OCG/PSCT Tutorial: Learn How To Write Your Cards Properly!

[Atypical-Abbie]

Just letting you people know that I have been updating this thread the last few days. Always be sure to check the OP's Update List for new stuff.

[Atypical-Abbie]

I added a new section called Fusion Monsters and how to word them, go check it out!

[Trebuchet MS]

Fusion Material requirements don't list the numbers for named materials.

[Atypical-Abbie]

Fusion Material requirements don't list the numbers for named materials.

Oh oops, I already knew that, not sure why I wrote the numbers. Fixing that ASAP.

[VampireofDarkness]

So I got this effect for the Xyz monsters of an archetype I made, and they each have this sort of thing and not quite sure how to word it. I know my OCG well, it's just that the order and the multiple targets, etc has been stated to possibly be wrong, and I was suggested to ask here. The effect would be:

 

During either player's End Phase, if this card has no Xyz Materials, target any number of [Archetype] monsters you control, except [itself] and if you do, pay 800 Life Points and [some other effect]; attach the first targets to this card, [Resolution of "Some other effect"]

[Atypical-Abbie]

So I got this effect for the Xyz monsters of an archetype I made, and they each have this sort of thing and not quite sure how to word it. I know my OCG well, it's just that the order and the multiple targets, etc has been stated to possibly be wrong, and I was suggested to ask here. The effect would be:

 

During either player's End Phase, if this card has no Xyz Materials, target any number of [Archetype] monsters you control, except [itself] and if you do, pay 800 Life Points and [some other effect]; attach the first targets to this card, [Resolution of "Some other effect"]

During each End Phase, if this card has no Xyz Materials: Target any number of "Archetype" monsters you control, except "Card Name", then pay 800 LP, then some other effect; attach the first target this card as Xyz Materials, and if you do, some other effect.

 

I have a new thread which you can ask questions in too, I also added it to the OP:

http://forum.yugiohcardmaker.net/topic/330962-ocgpsct-helping-center/

[Atypical-Abbie]

Updated the "Word List, Explanations and Usage List" with the word "during". The reason why there's only one is because it's a bit longer than normal explanations due to its extensiveness. This is also why I am making a new post for it.

[Atypical-Abbie]

Updated this thing, I will hopefully start doing this more often once again, but no promises.

[Atypical-Abbie]

An update in regards to copying effects. Now you want to say "replace this effect with that monster's original effects." See more in the word list.

[Atypical-Abbie]

A little note that "At the end of the Battle Phase, if this card attacked or was attacked" has been changed to "If damage calculation is performed involving this card, at the end of the Battle Phase".

 

This is for cards like Gladiator Beasts, as it was unclear if you could use them if the attack was stopped before the Damage Step happend, for example with Fiendish Chain at attack declaration.

[Atypical-Abbie]

I am starting to update this at least once a week now, and I have been doing so for a while now, just in case people aren't looking regularly. I updated today as well.

[Atypical-Abbie]

New section called "33: Trap monsters and Pseudo-Trap monsters" added.

[Atypical-Abbie]

Edited the "19: Bullet Holes and how to use them" section with some new/changed information. It mostly has to do with how having conditions and effects after the bullet hole is becoming much more common, and I previously said to not do so, but as it's happening more and more, I felt the need to change some of it.

[M0B0X]

I am sorry to bother you about this, but I am somewhat of a perfectionist and I noticed some small mistakes, mostly grammar/spelling, stuff like "Swift" instead of "Switch" and "example" instead of "exception". Also, I think you forgot about "While" I use that word on a lot of my cards, for example: "While this card is in your Graveyard, you take no effect damage".

 

Other than that, really good guide it hepled me a lot. I got 7/10 on the quiz, it was quite tricky =P

[Atypical-Abbie]

I am sorry to bother you about this, but I am somewhat of a perfectionist and I noticed some small mistakes, mostly grammar/spelling, stuff like "Swift" instead of "Switch" and "example" instead of "exception". Also, I think you forgot about "While" I use that word on a lot of my cards, for example: "While this card is in your Graveyard, you take no effect damage".

 

Other than that, really good guide it hepled me a lot. I got 7/10 on the quiz, it was quite tricky =P

I'll try to hunt those down soon and fix them, it's pretty hard to make this a perfect guide with how complex the writing system is as well. I will add while too soon, that's a pretty common word, not sure why I forgot about it.

