1000 Blank White Cards

The game of 1000 blank white cards is the improvisational spirit of Calvin Ball applied to the play style of a collector card game. Think Magic the Gathering or Munchkin, but you get to make it up as you go. The goal of the game is not so much to win the game, as it is to metagame well. It is more challenging (and more impressive) to lose well than it is to win poorly. The point of the game is creativity, cleverness, and gamesmanship.

Play consists of three stages: the Prologue, the Game, and the Epilogue.

Prologue

In this stage, the deck for the game is created. It should consist of cards from previous games, cards created now, and blank cards to be created during game play. In one tradition, it should consist of 4 of each type per player. This number can be changed to 3 for a short game or 5 for a long game. The cards from previous games are selected randomly from the 'keep' deck that the group has built up over previous games. If no such deck is available, then no pre-made cards are used, and additional prologue-made and blank cards are used in their place. All of these cards are shuffled together well to make the draw pile. If you plan on making a card which is 'overpowered' this is the best time to do it. If you make such a card in your hand, it too advantageous, and considered poor gamesmanship. If you make it here, it could end up in anyone's hand, to surprising and often amusing results.

Making Cards

Cards are made from blank white cards. 3"x5" note cards cut in half make a good choice. Just like a collector card game, cards consist of a title, pertinent rules information, a picture, and maybe some flavor text. However, anyof these can be left off if the card's creator so desires. Remember, it's your card design. The only limitations here are that it cannot be left blank, and it should not upset the other players enough to make them quit playing. Many cards are based around giving or taking points, but they can present any rule into the game, or play off of any sort of game mechanic. Good examples can easily be found with a quick internet search to help you see the possibilities here.