5th Trials - Phase 1

[kev]

Phase 1 - Proving Your Worthiness
Phase 1 has ended

This phase is different in each Trial. It usually has something to do with helping out the community, but it can also be something where you show your skills as an Elements player.

Below are two tasks each participant must complete.

TASK I
Card Design

• Create two cards in different elements that would improve synergy between the elements.  Synergy can come from a card of one element using the other element’s quanta for activation, synergy between the two cards you create, synergy with existing cards of each other’s elements, etc.  Example: I could create an Aether creature that uses Air quanta to activate its ability and an Air spell that buffs immaterial creatures.
• Create a card that drains all of an element’s quanta when used (a la Miracle and Fractal).
• Create a card that you feel would single-handedly make Elements the Game more fun (don’t worry, I won’t be rejecting submissions, but please give your idea some thought).
• Create an Event Card for War.  War is a massive forum PvP event in which teams are led by Masters or Master-appointed Generals.  Here (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,31113.0.html) is a link to the rules of War.  Here (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/board,142.0.html) is a link to the War forum, where you can find previous War rounds and their respective Event Cards.  And here (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,20180.0.html) is an Event Card brainstorming thread where community members submitted Event Card ideas prior to the third War.

• Card submission details:  You may create threads for created cards and submit them (except the Event Card for War) to the Crucible if you wish, but you are not required to do so.  If you are submitting to the Crucible, here (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,5039.0.html) is the procedure.  For your Trials submission simply follow the first two steps of card creation in that link, and post the image in your Phase I Trials submission (example provided at the end of this post).  If you want immediate feedback from me use the "Direct Image Link" on http://www.imageplay.com instead of using imgur, imageshack, etc.
• Your submission must include five cards even if one card you create fulfills multiple requirements above.
• Yes, you must include art for your cards.  There are plenty of ways to find art that is free and doesn't violate copyright rules.  http://www.sxc.hu is one such option.
• You do not have to include both unupgraded and upgraded versions of each card unless you want to.
• Please don't revamp and resubmit existing card ideas.

TASK II
Deckbuilding

• Provide constructive criticism to five decks.
• Eligible threads can be found in Deck Ideas (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php#c2) (any subforum will work), and must have been last posted in on or after November 1, 2011 (0:00 GMT).
• Replies must be 200 words each PLUS a deck image that adds to your helping the player in need.
• You may not reply to a thread if another Trials participant has already posted a Trials response.  Please copy the following and paste it at the top of each reply:
• You may not reply to a thread/provide constructive criticism for a deck you created.

Code: [Select]

[b][i][color=lime]***TRIALS RESPONSE***[/color][/i][/b]IMPORTANT NOTES

• Put all of your completed tasks in one post in this submission thread (http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,35922.0.html).
• For each task above that is completed, players receive five points.  There is no partial credit if a player, for instance, falls short of the 200-word requirement for one Deck Ideas reply.
• 199 words is not 200 and I won't draw a "close enough" line.  I will be using http://www.wordcounttool.com/ to count words.  Be aware that other programs (like MS Word) arrive at different totals, so double check with http://www.wordcounttool.com/
• I will try to review submissions as they're added, note where and why credit was not given, and update the Trials Standings (http://) thread with completed tasks.  Players can expedite this by submitting well before the deadline and catching my attention.  But ultimately it's up to each player to make certain they've followed the directions.
• Remember that how well you do during Phase 1 and the nature of your submissions will most likely affect your score during Phase 3 (the vote).  It will look odd if you comment on five mono Fire decks and then join the Trial of Water.  Just sayin.

If you have any questions, please post them here.

 This is for illustrative purposes; feel free to edit the format.

Task I –
Synergy:

Drain:

Fun:

Event Card:

Task II –
Response #1 – 210 words (http://)
Response #2 – 201 words (http://)
Response #3 – 410 words (http://)
Response #4 – 240 words (http://)
Response #5 – 288 words (http://)

[PlayerOa]

Let dem trials start!

[kev]

Please don't go out and reserve five threads to comment on later; it's sorta disrespectful.  It would be a good idea to reserve a post and then immediately edit it rather than spending an hour posting just to see you were ninja'd.  One by one though, please.

[willng3]

Roar.

There seems to be a bit of confusion/controversy over this requirement, would you mind elaborating?

Create two cards in different elements that would improve synergy between the elements.  Synergy can come from a card of one element using the other element’s quanta for activation, synergy between the two cards you create, synergy with existing cards of each other’s elements, etc.

[Sevs]

Can you use a card that you are in the process of making at the moment? It is posted but never fully worked out.

[kev]

There seems to be a bit of confusion/controversy over this requirement, would you mind elaborating?

I added an example to the opening post, but let me restate the bullet: "Choose two elements.  Create one card for each element that has synergy with the other card's element."

Can you use a card that you are in the process of making at the moment? It is posted but never fully worked out.

No, sorry.  Fresh ideas to the max!

[ddevans96]

Here we are...may the best elementals win.

