Dominion Strategy Forum

Dominion => Weekly Design Contest => Variants and Fan Cards => Mini-Set Design Contest => Topic started by: mith on December 10, 2015, 10:12:00 pm

Title: 2016 Design Contest: Treasure Set Composition
Post by: mith on December 10, 2015, 10:12:00 pm
In a narrow vote, we have decided to continue the Treasure Set Compilation. This thread is for discussing the parameters of the contest. In particular:

1. What categories should we use for the available slots?

The original Treasure Set Compilation was intended to pick two cards from each large expansion and one from each small expansion, for 13 cards total. This time, we are less constrained by existing sets - we will pick two cards to go with Adventures (plus some new Events), and perhaps a Promo type card, but otherwise, I'm open to ideas. Some thoughts:

a. The make up of the expansions changed several times before publication, and some of the themes in existing sets were originally combined in a single set (Seaside + Hinterlands, as Abroad; Alchemy + Cornucopia). Some of our categories could be for cards combining elements from two expansions, whether based on what we can glean from the Secret Histories or something else.
b. I would like to borrow from the other contest ideas and include a contests for designing based on a predetermined card name or piece of art (one of each). Whether these are also associated with expansion themes, I'm not sure - it might be too limiting, though on the other hand certain names or pictures might lend themselves to particular expansions.
c. We could also consider filling the last slot or two based on the rest of the cards chosen for the set(s) - so basically, borrowing from the Mini Set framework.

2. Finishing the previous contest.

The first Treasure Chest set had a couple of rounds left unfinished. I am currently planning on just running a couple polls for the finalists in those rounds to finish things off; particularly if we have card slots in the new one for those sets (if only in combination).

3. How should we structure the voting?

Previously we have had simple approval voting, later followed by a runoff between finalists. I am considering using range voting this time instead to better differentiate between the submissions. I also mentioned in the original thread that we might consider voting both for a best card "as-is" and a best "concept" which could be tweaked for balance or other issues.

4. Anything else?
Title: Re: 2016 Design Contest: Treasure Set Composition
Post by: drsteelhammer on December 15, 2015, 09:59:06 pm
1a: I like the idea of just using the published Sets as framework. I don't see the point in combining Alchemy and Cornucopia for example since the finished product doesn't reflect its origins (in my opinion).

How about: 1 card for each small expansion and for the base set. 2 cards each for the large expansions +2events (so 4adventurer cards since it's new) That would be a total amount of 16+2 cards.

One idea I could live with is seperating the two card slots for the large expansions. Like having one slot for a card that could have been included in the set while the other slot has a more liberal framework, which would allow crossovers between expansions. (i.E. borrowing the duration mechanic for a Prosperity card) the only problem would be that some cards could be entered in two different contests, so I'm not quite sure whether that works.

1b. Honestly, I hate that idea. It wasn't elected for a reason and mixing it into a treasure chest seems unfitting and simply out of place. Any reason to do this, at all? If you insist on this one, I'd suggest something along the lines of my previous suggestion: Split the contest for the large expansions and have 6card names/artworks (one for each large expansion). I could be ok with that, since it doesn't break the spirit of the Treasure chest. It might mean that a worse card will be included for the sake of fitting, though.

1c I like that more than 1b, but I don't really see the reason for it either.

3. I think the most important part is that enough people will be voting, altough a slightly more nuanced voting system sounds good.
Title: Re: 2016 Design Contest: Treasure Set Composition
Post by: spiralstaircase on December 16, 2015, 07:00:55 am
I liked the suggestion (I think it was made in the earlier thread) of having cards with ideas from two different sets.
Title: Re: 2016 Design Contest: Treasure Set Composition
Post by: LibraryAdventurer on December 16, 2015, 04:35:07 pm
I agree with drsteelhammer on pretty much all counts
Title: Re: 2016 Design Contest: Treasure Set Composition
Post by: Roadrunner7671 on December 16, 2015, 04:46:23 pm
So anyone can vote?
Title: Re: 2016 Design Contest: Treasure Set Composition
Post by: mith on December 18, 2015, 11:24:32 am
Yes, everyone is welcome to vote, whether they have submitted cards or not. (And of course you don't need to submit a card every round, either.)
Title: Re: 2016 Design Contest: Treasure Set Composition
Post by: Asper on January 02, 2016, 09:31:53 am
I'd be in favour of just having most cards reflect a particular expansion. We could allow the second card of a big set to include mechanics from other set, but not make it mandatory. Similarly, we could have two events, with the second being allowed to borrow mechanics from an expansion.

If we were to make a card fitting a certain theme/name/image, i'd say that's best for the promo card. After all, that's more or less how Governor came to be. Obviously, a restriction like "make a card for Power Grid/a card called 'Munchkin'!" is arbitrary, but  i think that's kind of appropriate for a Promo. I do agree it doesn't fit for the other cards, though.