Function Monster

A Function Monster is a type of monster introduced by HelixReactor. They are stored in their own Deck, the Function Deck.

Design
Function Monsters have a creamy border color. They do not have a Level, and instead possess a Complexity. Their effect box is split into three, from top to bottom: The Standby Effect, the Call Effect, and the Monster Effect.

Function Deck
The Function Deck is where Function Monsters are stored at the beginning of the Duel. It is placed on the left of the Extra Deck. Unlike the Extra Deck however, the Function Deck can only contain up to 5 cards. Furthermore, at the beginning of the Duel, it is shuffled, and the card on top of the Function Deck is placed face-up; it is said to be on Standby. If a Function Monster were to return to the Function Deck (for example because of an effect that would normally send a card to the hand), the Function Deck is shuffled again, however the card on Standby remains on top of the Function Deck.

Loading
Players that use the Function Deck gain the ability to load cards, and possess an additional stat, named the Load Count (or LC). Loading is the ability for a player to once per turn during their Main Phases send from their hand to the Graveyard any number of cards that are listed on the "Loading" line of their Function Monster on Standby. For each card a player loads, their Load Count is increased by 1. The Load Count's primary purpose is to allow Function Summons. In a Match, players retain their Load Count from the previous Duel.

Overloading
Overloading is the act for a player to load cards while (or as a result) their Load Count becomes higher than the complexity of their Function Monster on Standby. That Function Monster on Standby is then said to be Overloaded.

Standby Effect
As its name implies, the Function Effect is the effect to take into consideration while the Function Monster is on Standby. Standby Effect are typically only passive and Trigger effects.

Call Effect
The Call Effect is another effect that can only be used by a Function Monster on Standby. Unlike Standby Effects however, they are Ignition effects, and activating them requires sending the Function Monster on Standby to the Graveyard (There may be additional costs). Each player can only activate 1 Call Effect per turn. As the Function Monster on Standby leaves the Function Deck, the next card on top of the Function Deck is flipped face-up and becomes the new card on Standby. Keep in mind that Function Monsters that were send to the Graveyard for the activation of their Call Effect cannot be Special Summoned, as they have not been properly Function Summoned first.

Examples

 * Esoteric Butterfly
 * Gaia Storm, Defender of Cyberspace
 * Network Jar