"An encyclopedia is a type of reference work or compendium holding a comprehensive summary of information from either all branches of knowledge or a particular branch of knowledge. Encyclopedias are divided into articles or entries, which are usually accessed alphabetically by article name. [...]Generally speaking, unlike dictionary entries, which focus on linguistic information about words, encyclopedia articles focus on factual information to cover the thing or concept for which the article name stands."
- Wikipedia
MtG card design is a very interesting hobby (as well as a job for some people), but to gather information about it, you have to look around the internet and find the right sources to know what are the rules / conventions to respect and everything. Another issue is that there is no unique place to find custom cards, keywords, mechanics, planes and stuff like that. This site is a great start, as well as reddit/r/custommagic but a lot of people (including me) also have their own websites with articles that could be useful of cards that are very interesting but hard to find. The point is: there is a LOT of great stuff out there that very few of us know about, and I think we should.
Wich brings me straight to the point of this thread: I'd like to know what you guys would think if I created a site that could be used as a giant database for all stuff that could be useful for the custom MtG community.
(It would probably hosted by Wordpress or something similar so that it can be free.)
I already have some ideas for what we could find on the Grimoire (the name is just an idea, but I quite like it):
1- Articles about card design
a) Getting started: The basics of MtG (Color pie, planeswalkers, etc.)
b) Basics of card design: Magic Set Editor tutorials and basic card rules (Where to put capital letters, creature types, abilities)
c) Advanced notions of card and set design: New World Order, playtest and stuff like that.
2- Community custom creations
a) Custom card gallery
b) Custom set bank
c) Custom keyword index
3- Other links: Making magic and Re-Making magic, for example, or art galleries such as deviantart
So if any of you have comments, ideas, suggestions or really anything else to say, please let me know! This is just an idea I had, if you don't see the need for such an encyclopedia, it's OK as well, I just won't make it
Sounds like a good idea, I don't see why not. An obvious include is to categorise the info by things like official MTG/fan-work, design/development/creative, planning/playtesting, and individual cards/card sets.
Have you considered something wiki-based? Wikdot and Wikia both provides engines for that. Of course wordpress would work well if you intend to control all of it personally.
A wiki certainly has good organizational tools. And there are plenty of design decisions that need thinking about.
For a custom card gallery what format and search tools are required for that? Will it be text based or image based? Will there be associated MSE files? Do we need converters, renderers or image scanners?
Should this we officially endorsed and assosiated with MTGsalvation and/or /r/custommagic?
What guides do we currently have and what guides are we missing?
Who will be admins etc?
First, I'm really glad that you all seem to enjoy the idea!
A wiki could be cool. The danger with that is that everyone can edit it though... Is there a way to easily control what can be changed and how it can be changed ? I fear that it could quickly become a mess and I don't want that: I want this to be organized.
Also, for the custom card gallery, the best thing would be to have our own "Gatherer" tool. I don't know how it would be possible to create such a tool, it's certainly something we will have to discuss. This is intended as a community projet, so this thread can become the brainstorming area for it. Is The Hidden Grimoire a good name?
As for all your questions Reuben, this thread is there to discuss and answer them! I obviously would like to be an admin, hehe. You should be too.
I'll try to answer some of these questions this weekend, I'll have time.
The plan is exactly to ask all at once. We just have to organize things so that it doesn't become a mess, but I think we can do this.
A wiki wound definitely be a good idea. I wonder how we could include a custom card database in it, but I don't think it would be impossible
About editing, I think we could start by letting everyone edit. Then, if it becomes too chaotic, we can always change it and restrict the editing privileges.
For a custom card gallery what format and search tools are required for that?
As I said, a Gatherer-like database would be ideal. However, for a start we might begin with something more simple that still offers some filters such as: Designer, creature type, abilities, colors, etc.
Should this we officially endorsed and assosiated with MTGsalvation and/or /r/custommagic?
I don't see why it shouldn't. This database is meant to be available to as many persons as possible, and if it's officially approved by two major communities of designers, it would help.
What guides do we currently have and what guides are we missing?
- We have all your primers.
- We have MaRo's articles about color philosophy and many other design guidelines.
- We don't have (or at least not that I know of) a basic introduction to card design. And by that I mean like, what does an unexperienced player that want to start design his cards need to know so that they are correct cards. (I do see a lot of First Strikes, cards with overloaded text box, etc.)
- There certainly exist a few MSE tutorials out there that could be useful to new designers.
- We have articles on mechanic design (@DJK3654 has written one that I know of, and there most certainly are others out there)
- One thig that I think would need clarification is parasitism on mechanics. Maybe it's just me, but this concept seems ambiguous.
- Those are just some initial thoughts, feel free to add whatever you think misses to this list.
I could make a blog post about our progress through this project. Who would want to participate (be admins, write articles, maybe program stuff for the site, etc)? I'll write the name and we could exchange our emails to communicate.
And I ask again: how do you guys like The Hidden Grimoire as a name for this encyclopedia?
You have my support. And also my ax. It's not a real ax though, just a prop from like seven halloweens ago, and I sat on it so the right-hand ax-blade is crooked.
I'd love to see something like this though, I'd give any help you need.
"An encyclopedia is a type of reference work or compendium holding a comprehensive summary of information from either all branches of knowledge or a particular branch of knowledge. Encyclopedias are divided into articles or entries, which are usually accessed alphabetically by article name. [...]Generally speaking, unlike dictionary entries, which focus on linguistic information about words, encyclopedia articles focus on factual information to cover the thing or concept for which the article name stands."
