A TCG (Trading Card Game) is a place online where you can join, play games (and do various other activities) to earn cards. These cards are meant to be collected and traded with other members.
To start, I know there are some other music-based TCGs. I'm not here for competition, if you like music on both then for Pete's sake, join both! Rhythm Theory came about when I decided in August of 2006 to start playing TCGs again after an extended hiatus. Musicality was gone, and I couldn't find a musical TCG with the type of music I'm interested in, so I decided to start my own. It gives me something to constantly work on, anyway.
First, read through this page. Second, make sure you carefully read through the rules. Pick out a card set you'd like to collect and don't forget to set up a trade post. Then go to the join page and sign up!
Trading posts should include the cards you have collected, along with the currency you currently have, a detailed log, a level badge, current card worth, and anything else pertaining to the TCG.
How your organize your cards is of no consequence to me, but I would prefer them organized in some way for easier viewing. If you must use a journal-style post, please use the direct-link to the Rhythm Theory portion, if possible, for your Trading Post link. Also, if your trading post is not in English, I will need an English version of at least the log. No exceptions, as this is the only way I can keep tabs on logs.
An example of a trade post can be found here. Put 'the rocker' after your name on the join form for an extra card.
In your trade log, I will expect to find a few things that shouldn't be too hard for you to include. Your log will be composed of entries that account for all of the cards and currency that you have collected on your trade post. The easiest way to do this is to start each entry with the date, then where you earned cards/currency and which cards/currency you earned from each activity (games, level ups, masters, etc). When you trade with someone, make an entry stating who you traded with and what was traded (which cards you gave and which you received).
Levels are based on your current card worth, not the number of cards you have. A card worth 2 will increase your number by 2 instead of the usual 1, for example. When leveling up, be sure to specify which choice cards you want in the form!
Levels 1 - 5: 1 card of choice and 3 random cards.
Levels 6-10: 2 cards of choice and 3 randoms.
Levels 11-15: 2 cards (or a special card) of choice and 4 randoms.
Levels 16-20: 2 cards (or a special card) of choice and 5 randoms.
Level Two:26-50
Level Three:51-75
Level Four:76-100
Level Five:101-150
Level Six:151-200
Level Seven:201-250
Level Eight:251-300
Level Nine:301-350
Level Ten:351-400
Level Eleven:401-475
Level Twelve:476-550
Level Thirteen:551-625
Level Fourteen:626-700
Level Fifteen:701-800
Level Sixteen:801-950
Level Seventeen:951-1100
Level Eighteen:1101-1250
Level Nineteen:1251-1400
Level Twenty:1401-1600+
The currency of Rhythm Theory are the following tokens:
These will be available to earn during games, and I will occasionally hand them out as rewards. To exchange your tokens for cards, please visit the Extras page for more information.
To master a set, you must collect every card in the deck. Your reward will be based on the type of deck and number of cards.
Regular Set - 10 Cards: 1 card of choice, 3 random cards
Regular Set - 15 Cards: 2 cards of choice, 3 random cards
Album Set - 10 Cards: 2 cards of choice, 4 random cards
Special Set - Worth 3: 3 cards of choice, 1 album card of choice, 5 random cards
The types of donations Rhythm Theory accepts are Level Badges, Master Badges, Link Buttons, Trade Cards, and Images for sets. You may donate one of each set per month, except Trade Cards, which have a limit of two, and image sets, which have a limit of three. Donations should be sent to rhythmtheorytcg(a)gmail.com, or posted in the appropriate section of the forums.
Level Badges: A set is considered ten badges, each a different level. Badges must be a reasonable size. Please name your file level01_yourname. For this donation, you will receive one card from your collecting set and five random cards.
Master Badges: A set is considered five badges. Badges must be a reasonable size. Please name your file setnamemaster_yourname. For this donation, you will receive one card from a collecting set and 3 random cards.
Link Buttons: A set is considered 3 buttons. Each button must be 88x31 or 100x35 pixels. Please name your file link1-yourname, and no matter how many you donate, keep going in numerical order as high as you need. For this donation, you will receive 3 random cards.
Trade Cards: One trade card should be 200x225 pixels and contain 20 squares for marking off and a name spot. Please name your file tradecard_yourname. For this donation, you will receive 3 random cards.
Images: A set is considered 20 good quality images. (Note: I know some bands don't have this many images - if the images are large and I can cut out individual members, I will accept less images - but still give me enough so I will have options!) I will let you know if I need more. Do not cut these images yourself. For this donation, you will receive 1 card from the new set from your images and 2 random cards. For donating three sets in one month (the limit), you will also receive one card of choice if and only if you donate all three at once. If you donate past the limit of monthly donations (image sets are the only kind I will accept past the limit) you will only receive 1 card from the new set.
Every time someone joins the TCG and lists you as their referral, I will send out one random card and you will also get to choose one regular card (two cards total). For every fifth member you refer, you will be awarded one random card and two cards of choice.
If you simply must quit Rhythm Theory, please fill out a form on the Contact page. In the comments section, just say you are leaving and list the sets that you have mastered. I will remove you from the site as soon as possible.
Yes, I'm a member of this TCG. I earn cards from updating games and creating decks. I receive the same amount of cards that playing games would earn, but I don't play the games every update, to be fair. For creating new decks, I take either one random card per deck, or a card from the new deck, but only one card per deck.
Feel free to head over to the contact page and let me know, I'll be happy to answer any of your questions. If I think your question is extra good (and other people might need the same answer and aren't asking) - I'll probably add it here.