They help newcomers learn, veterans refine skills, and the whole community grow creatively and technically.

This guide will show you how to write, structure, and manage a helpful, popular Tutorial discussion!

🎯 What Is a Tutorial Discussion?

A Tutorial is a step-by-step guide teaching others how to do something.
On MTG Cardsmith, tutorials often cover things like:

• How to design better cards

• How to balance mana costs

• How to create custom mechanics

• How to write great flavor text

• How to format posts and contests

• How to use the MTG Cardsmith editor effectively

• How to run contests, RPGs, sagas, etc.

Anyone can make a tutorial, no matter your skill level—just share what you know!

🛠️ Step 1: Choose Your Topic Carefully

A great tutorial should:

• Cover a real need or question people might have

• Be specific (e.g., “How to Balance a Planeswalker,” not just “Card Design Tips”)

• Fit your own experience (teach what you know well!)

• What’s something you wish you had learned earlier?

• What questions do you see often in forum discussions?

• What do you enjoy doing that others might want to learn?

✍️ Step 2: Plan Your Tutorial Before You Post

Good tutorials are organized! Before creating your thread, sketch out:

• Introduction: Brief overview of what you’ll teach

• Step-by-Step Instructions: Clearly numbered or separated

• Examples: Show examples wherever possible

• Tips/Warnings: Share things to watch out for

• Conclusion/Encouragement: End on a friendly note!

🧵 Step 3: Create the Forum Thread

🏷️ Suggested Title Formats:

• [Tutorial] How to Balance a Custom Planeswalker

• [Guide] Writing Great Flavor Text

• [Step-by-Step] Running Your First Contest

Make the title clear and helpful! Tutorials often live or die based on first impressions.

🔥 Step 4: Make It Engaging and Interactive

A great tutorial isn’t a lecture—it’s a conversation!

Encourage:

• Questions

• Sharing

• Discussion

• Feedback

This keeps your thread alive long after you post it.

📌 Step 5: Update or Expand as Needed

Sometimes your readers will ask for more!

You can:

• Add Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at the bottom

• Create a Part 2 tutorial if interest is high

• Edit typos, clarify steps, or update examples over time

If your tutorial becomes popular, it might even get stickied by mods!

💡 Tips for a Great Tutorial Discussion

✅ Use formatting: headers, bold text, bullet points
✅ Keep language simple and friendly
✅ Break big ideas into smaller steps
✅ Use examples generously
✅ Encourage participation and follow-up questions
✅ Be open to feedback—you’re helping, not preaching!

This guide will show you how to start and maintain a vibrant, welcoming Custom Card Discussion thread!

💭 What Is a Custom Card Discussion?

A Custom Card Discussion is not a contest or a challenge—it's a conversation.

You might create a discussion to:

• Share a single card and ask for feedback

• Discuss a group of cards (e.g., a custom set)

• Workshop mechanics, flavor, or worldbuilding

• Talk about card design theory ("What makes a good planeswalker?")

• Inspire others with design ideas or themes

It’s open-ended and typically ongoing—perfect for evolving conversations!

🛠️ Step 1: Pick a Clear Focus

The best discussions have a clear “center.”
Before posting, decide:

🎯 What is this discussion about?

• A specific card or design?

• A mechanic or concept?

• A custom set or world?

• A design philosophy ("How important is flavor text?")?

If you’re just sharing random designs, that’s fine too—but still give it a theme, like “Weird and Wacky Cards” or “Cards That Tell a Story.”

🧵 Step 2: Create the Forum Thread

Click on New Discussion.

🏷️ Suggested Title Formats:

• [Discussion] Help Me Workshop My Mechanic: Overwhelm!

• [Discussion] Share Your Favorite Card Designs!

• [Custom Set Discussion] Tales of Veloria – Feedback Needed

• [Design Talk] How Much Text is Too Much Text?

Make the title inviting and clear!

📝 Suggested First Post Template:

# 🃏 [Discussion] Help Me Workshop My Mechanic: Overwhelm!

Hey everyone!

I’m designing a mechanic called **Overwhelm**, and I’d love your feedback and ideas. Here's the mechanic:

> **Overwhelm** — If this creature would deal excess damage to a blocking creature, it deals that much damage to the defending player as well.

