Terminology:
Totem - A "totem" is a permanent that, each turn moves from its current permanent stack to the stack on the previous permanent slot if and only if the stack on the previous permanent slot has less permanents. Think of it as the top totem dropping from one totem pole to another totem pole. In this way, totems move around in a fashion akin to conveyor belts.
Layer - One permanent in the stack. Usually used when referring to the number of permanents in the stack, for example, "per layer" means "multiplied by the number of permanents in the stack."
Height - Height is the number of layers in a permanent stack.
Cards in this series will include Totems, Chants, and Prayers. Totem cards are just permanent cards, so they go in the next empty slot when you play them. Most totems will have abilities whose power scales with the amount of permanents in the stack. Chant cards are spells that generate a number of totems onto an existing (stack of) permanent(s). Prayer cards are spells that increase the effectiveness of totems currently on the field.
FAQ:
Q: When and where do the totems move?
A: They move when they are being "passed over". They can only move to the permanent slot that had just been passed over.
Order of "Passing Over":
Note: A totem on 1 will move to slot 19 (if the stack in slot 19 has less height).
Q: Does a stack of permanents with a totem on the top mean that all the permanents in the stack are totems?
A: No (and this is where these cards get hard to program). Placing a totem on top of permanents does not affect the permanents that are underneath the totem. When the totem is removed, the permanents underneath are revealed again.
Q: What if a totem tries to move to a permanent slot where the permanent(s in the stack) is protected or immaterial?
A: The totem will move accordingly and will not be able to be targeted by spells and abilities, because it is protected. This protected status does not stay with the totem, but remains on the permanent(s in the stack), even if the totem moves away.
Q: Can I add my card to this series?
A: If your card has a separate thread in Card Ideas and Art and is a Totem, Chant, or Prayer, then of course you can ask me to add it to a list on this thread, although I will force you to follow strict formatting and semantic guidelines. Please note that:
Totems, always named "____ Totem", are
permanents whose Card Text starts with "Totem:", like Weapons and Shields.
Chants, always named "____ Chant", are
spells that generate totems on the field. They can produce 1 totem, they can produce 10 totems, and they can have other effects, but they must produce totems to be a Chant. You should have a separate card table for the totem produced in the thread.
Prayers, always named "____ Prayer", are
spells that somehow have something to do with totems. For example, Prayers can draw totems from your deck, generate totems into your hand, but they
cannot put totems on the field unless they are changed to fit the criteria for Chants. As with Chants, Prayers that affect specific totems should have a separate card table for the totem.
You should include both this quote and any other relevant information, such as the definition of "layer" and "height", in the NOTES section of your card:
[quote author=Series: Totems]Totem - A "totem" is a permanent that, each turn moves from its current permanent stack to the stack on the previous permanent slot if and only if the stack on the previous permanent slot has less permanents. Think of it as the top totem dropping from one totem pole to another totem pole. In this way, totems move around in a fashion akin to conveyor belts.[/quote]
