It's very well explained, and the picture sources are awesome. :D Thanks so much.

I hope other people will post frequently in this thread, it will be hard to keep alive in this section.

[Altαir]

I must say, this is excellent. I can see the effort into helping those new to the forum to get a basic idea of what to do.

 

But it will be very hard to keep alive.

[~Wright~]

I agree, this will be very useful for new members. It should definitely be sticky.

(spamming comments that don't look like spam is hard. :P)

[Shadow Zero]

OMGITSCEPHUS! i remember when he was golden light. on that note, SILVER! :twisted:

 

and now for something completely on topic. you should have www.photobucket.com as part of your image sources as epic pics are epic which can be found there, and good pics can be modified to be made epic.

[Necro Pheonix]

Junk Raver made him remove links like that before...

 

Great job Ursus! this is excellent, i only hope that new members get to see this...

[~Wright~]

I thought the problem was only with deviantart.... There are photobucket problems too?

[Shadow Zero]

i would most certainly hope not. after all, those pics are uite epic, and i get all of my pics from there. XD perhaps ursus could just have the addresses for photobucket and deviant in his sig?

[~Wright~]

i would most certainly hope not. after all' date=' those pics are uite epic, and i get all of my pics from there. XD perhaps ursus could just have the addresses for photobucket and deviant in his sig?

[/quote']

 

remove the links for deviantart etc' date=' it has got this site in trouble before.

[/quote']

:(

Why did you remove the magicdeck link? Those pics are awesome!

[Shadow Zero]

just put the links in your a spoiler box in your sig ursus! that should be allowed, right?

[~Wright~]

I hope...

[Lord Ursus]

just put the links in your a spoiler box in your sig ursus! that should be allowed' date=' right?

[/quote']

Yes, I think that would be allowed. Hope so at least.

 

Meh, I'll give it a try and see what happens.

 

You guys can also help me out by directing new people in the Introductions Section here. :)

[Shadow Zero]

sure, why not. we can't just go and leave people in the dark, now can we? :lol: -goes searching for his torch (flashlight)-

[~Wright~]

Add photobucket to your image sources. :)