MTGNexus

What Is the CCL?

The CCL, or Card Creation League, is a custom card contest held every month in which each contestant's cards are critiqued and judged by their fellow contestants. Entry is open to anyone for the first two rounds, and follows an elimination format afterwards: The top eight overall scorers move on to the third round, the top four scorers of the third round move on to the fourth round, and the top two scorers of the fourth round move on to the finals. After the final round, a public poll is posted, and the contestant with the most votes is the winner of the month.

Each round has its own theme and challenge, and after the entry period rounds have a critique period in which each contestant writes a critique for six other entrants, and ranks their top three cards from the ones they judged. Each number one ranking earns a contestant 3 points, each number two earns 2, and each number one earns 1.

This thread is for general discussion of this contest. All posts that are not entries or judgments in the round threads will be considered spam.

A contestant's score in each CCL round is determined by the following formula:

(s + c + t) / (3 * o)

Where s is the total amount of points their entry has scored, c is 1 if they submitted critiques and 0 otherwise, t is 1 if they submitted a top 3 and 0 otherwise, and o is the number of other contestants who evaluated that contestant that round.

Example:

A contestant submits critiques and a Top 3 for a round. Five other contestants had that contestant in their scoring bracket and in all, gave two #3s and a #1 spot. This makes their score (1+1+3+1+1) / (3 *5) = 7/15 points, or 0.467.

Reserved for FAQ

Question: How exactly does voting work for the entries?

From what I can infer by reading your closing statement on the August CCL, Round 1 thread, I only get to vote on the six entries following my entry (looping to the top if necessary), critiquing as necessary and selecting my top 3 from those six. Is this correct?

You should critique all six of the contestants you've been assigned (which are the next six whose usernames fall below yours on the list) and then rank a #1, #2, and #3 favorite card from among them.

void_nothing wrote: ↑

4 years ago

You should critique all six of the contestants you've been assigned (which are the next six whose usernames fall below yours on the list) and then rank a #1, #2, and #3 favorite card from among them.

That was what I thought, but I wasn't certain. Thank you for the clarification. I'll look them over in the morning, because it's getting really friggin' late over here and I've had a rough day.

I don't really know if this is the right place to put this, but since it is discussion of a card I made for CCL, It seems appropriate.

Specifically, this is about the reasoning behind the name of the "C'ren" card I made.

Long story short, it was the name of a monstrous villain of a D&D campaign I made a long time ago that fell apart before the PC's had the chance to meet him. Thrulls were supposed to be a major part of it, and he was supposed to be their leader. A massive winged monster that was a lot smarter than his hulking form let on. A lot of the characters and monsters from said campaign that never got used have I since turned into MTG cards that I may share one day. One of the more fun ones is a cursed knight that has become a plant spirit and whose original name was lost to the aeons. Another is a goblin that is way, way, way too obsessed with weapons.

I see I've flown through some light flak for my card posting style. So, a question and an explanation.

Is posting full card images not allowed?

The pictures are relevant landscapes or other neutral images as the art for the actual cards from my MSE-collated personal expansions are for my sole, private use as I rarely have the artist's permission to share in any form. Plus, as others are not using images, it would be grossly unfair for me to do so.

Historically (on mtgs) people have tried to find art that is under a Creative Commons license that allows it to be used and shared provided you are not selling it, and that any derivative works are subject to the same license.

As far as card renders go, most common practice is to always include a text version of that card even if you are posting a render

Cardz5000 wrote: ↑

4 years ago

...always include a text version of that card even if you are posting a render

Noted. Thank you.

Today's the last entry day for Round 2. If you haven't entered yet, now's the time; if you have, look over your entry to make sure it's what you want and it conforms to the challenge.

If two days is too short for critiques at the end of this round I'll give an extension to round 1 and 2 critiques.

Since two days may be a bit too inconvenient for critiques for round 2 (and finishing for round 1 for those who find it necessary) I'll give a one-day extension. If you've started critiques but haven't finished, please finish them off. If you haven't submitted a top 3 for one of the two rounds, please do so as well.

Top 8 round will be up later in the day. I apologize for the delay, but also, it seems like more critique time is needed. I will adjust the schedule to reflect this.

Do creatures with G in their casting cost, but Devoid or a similar ability qualify?

Cardz5000 wrote: ↑

4 years ago

Do creatures with G in their casting cost, but Devoid or a similar ability qualify?

Technically, yes - cards with devoid are no colors in any zone, so...

During this top 8 stage, do we critique (and pick top 3 out of) the 6 people after us (i.e. all but one person) or all 7 other people?

According to void_nothing on the "Top 8" thread, you will critique everyone else's submission (so 7 critiques) and give a top three among the contestants.

*sigh*

People have no appreciation for references to Homelands.

Krishnath wrote: ↑

4 years ago

*sigh*

People have no appreciation for references to Homelands.

I liked the Rhino but I didn't know it was a Homelands reference.



Can I just say I really like the CCL's prompts so far?

spacemonaut wrote: ↑

4 years ago

Krishnath wrote: ↑

4 years ago

*sigh*

People have no appreciation for references to Homelands.

I liked the Rhino but I didn't know it was a Homelands reference.



Can I just say I really like the CCL's prompts so far?

Clockwork creatures was a minor theme in the set, and it also contained a common trampling artifact Rhino for 7. So I combined the two, but used the new clockwork template because it is less wordy.

I am also quite enjoying the CCL prompt, and I am enjoying coming up with themes in case I would get lucky and winning.

Krishnath wrote: ↑

4 years ago

I am also quite enjoying the CCL prompt, and I am enjoying coming up with themes in case I would get lucky and winning.

What does the winner do? I haven't read anything yet in the OP here or in CCL threads describing obligations placed on the winner, but it sounds like you're suggesting the CCL winner organises themes for the next month (or the next month in its entirety). Is that what happens?

There's no obligation placed on the CCL winner. However, if winning (or participating at all) makes you want to sign up to organize a future CCL, go for it! I'll be running the CCL for September again as I already have a theme planned, but October and future months are still available if anyone wants to try their hand at running the contest or if anyone who's previously done so wishes to organize the contest again.

spacemonaut wrote: ↑

4 years ago

Krishnath wrote: ↑

4 years ago

I am also quite enjoying the CCL prompt, and I am enjoying coming up with themes in case I would get lucky and winning.

What does the winner do? I haven't read anything yet in the OP here or in CCL threads describing obligations placed on the winner, but it sounds like you're suggesting the CCL winner organises themes for the next month (or the next month in its entirety). Is that what happens?

Lol, mixed it up with another competition I am part off. That's what I get for operating on four hours of sleep, and tomorrow is going to go much the same because I need to get up at 7 to go to a doctors appointment for a diabetes checkup.

Finalists [mention]barbecube[/mention] and [mention]spacemonaut[/mention]: August's final round is up.

Everyone: September's first round is up.

[mention]Krishnath[/mention]
A friendly reminder that ability words are not rules text and don't carry any mechanical meaning. You'll want to make sure to spell out what desertfall actually means (take a look at how landfall is formatted for an example.)