Keeper of the Cards

Card Building Examples (16^th Edition)

This page is a supplement to the Card Building Guide. It goes over how to recreate specific examples of cards from the starter decks, starting with the least complex and gradually moving upward in complexity.

Contents

Minion: Velociraptor

This is a simple minion with no abilities. The following steps recreate this minion:

1. Begin with the minion's level set to 0.
2. Choose the minion's SP. You can choose any number. In this case, we choose 2.
3. Add the minion's SP to its level, bringing it to 2.
4. Choose the minion's HP. You can choose any number, but a multiple of 2 is recommended. In this case, we choose 4.
5. Take the minion's HP and divide it by 2. Add the result (2 in this case) to the minion's level, bringing it to 4.
6. The minion's final level in this example is 4.

Spell: Antibiotic

This is an example of the simplest possible spell, composed only of a single effect. The following steps recreate this spell:

1. Begin with the spell's level set to 0.
2. Choose the effect you want from Card Building Guide: Effects. In this case, it's: “x-dice-heal yourself.”
3. Since the effect has a variable x, replace that variable with a number. In this case, we choose the number 2. This gives us: “2-dice-heal yourself.”
4. Check the effect's level increase formula. In this case, the formula is $x\text{.}$ Replace the variable x in this formula with the number chosen in the previous step; in this case, 2. Since the formula is only a simple variable, we add the number (2) to the spell's level.
5. Since the spell has no target selection, the sub-ability text is just the effect text. Since the spell has no activation condition and no activation cost, the ability text is just the sub-ability text. This gives us: “2-dice-heal yourself.”
6. The spell's final level in this example is 2.

Spell: Asteroid Impact

This spell is slightly more complex than Antibiotic, but still fairly simple, composed of a single target selection and a single effect. The following steps recreate this spell:

1. Begin with the spell's level set to 0.
2. Choose the effect you want from Card Building Guide: Effects. In this case, it's: “destroy the targets.”
3. Since the chosen effect does something with targets, we must include a target selection for this to do anything. Choose the target selection you want from Card Building Guide: Target Selections. In this case, we choose, “Target up to x on-field minions;”
4. Since the target selection has a variable x, replace that variable with a number. In this case, we choose the number 4. This gives us: “Target up to 4 on-field minions;”
5. Check the target selection's formula for the variable t. In this case, the formula is $t=x\text{.}$ Replace the variable x in this formula with the number chosen in the previous step; in this case, 4. Doing so, we get $t=4\text{.}$ Therefore, the variable t is set to 4.
6. Check the effect's level increase formula. In this case, the formula is $2t\text{.}$ Replace the variable t in this formula with the number calculated in the previous step; in this case, 4. Doing so, we get $2\times 4\text{.}$ We can now solve the level increase formula; doing so, we get 8 and therefore add 8 to the spell's level, bringing it to 8.
7. The spell's sub-ability text is the target selection followed by the effect. In this case, we get: “Target up to 4 on-field minions; destroy the targets.”
8. Since the spell has no activation conditions and no activation costs, the ability text is just the sub-ability text. This gives us: “Target up to 4 on-field minions; destroy the targets.”
9. The spell's final level in this example is 8.

Spell: Thunderstrike

This lower-level spell is made in almost exactly the same way as Asteroid Impact. The following steps recreate it:

