SFCCG - A MTG CCG Discussion Thread

[Just Crouton]

I truly think we need a base story/setting before building any of the sets.

 

I was hoping maybe we could have a technological vs magic theme. Where we have Steam Punk vs CyberPunk vs Mideval Magic type theme.

 

We could go for something like Quake, where the hero is a space marine fighting satanic demons and zombified marines in medieval castles and military bases with a combination of futuristic weapons (artifacts) and ancient relics (artifacts/enchantments) to boost his power.

[вєgσттєη ιηѕαηιту]

We have to have a base of simple cards to build off of.

 

I think our alpha set should be a collection of 2 Pre-Constructed mono decks for each color that are "equally balanced".

[Just Crouton]

What about just making a fairly large pool for each color that showcases their core mechanics and flavors?

 

Ex: Red cards with Haste and burn, White cards with Flash and life gain, Blue with spell countering

[.Rai]

Aw man, Klav, we've got to revisit the desert exile set some time in the future.

We have to have a base of simple cards to build off of.
 
I think our alpha set should be a collection of 2 Pre-Constructed mono decks for each color that are "equally balanced".

I should quickly ask what you plan for structure of sets. The standard for MtG now is 3 blocks of 2 sets in being in at any one time (this means alternating between having 5 and 6 ~200-card sets in the format). Pre-constructed decks are a foreign concept to me, mostly because it's an incredibly YGO-ish style of format designing.

For instance, it doesn't account for Limited design, which is either something you want to do, or you don't. The pros of not designing with Limited in mind is that you can remove a lot of the 'filler' cards (although I dislike that term) and spend less time on marginal cards. The cons would be that Limited is a legitimate format, and that you have less cards to work with if you're looking for a flavourful setting, or coherent mechanical identity.

[CLG Klavier]

The set is evolving, though I'm STILL fiddling with mechanics like mad :p

But yeah, it got me thinking - we won't draft those sets. Do we keep the Limited/rarities in mind anyways, or go more like Cube-ish?

[вєgσттєη ιηѕαηιту]

I would like for all cards to be legal at all times and breaking sets into a 100 card chunk, once per month. The only reason I recommended the starter decks was because it would be a solid base to start on, however I'm open to persuasion.

[Just Crouton]

If all cards will be legal, we could go for a Core Set like Fantasy Flight's LCGs.

 

Basically, we release a huge set of cards for the first set, with staples for all five colors, and smaller packs will build upon the Core Set.

 

We can have larger "mega sets" that support specific colors and add to a story, like, say, a battle between a red and blue Planeswalker will be covered in a mega set, with new red and blue cards that have flavor related to the battle between the planeswalkers.

[вєgσттєη ιηѕαηιту]

Check OP for a link to the CCG's forum.

We could have several formats for play.

 

Rai has a point that limited play creates more variety in cards. Why make another card that draws from your deck if one already exists?

 

So I think we should break the sets up into blocks and have two formats: Tournament and Traditional

 

Tournament being where you can only use cards from the current set block and Traditional being where all cards are legal.

[CLG Klavier]

Those are called "Standard" and "Legacy" respectively. And IMO, we should stick true to MTG's system of 2-set blocks, with various side expansions between.

[вєgσттєη ιηѕαηιту]

Those are called "Standard" and "Legacy" respectively. And IMO, we should stick true to MTG's system of 2-set blocks, with various side expansions between.

 

Now should the first set follow this same structure?

[CLG Klavier]

That makes me wonder. We could try making a generic "core set" first, and then start following it up with normal blocks.

[.Rai]

Definitely very, very different to what I'm used to. I'm good with that though, good exercise. It means design will be approached in a very different way. I guess we can forget about Limited play then. Make it more Cube-like. Compiling the ideas discussed:

Block 0, Set Alpha: ??? cards

Block 1, Set 1: 120 cards
Block 1, Set 2: 80 cards

Block 2, Set 1: 120 cards
Block 2, Set 2: 80 cards

And so on. The ??? is fairly up in the air. I'm not actually sure what the number should be. Possibly 400, judging by Hearthstone's standards. Having sets in blocks of 2 sets means that each block can tell a storyline, and you get 2 sets worth of mechanically related material.

Regarding formats, I'm good with a 'Traditional', where all sets are legal. I'd rather call it something else though. I know it's gonna confuse me. With a tournament format, I would guess the most recent 2 blocks. If you had 400 cards in Alpha, the tournament format would almost be like playing with a new Alpha set of 400 (or 320, if you're going into a new block, but that's also why blocks are weighted on the first set).

[CLG Klavier]

^I'd go with that, sounds like a solid plan.

[вєgσттєη ιηѕαηιту]

Definitely very, very different to what I'm used to. I'm good with that though, good exercise. It means design will be approached in a very different way. I guess we can forget about Limited play then. Make it more Cube-like. Compiling the ideas discussed:

Block 0, Set Alpha: ??? cards

Block 1, Set 1: 120 cards
Block 1, Set 2: 80 cards

Block 2, Set 1: 120 cards
Block 2, Set 2: 80 cards

And so on. The ??? is fairly up in the air. I'm not actually sure what the number should be. Possibly 400, judging by Hearthstone's standards. Having sets in blocks of 2 sets means that each block can tell a storyline, and you get 2 sets worth of mechanically related material.

Regarding formats, I'm good with a 'Traditional', where all sets are legal. I'd rather call it something else though. I know it's gonna confuse me. With a tournament format, I would guess the most recent 2 blocks. If you had 400 cards in Alpha, the tournament format would almost be like playing with a new Alpha set of 400 (or 320, if you're going into a new block, but that's also why blocks are weighted on the first set).

 

I vote for this format with an Alpha of 400 cards. We will also use the terms Standard and Legacy.

[CLG Klavier]

TBH we COULD make up our own names, I was just making an analogy to RL Magic. But as a placeholder they're fine.

[вєgσттєη ιηѕαηιту]

400 cards, subtracting 1 for each land gives 385 cards. 72 cards per color and 25 colorless?

[.Rai]

When you say "for each land", I presume you mean 5 basic lands with 3 alternate arts each? Do you want multicolour cards in Alpha?

[вєgσттєη ιηѕαηιту]

I was thinking we do mono cards but 72 really seems like a lot...

[CLG Klavier]

TBH, we need to fill this set with mostly simple designs, although we have no rarity limitation so we can go a bit ballsy here.

[BANZAI!!!!]

*sticks head in* I'd like to try my hand at this, if i can be of any help.

[вєgσттєη ιηѕαηιту]

*sticks head in* I'd like to try my hand at this, if i can be of any help.

 

Sure, we accept anyone :)

 

 

TBH, we need to fill this set with mostly simple designs, although we have no rarity limitation so we can go a bit ballsy here.

 

Well I believe set one would consist of mostly common (though I figured that was obvious)

[Rodrigo]

I'm in. As MaRo would say, let's make "our baby".

[вєgσттєη ιηѕαηιту]

I'm in. As MaRo would say, let's make "our baby".

 

Awesome! Glad to have you :D

[CLG Klavier]

Let's make a list of people who are in this in the OP, just for clarity's sake? Also I'm making a thing now, you'll see soon.

 

EDIT: There we go http://www.magicmultiverse.net/cardsets/712

[вєgσттєη ιηѕαηιту]

Let's make a list of people who are in this in the OP, just for clarity's sake? Also I'm making a thing now, you'll see soon.

 

EDIT: There we go http://www.magicmultiverse.net/cardsets/712

 

Both things are added to the OP. I'll be adding the basic lands to start.