[Old] How to Post A Card Idea

[The Oracle]

How to Successfully Post a Card Idea

Do you have an idea for a great new card idea that you think should be added to Elements? Help out Elements developers by posting your awesome ideas. Here is what you need to do.

1. Come Up With an Idea
If you don't already have one, now is the time to come up with something. Feel free to use any sources for inspiration: movies, books, other games, etc. but try to be as original as possible. It's also a good idea to look at some of the other ideas in the Card Ideas and Art section before posting yours, to avoid posting an idea that has been posted already by someone else.

2. Build Card Images
All card ideas should be built using the Official Elements Card Image Builder by Planplan and Xenocidius. Other tools are of course allowed, but only if the quality is of same high standard. Low quality card images will not be accepted into Crucible and beyond. And when talking about quality, that does not mean the art alone, but the card as a whole. Poor quality images are just as bad as a cluttered text box.

You must:
- use quanta icons where appropriate
- limit the use of text to what could appear in the game
- not use symbols in the text box except quanta icons
- use Font types and sizes appropriate to the card

When adding art to your card, please make sure that you either made the art yourself, have a permission from the artist to use the art, or you used royalty free and/or public domain art (Google the terms for more details). If you are unsure about the ownership and copyright situation of the art you are planning on using, please don't use it. As an example, most images found using Google search are copyrighted and cannot be used without asking a permission first.

3. Upload Your Card Images
Next step is to upload your card images using one of the numerous free online services available. We recommend http://imgur.com/ because it's simple, fast and they don't randomly delete images. Just follow the easy instructions after which will find the correct url under "Direct Link". You will need those url's in the next step, so don't lose them. The Card Image Builder provides an easy interface for uploading to Imgur.

4. Start a Topic
The Card Image Builder will take care of this step automatically. You should follow these instructions if it is not working for you:

Spoiler for Instructions:

You should now have two card images, non-upgraded and upgraded. Now it's time to start a topic and lets others see your awesome creations.

All card ideas start their journey in Level 0 - Smithy. Start a new topic and copy-paste the following in the empty text field:

Code: [Select]

[table][tr][td][center][img]
http://***InternetAddressOfCardImage.jpg***
[/img][/center][/td][td][center][img]
http://***InternetAddressOfUpgradedCardImage.jpg***
[/img][/center][/td][/tr][tr][td][table][tr][td][right][b][size=8pt][color=#C9C299]NAME: [/color][/size][/b][/right][/td][td]
***Insert name***
[/td][/tr][tr][td][right][b][size=8pt][color=#C9C299] ELEMENT: [/color][/size][/b][/right][/td][td]
***Insert element***
[/td][/tr][tr][td][right][b][size=8pt][color=#C9C299] COST: [/color][/size][/b][/right][/td][td]
***Insert cost***
[/td][/tr][tr][td][right][b][size=8pt][color=#C9C299] TYPE: [/color][/size][/b][/right][/td][td]
***Insert type***
[/td][/tr][tr][td][right][b][size=8pt][color=#C9C299] ATK|HP: [/color][/size][/b][/right][/td][td]
***Insert att|hp***
[/td][/tr][tr][td][right][b][size=8pt][color=#C9C299] TEXT: [/color][/size][/b][/right][/td][td]
***Insert card text***
[/td][/tr][/table][/td]

[td][table][tr][td][right][b][size=8pt][color=#C9C299] NAME: [/color][/size][/b][/right][/td][td]
***Insert name (upgraded)***
[/td][/tr][tr][td][right][b][size=8pt][color=#C9C299] ELEMENT: [/color][/size][/b][/right][/td][td]
***Insert element (upgraded)***
[/td][/tr][tr][td][right][b][size=8pt][color=#C9C299] COST: [/color][/size][/b][/right][/td][td]
***Insert cost (upgraded)***
[/td][/tr][tr][td][right][b][size=8pt][color=#C9C299] TYPE: [/color][/size][/b][/right][/td][td]
***Insert type (upgraded)***
[/td][/tr][tr][td][right][b][size=8pt][color=#C9C299] ATK|HP: [/color][/size][/b][/right][/td][td]
***Insert att|hp (upgraded)***
[/td][/tr][tr][td][right][b][size=8pt][color=#C9C299] TEXT: [/color][/size][/b][/right][/td][td]
***Insert card text (upgraded)***
[/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][/table]

