New Card Style Guide

[Lioge]

Name (in boldface)
Rarity
Cost - Numeral then capitalized trade specific threshold where O = Obsession, G = Greed, E = Elitism, D = Deception, and R = Rage.
Flavor Text Line 1 - italics
Str/Life/Spd or Structure
Trade and Type/Subtype as necessary
{empty line}
COST (this word capitalized) - Conditions for play (as necessary) and additional cost here.
Rules text - relevant rules text
{empty line}
Ability Name (boldface)
COST (capitalized word COST) - Conditions for play (as necessary) and ability cost here.
EFFECT (capitalized word EFFECT) - relevant effect here.
{empty line}
Option 1 (boldface) - relevant effect here.
Option 2 (boldface) - relevant effect here.
Option 3 (boldface) - relevant effect here.
{empty line}
Flip Up (boldface) - Numeral then capitalized trade specific threshold
{empty line}
Flavor Text Line 2 - italics


Josh, can we use this or do you have a card writing style guide we should use in this place for each specific card type? Also, can we make this sticky if you approve?

[joshlytle]

I think this is a great idea, but it can be modified a bit. The way the cards look on the spoiler is how I type them into the database. It's also the special formatting that all of my card-creation tools use. While I will always convert card text to the proper format when I use it in the database, if people want to adopt the same techniques that'd be great.

[HappyNewyear]

Cost - Numeral then capitalized trade specific threshold where O = Obsession, G = Greed, E = Elitism, D = Deception, and R = Rage.


This always got me. I agree there should be a unified means of dictating threshold costs, but I always wondered why it was based on the resource as opposed to the faction (especially with the double-resources being faction-resources). It's just nitpicking, really, but I wouldn't mind seeing the icons displayed as Arcanist, Banker, Gearsmith, Rogue, and Warlord (as long as we know what G's and R's were talking about)

[Lioge]

Josh, can you post an example of each type of card written in your spoiler format?

Faction, Character, Item, Tactic, and Location, preferrably a few different so we can see the cards like tactics with Options, Flip Up, Recur, Abilities, etc....

HappyNewYear, while I understand your point, as it stands now we can decipher what threshold is by the type of card (i.e. Banker Tactic threshold G is greed, not gearsmith). This will only last as long as the cards don't have multiple threshold requirements from different trades. Let's see what Josh posts for the threshold suggestions via spoilers for cards, then we'll go with his convention.

[kallisti]

Thresh icon smilies would be nice.

[dolseni]

I actually would not like the use of smilies. They are horrible when copy/pasting and stuff.

[kallisti]

I actually would not like the use of smilies. They are horrible when copy/pasting and stuff.

If you use the following HTML code:

2<img src='http://www.thespoils.com/spoils/spoilers/icons/obsession.jpg' alt='[O]'>

It will copy as "2[O]", at least in Firefox.

[dolseni]

So then if there's already a set abbreviation (the alt text), whats the point of using smilies for it? it would only confuse people if you didn't use the smilie and some might use different abbreviations than others.

[joshlytle]

Brainbath
Common
1 OO
Tactic

Draw 2 cards. Put a card from your hand on the bottom of your deck.

RECUR: [O][O]
COST: Use this only if this card is in your discard pile. Pay 4. Remove this card from the game.
EFFECT: Your opponent discards a card. Draw a card.

[joshlytle]

Eldridge Gosche
Rare
8 OO
Character - ritualist
4/5/3

UNIQUE Eldridge

At the start of your turn, you may pick 2 or fewer non-resource cards you control. If you do, put up to 2 tokens divided however you want on those cards.

EJECT
COST: Remove 3 tokens from this card. Pick a non-resource card.
EFFECT: Put the card into its owner's hand.

DISRUPT
COST: Remove 3 tokens from this card.
EFFECT: Look at your opponent's hand and choose a card in it. Your opponent discards that card.

[joshlytle]

Forbidden Knowledge
Rare
2 OO
Tactic

You may look at your opponent's hand, the top card of their deck, and their face-down resources. Draw a card.

FLIP UP: 0 [O][O]

[joshlytle]

Righteous Exemplar
Uncommon
1 R
Character - soldier
1/1/3

[R][R][R][R][R]: This card gains 1 strength and 1 life.

[joshlytle]

All the examples you could want are available here, in the all set spoiler. (http://www.thespoils.com/spoils/spoilers/AllSetsSpoiler.html)

The basic idea is to break up effects into separate paragraphs. These would be the areas separated by lines in the final text box. You use [] to encapsulate icons you want to show in the text. You capitalize most special words you are using.

It's okay if you don't get it exactly write, but this is a good format to follow.

[kallisti]

You edit fix the original original post, as it differs from the official template (it has str/life/speed line above type/subtype line, for example).

[Qamar]

I don't understand reason for differentiating threshold icons in card's threshold and in ability's threshold. Anyway I think that I would prefer them to be boldfaced in order to be more distinguishable. On the other hand I opt for differentiate threshold icons and resource icons. They are different things and serve different purposes. I would also sugest to place resoudce icons under typeline. Like it is in text spoiler it look like resoulces would have threshold.

Examples:

Forbidden Knowledge
Rare
2 OO
Arcanist Tactic

You may look at your opponent's hand, the top card of their deck, and their face-down resources. Draw a card.

Flip Up: 0 OO


Righteous Exemplar
Uncommon
1 R
1/1/3
Warlord Character - soldier

RRRRR: This card gains 1 strength and 1 life.


Neurosis
Rare
Arcanist Resource

[O][O]

When this card enters play, your faction loses 1 influence.

...or after looking at it I think that resource icons shold be at the end of rule text to not be confused with threshold of the ability:

Neurosis
Rare
Arcanist Resource

When this card enters play, your faction loses 1 influence.

[O][O]