1. Begin with the spell's level set to 0.
2. Choose the effect you want from Card Building Guide: Effects. In this case, it's: “destroy the targets.”
3. Since the chosen effect does something with targets, we must include a target selection for this to do anything. Choose the target selection you want from Card Building Guide: Target Selections. In this case, we choose, “Target up to x on-field minions;”
4. Since the target selection has a variable x, replace that variable with a number. In this case, we choose the number 1. This gives us: “Target up to 1 on-field minions;”
5. Check the target selection's formula for the variable t. In this case, the formula is $t=x\text{.}$ Replace the variable x in this formula with the number chosen in the previous step; in this case, 1. Doing so, we get $t=1\text{.}$ Therefore, the variable t is set to 1.
6. Check the effect's level increase formula. In this case, the formula is $2t\text{.}$ Replace the variable t in this formula with the number calculated in the previous step; in this case, 1. Doing so, we get $2\times 1\text{.}$ We can now solve the formula; doing so, we get 2 and therefore add 2 to the spell's level, bringing it to 2.
7. The spell's sub-ability text is the target selection followed by the effect. In this case, we get: “Target up to 1 on-field minions; destroy the targets.”
8. Since only 1 card can be targeted by the spell's sub-ability, following the card building guide's recommendations, we remove the words "up to" and change the plural “cards” to the singular “card” in the target selection, and we change the plural “the targets” in the effect to the singular “it”. This gives us: “Target 1 on-field minion; destroy it.”
9. Since the spell has no activation conditions and no activation costs, the ability text is just the sub-ability text. This gives us: “Target 1 on-field minion; destroy it.”
10. The spell's final level in this example is 2.

Minion: Thor

This minion has an ability which is almost identical to the Thunderstrike spell, but includes an activation condition as well. The following steps recreate this minion:

1. Begin with the minion's level set to 0.
2. Choose the minion's SP. You can choose any number. In this case, we choose 4.
3. Add the minion's SP to its level, bringing it to 4.
4. Choose the minion's HP. You can choose any number, but a multiple of 2 is recommended. In this case, we choose 6.
5. Take the minion's HP and divide it by 2. Add the result (3 in this case) to the minion's level, bringing it to 7.
6. Choose a name for the minion's ability. It can be anything you want, but must be in all capital letters. In this case, we choose “THOR'S HAMMER”. Its level starts at 0.
7. In this case, we want to include an activation condition in THOR'S HAMMER. Select the desired activation condition from Card Building Guide: Activation Conditions. In this case, it's: “When this card attacks, after Attack Formation (ghost-play):”
8. Choose the effect you want for THOR'S HAMMER's sub-ability from Card Building Guide: Effects. In this case, it's: “destroy the targets.”
9. Since the chosen effect does something with targets, we must include a target selection for this to do anything. Choose the target selection you want from Card Building Guide: Target Selections. In this case, we choose, “Target up to x on-field minions;”
10. Since the target selection has a variable x, replace that variable with a number. In this case, we choose the number 1. This gives us: “Target up to 1 on-field minions;”
11. Check the target selection's formula for the variable t. In this case, the formula is $t=x\text{.}$ Replace the variable x in this formula with the number chosen in the previous step; in this case, 1. Doing so, we get $t=1\text{.}$ Therefore, the variable t is set to 1.
12. Check the effect's level increase formula. In this case, the formula is $2t\text{.}$ Replace the variable t in this formula with the number calculated in the previous step; in this case, 1. Doing so, we get $2\times 1\text{.}$ We can now solve the formula; doing so, we get 2 and therefore add 2 to THOR'S HAMMER's level, bringing it to 2.
13. Add THOR'S HAMMER's level (2) to the minion's level, bringing it to 9.
14. THOR'S HAMMER's sub-ability text is the target selection followed by the effect. In this case, we get: “Target up to 1 on-field minions; destroy the targets.”
15. Since only 1 card can be targeted by THOR'S HAMMER's sub-ability, following the card building guide's recommendations, we remove the words "up to" and change the plural “cards” to the singular “card” in the target selection, and we change the plural “the targets” in the effect to the singular “it”. This gives us: “Target 1 on-field minion; destroy it.”
16. THOR'S HAMMER's ability text is its name (“THOR'S HAMMER”), followed by a colon, followed by its activation condition, followed by its sub-ability text. In this case, we get: “THOR'S HAMMER: When this card attacks, after Attack Formation (ghost-play): Target 1 on-field minion; destroy it.”
17. The minion's ability text is the ability text of all abilities (THOR'S HAMMER in this case), each on a separate paragraph.
18. The minion's final level in this example is 9.

