First things first, there are a number of items to download in order to get started. First, you're going to need Magic Set Editor 2. This is the program that will let us create, edit and print our cards in a format easy to use. Next, you'll need the Template for DC Deckbuilder. This card be editied to fit your needs, but for now, lets leave it as it is.

The following link has MSE in it and the Template aleady inside. Scroll down and choose the download link for the blank cards. All you need to do from there is fire it up and hit new set.
Here's the link.[boardgamegeek.com]

Once you've decided what you want to base your game off of, we'll start with the card types. In the original DC Deckbuilder, the card types are Super Hero, Super Villain, Hero, Villain, Equipment, Super Power, and Location. Now, normally, when I build mine, most of these types will have different names. For example, my first one, the Zelda Deckbulder, consisted of Hero, Boss Enemy, Ally, Enemy, Item, Magical Power, and Location. Locations won't usually change type as there arent really many different things you can call it, but if you find one that fits your game, by all means, go for it! From here on out I'll be using the card types from the DC Deckbuilding Game as a reference point.

First things first, you'll want to make your Super Heroes and Super Villians, since their numbers are for the most part set. You'll want at least 7 Super Heroes and at least 12 Super Villains. If you think you'd rather have more to choose from, more power to ya! What I'd suggest when creating cards is to make a single reference card for each. Choose the color for your card, the style, the type, and add the VP and Cost symbols. That way, you can just copy and paste the empty card and make as many as you'd like. Once you've made 12 empty Super Villain cards and 7 empty Super Hero cards, We'll go on to naming them. What you'll want to do is name your cards first, as that will help you milk the idea you have for as much information as possible. That way later, if you didnt do that and you ended up having to little cards, It wouldnt be as hard coming up with names.

Once you've named your Super Heroes and Super Villains, you can work on their text, if you like. Usually I start on them first and then work on the rest of the deck, but its up to you. I do recomend, however, that you come up with what makes yours different from the rest. This is optional, but what I mean by this is, for example, the Rupee system in my Zelda ones. It adds a depth to the game that only they can bring, and allows you to find new cards and texts on cards otherwise unknown to the games. You can also have your game revolve around a certain playstyle, like how my Wind Waker one plays around having Ongoing cards out often. Also, don't let the fact that "The official games never had this type of thing in them" stop you, because its your own thought process and idea, therefor you can make whatever you feel will be fun.

At this point, you've got your Super Heroes and Super Villains named, and maybe even written up. Now its time to figure out the rest of the cards. I'd start by making 5 Locations and 15 of every other card type. Now, I know what you may be thinking, and yes, 15 is too many cards, but we'll soon be cutting them as we go. What you can do now before you start coming up with names, however, is choose a card type that will be the least prominent. Usually, this is the Super Power type, but if having less Equipment fits better, by all means, use that instead. I would like to point out, however, that typically you wouldnt want to pick Heroes or Villains for this, but if you believe it will fit and you can work it, then again, its your game, you do with it how you will. Now, once you've picked the type that is going to be least used, cut that number down to 10. You wont want to go over that number.

Now, take a while to come up with names for all the cards. A few pointers when naming:
- Avoid using names that are exactly the same, unless they are meant to be used in conjunction with each other. (though this should still be a rare occurance)
- Avoid naming things the same as the Super Heroes. On the other hand, you can name them an alternate title of the Super Hero, which is a great way to tie in abilities (I.E. Man of Steel/Super Man)
- If you end up coming up with not enough for a type, leave it and try to finish the rest. If you find you have more for one and less for the other, you can cut some blanks from one and add to the other.

Once you've finished naming them, you should now have no blank cards and around 15 of each card type, save for the 10 of the one type you have the least of.

