Cashew
12-30-2008, 01:15 AM
It's a New Year and time to try something new with the contest. I'll give you a few extra days to wrap your heads around it. This month, and maybe for the rest of the year instead of "esoteric" "questionable" judging, it will be ruthless and in your face. You will be scored and your card will be publically and thoroughly praised or trashed with a grade that marks just how poorly or well you did.
People also struggled and complained about open-ended themes that allowed for a larger design space. No more. Themes will be more tied in. Certain aspects of your cards will be dictated. Each of you will find yourselves working with the almost the same box as your neighbor. You asked for it, so you got it. It is now solely up to you to distinguish yourself from someone using the same materials as you.
This month's contest:
Design a creature that could be printed in the Demonic vs. Divine Duel Box. Failure to follow all of these restrictions will result in an Auto-DQ.
1. It must be solid White or Black (no hybrid of any shape, no gold)
2. Creature Type Restrictions:
If you choose White it may be: Archon, Lammasu, Monk, Mystic, Pegasus, Soldier or Unicorn
If you choose Black it may be: Assassin, Demon, Horror, Imp, Minion, Nightmare, Nightstalker, Shade, Specter, Skeleton, Thrull, Vampire, Wraith or Zombie.
Either color may use: Angel, Avatar, Cleric, Elemental, Human, Incarnation, Knight, or Spirit.
Any deviations from this list must be cleared privately with me, and you must show me a full card. You may use combinations such as Human Knight or Avatar Incarnation.
3. Your card must exemplify being Divine or Demonic through it's flavor.
examples:
- Serra Angel obvious divine.
- Lord of the Pit obvious demonic.
- Personal Incarnation not divine.
- Royal Assassin not demonic.
4. Your card may not explicitiy hose the opposing side.
5. The words black, white, swamp, plains, swampwalk, plainswalk, protection are all banned outside of card names and flavor texts.
6. Your card may only use mana of the color it is.
7. You may not create a Legendary or Snow creature.
8. You may not create a Mythic Rare or Timeshifted card.
Your entries must be in by 1/12/2009. Failure to get your entry in by that date willl be an autodisqualificaiton. Only players scoring 21 or higher will be allowed to participate in the main round.
The following is the scoring rubric:
Wording:
5 - No wording mistakes
4 - Minor spelling and syntax errors.
3 - Major spelling and syntax errors.
2 - Errors that change the meaning of the card.
1 - Errors that cause the card to not work.
0 - Card is flawed beyond all recognition.
Balance:
5 - No Balance Issues
4 - Slightly unbalanced
3 - Fairly unbalanced
2 - Moderately unbalanced
1 - Heavily unbalanced
0 - No attention paid to the balance scale
Casting Cost:
5 - Perfect casting cost
4 - Slightly over or undercosted
3 - Fairly over or undercosted and/or questionable color issues.
2 - Moderately over or undercosted and/or apparent color issues.
1 - Heavily over or undercosted and/or major color issues.
0 - No regard to color scheme and/or no regard to casting cost and/or incorrect usage of hybrid/multicolor symbols.
Text Aesthetics:
5 - Text has no negative impact on the card.
4 - Card is too cramped due to bad spacing
3 - Card is too cramped due to excessive text.
2 - Card is too cramped with text due to unnecessary wording or abilities.
1 - Card is massively over cramped.
0 - No attention paid to text aesthetics.
Image Aesthetics:
5 - Image has a positive effect on the card as a whole.
4 - Image is appropriate and pleasant to the eye.
3 - Image is questionable to the card as a whole.
2 - Image is low quality or doesn't make sense to the card.
1 - Image detracts from the card as a whole.
0 - Image is entirely negative to the card aspect.
DQ - Image is copyrighted.
Technical Aesthetics:
5 - Card's technical aesthetics are appeasing.
4 - One of the following: Poor Set Symbol, Bad Artist Name, Poor Render, Other
3 - Two of the following: Poor Set Symbol, Bad Artist Name, Poor Render, Other
2 - Three of the following: Poor Set Symbol, Bad Artist Name, Poor Render, Other
1 - Four of the following: Poor Set Symbol, Bad Artist Name, Poor Render, Other
0 - Massive Technical Flaws.
DQ - Own name in artist without creating image
Innovation:
5 - Card attempts something new in the current design scape of Magic
4 - Card attempts something new that works outside the current design scape.
3 - Card has a discernible lack of creativity.
2 - Card attempts something new that doesn't work outside the current design scape.
1 - Card is wholly inventive rather than innovative.
0 - No attempt at innovation or creativity.
DQ - Creation of new keywords or undefined concepts such as triple hybrids.
Flavor:
5 - Card has an overall appeasing flavor.
4 - One aspect of the card distracts from overall flavor.
