Tag Archives: tabletop game

Grand Archive TCG Meta Watch: Ascent Taipei Top 3

June 14, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

Ascent Taipei was the first major tournament since the release Mercurial Heart. The Re:Collection decks showed their worth, taking two of the top three spots but Laureen continues to prove why she is queen. I’ve compiled a list of the top three deck lists and included links to singles for those who need it. If you’re trying to build the Tristana or Silivie deck, I recommend finding a recollection deck, even a searched one, and building out from there.

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials. I am currently doing pack openings of MRC on my TikTok and YouTube.

1. Lorraine – MHL #2069 (9-2-1)

Material Deck

Main Deck

Material Deck
1 Spirit of Wind
1 Lorraine, Wandering Warrior
1 Lorraine, Blademaster
1 Backup Charger
1 Grand Crusader’s Ring
1 Ornamental Greatsword
1 Prototype Pistol
1 Safeguard Amulet
1 Smoke Bombs
1 Sword of Seeking
1 Tariff Ring
1 Windpiercer

Main Deck
2 Charged Mannequin
2 Deflecting Edge
4 Gildas, Chronicler of Aesa
4 Lurking Assailant
4 Aesan Protector
4 Andronika, Eternal Herald
4 Armored Valkyrie
4 Cell Vanguard
4 Dream Fairy
2 Eternal Magistrate
4 Fairy Whispers
4 Favorable Winds
2 Hurricane Sweep
2 Rallied Advance
2 Reclaim
4 Shimmercloak Assassin
4 Stifling Trap
4 Windrider Vanguard

Sideboard
2 Charged Mannequin
2 Deflecting Edge
1 Eye of Argus
4 Swift Recruit
4 Trained Hawk

Tristan – TeamTrueCaban #1 (10-1-1)

Main Deck

Material Deck
1 Spirit of Wind
1 Tristan, Underhanded
1 Tristan, Hired Blade
1 Tristan, Shadowdancer
1 Tristan, Shadowreaver
1 Backup Charger
1 Grand Crusader’s Ring
1 Poisoned Dagger
1 Safeguard Amulet
1 Tariff Ring
1 Windwalker Boots
1 Shadow’s Claw

Main Deck
4 Dungeon Guide
2 Incapacitate
4 Mastermind Scheme
4 Sable Remnant
4 Sadi, Blood Harvester
1 Turbo Charge
3 Corhazi Outlook
2 Ensnaring Fumes
3 Fairy Whispers
3 Innervate Agility
4 Reclaim
1 Scout the Land
3 Shimmercloak Assassin
3 Sirocco Operative
3 Stifling Trap
4 Surveil the Winds
4 Veiling Breeze
4 Windmill Engineer
4 Shadowstrike

Sideboard
2 Incapacitate
2 Resolute Stand
2 Slice and Dice
3 Arrow Trap
3 Cleansing Reunion
1 Corhazi Outlook
1 Ensnaring Fumes
1 Stifling Trap

3. Spirit of Slime Silvie – Raylam #1246

Main Deck

Material Deck
1 Spirit of Slime
1 Silvie, Wilds Whisperer
1 Silvie, With the Pack
1 Silvie, Slime Sovereign
1 Backup Charger
1 Beastbond Paws
1 Quicksilver Grail
1 Covenant of Thorns
1 Gaia’s Blessing
1 Horn of Beastcalling
1 Stonescale Band
1 Verdant Scepter

Main Deck
4 Baby Gray Slime
1 Bestial Frenzy
4 Dungeon Guide
2 Engineered Slime
2 Escape the Wreckage
4 Forest Cake
4 Limitless Slime
1 Turbo Charge
4 Baby Red Slime
4 Slime Eruption
2 Baby Blue Slime
4 Gather Slimes
4 Baby Green Slime
2 Green Slime
3 Slimeshield
4 Storm Slime
4 Ethereal Slime
2 Lustrous Slime
2 Slime King
3 Vampiric Slime

Sideboard
1 Viridian Protective Trinket
1 Bestial Frenzy
2 Blanche, Sheltering Saint
3 Incapacitate
2 Reprogram
2 Resolute Stand
2 Hymn of Gaia’s Grace

Grand Archive TCG

Grand Archive TCG: June 2024 Ban Update is Live

June 13, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

The new ban list has been posted, and while there were no new action bans, Corhazi Outlook has been added to the watch list, while Varuck and Freezing Hail have been removed. While it is still safe to run Corhazi Outlook, the day may come when it is banned. The rest of the list has remained unchanged. Make sure you are compliant before hitting up locals. Check out the official ban list page for the full details.

