You're just as worthy of everyone's time as anything or anyone else is. The fact that you were so open and willing to ask for something from us to brighten your day, we want to honour that and give you what we can to make you feel appreciated and to hopefully shine a light into your life. There's no such thing as putting too much time into supporting another human being. We want you to know that even though other parts of life might suck, we're here to support each other as a community, so we're here for you when you need us.
Dammit! You guys have made me cry multiple times! I appreciate it, but you’re all being too kind. It’s really nice to check recent discussions and find another comment to cheer me up, but this isn’t what Cardsmith League is for. Let @jpastor decide if this is okay.
@jpastor ; Seriously? This is literally the second huge discussion you've decided to end, the other being mystery boxes. And you've been hopping from mystery challenge discussion to mystery challenge discussion ever since. Just saying. (If I misunderstood, please correct me.)
@Bravado this league has been discontinued because there's no one to judge it. However, you should take advantage of the other smaller contests that are going on in the forums.
This discussion should be closed to avoid further confusion.
I will look at returning this to action. It will need a new judging system, which may require a tweak of the format. I'm still game. I still have everyone's ratings and stuff. So, we could pick back up where we left off.
Alright. I'm going to try out a rather unusual judging system. We'll start with Season 12 - a half season *4 weeks* then Single Elimination Playoffs. We should wrap up by the New Year.
I'm also hoping to spark some moderate interactivity going forward. So, there may be test-runs of "match" prizes for when you win a match.
And for anyone that cares, Mystery Boxes will return one day.
Cardsmith League 2.0 – Low Maintenance, High Creativity
Welcome to Cardsmith League 2.0! A league designed to function in the background of your card-making journey, allowing participants to compete without requiring constant weekly submissions. Create at your own pace and let your cards shine!
How It Works
Cardsmith League 2.0 spans three months per season and evaluates participants on their overall card-making activity during the season. No need to create cards specifically for the league – it works with what you’re already making!
Key Features
Submission-Free Participation
All participants are automatically evaluated based on the cards they create during the season (or from their existing collection).
Judging teams will review your newly published cards at designated intervals (e.g., biweekly or monthly).
Divisions
Players are divided into five skill tiers: S (Elite), A, B, C, D (Entry-Level).
At the end of the season, your performance determines if you’re promoted, relegated, or remain in your division.
Competitive Ratings
Each participant starts with a base rating based on their division.
Wins, losses, and special recognitions during the season adjust your rating.
Ratings are calculated based on how your cards perform in head-to-head matchups (explained below).
Matchups
You’ll receive a match schedule at the start of the season.
Matches occur biweekly or monthly (flexible).
In each match, judges compare your recent cards to those of your opponent in a best-of-5 format.
Passive Participation
You can create as many or as few cards as you like during the season.
Judges will use the 5 most relevant cards created during the season for your matches.
Judging Process
Cardsmith League 2.0 introduces a streamlined judging system:
Biweekly or Monthly Judging: Judges compare your cards to your opponent’s.
Scoring Criteria:
Creativity: How original is the design?
Balance: Is the card fair and playable?
Flavor: Does it tell a compelling story?
Execution: How well is the card formatted and presented?
At the season’s end, the top players in each division are promoted, and the bottom players are relegated.
Prizes and Recognition
Division Champions: Top players in each division receive:
A digital badge for their profile.
A feature in the League Hall of Fame.
Creative Spotlight Awards: Judges select the most outstanding cards of the season across all participants.
Community Vote: All participants vote for the "Fan Favorite Card" of the season.
How to Join
Reply with “I’M IN!” to enroll.
Select your preferred starting division or let us place you based on your current cards.
Once you’re in, you’re automatically included in future seasons unless you opt out.
🎉 Get Ready! The first Cardsmith League 2.0 season starts January 2025! No stress, no deadlines – just create cards, and let the league take care of the rest.
The schedule for Cardsmith League 2.0 is designed to be low-maintenance, allowing matches to take place in the background while keeping the competition structured and fair. Here's what the schedule format could look like:
League Schedule Format
Season Length
Duration: 3 months (e.g., Fall: Oct 1 – Dec 31).
Match Frequency: Biweekly or Monthly (depending on division size).