---

## 📜 Example Cards:

**Raging Herdbeast**  
2RG  
Creature — Beast  
Overwhelm (If this creature would deal excess damage to a blocking creature, it deals that much damage to the defending player as well.)  
Trample  
4/3

---

## 🔥 Discussion Questions:

- Is this mechanic too close to Trample?
- How could it be made more distinct?
- Would it be fun to play with?

---

Feel free to share your thoughts, design suggestions, or even your own cards using **Overwhelm**!
Thanks! 🎨

🎯 Step 3: Foster a Friendly and Active Discussion

You set the tone!
To keep your discussion lively:

• Reply to every comment you get

• Ask follow-up questions (“What if the mechanic triggered differently?”)

• Like and react to posts

• Thank people for ideas, even if you disagree

• Post updates as you tweak your designs

If your thread gets quiet, post a new card or idea to keep the conversation going!

📌 Step 4: Keep Things Organized (Optional)

For big projects (like custom sets or long series), consider:

• Indexing your designs in the first post

• Adding edit updates (e.g., “Update 4/24: Changed mechanic wording”)

• Linking to cards via MTG Cardsmith

• Numbering your custom cards for easy reference

Helps readers follow along easily!

🎨 Step 5: Invite Others to Participate

People love when they're included!

Encourage participants to:

• Share their own designs related to your topic

• Suggest changes or variants

• Build on your ideas (“What if Overwhelm worked with Instants too?”)

• Offer alternate versions

Collaboration makes discussions thrive!

💬 Sample Types of Successful Discussions

Here are some popular styles:

💡 Tips for a Great Custom Card Discussion

✅ Be welcoming to new posters
✅ Set a casual, low-pressure tone
✅ Keep first posts concise but engaging
✅ React and reply to every piece of feedback
✅ Have fun—even "bad" ideas can lead to great ones!

🧰 Bonus: Want a Discussion Starter Kit?

I can help you:

• Write an opening post

• Format example cards

• Brainstorm sample discussion questions

• Design a basic "roadmap" if it’s a big project (like a custom set)

Would you like me to help you put together a Custom Card Discussion Starter Kit for your next thread? 🎨✨
If so, just tell me your topic!

🏆 MTG Cardsmith Community Forums Tutorial

The Contests & Challenges category is one of the most creative and engaging parts of the MTG Cardsmith forums. It’s where cardsmiths go head-to-head, build new skills, show off wild designs, and earn glory (or sometimes prizes!).

Whether you're aiming to host something casual or competitive, this guide will help you launch and manage a successful thread from start to finish.

💡 What’s the Difference Between a Contest and a Challenge?

Both involve card design around a theme or goal, but they differ in tone and intensity:

🧠 Step 1: Decide Your Format

Ask yourself:

🎯 What’s the goal?

• To test design skill?

• To spotlight a theme or mechanic?

• To have fun?

📜 Will there be rules or restrictions?

• Color identity limits?

• Design a card type (e.g., sorcery only)?

• Use a specific mechanic?

🗓️ Will it have a deadline?

• One-off contest (ends in 1–2 weeks)?

• Ongoing challenge (no deadline)?

• A series (e.g., weekly design battles)?

🥇 Will you give prizes?

• Faves? Badges? Bragging rights?

• Optional, but a nice touch!

🧵 Step 2: Create the Forum Thread

Post in the Contests and Challenges section and click “New Discussion.”

🏷️ Suggested Title Format:

• [Contest] Create a Mythic Goblin!

• [Challenge] Mechanic Match-Up!

• [Design Series] Commander Cycle Project

Make it clear, punchy, and enticing.

📝 Suggested First Post Template:

# 🎨 [Contest] Design a Mythic Goblin

Welcome to my latest card design contest! This time, your challenge is simple but spicy:

---

## 🔥 The Prompt:

Design a **Mythic Rare Goblin card** that doesn’t follow the usual goblin tropes. Make it clever, majestic, or even tragic—just make it mythic!