- Wikipedia
MtG card design is a very interesting hobby (as well as a job for some people), but to gather information about it, you have to look around the internet and find the right sources to know what are the rules / conventions to respect and everything. Another issue is that there is no unique place to find custom cards, keywords, mechanics, planes and stuff like that. This site is a great start, as well as reddit/r/custommagic but a lot of people (including me) also have their own websites with articles that could be useful of cards that are very interesting but hard to find. The point is: there is a LOT of great stuff out there that very few of us know about, and I think we should.
Wich brings me straight to the point of this thread:
I'd like to know what you guys would think if I created a site that could be used as a giant database for all stuff that could be useful for the custom MtG community.
(It would probably hosted by Wordpress or something similar so that it can be free.) So if any of you have comments, ideas, suggestions or really anything else to say, please let me know! This is just an idea I had, if you don't see the need for such an encyclopedia, it's OK as well, I just won't make it
Custom set projects:
Aenyr: Art is Magic (100% done and fully draftable!)
Elestral: Astronomy, Weather and Duality (Currently in early design.)
Multiplayer commander decks
RGWU Bruse and Thrasios: Enchanted Alliance | BR Grenzo's Jail of Malevolence | RWU Shu Yun's Teachings | B Toshiro Umezawa's Eternal Journey | WU Ephara's City of Wonders
Avatar art by Stephan A. McGowan
RUNIN: Norse mythology set (awaiting further playtesting)
FATE of ALARA: Multicolour factions (currently on hiatus)
Contibutor to the Pyrulea community set
I'm here to tell you that all your set mechanics are bad
#Defundthepolice
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
For a custom card gallery what format and search tools are required for that? Will it be text based or image based? Will there be associated MSE files? Do we need converters, renderers or image scanners?
Should this we officially endorsed and assosiated with MTGsalvation and/or /r/custommagic?
What guides do we currently have and what guides are we missing?
Who will be admins etc?
Are you designing commons? Check out my primer on NWO.
Interested in making a custom set? Check out my Set skeleton and archetype primer.
I also write articles about getting started with custom card creation.
Go and PLAYTEST your designs, you will learn more in a single playtests than a dozen discussions.
My custom sets:
Dreamscape
Coins of Mercalis [COMPLETE]
Exodus of Zendikar - ON HOLD
A wiki could be cool. The danger with that is that everyone can edit it though... Is there a way to easily control what can be changed and how it can be changed ? I fear that it could quickly become a mess and I don't want that: I want this to be organized.
Also, for the custom card gallery, the best thing would be to have our own "Gatherer" tool. I don't know how it would be possible to create such a tool, it's certainly something we will have to discuss. This is intended as a community projet, so this thread can become the brainstorming area for it. Is The Hidden Grimoire a good name?
As for all your questions Reuben, this thread is there to discuss and answer them! I obviously would like to be an admin, hehe. You should be too.
I'll try to answer some of these questions this weekend, I'll have time.
Custom set projects:
Aenyr: Art is Magic (100% done and fully draftable!)
Elestral: Astronomy, Weather and Duality (Currently in early design.)
Multiplayer commander decks
RGWU Bruse and Thrasios: Enchanted Alliance | BR Grenzo's Jail of Malevolence | RWU Shu Yun's Teachings | B Toshiro Umezawa's Eternal Journey | WU Ephara's City of Wonders
Avatar art by Stephan A. McGowan
Suggestion: Choose one thing, then move on from there.
( ancestral on Custom Magic Discord server )
( mproud on reddit )
A wiki wound definitely be a good idea. I wonder how we could include a custom card database in it, but I don't think it would be impossible
About editing, I think we could start by letting everyone edit. Then, if it becomes too chaotic, we can always change it and restrict the editing privileges.
Custom set projects:
Aenyr: Art is Magic (100% done and fully draftable!)
Elestral: Astronomy, Weather and Duality (Currently in early design.)
Multiplayer commander decks
RGWU Bruse and Thrasios: Enchanted Alliance | BR Grenzo's Jail of Malevolence | RWU Shu Yun's Teachings | B Toshiro Umezawa's Eternal Journey | WU Ephara's City of Wonders
Avatar art by Stephan A. McGowan
I'd say text... But we could find a way to add an artist filter to regroup cards from the same artists!
It could be cool, but I don't see that being a priority.
Do you think we need them ?
I don't see why it shouldn't. This database is meant to be available to as many persons as possible, and if it's officially approved by two major communities of designers, it would help.
- We have all your primers.
- We have MaRo's articles about color philosophy and many other design guidelines.
- We don't have (or at least not that I know of) a basic introduction to card design. And by that I mean like, what does an unexperienced player that want to start design his cards need to know so that they are correct cards. (I do see a lot of First Strikes, cards with overloaded text box, etc.)
- There certainly exist a few MSE tutorials out there that could be useful to new designers.
- We have articles on mechanic design (@DJK3654 has written one that I know of, and there most certainly are others out there)
- One thig that I think would need clarification is parasitism on mechanics. Maybe it's just me, but this concept seems ambiguous.
- Those are just some initial thoughts, feel free to add whatever you think misses to this list.
I could make a blog post about our progress through this project. Who would want to participate (be admins, write articles, maybe program stuff for the site, etc)? I'll write the name and we could exchange our emails to communicate.
And I ask again: how do you guys like The Hidden Grimoire as a name for this encyclopedia?
Custom set projects:
Aenyr: Art is Magic (100% done and fully draftable!)
Elestral: Astronomy, Weather and Duality (Currently in early design.)
Multiplayer commander decks
RGWU Bruse and Thrasios: Enchanted Alliance | BR Grenzo's Jail of Malevolence | RWU Shu Yun's Teachings | B Toshiro Umezawa's Eternal Journey | WU Ephara's City of Wonders
Avatar art by Stephan A. McGowan
I'd love to see something like this though, I'd give any help you need.