Minion: Equus Africanus Asinus

This minion has no SP or HP, but has two abilities, one of which has a non-standard activation condition and an activation cost. The following steps recreate this minion:

1. Begin with the minion's level set to 0.
2. Choose the minion's SP. You can choose any number. In this case, we choose 0.
3. Add the minion's SP to its level, bringing it to 0.
4. Choose the minion's HP. You can choose any number, but a multiple of 2 is recommended. In this case, we choose 0.
5. Take the minion's HP and divide it by 2. Add the result (0 in this case) to the minion's level, bringing it to 0.
6. Choose a name for the minion's first ability. It can be anything you want, but must be in all capital letters. In this case, we choose “ASSIST”. Its level starts at 0.
7. Choose the effect you want for ASSIST's sub-ability from Card Building Guide: Effects. In this case, it's: “draw x cards.”
8. Since the effect has a variable x, replace that variable with a number. In this case, we choose the number 1. This gives us: “draw 1 cards.”
9. Check the effect's level increase formula. In this case, the formula is $2x\text{.}$ Replace the variable x in this formula with the number chosen in the previous step; in this case, 1. Doing so, we get $2\times 1\text{.}$ We can now solve the formula; doing so, we get 2 and therefore add 2 to ASSIST's level, bringing it to 2.
10. Add ASSIST's level (2) to the minion's level, bringing it to 2.
11. Since ASSIST has no target selection, the sub-ability text is just the effect text. Since the number chosen was 1, we change the plural "cards" to the singular "card". This gives us: “Draw 1 card.”
12. ASSIST's ability text is its name (“ASSIST”), followed by a colon, followed by its sub-ability text. This gives us: “ASSIST: Draw 1 card.”
13. Choose a name for the minion's second ability. In this case, we choose “REASSESS”. Its level starts at 0.
14. In this case, we want to include an activation condition in REASSESS. Select the desired activation condition from Card Building Guide: Activation Conditions. In this case, it's: “When this on-field minion is destroyed (ghost-play):”
15. Choose the effect you want for REASSESS's sub-ability from Card Building Guide: Effects. In this case, it's: “silo the targets.”
16. Since the chosen effect does something with targets, we must include a target selection for this to do anything. Choose the target selection you want from Card Building Guide: Target Selections. In this case, we choose: “Target this card;”
17. Check the target selection's formula for the variable t. In this case, the formula is $t=1\text{.}$ Since the formula is only a simple variable assignment, the variable t is set to 1.
18. Check the effect's level increase formula. In this case, the formula is $2t\text{.}$ Replace the variable t in this formula with the number calculated in the previous step; in this case, 1. Doing so, we get $2\times 1\text{.}$ We can now solve the formula; doing so, we get 2 and therefore add 2 to REASSESS's level, bringing it to 2.
19. REASSESS's sub-ability text is the target selection followed by the effect. In this case, we get: “Target this card; silo the targets.”
20. Since only 1 card can be targeted by REASSESS's sub-ability, following the card building guide's recommendations, we change the plural “the targets” in the effect to the singular “it”. This gives us: “Target this card; silo it.”
21. In this case, we want to include an activation cost in REASSESS. Select the desired activation cost from Card Building Guide: Activation Costs. In this case, it's: “self-exhaust x resources→”
22. Since the activation cost has a variable x, replace that variable with a number. In this case, we choose the number 2. This gives us: “self-exhaust 2 resources→”
23. Check the activation cost's level decrease formula. In this case, the formula is $\frac{x}{2}\text{.}$ Replace the variable x in this formula with the number chosen in the previous step; in this case, 2. Doing so, we get $\frac{2}{2}\text{.}$ We can now solve the formula; doing so, we get 1 and therefore subtract 1 from REASSESS's level, bringing it to 1.
24. Add REASSESS's level (1) to the minion's level, bringing it to 3.
25. REASSESS's ability text is its name (“REASSESS”), followed by a colon, followed by its activation condition, followed by its activation cost, followed by its sub-ability text. In this case, we get: “REASSESS: When this on-field minion is destroyed (ghost-play): self-exhaust 2 resources→ Target this card; silo it.”
26. The minion's ability text is the ability text of all abilities (ASSIST and REASSESS in this case), each on a separate paragraph.
27. The minion's final level in this example is 3.