WELCOME TO THE INVENTOR’S FAIR
Salutations! Here’s a quick guide and FAQs to help you along the way. Scroll down for the most recent posts and contest!
What is the Inventor’s Fair?
This Tumblr is a collaborative custom card competition blog for Magic: the Gathering. Each week, one of our rotating judges creates a contest prompt, and then people submit their entries. At the end of the week, the cards are judged and winners are chosen.
HERE is a general weekly schedule, updated for 2021.
Why is the Inventor’s Fair?
Since perhaps the inception of the game, players have been making their own cards. The creation of the internet, fandom, and online communities have led to many people sharing those cards online. Part of the love of the game is through creating new mechanics, ideas, stories and interactions. This blog exists as a challenge space for people who enjoy sharing their ideas in a low-stakes competitive sphere.
Wait, you already have an FAQ page. What’s this, then?
The FAQ page felt a little outdated, and people were asking questions that were there, so it’s clear that not everyone is using it. This is a pinned post with all the available information, starting points, etc.
Click the readmore for everything you need to know!
I’d like to submit a card. Where do I begin?
Fantastic! Good to have you on board!
Firstly, make sure that you’re following this blog! That’s the most important part, so that you can get updates and see future timing.
Secondly, if you’d like, join Discord and jump into the server! Our Discord has general channels, MTG chat, and most importantly, a workshop where you can show folks your designs and get feedback.
Once that’s set up:
If you’re on a PC, it’s recommended that you download the program Magic Set Editor, which is the gold standard for customization. MSE has a Discord as well where you can ask questions and troubleshoot. If you’re on iOS or Android, you can download the Artificer app. Other browser-based card creators are easily searchable if those options don’t work. And if all else fails, you may submit as a text, which a mod/judge can put into a program as an image.
Every Sunday, a new prompt will be announced. It will be under the “#announcement” tag on the blog, in the Announcement channel of the Discord, and easily scrollable on the blog. If you can’t find it, just ask and someone will tell you.
I’ve never designed a card before, though.
That’s alright! If you’d like to start, there aren’t too many resources, but there are lots of suggestions.
“Design 101,” by Mark Rosewater (head of MTG R&D). This article goes through some basic design principles and links to other parts of MTG design.
Do you know what you want your card to do? Look up cards that have similar wording on Scryfall! The Oracle text on cards, which is much different than the printed text, will give you an idea on how to properly word your cards.
Sometimes you might like to use a mechanic or idea, but it’s been out of the game for a while. Modern design sensibility changes things. Feel free to fight against the meta, but keep in mind that there are things which have changed over time.
On this blog, we give commentary to all entries. Here is the tag to all the commentary that the judges have given on winners, runners-up, and entries alike. See what individual judges say, see what things repeat, see what corner cases there might be, etc. Hopefully that’ll help show what a winning card looks like.
Okay, I made my card. I’m ready to send it in!
Well, we got a submission box just for that purpose. Here you go!
PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR CARDS AS EXTERNAL LINKS OR EXTERNAL IMAGES. Tumblr doesn’t like that and we can’t view them. And in the event that you don’t respond, we can’t count/judge them because we can’t see them, and that sucks for everyone.
...I’ve submitted my card, but I want to change it.
You are free to submit again. Your newest entry will always supersede your previous entry, so make sure that you’ve fixed everything that you need to fix. Use Oracle wording and Workshop feedback to make sure you’ve done everything you can!
But please, don’t spam the box with a bunch of iterations. We don’t want to have to impose limits.
Important FAQs:
Can I submit more than one card to be judged?
No. Some contests will ask for multiple cards, such as a Meld contest, but that is the only time. If you send in multiple cards, the most recent card will be the judged one.
Regarding other double-faced cards, modal DFCs (such as in Zendikar Rising and Kaldheim) are effectively more than one card and should not be submitted unless asked for. Transforming DFCs (such as in Innistrad or Ixalan) should be taken with a grain of salt. Making a tDFC without a specific contest or strong justification may impact your chances of winning depending on the judge and contest.
That said, there will be tDFC contests, mDFC contests, and multi-card contests in the future. Anything is possible.