Now that you have all of the cards you need, the next part is to start creating the text for them. First, start with the cards that you know what you want to do with. Once you've gotten all the stuff you know what you want done with out of the way, here are some tips on making cards:

- Dont have too many draw and +power effects on the same card. Draw effects should be used sparingly, and even when used more often, they should be left by themselves or with effects that dont generate power without other card's help (i.e. putting a card from your discard pile on top of your deck.)
- here is a list of text that, if by itself on a card, would result in having this cost:
- +1 Power: 1 Cost
- +2 Power: 2 Cost
- +3 Power: 5 Cost
- +4 Power: 7 Cost
- Draw a card: 2 Cost
- Draw two cards: 5 Cost
If you were to add effects to these cards, use your discresion as to how much you think the effect is worth. Usually, the effect is only worth 1-2 extra cost. If you were to add draw effects and Power, however, just add the costs above, but add 1 to the cost.
- Try not to focus on conjunction with just a single type of card. If all other types refer to or interact with one type more than the others, it causes a power shift to that card type. try to keep all cards balaced in what people would want to buy.

(More will be added if anyone asks for more)

Before you finish it all and go on to the next step, check out how many of each cost you have. your curve should be pretty high around 3-4 cost cards, as well and decently high at 5 cost. you never want the curve not to look like a bell, unless thats a design choice specifically made for your game's theme.

The last thing you want to do is card count. The card count, if not obvious, is the number of cards of one name in the Main Deck. A few things to note before we continue:
- Card count should never exceed four of one card, save for single card exceptions (i.e. Suicide Squad in the DC Deckbuilder)
- You should end up with around 105-120 cards in your Main Deck when you are finished. If you end up with less, look to add a card before you edit card count, and if you end up with more, try to take out whole cards before you do the same, unless it is 1 or 2 above.

Now, a good chart to look at when it comes to card count is this:
Card cost: Number of cards in Main Deck:
1 2
2 2, less often 3
3 3-4
4 3, less often 4
5 2, less often 3
6 2
7 1, less often 2
8 1

With 6 and 8 cost cards, you really want to limit them to 2 and 1 of's, respectivly. You should never go more, but with a 6 cost card you really wouldnt want to go to 1, unless it is something you wanted to be a bit more rare. 7 Cost cards are almost always 1 of's, but if they are really basic, like Super Strength (just +5 Power), then 2 of is alright. 4 and 5 cost cards arent typically put more than 3 and 2 of's respectively, but again, the more basic/less powerful, the more you can fit. 2 and 1 cost cards are a bit odd. you'll probably want them at around 2 ofs, as they are usually pretty powerful at low costs. 2 cost cards you can probably get away with at 3, but 1 cost cards are often restricted to 2 ofs. in terms of the number of unique cards of a certain number there are in the main deck, 2 ofs are usually the most prominent, then 3 ofs, 1 ofs, and 4 ofs. Id really only make at most 2 different 4 of cards, then stick to 3 ofs.

Obviously, this is all based on your judgement, but take what you can out of this. If you're stuck on a number, just use the chart above as a reference.

This step is totally optional, but its something Ive been doing with my cards. You can give them custom fonts and even Cost and VP symbols. Here's what you want to do if you're interested in that:
1. Open the data folder that's in your MSE folder with your MSE.exe
2. Copy the BlankDC-standard.mse-style file and paste it back in the same folder. Rename it something like "BlankDC-YOURGAME.mse-style". NOTE: It must end with ".mse-style". Make sure the word "copy" isnt at the end of the file name.
3. Open it up. From here, you can do the following:
- Change the VP Symbol by putting the image you want as the VP symbol in that folder with the title "StarSym".
- Change the Cost symbol by putting the image you want as the Cost symbol in that folder with the title "CostSym".
- Change the text font. Open the "style" file with a word editor and look for the section under "################ Name Line". You can change the font after the word "name:" under the section "font:" You can do the same for the type and text by going to the same places under "############### Text Box" which includes both the text box and card type.

RECOMMENDED: I recommend that you change the size of the text in the text box to just 10 and the scale down to 5. I find that the text is a little too small to start with.

And there you have it! A guide to building your own Deck Builders. I hope this was helpful, and I look forward to seeing all the new Deck Builders that come out of this. I'll also be happy to take a look at anyone's and help them if they want it. Stay Awesome everyone!