---

## 📜 Rules:

- Up to 2 entries per person
- Use MTG Cardsmith to create and post your cards (image or link)
- Cards must be **new** (no reusing old designs)
- Goblin must be a creature type on the card
- Keep it PG and original

---

## 🏆 Prizes:

- 🥇 1st Place: 3 faves + feature in next contest
- 🥈 2nd Place: 2 faves
- 🥉 3rd Place: 1 fave
- 🍕 Funniest card gets an imaginary pizza

---

## 📅 Deadline:

**Entries close [Insert Date Here – usually 1–2 weeks out]**

---

Let the goblins begin! 🔥

🎯 Step 3: Engage With Participants

Keep your thread alive and active!

• Like entries and comment on them

• Answer any rule clarifications

• Drop updates (“3 days left!”)

• Post your own example cards to spark creativity

• Tag participants from past contests to rejoin the fun

🧾 Step 4: Judging and Results

When the deadline hits:

🏁 Step-by-Step:

1. Close entries clearly (“No more entries after this post”)

2. Review all cards carefully

3. Announce winners in a new post (and maybe in a new thread for high-profile events)

4. Deliver prizes (faves, badges, or shoutouts)

5. Thank everyone for participating!

✨ Sample Wrap-Up Post:

# 🏆 Mythic Goblin Contest – Results!

Thank you for all the amazing entries! Y’all really brought your A-game.

---

🥇 **1st Place** – @CardSmithKing – “Goblin Prophet of the End”  
Tragic, powerful, and still hilarious. Incredible work!

🥈 **2nd Place** – @ArtMage – “Crown-Stealer’s Coup”  
Great art, flavorful effect, and unique mythic design!

🥉 **3rd Place** – @GobGobGob – “Emperor Boomboom”  
Exactly as absurd as I hoped a mythic goblin would be.

🍕 **Funniest** – @WeirdSmith – “Sir Squeakums the Brave”  
A goblin disguised as a knight. Genius.

---

I’ll be faving cards shortly—thanks again! Next contest coming soon 👀

📌 Step 5: Keep It Going!

Want to build a series or recurring challenge?

• Name it consistently: Design Duel #1, #2, etc.

• Keep a regular schedule (weekly or monthly)

• Use the same judging format so people know what to expect

• Create a following by tagging past participants

💬 Examples of Great Contests & Challenges

Here are some popular formats:

• Battle-Style Contest – Cards face off in duels with bracket eliminations

• Mechanic Challenge – Design cards using a mechanic you invent or provide

• Color-Breaking Challenge – Cards that break the color pie in fun ways

• Flavor Text Only – Create a card based only on a given flavor text

• Mini Challenges – Short, daily/weekly challenges with quick turnarounds

💡 Tips for a Successful Thread

✅ Be clear and concise
✅ React and comment to boost engagement
✅ Use fun rewards or custom titles
✅ Include visuals or example cards
✅ Thank your participants—you might inspire their next favorite design!

🧰 Need Help?

Let me know your idea, and I’ll help you:

• Write the intro

• Set up prizes

• Organize judging

Or I can give you a Contest Starter Kit with graphics, examples, and code snippets for formatting!

Would you like help crafting a contest idea or want a custom layout for your next one? I’ve got your back!

This guide will show you how to craft and run a successful “Just for Fun” contest that brings joy and engagement to the community.

🧁 What Is a "Just for Fun" Contest?

A Just for Fun Contest is a low-stakes, creative Magic: the Gathering card design challenge that:

• Has simple, open-ended or quirky prompts

• Encourages creativity, humor, or casual experimentation

• May include light feedback or silly prizes (like internet glory or a “cookie”)

• Focuses on participation over competition

Perfect for first-time hosts or anyone looking to stir up some casual creativity!

🛠️ Step 1: Plan Your Contest

Keep it light, simple, and fun. Here’s what to decide:

🎨 Choose a Fun Theme

• “Design a card that would scare Nicol Bolas”

• “Create a legendary creature with a food in its name”

• “Design a planeswalker that’s terrible at their job”

• “A card that rhymes!”

Keep the prompt open enough to allow multiple creative takes.

🧃 Decide Entry Limits

• 1–3 entries per person is standard

• Cards can be new, old, or both

• Allow text-based cards or image-based cards (or both)

🏅 Prize or No Prize?

• Most JFF contests skip real prizes

• You can offer:

  • A “virtual cookie” 🍪

  • A spotlight post in your next thread

  • A card fave

  • A badge made in MS Paint (yes, really!)

🧵 Step 2: Create the Forum Thread

Head to the Contests and Challenges section of the forums and click “New Discussion.”