[Atypical-Abbie]

Unlabel'd I have updated the typos and added "while", if you spot anything else let me know. Check updates for other updates.

[Atypical-Abbie]

Edited the "24: "But", The Hidden Conjunction" section with with some new/changed information, Check out the Update List for other updates.

[Atypical-Abbie]

The Word List, Explanations and Usage List has now been fully updated with every word, there may be a few words I put in when I notice them missing, but for now, it should be pretty complete.

[Atypical-Abbie]

Did a few changes regarding Pseudo Trap monsters in the "Trap monsters and Pseudo-Trap monsters" section, as they were a bit outdated.

[Dova]

Read your guide when I first joined; It was a great help!

Not sure if it's a problem or if it should be there, because of its minisculeness, but one of the problems I had when making cards was trying to figure out which of these effects is right (colon/semicolon):
Once per turn: You can draw 1 card.
Once per turn; You can draw 1 card.
IIRC it's the first one, but I can't see it in the Colon/Semicolon section. Do you think that's an issue worth addressing?

[Atypical-Abbie]

Read your guide when I first joined; It was a great help!

 

Not sure if it's a problem or if it should be there, because of its minisculeness, but one of the problems I had when making cards was trying to figure out which of these effects is right (colon/semicolon):

Once per turn: You can draw 1 card.

Once per turn; You can draw 1 card.

IIRC it's the first one, but I can't see it in the Colon/Semicolon section. Do you think that's an issue worth addressing?

Hm, I see now that I should probably have made things clearer in that section, I will be updating that soon. To answer your question, it's the first one, as there is no cost and it doesn't target, so you only put a colon, no semi-colon.

 

EDIT:

Updated the Updated 5: Colon and Semi-Colon Integration and When/If with more information.

[VCR_CAT]

I haven't been here in a while, but I do have an effect that is causing me some ire due it possibly being too redundant.

 

Original wording: Once per turn: You can change every monster your opponent controls to face-up Attack Position; negate their effects, then this card gains 200 ATK for every monster your opponent controls and can attack every monster your opponent controls once each.

 

My idea for better wording: Once per turn: You can change every monster your opponent controls to face-up Attack Position; negate their effects, then this card gains 200 ATK for every monster your opponent controls and can attack them once each.

 

You probably get the gist of what it does.

[Atypical-Abbie]

I haven't been here in a while, but I do have an effect that is causing me some ire due it possibly being too redundant.

 

Original wording: Once per turn: You can change every monster your opponent controls to face-up Attack Position; negate their effects, then this card gains 200 ATK for every monster your opponent controls and can attack every monster your opponent controls once each.

 

My idea for better wording: Once per turn: You can change every monster your opponent controls to face-up Attack Position; negate their effects, then this card gains 200 ATK for every monster your opponent controls and can attack them once each.

 

You probably get the gist of what it does.

Before I start, you wording is using colons and semi-colon wrong, at least I very much doubt your intention is to change them as a cost. Effects always go after the colon or semi-colon, if you have no cost, which it doesn't look like, you only use a colon. That being said, here's the wording I would use:

 

"Once per turn: You can change all monsters your opponent control to Attack Position, also negate their effects, then this card gains 200 ATK for each monster your opponent controls and it can attack them all, once each."

[VCR_CAT]

Before I start, you wording is using colons and semi-colon wrong, at least I very much doubt your intention is to change them as a cost. Effects always go after the colon or semi-colon, if you have no cost, which it doesn't look like, you only use a colon. That being said, here's the wording I would use:

 

"Once per turn: You can change all monsters your opponent control to Attack Position, also negate their effects, then this card gains 200 ATK for each monster your opponent controls and it can attack them all, once each."

 

Oh, the cost part is completely intentional. Thanks for the help, though!

[Atypical-Abbie]

Oh, the cost part is completely intentional. Thanks for the help, though!

I have said that this isn't a design tutorial thread, but I must say that it's not a good idea to make effects act as costs like that, it's really cheap, and it's one of the reasons why Kaiju are designed the way they are, because your opponent never gets a chance to protect themselves against the Tribute, or in your case the change to Attack Position, so they put a condition on them and made sure they had the ability to use your counters as well.