Divisional Round Robin Structure
Each division follows a round-robin format, where every participant faces off against others in their division during the season.
Example Schedule for a 6-Player Division (Biweekly Matches)
Week
Matchups
1–2
Player A vs. Player B Player C vs. Player D Player E vs. Bye
3–4
Player A vs. Player C Player B vs. Player E Player D vs. Bye
5–6
Player A vs. Player D Player B vs. Player E Player C vs. Bye
7–8
Player A vs. Player E Player B vs. Player D Player C vs. Bye
9–10
Player A vs. Bye Player B vs. Player C Player D vs. Player E
Key Details
Matches Per Player: Each player competes in 1–2 matches per month, depending on the number of participants in the division.
Matches and Judging: Matches are evaluated after every two-week period (or monthly for larger divisions).
Rest Weeks: Divisions with an odd number of players include Bye weeks where players rest.
Mid-Season Checkpoint: After 6 weeks, rankings are announced based on performance so far.
End-of-Season Matches: Final matches are evaluated to determine divisional champions and standings.
Larger Divisions (8–10 Players)
For divisions with more participants, matches will occur monthly, with multiple matches judged per session. Example:
Month 1: 2 matches per player.
Month 2: 2 matches per player.
Month 3: Final 1–2 matches per player.
Match Assignments
At the beginning of each season, participants receive a personalized schedule:
Example for Player A (6-Player Division):
Week 1–2: vs. Player B
Week 3–4: vs. Player C
Week 5–6: vs. Player D
Week 7–8: vs. Player E
Week 9–10: Bye
Judging Cycle
Judges assess all matches simultaneously at the end of each judging cycle. For example:
Biweekly Division: Matches for Weeks 1–2 are judged together.
Monthly Division: Matches for Month 1 are judged together.
Flexibility Built In
If a player doesn’t create enough new cards during a judging period, their previous cards will still be eligible for review. Judges prioritize recent cards but will look at the overall pool if needed.
This schedule ensures a smooth, hands-off experience for participants while keeping the league competitive and exciting!
As the judge of Cardsmith League 2.0, I would follow a fair, consistent process to select cards for each match while ensuring the judging criteria emphasize creativity, balance, flavor, and execution. Here’s the system I’d use for choosing cards:
How I’d Choose Cards for Each Match
Recent Creations Are Prioritized
I’ll look at the cards each participant has published during the current season (e.g., the last 1–3 months).
For each match, I’d pull 5 cards from the participant's most recent creations.
If there are fewer than 5 new cards, I’ll use older cards from their profile to fill the gap.
Relevant Themes and Variety
I’ll select cards that represent a good mix of card types (e.g., creatures, spells, artifacts) and styles to showcase the participant's versatility.
If both participants have cards with overlapping themes (e.g., tribal, mechanics), I’ll aim to compare similar styles for a fair matchup.
Avoiding Repetition
Once a card has been used in a match, it won’t be reused for the rest of the season.
This ensures participants’ creativity throughout the season gets rewarded.
Transparency
Before judging begins, I’d notify participants of which cards are being used for their matchups. This keeps the process fair and eliminates surprises.
Example Selection Process
Player A’s Pool:
Recent cards:
"Burning Phoenix" (Creature – Red)
"Arcane Nexus" (Enchantment – Blue)
"Echoing Blade" (Artifact – Equipment)
"Nature’s Fury" (Instant – Green)
"Spectral Tyrant" (Creature – Black)
Player B’s Pool:
Recent cards:
"Luminous Angel" (Creature – White)
"Mana Surge" (Instant – Blue)
"Infernal Spire" (Artifact – Black/Red)
"Eldritch Vision" (Enchantment – Green/Blue)
"Blazing Warhound" (Creature – Red)
Matchup:
Round 1: "Burning Phoenix" vs. "Blazing Warhound" (Similar creature types).
Round 2: "Arcane Nexus" vs. "Mana Surge" (Blue focus).
Round 3: "Echoing Blade" vs. "Infernal Spire" (Artifacts).
Round 4: "Nature’s Fury" vs. "Eldritch Vision" (Green theme).