Suggested Title Format:

Just for Fun Contest – [Your Prompt Here]
Example: Just for Fun Contest – “Make a Card With a Cat Riding Something”

Suggested First Post Template:

# 🎉 Just for Fun Contest – “Design a Card That Speaks in Riddles!”

Welcome, cardsmiths! It’s time for a wacky and whimsical challenge.

---

## 🧩 The Prompt:

Create a Magic card (any type!) where the **card name, flavor text, or mechanics are written like a riddle**.

Be weird. Be clever. Be mysterious.

---

## 📜 Rules:

- Up to **2 entries per person**
- New or old cards are allowed
- Use MTG Cardsmith or just type out the design
- Keep it *PG* and forum-friendly, of course

---

## 🏅 Prizes?

Just the joy of riddles and:
- A shoutout for the **top 3 riddlers**
- A 🍪 for the best riddle flavor text
- And your card may get *faved* by me!

---

## 🗓️ Deadline:

Let’s say **[Insert Date Here – usually 1 to 2 weeks from post date]**

---

Drop your entries below! I’ll comment and react to as many as I can.
Have fun and let the riddles begin!

🤹 Step 3: Keep It Fun and Active

Throughout the contest:

• React to entries (❤️, 🔥, etc.)

• Drop encouraging or funny comments

• Highlight especially wild or clever submissions

• Post reminder updates (“3 days left!” or “Loving the entries so far!”)

It doesn’t have to be formal—think of yourself as a party host, not a judge.

🎭 Step 4: Wrap-Up and Celebrate

When the deadline passes:

🏆 Announce the Wrap-Up:

• Call out a few favorites (top 3, top 5, or just “notable mentions”)

• Make fun awards if you want (“Most Ridiculous Art Choice,” “Funniest Flavor Text,” etc.)

• Thank everyone for joining

• Drop some faves if you promised them

Sample Wrap-Up Post:

# 🎉 Contest Wrap-Up – Riddle Me This!

Thank you all for an amazing contest! The entries were mysterious, hilarious, and super clever. I was seriously impressed.

---

## 🥇 Favorite Riddlers:
- **@CardSmithX** – “Oracle of the Unknown Known” – Your flavor text *still* confuses me
- **@SmithQueen** – “The Door With No Lock” – Loved the mechanic!
- **@SillyMage** – “Goblin of Unanswerable Questions” – I laughed out loud

🍪 **Special Cookie Award**: @DizzyDesigns for the weirdest but most poetic card ever

Thanks for playing! I’ll fave the top cards shortly!

Should I do another one next week? 😄

🌱 Tips for Growing a Fun Contest

✅ Keep the tone casual and inviting
✅ Respond to comments to keep it active
✅ Make your prompt unique, but not too niche
✅ Don’t worry if only a few people enter—build over time!
✅ Run more than one if you had fun!

🌟 Need Ideas?

Here are some Just for Fun prompt examples:

• “Design a card inspired by a meme”

• “Create a card with the word ‘banana’ in it”

• “Planeswalker’s Day Off – make a casual planeswalker”

• “Design a card that’s allergic to blue mana”

• “A spell your grandma would cast”

🎨 Ready to Post Yours?

If you want, I can help you:

• Brainstorm a prompt

• Write your thread intro

• Come up with silly rewards or themes

Let me know your theme, and I’ll make a ready-to-post contest starter for you!

Forum-based RPGs are some of the most fun and collaborative experiences on MTG Cardsmith. They blend roleplaying, card design, worldbuilding, and storytelling into an ongoing interactive adventure. This guide will walk you through everything you need to launch and maintain a thriving RPG discussion thread on the forums.

🎭 What Is an RPG Discussion?

A Roleplaying Game (RPG) Discussion is a collaborative storytelling thread where players:

• Create characters (often using cards)

• Roleplay their actions through posts

• Interact with a game master (you!) and each other

• Influence a shared narrative world

• Often include challenges, missions, or events

It’s like Dungeons & Dragons meets Magic: the Gathering card design.

