Ultimately, we like to have fun making up cards, but we need to be careful that our fun typing things into our database doesn't take precedence over good playtesting procedures
The most effective approach follows the traditional color pie that defines both identity and gameplay mechanics: White - The color of order and protection that focuses on efficient creatures, removal spells, and defensive strategies Blue - The color of knowledge and control that emphasizes card draw, counterspells, and manipulating the game state Black - The color of power and ambition that utilizes life as a resource, creature removal, and graveyard interactions Red - The color of freedom and emotion that delivers fast aggression, direct damage, and chaotic effects Green - The color of nature and growth that ramps mana, plays large creatures, and destroys artifacts and enchantments Colorless/Multicolor - Cards that either require no specific mana or combine multiple colors for hybrid strategies and flexible deck-building options This sets up a very simple organization system: color
Mechanics in MTG LOTR So far, we know that theres a focus on Food, Partners (in Commander), and The One Ring
1 Invoke Prejudice This is not a card banned for its gameplay qualities but for being grossly offensive
Typical deck sizes range from as low as 30 cards (as used by, for instance, Hearthstone ) to as high as 100 cards (as in Magic: The Gathering' s Commander format)