Round 5: "Spectral Tyrant" vs. "Luminous Angel" (Legendary showdown).
Judging Criteria
Each round is judged based on the following:
Creativity
Does the card stand out with a unique design or concept?
Balance
Is the card fair and playable in a game of Magic?
Flavor
Does the card tell a compelling story or fit its theme well?
Execution
Is the card’s wording clear, accurate, and well-formatted?
Scoring:
For each round, the winner earns 1 point.
First to 3 points wins the match.
What Happens After Judging?
Results for each match are added to the standings.
Participants can see which cards were used in their match and request feedback for improvement if desired.
This system ensures that every participant’s creativity is fully appreciated, even if they’re not constantly creating new cards. It’s designed to be transparent, fair, and engaging!
If you would like to be a judge for a division other than your own, or a member of the judging team who helps select the best pool of cards for given matches, I welcome any help I can get. Please DM me!
I'm in. You can assign my division. Can I suggest that only active cardsmiths and cardsmiths with enough total cards in their collection to allow for the maximum possible number needed (assuming every match of theirs for the whole season goes to the fifth pairing) qualify for the top or top two divisions? E.g., Only active cardsmiths in Division A (5+ new cards since the last season), only active cardsmiths with 5x total cards, where x is the number of matches they'll have this season, in Division S.
Absolutely! Introducing criteria for eligibility in the top divisions ensures that only the most active and prolific Cardsmiths compete at the highest level, maintaining a high standard of competition. Here's how this could be implemented:
Summary of Requirements
Updated Activity Requirements and Checks
Joining / Re-Joining the League
Eligibility: 5+ new cards in the last three months.
Division S & A Eligibility: Collection must have 5 × number of matches in total cards.
Mid-Season Check (1.5 Months)
Players must have created 5 new cards by the midpoint of the season (halfway through the 3-month duration).
If not met:
They are removed from the season.
Matches scheduled after removal are forfeited to their opponents.
End-of-Season Check
Players must have created at least 10 new cards by the end of the 3-month season.
If not met:
They are ineligible to return for the next season.
However, they may return in later seasons if they meet future joining the league requirements.
Example Eligibility Check
Player Profiles Before a New Season
Player A:
Created 10 new cards since last season.
Total card pool: 40 cards.
Matches in Division S: 7.
Eligible for Division S: Yes.
Player B:
Created 3 new cards since last season.
Total card pool: 50 cards.
Matches in Division S: 7.
Eligible for Division S: No (fails activity requirement).
Player C:
Created 8 new cards since last season.
Total card pool: 20 cards.
Matches in Division A: 5.
Eligible for Division A: No (fails (fails pool requirement, needs at least 25 cards
Joining or Rejoining the League Check:
Player A: Created 4 cards in last three months → Not eligible.
Player B: Created 5 cards in last three months → Eligible.
Mid-Season Check (1.5 months into the season):
Player B: Created 4 new cards this season → Removed.
Player C: Created 6 new cards this season → Remains active.
End-of-Season Check (at the end of 3 months):
Player C: Created 8 total cards this season → Ineligible for next season.
Player D: Created 10 total cards this season → Eligible for next season.
MTG Cardsmith Community Forums
Comments
However - I have a replacement for it soon, and also, we as a community will have a new major contest thread starting soon for features and more!
Seriously? This is literally the second huge discussion you've decided to end, the other being mystery boxes. And you've been hopping from mystery challenge discussion to mystery challenge discussion ever since. Just saying. (If I misunderstood, please correct me.)
This discussion should be closed to avoid further confusion.
I'll begin exploring. Don't close this.
I'm also hoping to spark some moderate interactivity going forward. So, there may be test-runs of "match" prizes for when you win a match.
And for anyone that cares, Mystery Boxes will return one day.
Cardsmith League 2.0 will begin January 2025. All changes will be posted for reference soon. A mock run will fill the time between now and January.
Cardsmith League 2.0 – Low Maintenance, High Creativity
Welcome to Cardsmith League 2.0!
A league designed to function in the background of your card-making journey, allowing participants to compete without requiring constant weekly submissions. Create at your own pace and let your cards shine!
