Three seasons ago, in an attempt to create a larger incentive for winning nationals we instituted a program called the ‘Winner Created Card’ the basic idea was that the winners of select categories would earn the right to design a card to be included in the new set. The only rules were that the card had to be an existing, non-dominant card type and that it would go through the normal playtesting process.

Each year the player created cards are some of the most stressful cards we do and take the most time to figure out. This is due to a variety of factors. We do think the program is a good thing, and we don’t want it to go away, we’re sure the majority of players feel the same. However, we’ve elected to make a few changes this year to make the program run a little smoother.

First:

Elders are no longer eligible to win this prize. 1 Corinthians 1:10 says: I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

When we have Elders that win the prize (As has happened each of the three years of the program) We create a situation where that player has a vested interest in his card, which has led to arguments and disagreements. We feel that if Elders are no longer eligible we can present a united front far easier. Elders are still going to be playing these categories, and if one should win, the prize will pass to the highest placing non-Elder.

Second:

We are reducing the number of cards that will be created from four to two. While we want as many players as possible to earn the opportunity to create their own card, four was simply a number that wasn’t sustainable. This year the two categories that will have the player created card as a prize are T1-2P and T2-2P. We intend to rotate the categories in the future.

Third:

In the coming weeks before nationals, an in-depth article on card power and design philosophy will be released. We hope that the guidelines included there will help players submit cards that are closer in power level to what the Elder team thinks is appropriate. This should help the final version of each card be closer to the initially submitted version, which we believe to be a good thing for both parties. These guidelines will be in addition to the “Existing non-dominant card type” rule.

Thank you for your understanding, this great game wouldn’t exist without its wonderful community.

By JohnE

John Earley has had an unbridled love for Redemption since he started playing in 1997. From his days as a RLK (random little kid) to the present, John has always enjoyed finding cool card combinations, exploiting obscure rules, and building the most devastating decks possible. He has been a member of the playtest team since 2009, a Redemption Elder since 2010, and he still plays at a competitive level.