diff --git a/card.gd b/card.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..817f9fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/card.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+extends Node
+
+# we want to use this to convert the mana cost into text 
+# in the helper text box, but thats for the future
+const ManaCosts = preload("res://data/mana.gd")
+
+var cached = false
+
+var card_id = "placedholder_id"
+var card_name = "placeholder_name"
+var card_type = "placeholder_card_type"
+var oracle_text = "placeholder_oracle_text"
+
+func _check_cache() -> bool:
+	## want to check the cache before we make any scryfall calls
+	return false
+
+func _do_scryfall_get(id) -> void:
+	# TODO: fetch the card here...
+
+	var fetched = false
+
+	if !fetched:
+		print("Failed to fetch card data from scryfall")
+
+	var card_content = "fetched_card_json" #TODO
+	var card_cache = FileAccess.open("user://card_cache/" + id + ".json", FileAccess.WRITE)
+	card_cache.store_string(card_content)
+	card_cache = null # closes the file
+
+	
+func load_card(id) -> void:
+	if !(_check_cache()):
+		_do_scryfall_get(id)
+	
+	var ondisk_card = FileAccess.open("user://card_cache/" + id + ".json", FileAccess.READ)
+	# parse json here to get card content
+	card_id = id
+	card_name = "loaded_cardname"
+	card_type = "loaded_type"
+	oracle_text = "loaded_oracletext"
+
+	ondisk_card = null
+	pass
+
+## these variables above will be used for the helper boxes we draw
+## on hover, to make cards easier to read
diff --git a/card.gd.uid b/card.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..458b657
--- /dev/null
+++ b/card.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://b3yqd1qu7dyq
diff --git a/data/mana.gd b/data/mana.gd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5f3ed67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/mana.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+enum ManaCosts {
+	WHITE,
+	BLUE,
+	BLACK,
+	RED,
+	GREEN,
+	COLOURLESS,
+	GENERIC, 
+	LIFE
+}
diff --git a/data/mana.gd.uid b/data/mana.gd.uid
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..14e0f51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/data/mana.gd.uid
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://brn2sbfea8fyf
diff --git a/project.godot b/project.godot
index c42aec0..753f1cc 100644
--- a/project.godot
+++ b/project.godot
@@ -14,3 +14,7 @@ config/name="mtg-tabletop"
 run/main_scene="uid://b4ldtb3gw0jlu"
 config/features=PackedStringArray("4.4", "Forward Plus")
 config/icon="res://icon.svg"
+
+[editor_plugins]
+
+enabled=PackedStringArray("res://addons/godot_vim/plugin.cfg")