How It Works
Cardsmith League 2.0 spans three months per season and evaluates participants on their overall card-making activity during the season. No need to create cards specifically for the league – it works with what you’re already making!
Key Features
Submission-Free Participation
Divisions
S (Elite), A, B, C, D (Entry-Level).
Competitive Ratings
Matchups
Passive Participation
Judging Process
Cardsmith League 2.0 introduces a streamlined judging system:
Season Structure
Each season lasts three months and features:
Two phases of judging:
Promotions/Relegations:
Prizes and Recognition
Division Champions: Top players in each division receive:
Creative Spotlight Awards: Judges select the most outstanding cards of the season across all participants.
Community Vote: All participants vote for the "Fan Favorite Card" of the season.
How to Join
🎉 Get Ready!
The first Cardsmith League 2.0 season starts January 2025!
No stress, no deadlines – just create cards, and let the league take care of the rest.
The schedule for Cardsmith League 2.0 is designed to be low-maintenance, allowing matches to take place in the background while keeping the competition structured and fair. Here's what the schedule format could look like:
League Schedule Format
Season Length
Divisional Round Robin Structure
Each division follows a round-robin format, where every participant faces off against others in their division during the season.
Example Schedule for a 6-Player Division (Biweekly Matches)
Player C vs. Player D
Player E vs. Bye
Player B vs. Player E
Player D vs. Bye
Player B vs. Player E
Player C vs. Bye
Player B vs. Player D
Player C vs. Bye
Player B vs. Player C
Player D vs. Player E
Key Details
Matches Per Player:
Each player competes in 1–2 matches per month, depending on the number of participants in the division.
Matches and Judging:
Matches are evaluated after every two-week period (or monthly for larger divisions).
Rest Weeks:
Divisions with an odd number of players include Bye weeks where players rest.
Mid-Season Checkpoint:
After 6 weeks, rankings are announced based on performance so far.
End-of-Season Matches:
Final matches are evaluated to determine divisional champions and standings.
Larger Divisions (8–10 Players)
For divisions with more participants, matches will occur monthly, with multiple matches judged per session. Example:
Match Assignments
At the beginning of each season, participants receive a personalized schedule:
Example for Player A (6-Player Division):
Judging Cycle
Judges assess all matches simultaneously at the end of each judging cycle. For example:
Flexibility Built In
If a player doesn’t create enough new cards during a judging period, their previous cards will still be eligible for review. Judges prioritize recent cards but will look at the overall pool if needed.
This schedule ensures a smooth, hands-off experience for participants while keeping the league competitive and exciting!
As the judge of Cardsmith League 2.0, I would follow a fair, consistent process to select cards for each match while ensuring the judging criteria emphasize creativity, balance, flavor, and execution. Here’s the system I’d use for choosing cards:
How I’d Choose Cards for Each Match
Recent Creations Are Prioritized
Relevant Themes and Variety
Avoiding Repetition
Transparency
Example Selection Process
Player A’s Pool:
Player B’s Pool:
Matchup:
Judging Criteria
Each round is judged based on the following:
Creativity
Balance
Flavor
Execution
Scoring:
What Happens After Judging?
This system ensures that every participant’s creativity is fully appreciated, even if they’re not constantly creating new cards. It’s designed to be transparent, fair, and engaging!
Can I suggest that only active cardsmiths and cardsmiths with enough total cards in their collection to allow for the maximum possible number needed (assuming every match of theirs for the whole season goes to the fifth pairing) qualify for the top or top two divisions? E.g., Only active cardsmiths in Division A (5+ new cards since the last season), only active cardsmiths with 5x total cards, where x is the number of matches they'll have this season, in Division S.
Absolutely! Introducing criteria for eligibility in the top divisions ensures that only the most active and prolific Cardsmiths compete at the highest level, maintaining a high standard of competition. Here's how this could be implemented:
Summary of Requirements
Updated Activity Requirements and Checks
Joining / Re-Joining the League
Mid-Season Check (1.5 Months)
End-of-Season Check
Example Eligibility Check
Player Profiles Before a New Season
Player A:
Player B:
Player C:
Joining or Rejoining the League Check:
Mid-Season Check (1.5 months into the season):
End-of-Season Check (at the end of 3 months):