What is the BCP?
The Big Card Project (BCP) is a collaborative effort to make a custom Magic set as a community. For years, its goal was to be used in events during the WOTC forums running of their Unconventional Convention (UnCon). That event died after the WizO genocide of 2007. The community had one shot in 2008 to run it themselves, that attempt being good and valiant. Ultimately, WOTC felt there were too many legal issues in supporting it, and the forums were never the same. Still, even after that, the BCP ran for a few years, but suffered in the uncertain waters of the forums, the previous change-over being one of its biggest detriments. But we're here now, and if we want to run a successful BCP, we have to answer a few questions.
- What will this BCP be used for?
If all we want is to make a set as a community, that's more than fine and a great goal itself. But having other goals helps to drive the set forward. This is first on my list of things to discuss, but it's likely the last to be answered. We're still a new community and deciding to have some forum-wide celebration is a discussion much bigger than this thread. As I said, we'll probably move on with things before getting this answer, but it's something worth thinking about.
- When do we want to finish by?
This project is notorious for running into bumps along the way. One of the features that has gotten it completed in the past is firmly set schedules. (Someone get ty in here, he was running it long before I was.) Generally, it's taken between 9 months and a year to finish. That might sound long, but it's well in tune with reality. We can aim for quicker, but given the way communities work together, I think those stated timetables are reasonable. (They're also sensible if it again becomes an annual project.)
- How big do we want the set to be?
Ambitious as YMTC is as a community, we've only ever made small sets. BCP1 was 30 cards! BCP4, the last completed BCP, was 125 cards big. I think there's a possibility that we could put together a large sized expansion, 200+ cards big. But I just wanted to point out that we've never done so before, and even those small sets took a long time to work out. This directly influences our timetables, too, so the two discussions should depend on each other.
- What do we want to change about the process of previous years, if anything?
Here's how it worked:
- Someone starts the process, usually a lead from the previous year. (We'll say Bun did it this time.)
- An open submission thread is made for people to enter theme submissions. These can be mechanically or flavorfully driven.
- Community votes and discusses until some sort of consensus is reached.
- An open candidate thread is opened for Design Leads (DLs) and Worldbuilding Leads (WLs). If you want on a team, you say so.
- We vote on those leads.
- DLs begin discussions on how to implement the theme mechanically and begin hosting contests to gather cards and ideas. WLs begin discussions on the setting and conflicts and story of the set.
- More contests and discussions and votes as the Leads see fit.
- Once a lot of cards have been gathered into the design file, the same lead process is held for Development Leads (VLs).
- ICDs and MCDs are opened to discuss how the cards should be changed before finalizing their spot in the finished design file.
- Playtesting!
- VLs do hole-filling contests.
- More playtesting.
- Set is finished.
There may ways to improve this process (or change it altogether). If you think of any, shout em out.
- Do we want a subforum or a forum unto itself?
Subforum makes sense since there's a direct tie to YMTC, but it also comes with people accidentally posting non-related items in it with greater frequency.
- Do we want to call it BCP?
New forums, new ways. Maybe a name and an initialism to make it our own?
Those are the main issues I think we should discuss (or figure out where we can) before moving into the actual project. Also, there's a mild stigma about me taking over things without consent, and I suppose I can admit to at least a moderate bit of that being true. I'm not posting this because I want it to be "Rush's Community Project". (I already tried that. I'm not reliable.) I'm posting it to impart past lessons on those people who do end up running this, whether I'm one of them or not, and with the hope that we can start on the right path from the onset.
So, discuss away, and if there are any points you think we need to address before the BCP starts, bring them up and I'll add them to the list above.
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), while others will come to try and step in. The system should be semi-automated, and clear enough that all it really needs to work is someone to take the initiative and post the appropriate threads. Of course there should be wiggle room for the more dedicated people to act more efficiently, but I think our top priority should be creating a system that doesn't require a lot of leadership, nor does it bring too much burden/power onto a single person. The current outline is decent, but probably has some room for fine-tuning.