TCG Time Capsule

[digi-kun]

Ok, this was taken from MtG's website's "Ask Wizards" section

Originally Posted by Question

Let's say the world is about to end and you want to leave the legacy of Magic behind in a world-destruction-proof box for possible future generations to see, but the box can only hold 10 cards to ensure their protection. Any more or less and the integrity of the box is compromised. What ten cards would you include and why?

Originally Posted by Answer, before the cards

I had two goals: Describe as much of the basic game structure and rules as possible, and try to keep the cards as simple as possible. Unfortunately, these two goals conflict with one another, as the cards that best explain the game structure tend to be much more complex. I made a point of including at least one card of each type and color. I also assume that some extremely intelligent people find these cards—you would have to be both smart and persistent to attempt to puzzle a game out from only ten cards.

So i figure that i bring the Idea here. Which cards would you choose to leave as much as you can about any of the card games. Choose 10 cards, and tell why.

[Frostweaver]

Interesting question... Guess it must be about the current metagame with the current banlist? Well, 10 cards that will allow Einstein to figure out this current banlist for YGO is...


1. Card Trooper
-It explains mill power (self-mill 3 cards), draw power (draw 1 upon death), card advantage (kill a monster, +1, dies itself, -1, draw a card upon death, +1, so net +1) and raw power in one package. It's only 3 star which is different from the usual 4, so it explains the concept of levels of monster. This card is used in far too many deck types.

2. Demise, King of Armageddon
-It's a ritual, which is a part of YGO too. Of course, it's the heart of the Demise OTK which is a popular deck today too. This one is dark/fiend, which is different than machine. It shows the attribute of monsters here. 8 stars show how high star levels can go too. Text implies how there's some card to summon rituals too. This also represents how monsters can activate its effect after paying a cost too.

3. Cyberend Dragon
Didn't choose cybertwin but cyberend because it shows the concept of fusion... Plus, this is the highest level of monster possible at 10. This is also a fusion monster, showing this concept of YGO as well. Defense pierce is a common effect, and it's in here too. Text shows how there's something smaller called Cyber Dragon too, so it shows how fusion is made of multiple monsters.

4. Dark Magician
-No reason not to include the Pikachu of YGO. It's also normal monster, and that's all the types of monster cards.

5. Twister
-it's all about how versatile this thing is, and it's quick play... it's also a spell card, and I think that's pretty important concept to show. Mentions faceup spell/trap, so it talks about the concept of the backrow, and spell/trap destruction.

6. Smashing Ground
-the concept of a card effect destroying another monster... 1-1 trade, and normal spell cards.

7. Solemn Judgment
-shows counter trap cards, and the concept of paying a cost to activate a powerful card effect... it's all in here. It also mentions life points, so surely they'll figure out that "oh 'LIFE' point is probably a measurement if you win or lose." Yes.

8. Premature Burial
-concept of equip card, and recursion effects... again, this time, there's the concept of a fixed cost. Mentions the graveyard too.

9. Bottomless Traphole
-works together with RftDD to show that there's something called a remove pile, and a few cards can send cards to a remove pile instead of graveyard. It's also a normal trap, which is pretty vital to the game.

10. Royal Decree
-continuous trap, and it shows the concept of negating stuff, which is important. This card props up in the meta usually near the end of a banlist close to the next too, for tempo control when you basically knows how everything works.


Continuous spell/field card and burn is unfortunately, not included =/ I'll definitely include Stealth Bird if it's not Dark Magician and normal monster taking up a valuable slot to demonstrate flipping face up/face down, and burn damage.

[Alter Ego]

Originally Posted by Frostweaver

Plus, this is the highest level of monster possible at 10.

Nope, Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon has 12. :3

Anyway, I'd really like to see Exodia, D-Board, or Final Countdown there somewhere to prove the existence of alternate win conditions, but meh...those are all well-justified, although personally I'd say Stealth Bird over Dark Magician for greater informativeness. ^-^

[Forci Stikane]

Originally Posted by Frostweaver

Plus, this is the highest level of monster possible at 10.

Oh really?

*pulls out 12-Star BEUD*

Well, that's an okay list of 10 cards for under the current banlist (except I would have added Cyber Dragon somewhere in there), but what about traditional?

1. Black Luster Soldier-Envoy of the Beginning: Special Summoner, shows different attributes, mentions battles and destroying monsters, shows how high ATK & DEF can go, and includes the idea of a RFG pile. Need I say more?

2. Premature Burial: Same as Frosty.

3. Dark Magician: Same here.

4. Cyber End Dragon: Ditto.

5. Heavy Storm: S/T mentioning and mass field removal

6. Elemental Mistress-Doriado: Why do I include this? It mentions every single attribute not on BLS on one card, and shows the idea of Ritual.

7. Royal Decree: Same as Frostweaver, with one other reason-it pairs well with

8. Jinzo: Shows the idea of high-level monsters and how monsters can have the effects of non-monster cards.

9. Clock Tower Prison: Field spell with the idea of counters and Standby Phases.

10. ...Raviel: Lord of Phantasms: Tokens and Tributing. And showing that ATK can go higher than 3000.