3 - Card lacks any overall flavor.
2 - Card has a disjointed flavor.
1 - Card has a negative flavor impact.
0 - Any portion of the card is out of the flavor of Magic or specified Magic era.
Overall Design
5 - Card could see print.
4 - Card has very few minor mistakes.
3 - Card has several minor mistakes.
2 - Card has moderate mistakes that need fixing.
1 - Card has heavy mistakes that need fixing.
0 - Card needs an entire re-design.
The following is how these scores are then combined -
Overall Aesthetics (0/5)
Overall Artistry (Flavor & Innovation): (0/5)
Overall Balance: (0/10)
Overall Design and Wording: (0/10)
Total Score: (0/30)
Now on to the standard rules.
1) Your card must be in card form.
This means you'll have to do extra work beyond simply designing the card. First, you'll need a way to render the card. I highly recommend the Magic Set Editor (http://magicseteditor.sourceforge.net) as it's still highly updated, and is very simple to use. The best looking renders are done by hand in a Photoshop program, but this is not necessary.
You will also need to find a website to host the image for it to be submitted. There are numerous free ones out there if you don't have access to a web host already. One I know to work personally that just requires registration and is very easy to use is Photobucket (http://photobucket.com/). Or you can simply just attach it to your thread.
Which leads to one last thing you have to find for your card - art.
2) All artwork should be credited and non-copyrighted.
While it may be very hard to find out who made a random image you rip straight off an image search. I highly recommend you locate galleries that will let you know who drew it while drawing it. Two massive galleries that you should know are Elfwood (http://www.elfwood.com) and deviantART (http://www.deviantart.com/).
Make sure you check the artist's profile page throughly to see if they are copyrighted are not. You can even go the extra step and ask for permission, which I highly encourage. It is essential that you credit them on the card as well.
3) Your entry must submitted by January 13th (last date for entries and edits is the 12th) Simple enough? Submit, edit, change as many times as you want until that date, then there will be no more.
4) Submit your entry in this thread.
This thread is for submission only, there will be a discussion thread created for comments on others cards or talking about the contest itself.
5) Your card must be balanced.
Do not expect to win if you create some off the wall insane creature that has every ability for 10 mana and is a 9/5. The goal is to create a card that could seemingly be printed. From the flavor to the mana cost to the power level of the card - all parts are considered.
6) Do not create a new keyword.
Use existing keywords, be careful when using block based ones such as Affinity, Splice, and Radiance. In the past, we've allowed some leinency with things such as Protection from X or Xcycling. Don't stretch it too far though.
People also struggled and complained about open-ended themes that allowed for a larger design space. No more. Themes will be more tied in. Certain aspects of your cards will be dictated. Each of you will find yourselves working with the almost the same box as your neighbor. You asked for it, so you got it. It is now solely up to you to distinguish yourself from someone using the same materials as you.
This month's contest:
Design a creature that could be printed in the Demonic vs. Divine Duel Box. Failure to follow all of these restrictions will result in an Auto-DQ.
1. It must be solid White or Black (no hybrid of any shape, no gold)
2. Creature Type Restrictions:
If you choose White it may be: Archon, Lammasu, Monk, Mystic, Pegasus, Soldier or Unicorn
If you choose Black it may be: Assassin, Demon, Horror, Imp, Minion, Nightmare, Nightstalker, Shade, Specter, Skeleton, Thrull, Vampire, Wraith or Zombie.
Either color may use: Angel, Avatar, Cleric, Elemental, Human, Incarnation, Knight, or Spirit.
Any deviations from this list must be cleared privately with me, and you must show me a full card. You may use combinations such as Human Knight or Avatar Incarnation.
3. Your card must exemplify being Divine or Demonic through it's flavor.
examples:
- Serra Angel obvious divine.
- Lord of the Pit obvious demonic.
- Personal Incarnation not divine.
- Royal Assassin not demonic.
4. Your card may not explicitiy hose the opposing side.
5. The words black, white, swamp, plains, swampwalk, plainswalk, protection are all banned outside of card names and flavor texts.
6. Your card may only use mana of the color it is.
7. You may not create a Legendary or Snow creature.
8. You may not create a Mythic Rare or Timeshifted card.
Your entries must be in by 1/12/2009. Failure to get your entry in by that date willl be an autodisqualificaiton. Only players scoring 21 or higher will be allowed to participate in the main round.
The following is the scoring rubric:
Wording:
5 - No wording mistakes
4 - Minor spelling and syntax errors.
3 - Major spelling and syntax errors.
2 - Errors that change the meaning of the card.
1 - Errors that cause the card to not work.
0 - Card is flawed beyond all recognition.
