Putting Good Design in Your TCG | TCG R&D

[@Gaswafers]

A concept I have been thinking about lately is a sort-of "pure card game" where the only choice made by players is "which card to play". No activating special abilities. No choosing modes or targets. Each player just spends their turn putting down a card, then carrying out whatever effect it produces. The theory being, this would ensure that a larger portion of the "game" is contained within the cards themselves.

[@tratanlightbreaker6029]

I would suggest checking out Wizard101. It's a MMO RPG with battle system revolving around simple card game which kidna fits your description. At the start of each turn player draws until they have 7 cards in their hand, then they may choose to discard any they don't want and the turn ends once a player plays a card. Cards technically allow you to "choose" the target but that's because PvE usually is 1v2 combat, so streamlined to 1v1 it could be removed completely. Just heads up, it's a subscription game, unfortuneatly.

[@raysandrarexxia941]

I'm still trying to design an ECG, these videos are still useful!

[@ShardTCG]

Keep pushing, my friend!

[@AlexDayz]

Having a good theme for a set is definitely something I’ve nailed down. For my base set it’s Monsters across time and space battle for the World of Monsters. And I’ve already got some ideas for expansions: New Monsters arrive and must battle for the land, Regular and Legendary Dragons rise to power, a look back at the origins of the Monster World, etc.

[@rmt3589]

12:54 Depends in how you use the meme. If the meme is already dead, but that's the point, then it's fine.

[@unleashedtcg]

Oo epic looking video. Gonna watch it when I have time. The haircut looking fresh btw!

[@AfroGeek]

Going to sit down properly and give this a good watch tonight! Keep killing it my brother 🫶🔥

[@ShardTCG]

Thanks so much. I'm back to Alton Towers next weekend. I'll be thinking of you and the rest of the HTCG crew while I'm there 🫶

[@AfroGeek]

@@ShardTCG what do you mean I’m still there bro, waiting for yah hahaha

[@Shiakuzo]

Brilliant! I'm loving your videos. I'm creating a tcg for 5 or 6 years now, and I've been on the process on and off, but with your videos I found a new wave of creativity to get it done. Thank you! Excellent work!

[@natanmaia3575]

Going over practical examples helps a lot ❤

[@Yillnik]

Im currently working on an tcg where the units level up whenever you play spells, the further level they are the better their ability gets, so you got the feeling of the unit learns from you playing spells and improve their ability. What do you think of this concept and would you see an obvious problem with that system? I would gladly hear your opinion on this. Your videos help me out a ton, love them :)

[@kagemushashien8394]

I'm getting RPG vibes, go head on, and create your own world originally, then it might fly if done right, think holistically, write everything down so you have a clear analysis, and create something new.

[@ShardTCG]

I love the feeling of starting with something basic and moulding it into a killing machine. I think this idea can deliver that. The digimon TCG plays with inherited moves. So the more you digivolve, the more abilities you gain. I know yours will be a bit different, but I would suggest you have a look at that game to see what works for your game and what doesn't.

[@rlwarner777]

Very useful. What would you suggest if I end up with rules baggage? I mean like how Magic had the keyword "regenerate" and every card mentions a destroy effect gets the added text that the destroyed creature can't be regenerated.

[@ShardTCG]

Ouch, that's a messy one to deal with. It is sometimes hard to pre-emt these things. This isn't a clever response, but I suggest good old-fashioned errata text. Change how regeneration works so that it is more selective with how it can regenerate from being destroyed in specific ways.

[@jtspgs1986]

Good video, these are going to help with my game, so big question...how do you decided between self publishing (like on gamecrafter) or trying to get a publisher? and can you sell your game on amazon while having gamecrafter fulfill the orders?

[@ShardTCG]

I haven't looked into selling on amazon. The gamecrafter can be slow to fulfil a print order, so I would suggest you bulk buy an order and then pay for amazon to store the cards for the quickest distribution, perhaps. When people order from the gamecrafter, there is an expectation that these will take time to arrive as they are printed on demand. With amazon linked through the gamecrafter, you run into the expectation of ordering something and having it in a day or two. That longer wait will harm your brand, as it will feel unorganised and inconvenient to an amazon customer. I hope this helps.

[@jtspgs1986]

@ShardTCG it does, thank you very much

[@Zutang777]

Where can I find 2024 update how to play shard tcg. Do you have more game play videos I’d like to watch a bunch of them.

[@ShardTCG]

We have the vespid awaken the swarm video that played a match with updated rules. I'd recommend that one. I'll have to record a few games of Shard to keep up to date. Thanks for the prompt.