🧱 Step 1: Plan Your RPG

Before launching, consider these essential elements:

🔮 RPG Type:

• Freeform Narrative: Story-driven, more collaborative, loose structure

• Structured Campaign: You act as a game master with rules, turns, and events

• Hybrid: Some structure, but allows player freedom

✏️ Prepare:

• A setting and premise (plane, world, or dimension)

• How characters will be created (usually via custom MTG cards)

• Your rules for participation (how turns work, power levels, etc.)

• The first scenario or event to kick things off

🧵 Step 2: Create the Forum Thread

Go to the MTG Cardsmith Forums and:

1. Visit the “Saga” category

2. Click “New Discussion”

3. Title it something fun, specific, and RPG-relevant
   Example: [RPG] Rise of the Etherborn – A Custom Card Roleplay Adventure

Suggested First Post Layout:

# 🌌 Rise of the Etherborn – A Magic RPG Adventure

Welcome to the Plane of Virelia, where the mysterious Etherborn have returned from extinction—and they're not alone. A cosmic storm approaches, and factions old and new rise to seize power.

---

## 🎮 How to Join

1. **Create a character card**. Your character is a legendary creature!
2. Post the card image and a short backstory.
3. Include your character's goal or motivation.

---

## 📜 Rules of the Game

- Keep posts **in character**.
- Limit card power levels to **uncommon or rare strength**.
- You may design **spells, items, or allies** later on.
- I’ll act as the **Game Master (GM)** to guide events and world developments.

---

## 🌍 Setting

Virelia is a plane caught between dimensions. Magic is unstable, and reality fractures at the edges...

---

## 🔥 First Prompt:  
*A strange aurora fills the sky as whispers echo through the forest of glass. Your character is drawn to the center of the disturbance...*

---

## 💬 Let the Roleplay Begin!

Post your character below, and write your introduction post reacting to the first event!

🛠️ Step 3: Act as Game Master (GM)

As GM, you're both narrator and referee. You should:

• Set scene descriptions to move the story forward

• Introduce plot twists, villains, or magical anomalies

• Respond to player actions (e.g., “As you step into the cave, a rift opens…”)

• Keep the pacing going (2–3 updates per week is a good baseline)

Sample GM Update:

## 🌩️ GM Update: Stormfront

As the adventurers gather at the temple ruins, the storm darkens. From the shattered portal, a beast of light and shadow emerges!

---

🧝 @Elven_Smith: Your character’s warning spell fizzles—magic is unstable near the portal!
🗡️ @KnightCrafter: Your sword hums as you approach—what do you do?

👥 Step 4: Encourage Participation

• Welcome new players warmly

• Highlight great character moments

• Allow players to design new cards for spells, items, or events

• Invite them to co-author events or side quests

• Make polls or mini-votes for story direction

Tip:

If players go inactive, you can:

• Gently nudge them via DM

• Continue the story with their character fading out or being sidelined

• Reopen the game to new players

🗺️ Step 5: Track Progress

If your RPG grows, consider:

• Editing your first post with a player roster

• Adding a world map or faction guide

• Creating a “recap post” every few pages

• Posting card galleries for player characters and major NPCs

Optional Thread Add-ons:

• Companion thread for character submissions

• Google Doc or Notion page for lore archive

• RPG wiki (if the world is expansive)

🏆 Tips for Success

✅ Be consistent – Regular updates keep it alive
✅ Don’t over-control – Let players shape the story
✅ Be flexible – Improvise based on character actions
✅ Reward creativity – Call out cool plays or clever writing
✅ Use your strengths – Combine story, card design, and flavor text!

🎉 You’re Ready to Launch!

A well-run RPG discussion is one of the most magical experiences on the MTG Cardsmith Forums. You’re not just telling a story—you’re helping others become a part of it. Be patient, be consistent, and have fun exploring your world together!

✨ What Is a Custom Set Discussion?

A Custom Set on MTG Cardsmith refers to a recurring or ongoing narrative project that often includes:

• A custom MTG set or block

• A worldbuilding thread tied to mechanics, characters, and flavor

• Serialized chapters or releases of lore

• Community participation in designing cards, characters, or plotlines

Custom Set discussions are more than just a set – they tell a story.

🧱 Step 1: Planning Your Discussion

Before posting, consider the following:

• What is your central theme? (e.g., Cyberpunk Revolution, Mythic Atlantis, Post-Apocalyptic Eldraine)

• Will you post episodic updates or one big dump?

• Will you allow community interaction? (Collaborative sets? Design challenges?)

