End board focus or design focus

[WhiteThunder777]

In terms of custom cards, end board focused means that your custom archetype is focused on making a powerful end board.  Upon play testing one can find out what this end board is, and players will find a way to counter that.  End boards focus on power first.  For example, Kashtira in the TCG is end board focused because you know what is expected on the end board.

But a design first approach does not have an end board.  Design first means that design takes priority over making powerful monsters.  Like the mechanics and whatnot.  

The design space is determined by what the mechanic is and many other factors.  For example, a BlitzCreek archetype that utilizes columns and Blitz Counters while locking locking you into only BlitzCreek monsters is very limited design, which enables you to add cards to it without breaking the game as a whole.  It is also a rare jewel among custom archetype creators because no archetype in the TCG ever used columns and Counters in the same archetype.

The wider the design space is, the harder it is for one to add another card without breaking the game.