How to Create and Operate a Successful Contests & Challenges Thread

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🏆 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:

Contests Challenges
Competitive Often more collaborative or creative
Winners selected May have no winner
Prizes or faves sometimes offered Often no prizes
Defined rules and deadlines May be ongoing or open-ended

🧠 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!

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