This format is played with 1 core set and 0-2 expansions.
1. Shuffle all the mage ability cards and deal them evenly to each player face down, clockwise.
2. Each player looks at the ability cards they've been dealt (no one else sees) and chooses 1 to keep, and the rest to pass to the player on their left. After every player has decided on 1 mage ability card to keep, any remaining mages are set aside. The mage whose ability card you chose is the one you will play as.
3. Shuffle all the creatures and deal them out evenly to each player face down, clockwise.
4. Each player looks at the cards that were dealt to them and chooses 1 to keep, passing the rest on to their left. Keep track of the number of spellbook points you're using. At anytime you can choose to pass on choosing a creature card, in which case you cannot get another creature card. You are not allowed to include mage/school only spells in your spellbook that your mage would not normally be permitted to cast.
5. Once either everyone has passed or there are no more creature cards left to choose, repeat steps 3 and
4 for all the other card types in this order: conjurations, equipment, enchantments, incantations, and attacks.
6. You can have as many duplicates of a non-epic card in your spellbook as you want provided that the card is legal for your mage to know and you have the spellbook points for it. Your spellbook cannot exceed 120 spellbook points. When you have reached 120 points, you cannot include any more cards. Period.
7. If after going through all the card types any players do not have exactly 120 spellbook points, they must spend the remaining points on Decoys. If there are not enough Decoy cards remaining for them to use, they must use proxies.
8. Time to play!
What do you think?