[table][tr][td][table][tr][td][right][b][size=8pt][color=#C9C299] ART: [/color][/size][/b][/right][/td][td]
***Insert artist name***
[/td][/tr]
[tr][td][right][b][size=8pt][color=#C9C299] IDEA: [/color][/size][/b][/right][/td][td]
***Insert card maker name***
[/td][/tr]
[tr][td][right][b][size=8pt][color=#C9C299] NOTES: [/color][/size][/b][/right][/td][td]
***Insert additional information***
[/td][/tr]
[tr][td][right][b][size=8pt][color=#C9C299] SERIES: [/color][/size][/b][/right][/td][td]
***Insert series name and link to series page (if any)***
[/td][/tr][/table][/td][/tr][/table]

That scary-looking code is what builds the layout of your card idea topic. See all those asterisks (***) and the words between them? You need to replace all of it with your own information, like this:

BEFORE	AFTER
***Insert card maker name***	Scaredgirl

The table is a text copy of the card Image you are presenting. When filling out the table, all the fields must be exactly as they appear on the card.

This means:
- The Cost includes the quanta Icon if it has one.
- The Card Text is identical to the text box of the card.
- Since the Element of a Card is visual, put the element name in words, not icons.

Any irrelevant fields (like SERIES or ATK|HP with permanents/spells) should be left blank. If your card is a weapon the stats when flying (with the text 'when flying' or something akin to that next to them) should be put in the ATK|HP field. The SERIES field, if not left blank, should contain a link to the series thread.

When filling out the data make sure you credit the artwork correctly. The table should have both the artist name and a link to the source location (if any). If the art was created by you, just use your name (no link required).

Either way, after you have inserted all the data, it's time to add a title. Your topic must be titled using the following format:

CORRECT FORMAT	EXAMPLE
Card name | Upgraded Card Name	Minor Vampire | Vampire

Last step is to preview your topic and press "Post". Congratulations, the hard part is now over!

5. Tweaking Your Idea
If you want a better chance of reaching those higher levels, you should get some feedback from the community and improve the card idea based on that feedback. Try to keep the discussion alive by asking feedback and answering to questions others might have. Remember that these are the same people who will later vote of your idea, so it's smart to listen to what they have to say.

As a general rule, each card idea should be redone at least once (for example change the cost, tweak the ability, etc.). It is very rare that an idea is perfect from the start, although that is of course possible. If you feel that your idea is perfect as it is, don't make any changes to it.

6. Getting Your Idea Approved
Before your idea reaches the actual polls, it must be approved. When you feel that your idea is ready, post a link here.

Card Curators will browse the Card ideas for cards for promotion every Wednesday. If your idea doesn't get moved there is a good chance its not formatted correctly. Go back and make sure its layed out correctly in the table. Card Curators might also reply to your topic and tell you what you need to do in order to get your idea approved.

After your card idea has been approved it will be moved to Level 1 - Crucible.

7. Gaining Levels
There are a total of 5 different card idea levels. All card ideas start from level 0 and have a chance to reach Level 4 which is reserved for cards that made it into the game.

Level 0 - Smithy
Level 1 - Crucible
Level 2 - Forge
Level 3 - Armory
Level 4 - Reliquary

Cards advance by winning in polls.

Level 1 - Crucible

WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4	'Other'

8. Series
Series is a group of 6 or more cards that share a function or a theme. Best way to make a series is to choose a specific game mechanic or a theme, and then design 12 cards (one card from each element) using that mechanic or theme. You can also design more than 12 if you so choose.

Once you finish at least 6 cards belonging to a series, you can start a Series Thread which explains the idea behind that series and also introduces all the cards belonging to that series. Cards that belong to a series, will still have their own individual threads just like all the other cards. Series thread is just a "bonus" that helps community members and developers find other cards in your series more easily.

If your series is one mechanic identical across all cards then put them all in the one idea submission. A good example of this is Pillars/Towers which all belong to different elements but are mechanically identical.


9. Final Words
It is very important to understand that the chances of your card idea actually making it into the game are very slim. Even if your idea gets a lot of votes and reaches higher levels, there are zero guarantees that it will ever be used by the developers. From the hundreds of ideas posted on this forum, only 6 have reached Level 4 and can now be found in the game. Although odds are against you, don't be discouraged because weak odds make is that much sweeter when you do finally reach that final level!

Have fun designing cards and good luck!

[dragonhuman]

are we still allowed to post all ideas in one thread to get ideas for cards from the community and thusly shorten the list of actual topics?

[Scaredgirl]

are we still allowed to post all ideas in one thread to get ideas for cards from the community and thusly shorten the list of actual topics?

Hmm.. not sure what you mean..

One thread per member? If you mean that, then yeah, that could work actually.