Balance:
5 - No Balance Issues
4 - Slightly unbalanced
3 - Fairly unbalanced
2 - Moderately unbalanced
1 - Heavily unbalanced
0 - No attention paid to the balance scale
Casting Cost:
5 - Perfect casting cost
4 - Slightly over or undercosted
3 - Fairly over or undercosted and/or questionable color issues.
2 - Moderately over or undercosted and/or apparent color issues.
1 - Heavily over or undercosted and/or major color issues.
0 - No regard to color scheme and/or no regard to casting cost and/or incorrect usage of hybrid/multicolor symbols.
Text Aesthetics:
5 - Text has no negative impact on the card.
4 - Card is too cramped due to bad spacing
3 - Card is too cramped due to excessive text.
2 - Card is too cramped with text due to unnecessary wording or abilities.
1 - Card is massively over cramped.
0 - No attention paid to text aesthetics.
Image Aesthetics:
5 - Image has a positive effect on the card as a whole.
4 - Image is appropriate and pleasant to the eye.
3 - Image is questionable to the card as a whole.
2 - Image is low quality or doesn't make sense to the card.
1 - Image detracts from the card as a whole.
0 - Image is entirely negative to the card aspect.
DQ - Image is copyrighted.
Technical Aesthetics:
5 - Card's technical aesthetics are appeasing.
4 - One of the following: Poor Set Symbol, Bad Artist Name, Poor Render, Other
3 - Two of the following: Poor Set Symbol, Bad Artist Name, Poor Render, Other
2 - Three of the following: Poor Set Symbol, Bad Artist Name, Poor Render, Other
1 - Four of the following: Poor Set Symbol, Bad Artist Name, Poor Render, Other
0 - Massive Technical Flaws.
DQ - Own name in artist without creating image
Innovation:
5 - Card attempts something new in the current design scape of Magic
4 - Card attempts something new that works outside the current design scape.
3 - Card has a discernible lack of creativity.
2 - Card attempts something new that doesn't work outside the current design scape.
1 - Card is wholly inventive rather than innovative.
0 - No attempt at innovation or creativity.
DQ - Creation of new keywords or undefined concepts such as triple hybrids.
Flavor:
5 - Card has an overall appeasing flavor.
4 - One aspect of the card distracts from overall flavor.
3 - Card lacks any overall flavor.
2 - Card has a disjointed flavor.
1 - Card has a negative flavor impact.
0 - Any portion of the card is out of the flavor of Magic or specified Magic era.
Overall Design
5 - Card could see print.
4 - Card has very few minor mistakes.
3 - Card has several minor mistakes.
2 - Card has moderate mistakes that need fixing.
1 - Card has heavy mistakes that need fixing.
0 - Card needs an entire re-design.
The following is how these scores are then combined -
Overall Aesthetics (0/5)
Overall Artistry (Flavor & Innovation): (0/5)
Overall Balance: (0/10)
Overall Design and Wording: (0/10)
Total Score: (0/30)
Now on to the standard rules.
1) Your card must be in card form.
This means you'll have to do extra work beyond simply designing the card. First, you'll need a way to render the card. I highly recommend the Magic Set Editor (http://magicseteditor.sourceforge.net) as it's still highly updated, and is very simple to use. The best looking renders are done by hand in a Photoshop program, but this is not necessary.
You will also need to find a website to host the image for it to be submitted. There are numerous free ones out there if you don't have access to a web host already. One I know to work personally that just requires registration and is very easy to use is Photobucket (http://photobucket.com/). Or you can simply just attach it to your thread.
Which leads to one last thing you have to find for your card - art.
2) All artwork should be credited and non-copyrighted.
While it may be very hard to find out who made a random image you rip straight off an image search. I highly recommend you locate galleries that will let you know who drew it while drawing it. Two massive galleries that you should know are Elfwood (http://www.elfwood.com) and deviantART (http://www.deviantart.com/).
Make sure you check the artist's profile page throughly to see if they are copyrighted are not. You can even go the extra step and ask for permission, which I highly encourage. It is essential that you credit them on the card as well.
3) Your entry must submitted by January 13th (last date for entries and edits is the 12th) Simple enough? Submit, edit, change as many times as you want until that date, then there will be no more.
4) Submit your entry in this thread.
This thread is for submission only, there will be a discussion thread created for comments on others cards or talking about the contest itself.
5) Your card must be balanced.
Do not expect to win if you create some off the wall insane creature that has every ability for 10 mana and is a 9/5. The goal is to create a card that could seemingly be printed. From the flavor to the mana cost to the power level of the card - all parts are considered.
6) Do not create a new keyword.
Use existing keywords, be careful when using block based ones such as Affinity, Splice, and Radiance. In the past, we've allowed some leinency with things such as Protection from X or Xcycling. Don't stretch it too far though.