[CC NEWS] Upcoming changes to Custom Cards

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

With the new rules in place and Konami doing a complete overhaul of how Yugioh works with Starter Deck 2017 and Link Monsters, here are some changes that will be coming for Custom Cards.
 
Already existing stuff
 
I mentioned these in the rulebook threads when updated, but to recap the major things for both areas.

• If you're posting cards via the cardmaker / TCGEditor or otherwise with a generator, you need the written data underneath.
  • This is to ensure that in the event Imgur or whatever image host you use goes down, members at least have something to grade. Also a reminder that we have users who cannot read the text off the cards due to accessing YCM on a mobile device and/or have vision problems.
    • (Considering the cardmaker's status at the moment, it's a lot easier to modify written data than it is to reupload the entire card)
  • At a bare minimum, you need to have the effect text written underneath the card.
• Advanced Card threads (bar Other TCG) are required to have "design notes" in the opening post mentioning what you intended for your cards to be doing in the current game.
• Definition of what sorts of images are permissible for cardmaking. At maximum, anything beyond PG-17 or images that are explicit (referring to excessive sexuality, blood, gore, etc.) in content is forbidden. You should use the OCG as a baseline, but if you want to confirm if an image is permissible, ask.
• Reviewers are NOT required to give recommendations on what to fix; you need to critique the cards, but it is an optional choice to give suggestions. It is up to the thread creator to make the appropriate changes ON THEIR OWN.

 
Mechanics split
 
For the entirety of this section, the terms "Legacy" and "Standard" will be used.

• Legacy: Cards built to function using the existing mechanics (ARC-V). Link Monsters/Zones/Numbers will not exist.
  • Cyverse-Type monsters will be permitted, as they currently are not intertwined with Link Monsters.
  • Deriving its name from the Legacy Duels format that Konami set up (you can play with your favorite generation banlist).
• Standard: Cards that function in the soon-to-be official field setup (3/25/2017 in OCG).
  • This includes: Link Monsters, the segregated monster zones and moving of the Pendulum Zones to the S/T area.

Why am I bringing this up?
 
Obviously, the changes made by Link Monsters is a dramatic shift in the way that we've been playing this game and will not sit well with everyone. As of tonight, we've gotten new rulings on how said Links work (and they are somewhat complicated at this time).

This is to give members who don't agree with the new changes a place to post their cards, because the current game will not be as kind to them in this regard. There are some Decks that currently work well under the existing mechanics (sans Link Monsters), but will not under the new ones. I do not believe in shafting cards made for Decks built under the existing mechanics to Casual Cards / Experimental simply because they will then be obsolete (or rendered not as effective).
 
While CC will adapt to the changes, it's important that it can cater to players who want to keep the current mechanics and those who are going to adapt to the upcoming ones. Therefore, there will be a "dual format" thing in Custom Cards; Standard and Legacy (definitions defined above).
 
Below are some possible suggestions.
 
[spoiler=Suggestions]
1. Tag System in Custom Cards
 
While somewhat discriminatory in nature, this will be reserved for threads that design cards under the Legacy format (ARC-V mechanics) to differentiate from stuff designed for the newer ones. Cards designed for VRAINS formats will be left as-is.
 
2. A separate forum in both areas
 
This would add another subforum for both Casual and Advanced Cards that deal with Legacy designs, while main CC areas move on with the new.
 
(Will be positioned beneath the current Multiples areas, and named [x] Legacy Cards or something)
 
There would not be a separate subforum for Multiples in these areas, but you'd have to mark your thread as either a Singles or Multiples thread. As these areas fall in the existing Casual & Advanced areas, they will be bound by the same rules. 
 
3. Another subsection under Advanced Cards called "Legacy Card Design" (final name TBD, but would mirror the naming conventions for Casual and Advanced)
 
This WILL basically be a copy of Advanced Cards (by definition), but will cater to Legacy designs. Yes, this will add another area in the section (and push it to 5 forums) and require another copy of the rulebook (aside from certain things, most of the rules are universal throughout the section), but will not require that you tag your threads. 

 

There will be a Multiples forum for sets.
 
By doing this, Casual and Advanced would not require a tag system to differentiate between the formats and will go about as usual, bar adapting to VRAINS stuff.

The Legacy format DOES NOT restrict cards from the VRAINS generation (SD2017) and beyond from being used, but rather that Link Monsters will not be permitted in Legacy (as it's clear that they will not function properly with the current mechanics).
 
For example, there is post-legacy support for old Decks (and ARC-V carryovers) in COTD; cards of this design with the Legacy tag will be graded as how the Deck/cards function right now. 
 
Redefinition of quality in Advanced
 
I've gotten a few PMs from some CC users concerning the quality of some of the cards in the section; in the sense of them being not designed for competitive purposes. The section description reads:
 
"Post balanced cards with the idea of making them work in the current gamestate and Advanced card making ideals. Pop Culture cards designed with these in mind are welcome here."

Cards that you post in Advanced Cards (barring the Other TCG) area must be designed to work in a competitive environment, power-creep included. It does not have to be the current meta, but must be designed for a competitive environment. Yes, the competitive meta at the time of writing is essentially Zoodiac variants and/or True Kings, and using the former as a baseline isn't really fair, however you must be willing to design cards with the intent to be functional in this sort of environment.

 

Additionally, you are required to show that you actually thought the design through (although this concept applies even for Casual Cards).

 

This is not to say that you cannot post legacy supports for older Archetypes in Advanced, but be aware that it may take more than just a few new cards to make them workable as-is with the power creep going on.

 

Policy change

 

Advanced Cards will largely run the same as it is now, but emphasis will be stressed on how the card actually functions in the current gamestate (right now, it's somewhat split between that and designing properly). With that in mind, the dual format change will be of some issue, but as written above, whatever you make in Advanced should be designed to function in a competitive atmosphere (either right now or a preemptive format with other releases considered)

 

There is nothing wrong with you designing Pop Culture cards in Advanced, but like everything else, they need to be built with the current game in mind.

 

You, as the thread creator, must be open to suggestions as to how to make your card function properly in competition and be flexible in making changes if needed (i.e. don't reject a user's recommendations because they copy a card design that you don't want to borrow from or it outclasses a certain older card). 

 

Required "design notes"
 
This have been in place since September 2nd, 2016, but I have been somewhat lax on the requirement due to not formally announcing it, but I will be more stringent on it in the future. You will need to write 35-40 words describing your design intent (what is your stuff intended to be doing) AND how your cards are intended to compete in a competitive environment (either with other cards in an Archetype or with common cards in competition). 
 
Cards that don't have an explanation of its interactions will be moved to Casual Cards on-sight.
 
As I already mentioned in the rulebook, this is intended to do several things:
(1) Show us what you were trying to do; reminder that we are not mind-readers and don't know what you're doing. It also helps us to point out if your idea will work/not.
(2) Show that you understand what's going on in the current game and actually put in effort, as opposed to tossing your card into the section and saying "okay, review my stuff."
(3) Eliminate blatant rehashing of a card's functions in reviews.

 

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The main point (as mentioned by Zai in the news thread) is to address how CC in general will run in the VRAINS era. Point concerning Advanced's application in general will be progressively dealt with.

 

(There may be other things, but for now, this is it.)

 

If you have any questions or comments about the proposed changes (or the rules in general), please PM me or use the support thread for this (which will be up later).

 

- Sakura