[dragonhuman]

thats pretty much what I meant, by having one mass topic it prevents there from being millions of topic for each individual cards as some cards are obviously overpowered and would be weeded out earlier.

or maybe as another idea have a subforum in here, one forum would have the indivdual topics per the card and this would be pretty much the finalization area where the higher ups would look it at. And the subforum would be where the mass topics of ideas of cards would be posted for review from the other members and the higher ups if they so pleased.

(yes I know this post will be deleted at some point but just trying to help clarify)

[Kuroaitou]

These are the requirements for getting your card approved and moved to "Approved Card Ideas" section

1. You have started a thread where you reveal your card idea (one card per thread)

2. Your thread has a card image generated with the official Elements Card Idea Image Generator (coming soon)

3. You have received feedback from the community and Card Curator, and have made changes to your card idea based on that feedback


*more coming soon*

Just one question: will previous ideas be automatically dismissed due to the fact that they (generally) don't have an image with the Elements Card Idea Image Generator [ECIIG, that's a mouthful!]? If so, I guess I'll just wait to throw up my card idea later... 

[Scaredgirl]

thats pretty much what I meant, by having one mass topic it prevents there from being millions of topic for each individual cards as some cards are obviously overpowered and would be weeded out earlier.

or maybe as another idea have a subforum in here, one forum would have the indivdual topics per the card and this would be pretty much the finalization area where the higher ups would look it at. And the subforum would be where the mass topics of ideas of cards would be posted for review from the other members and the higher ups if they so pleased.

(yes I know this post will be deleted at some point but just trying to help clarify)

Tons of individual threads are bad, but so are threads with 10+ cards because the discussion is almost impossible because everyone is talking about different things.

I don't think there is a perfect solution for this but hopefully we'll find something that most people are happy about.

Just one question: will previous ideas be automatically dismissed due to the fact that they (generally) don't have an image with the Elements Card Idea Image Generator [ECIIG, that's a mouthful!]? If so, I guess I'll just wait to throw up my card idea later... 

If you want, you can post your ideas now and just remake the images when Planplan finishes the image creator.

This is what we have to do with all the current ideas (well some of them at least), we have to remake the card images. Yes, it's going to be a big task, but if everyone helps, it shouldn't take that long. And once it's ready, all the cards are same size, same shape, same font, etc. which is going to be awesome.

[Glitch]

Hey Scaredgirl, will you add another requirement that says the image cannot be plagiarized or breaking copyright law?  That'll make VRT happy...

[Kael Hate]

These are the requirements for getting your card approved and moved to "Level 1 - Smithy" section.

1. You have started a thread where you reveal your card idea (one card per thread)

2. Your thread has a card image generated with the official Elements Card Idea Image Generator (coming soon)

3. You have received feedback from the community and Card Curator, and have made changes to your card idea based on that feedback

Ok, done the first 2 and most of step 3.
When will the Curator come around and check my idea? and after he does, does that move me straight in to Smithyville?

[ufcfan]

To help curb the number of threads maybe have them categorized by each element, although that would still leave multiple cards per thread, at least they would all be the same element.

[Scaredgirl]

These are the requirements for getting your card approved and moved to "Level 1 - Smithy" section.

1. You have started a thread where you reveal your card idea (one card per thread)

2. Your thread has a card image generated with the official Elements Card Idea Image Generator (coming soon)

3. You have received feedback from the community and Card Curator, and have made changes to your card idea based on that feedback

Ok, done the first 2 and most of step 3.
When will the Curator come around and check my idea? and after he does, does that move me straight in to Smithyville?

It might take a couple of days, it might take a couple of weeks. We are moving slowly with this project because there isn't really a big hurry.

The #2 I'm talking about there is the flash software developed by Planplan so you couldn't have done it yet. Once Planplan finishes the Card Image Builder we can start moving cards to level 1. But like I said, there's no hurry with this so I suggest everyone to just be patient.

[Scaredgirl]

Updated first post.

I'll post a "card idea thread template" here at some point.

[verity_blues]

   Its great that the elements forum allows players to be a part of the game-evolution. This wouldn't be possible without alot of elements-crazed people, which Elements is handily creating. What a great game. Back when Total War (pre Empire:TW) was moddable, I was always a part of one mod team or another and always in the forums. Now that they've locked out most modding out-of-the-box, I don't even buy their games anymore. A player-involved game forum is key, even if your idea's never get included, at least you knew that it was considered. Thanks to all who are putting time and effort into growing and improving this game.
   Now, that said, can I get a card currator to look at my cards and advise me on them? 

HAHAHA. Really though, its great what you all are doing, I'm so glad I remembered this game and returned after months away to find that it has grown and is thriving with activity.

Can't wait for the official card creator to become available.