Can I submit silver-bordered / Alchemy / Universes Beyond cards?
We have had silver-bordered contests and Universes Beyond contests in the past, as well as contests that specifically allow for those cards to be submitted. However...
A majority of Magic's design is based in black-border interactions, an understandable rules system where balance and universality is key. Silver-bordered design often ignores or circumvents those balances, while digital-specific design often does things that are outright impossible in the bounds of paper play. The designs are more difficult to judge against other black-border designs because the criteria are wildly different. For that purpose, we ask that you only design for black-border unless otherwise specified.
As for Universes Beyond cards, opinions on them vary from judge to judge. So, to avoid headaches, the general consensus is that Universes Beyond content is not allowed unless the contest specifically states it is.
Can I use art for my cards?
Yes, as long as the artist is properly credited. “Unknown” is not an acceptable credit for obvious reasons. “Deviantart” is not an acceptable credit because they all have usernames and in some cases have their real name attached, which you should use. “Getty Images” is not an acceptable credit, as they too have names/usernames.
In addition, AI-generated artwork is banned without exception.
If you’re the artist (which, by the way, is wonderful), you do have to credit yourself! You’ll be reminded of that. You’re free to just use your username, but you have to have something besides “me” or “self.”
Art does not impact your chances of winning. Art does not impact how your cards are viewed. You 100% are not required to use art.
Come on, I just want to use art. Do I have to get credit?
Yes. This is not negotiable. Arguments, multiple infractions/reminders, and belligerence will result in a ban.
Why? Because on principle, it’s theft. No, it’s not a 1:1 felony, but it’s a selfish, lazy practice to purposefully ignore the work of artists and photographers. Every Magic artist is credited appropriately, and for good reason. We have standards, and will hold you to them.
What’s the purpose of winning?
Inventor’s Fair does not make profit, does not have monetary prizes, does not ask for money, does not do ‘raffles,’ and does not have sponsors. So why are we here?
We’re here because we love the game.
Most people don’t play Magic for fame and fortune. Commander, kitchen table, cube—none of those are done with monetary value in mind. You play the game because it’s fun, winning feels fun, and even if you don’t win then participating feels fun.
The bottom line is: if it’s not fun for you, don’t do it! You’re free to observe and to watch and comment and do all of those things without the stress of engagement. This blog has far more followers than we do entries. And that’s okay! You are under no obligation to submit if you don’t want to.
What makes a winning card?
There’s no one right answer. That said, each week’s contest will have their individual criteria and will tell you what that judge is looking for.
In general, just good balance and design based on listed expectations is key for getting onto the podium. Each judge has different things that they’re looking for, we’re on a rotating schedule, and we all have different quibbles and tastes and whatnot. So if you want, you can always try to play to the judges, but that’s not as recommended as making something that you like yourself.
Also, keep in mind: We do not work for WotC, Hasbro, or MTG. We’re not professionals, we’re not published well-known game designers by any means, and we’re only human. We go off of what we go off of, and that’s that. Disagreements about what makes a winner will occur, but keep in mind that this is pretty low-stakes and that we’re only doing our best. We ask that you do your best too.
I’m [neurodivergent/POC/disabled/LGBTQ+/etc.]. Is this a safe place for me?
Yes.
Magic mechanics don’t discriminate, and neither do we. In the workshop, submissions, comments, and any other places, we aim to create a welcoming environment for everyone.
If you have concerns, please contact a judge or moderator.
Additionally, this is important to keep in mind: Inventor’s Fair isn’t really for kids. What that means: Explicit material is not tolerated, but there might be some swearing and whatnot.
Keep in mind, the Fair is not a place to take your heavy topics. This is a Magic: the Gathering blog and channel. We’re not therapists, we’re not babysitters, we’re not life coaches. Please use your best judgement.
If there are any other questions you might have, send an ask, send a message, @ a judge on Discord, or ask the community! Be well, and welcome.
—Inventor’s Fair Judges and Moderators, 2026
@3smuth @abelzumi @mistershinyobject @teaxch @naban-dean-of-irritation @gollumni @loreholdlesbian @spooky-bard