[Jenkar]

''synergy between the two cards you create'' <= mind giving an exact definition of what synergy is?
(question arose from this : [11:19:56] Jenkar: I need hyro now.
[11:20:52] Xenocidius: HYRO.
[11:21:13] Jenkar: Or someone who can explain synergy in his two synergy cards.
[11:22:33] Xenocidius: They synergize with each other, obviously.
[11:23:34] Jenkar: ...?
[11:24:43] Jenkar: If you mean that it's because they use the same base, it's like saying soulcatcher, boneyard and bonewall synergize.
[11:25:54] Xenocidius: ‹@Jenkar› That's ... true.
[11:26:03] Xenocidius: Sort of.
[11:26:29] Xenocidius: The difference is that Soul Catcher and Boneyard both gain benefit from death effects.
[11:26:43] Xenocidius: Wait, hang on.
[11:26:46] Xenocidius: Nope, you're right.
[11:27:14] Xenocidius: Maybe.
[11:27:20] Jenkar: *confused*
[11:27:53] Jenkar: synergy => the two cards together are better than one or the other alone.
[11:28:15] Xenocidius: Echo gains benefit from chaining, but Fury both gains benefit from chaining (specifically, Fury being chained), and provides chaining.
[11:29:14] Xenocidius: Fury is better when used alongside Echo, mind you, and vice versa.
[11:29:32] Jenkar: Doesn't provide chaining Oo
[11:29:43] Xenocidius: Plus, Echo and Fury are the only two cards needed for the combo, whereas with Soul Catcher and Boneyard, you still need another card to form the combo.
[11:30:04] Xenocidius: Fury is a spell that can be chained and is ideal to chain.
[11:30:08] Jenkar: And, hum, not anymore than used alongside any other card?
[11:31:20] Xenocidius: There aren't many other cards where it is actually good to chain them.
[11:31:44] Xenocidius: Actually, wait. He doesn't define chain very well.
[11:31:49] Jenkar: It's generally always good to play cards...
[11:33:42] Xenocidius: Actually ... okay, chaining is playing the same card consecutively with no other card between (by his definition).
[11:34:25] Xenocidius: Very few other cards can do this effectively. Sure, things like Sundial and Silence sort of can, but then you can only play 1 card (Silence/Sundial) each turn to get the effect.
[11:34:42] Xenocidius: Fury can be chained on the same turn for maximum benefit. I.e., it is the best card to use alongside Echo.
[11:34:48] Xenocidius: Therefore, synergy. Brb.
[11:35:38] Jenkar: Um, i think we have different notions of synergy.
[11:36:09] Jenkar: Boneyard synergize with kitty, because it's more powerful with kitty.
[11:36:51] Jenkar: Echo's power doesn't change one tidbit if you're using fury, photon, spark, silence, bone dragons, chimeras or kittys.
[11:39:04] Xenocidius: It synergizes with all of those cards.
[11:39:10] Jenkar: Nor is fury more powerful with echo than with boneyard, hg, or feral bond.
[11:39:31] Jenkar: ‹@Xenocidius› So, it synergizre with all cards?
[11:39:39] Xenocidius: No.
[11:40:07] Xenocidius: It doesn't synergize very well with dragons, because they have to be played in succession. Nor does it synergize well with Chimera, because you don't want to play multiple Chimeras.
[11:40:43] Jenkar: But [11:39:04] Xenocidius: It synergizes with all of those cards. ?
[11:40:58] Xenocidius: Fury is more powerful with Echo than by itself, but is also powerful with death effect triggered things.
[11:41:08] Xenocidius: ‹@Jenkar› I didn't read that list. I assumed the list made sense.
[11:41:31] Jenkar: Show me how fury gains power from echo.
[11:41:34] Xenocidius: Fury therefore synergizes with death effect triggered things and Echo (but not Feral Bond).
[11:41:59] Xenocidius: Fury does not gain power from echo. However, you gain more benefit from Fury when used alongside Echo.
[11:42:11] Xenocidius: Let me think of an in-game example.
[11:42:24] Jenkar: Ie, they combo but do not syergize.
[11:42:35] Jenkar: synergize*
[11:42:54] Jenkar: Fractal dragon is a combo that has no synergy.
[11:42:57] Xenocidius: Okay, Fractal synergizes with Devourer, yes?
[11:43:10] Xenocidius: (According to Wiki article)
[11:43:19] Jenkar: Nope.
[11:43:26] Xenocidius: Fractal is a similar case, actually. It synergizes with many different cards to different degrees.
[11:43:47] Xenocidius: My and the Wiki's definition of synergy encompasses your synergy and combo definition.
[11:43:53] Jenkar: No, it combos with them*
[11:44:02] Xenocidius: Different people have different definitions. None of them are set in stone (yet).
[11:44:38] Jenkar: dictionnary :
[11:44:45] Xenocidius: So though Hyro's cards may only combo according to one person, they synergize according to another.
[11:46:06] Jenkar: interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances or agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.
[11:47:31] Xenocidius: Hmm, okay.
[11:47:53] Xenocidius: Still, that obviously isn't the definition accepted by everyone.

[~Napalm]

D'aww. Does this mean kevkev can't keep my seat warm?

[kev]

''synergy between the two cards you create'' <= mind giving an exact definition of what synergy is?

Lordy.  That was quite the debate.  Jenk gives the proper definition of synergy and it'd be swell if all submissions considered it.  But all I'm really looking for is cards that work well with another element.  Yesterday I provided an example in the opening post where the cards work well with the other card's element.  I'd love for a ton of great card ideas to come out of Trials but I'm not going to be a stickler when it comes to awarding points.

[Hyroen]

''synergy between the two cards you create'' <= mind giving an exact definition of what synergy is?
(question arose from this : blah.

Hmm. I guess I'll wait to see if the rest of the world thinks the same way.

[Jenkar]

''synergy between the two cards you create'' <= mind giving an exact definition of what synergy is?
(question arose from this : blah.

Hmm. I guess I'll wait to see if the rest of the world thinks the same way.

Do not care about rest of the world, it's kev who awards points