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Post by darthpop on Mar 7, 2023 2:08:06 GMT
Back in the late '90s, WOTC openly advertised for the playing public to submit not just card ideas, but whole expansions. I submitted THE LOTUS WARS (a single expansion set - about the size of ICE AGES), but it used a lot of multi-colored spells like LEGENDS.
The multi-colored expansion had left a bad taste in their mouths as the Uncommon mix was kerfuffled badly and entirte runs had a number of one set of Uncommons, but not another and vice versa. It was so bad that they had to offer exchanges, with lists posted in The Duelist - you could send in from one set and ask for cards from the other list to replace them (I can't imagine the guys who had to open all those letters with cards and having to do the replacements...), not to mention the rampant insanity the set engendered. In one city, somebody rammed a card store with a truck to get inside the store and steal all the LEGENDS booster boxes.
My set was cordially refused. They explained "Wizards isn't expecting to do any multi-colored sets in the forseeable future..." Famous last words, right? Then came ALLIANCES and MIRAGE. So I wrote back to Wizards to remind them of my submitted expansion, now that they "were doing multi-colored expansions again..." 
'Negotiations' slowed WAY down, and communication was taking months to go back and forth. Eventually they "regretted to inform me" that they were moving to a block (three connected sets) format. I responded that I could easily expand my original set to meet their requirements. Somehow the legal dept got involved and they decided they would look at what I had in mind as long as I met their parameters.
Their 'parameters' included a base set of 350 cards and two expansions of 143 each (odd numbers). That took me a few months, but I get 'er done. Sent it off. Waited for a reply. Waited a LONG time for a reply... Finally received a letter that they "regretted to inform me" that they were no longer taking outside submissions. My moment in the sun had come and gone. *sigh*
Flash forward to 2023. I started noticing there were a LOT of people not only making their own personal cards - but DAMN they looked good! How was this happening? After some rooting around, I wound up here. Me and my 646 cards.
After a very unsuccessful attempt to download the program so I could do it myself, I discovered that MSE doesn't play well with Mac.  So here I am, hat-in-hand. I'd like to get all 646 cards made up so I can print them off and take them to Conventions as a cube!
I've got some ca$h set aside... I need someone to create all my cards. If you're interested, PLEASE contact me, I could REALLY use your help. I'm open and available - trazanacho@gmail.com
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Post by ZephyrPhantom on Mar 7, 2023 5:01:29 GMT
You seem like you've got the determination to churn out these cards as long as there's a method to do so so I'd like to suggest some options you might want to give a shot first: You may be interested in MTG Design, which lets you directly create, save, and manage cards from browser. If you want a desktop app, try looking at Artifice, which was made specifically for making cards on Mac. If nothing else works, MTG CardSmith will definitely work no matter what computer and web browser you use it on, but the cards will look a little less authentic.
On the physical side, I think it's also worth pointing out that with the printing of 30th Anniversary "proxies", WoTC has basically normalized making it okay to print your own cards and use them for games of magic as long as you're not trying to do anything sketchy with them (like passing them off as "real" magic cards). You could also look into your options there, and maybe even build a Commander or kitchen table deck out of what you've got if you can find a group that's okay with it.
Looking forward to what you make, and welcome to the forums darthpop . Good luck with everything.  |
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Post by darthpop on Mar 7, 2023 21:07:03 GMT
ZephyrPhantom -
Thanks much for the tour! It wasn't the MOST frustrating experience I've had... but I am feeling a lot better about my decision to find somebody else to do the work for me. Here was how my entire morning went: • Went to Artifice first - the template was fairly easy to use (once I dug out a couple of YouTube videos), but it doesn't have Artifact templates (?!) which really threw me off. I had to jump through a few hoops just to get it up and running as my Mac was convinced it was full of malware... Being in the middle (well, towards the end actually) of a massive card game resurrection (creating over 2000+ cards) that has consumed most of my retirement for the past 7 years... (wherein I discovered I have OCD - go figure) I decided my first instinct was spot on. • MTG Design just didn't work for me. • not being one to just give up, I tried MTG Cardsmith as your last suggestion, but the others were actually EASIER for me to use in a weird twist of fate.
The massive project I've been working on has all been done in Photoshop Elements. I had to create all the different templates 'by hand' and each card from there 'by hand'. It's been very time consuming as you could imagine. One of these 'plug and play' master templates that are so versatile would have been amazing to use...
But as it is, I myself am a Certified High Priest of the Reformed Orthodox Luddite Brotherhood... ;-) Which explains all the above I think.
So - having gone down the rabbit hole as far as my poor brain will let me, I remain open to suggestion. Is there a thread on here you could point me to with a few 'guns for hire' who might be interested in helping me out with my project? ... for a little bit of Real World Cash Capitalism?
I'm not proud, but I am tired... I bought a Mac because I didn't want to learn how to use multiple 'levels' of a computer with 'extra programs just to make my computer THINK it's a Mac'. I like just turning it on and going...
But I've got a 260k word novel that's been waiting for the 5th and final (nit picking) edit waiting for the second half to finish so I can finally put it up on Amazon and get started on my Epic Fantasy Cycle™ to compete with everybody else's before I turn 80. ;-)
We all need dreams, right?
ADD ON: found my 'YO MTG TAPS!' podcast interview from 2010 where I got to discuss (for 45 minutes) my adventures with WOTC submitting this expansion. I can't find the original interview anywhere on the net, so I uploaded it to YouTube. Apologies in advance, my technical skills don't extend to being able to add any visuals, so the screen is black. Link is below.
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Phyrexian Ymonrah
7/7 Elemental
Posts: 378
Favorite Card: Omnath, Locus of All
Favorite Set: War of the Spark
Color Alignment: White, Blue, Black, Red, Green, Colorless
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Post by Phyrexian Ymonrah on Mar 10, 2023 14:23:43 GMT
MTG Design was great, until something happened. them it turned the way it is now.
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Post by ZephyrPhantom on Mar 10, 2023 22:21:38 GMT
MTG Design was great, until something happened. them it turned the way it is now. Shows how little I've used it tbh. I've moved onto CardConjurer since then. • not being one to just give up, I tried MTG Cardsmith as your last suggestion, but the others were actually EASIER for me to use in a weird twist of fate So while I don't have the time to be a proverbial merc (the "joys" of having a job, I suppose) I just want to ask, where'd you get stuck at with MTG Cardsmith? Like are you looking for a specific template or did you have trouble making a single card? I think if we can just get you to a spot where you're able to churn out 'normal' looking MTG cards, then at least you'll be able to get them to a point where you can print them out on paper, stick 'em in a sleeve, and be ready to play. There's also Card Conjurer, though the online version had to remove all its MTG templates and now uses a copyright-friendly alternative due to WOTC's lawyers coming down on them. (No judgement on using a Mac, fwiw. Figuring out tech can be a real hassle.) |
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Post by darthpop on Mar 11, 2023 14:09:05 GMT
This fine gentleman stepped up - Phyrexian Ymonrah - stepped up andis helping me! Thanks for your suggestion. Being a Reformed Orthodox Luddite isn't easy in this world of high tech...
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So here I am, hat-in-hand. I'd like to get all 646 cards made up so I can print them off and take them to Conventions as a cube!