Prepare:

• A basic lore introduction

• A few example cards (include images or direct card links)

• Mechanics (describe them clearly)

• Any worldbuilding resources (map, pantheon, key characters)

🧵 Step 2: Creating the Forum Thread

Navigate to the Cardsmith Forums and:

1. Go to the “Custom Sets & Cards” category

2. Click “New Discussion”

3. Title it something catchy but informative.
   Example: The Shattered Realms – A Dimensional War Custom Set

First Post Layout Template:

## 🌌 Welcome to *The Shattered Realms*

In a world where dimensions collide, ancient beings battle for control over reality itself.

---

### 🔥 Set Mechanics

- **Riftwalk** – Whenever this creature phases in, it gains [effect].
- **Dimensionbond** – As long as you control two or more legendary permanents, [bonus effect].

---

### 🃏 Sample Cards

![Sample Card 1](card link or image)
![Sample Card 2](card link or image)

---

### 🗺️ Worldbuilding

The Shattered Realms is a broken multiverse made up of splinters of various planes...

---

### 💬 How You Can Participate

Want to design a riftwalker? Have ideas for a shattered plane? Comment below with your cards, flavor text, or suggestions!

🗓️ Step 3: Keep It Alive – Posting Episodic Updates

Consistency keeps discussions alive. Suggestions:

• Post weekly updates with 3-5 new cards and lore blurbs

• Use headings, bold text, and dividers to organize posts

• Reply to everyone who comments – engagement breeds longevity

Update Template Example:

## ✨ Update 3: The Rise of the Crystal Tyrant

The forgotten city of Vel'Mar awakens beneath the sands.

### Featured Cards

- **Vel’Mar Ascendant** – Legendary Creature
- **Buried Knowledge** – Enchantment Saga
- **Crystal Tyrant’s Will** – Sorcery

---

### Lore Drop: Vel'Mar

Hidden for millennia, Vel'Mar's rulers now seek to reshape the fractured realms...

---

🔮 Want to help expand Vel’Mar’s culture or design their war machines? Drop your ideas below!

👥 Step 4: Engage the Community

• Ask questions: “Which of these mechanics feels most fun?”

• Run polls

• Start mini-challenges within your thread (e.g., “Design a creature for the Flame Sea”)

• Invite collaboration (“Looking for co-creators!”)

Pro Tips:

• Tag active users or invite them via PM

• React to comments with likes or emotes

• Occasionally summarize what’s been contributed so far

🧹 Step 5: Organize and Archive

If your discussion becomes long-running, consider:

• Creating a table of contents post at the top (edit your first post to add this)

• Linking to important lore posts or user submissions

• Starting a spin-off thread for contests or card design games

🏆 Bonus Tips for Success

✅ Use visuals – Card images, art, and formatting make posts engaging
✅ Be consistent – Weekly or bi-weekly updates are ideal
✅ Stay open – Be welcoming to all skill levels
✅ Celebrate contributions – Shout-out fans and featured cards
✅ Adapt – Let the discussion evolve with community ideas

🌟 You’re Ready to Launch!

Creating a custom set thread is a powerful way to share your creativity and connect with the MTG Cardsmith community. Whether you're crafting a mythic epic or a weird modern story, your custom set deserves to be seen. Now go make some magic!

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1. Create a cardless deck. (https://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/add/)
2. Save the card image from MTGCS (the image of good size is located at: mtgcardsmith.com/view/[card name])
3. Create your cards (at https://tappedout.net/custom-cards/add/) and follow the steps below to do so:
4. 
5. Enter card name.
6. Uncheck the box that says "Add a frame to the card."
7. Enter card type.
8. Choose your image file (this is the image of your full card that you saved)
9. Leave everything else blank, scroll down, and click save. Then...
10. On the new page, click "Add to Deck"  Select your deck and quantity and click "Add to Deck."
11. Then hit Close and start at step 2 again for your next card. 

Part 1 - What is balance?

 Keep the Non-Evergreen Mechanics minimal

Use Non-Defunct and Engaging Mechanics

Make your custom Keywords interesting and Archetype Supportive

Make your Commons feel like Commons 

Use a Skeleton, and other Principles

Keep your Archetypes limited

Make your Common Cards support Multiple Archetypes