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking for Grand Archive product, like the new Mercurial Heart, get it over at TCG Player using my affiliate link. Don’t forget to follow the socials. I am doing Mercurial Heart pack openings on my YouTube and Twitch.

Ban List

Category 2 Watch List

Grand Archive has two watch lists, category 1 and 2. Category 2 is the list with the highest potential of getting banned. While you are find playing cards in this list for now, you should probably start looking for replacements in future lists. Erupting Rhapsody is the only card on this list.

Category 1 Watch List

Cards in this list may one day get banned, but they are still safe to play. Cards that get added to this list are being watched for their potential for breaking the format in future sets. Varuck and Freezing Hail have been removed and Corhazi Outlook has been added. The full watch list is as follows:

Grand Archive TCG

Grand Archive: Changes to the Sideboard and New Ban List 05/24

May 20, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

The Mercurial Heart season is here, and there are a couple of changes that you should be aware of if you’re trying to play the game competitively. There are new sideboarding rules, and the ban list has been updated.

If you haven’t picked up any Mercurial Heart, always support your LGS, but you can pick some up on TCG Player through my affiliate links. If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

Changes to the Sideboard

Players are now allowed to have 15 cards in their deck as opposed the eight previously allowed. Please note that material deck cards such as Champion and Regalia take up three slots in this new system. That means that the sideboard can be made up of 5 material deck cards and 0 main deck cards, 0 material deck cards and 15 main deck cards, or a combination of the two.

Ban and Restricted List Update

Banned

There are no new bans this month, but keep in mind that following remain banned:

Category 2

Erupting Rhapsody has been moved up a category to the watch list. This means you should probably start making your decks without it in your decks because it is heading towards the chopping block.

Category 1

Chalice of blood has been added to the category 1 watch list. Category 1 is for the cards that the devs are watching as problematic, but there is no danger of a immanent ban. You can fill your decks with the following, but be mindful that a ban might come some day.

You can read the reasons for the changes on the official post.

Board Games and TCGs

I am Really Enjoying Running the One Ring RPG so far

May 14, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I’ve been running The One Ring RPG starter set for a couple of weeks now. Yesterday we went off script, and we had a ton of fun with the wacky story we ended up with. Please note I was sent a free copy of the rulebook and the starter set PDFs to review for my blog. While I am very grateful, I will always be honest with my impressions and reviews.

If you enjoy these reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is The One Ring RPG?

The One Ring RPG is a fantasy TTRPG based in the world of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. The events of the RPG are meant to exist between The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, but you don’t need to be a fan of the series to enjoy this game. None of us are big LOTR fans or super-versed in the lore. You can play the game with just the rules and make up the lore. We do a bit of both since I do have a couple of players who enjoy the lore included with the books, and I like to reward them for doing the work. If you enjoy high fantasy, story-driven campaigns loaded with Lord of the Rings flavor, this is a solid TTRPG.

Impressions

I was a little afraid to run this game because it is more heavily narrative-driven compared to other games I’ve run. This is the kind of game where you’ll need to be comfortable with your playgroup and your improved skills to keep the story going. This isn’t a game for those who enjoy min-maxing combat. While the combat is creative and fun, it is designed for storytelling. We play The One Ring using theater of the mind, and I let my players describe what happens based on the rolls. It got really fun once we adjusted the new combat system.

Running the Starter set was a good way to get my players comfortable with the system. I made a couple of adjustments to the first couple of quests, but I’ve run them pretty much to the letter. Yesterday my players wanted to explore some random town on the map because it had a funny name, and I ran with it. I picked a couple of enemies from the core rulebook, and we made up the rest on the spot.

This random, off-script detour was probably the most fun we had with the system. The dice rolls did their part in making the arc epic, but the inside jokes, the dumb lore we made up, and the friendship we’ve built over the last three years of playing TTRPGs made it all memorable.

The One Ring’s mechanics give players and GMs the freedom to tell an epic Lord of the Rings story. To run a successful campaign, game masters need to know when and where to bend the rules, and when to go off script. The adventures in the starter set do a solid job of onboarding new players, but you shouldn’t be afraid of visiting a random town, especially if you’re uncomfortable with the lore. We make up lore all the time.

Fans of the source material will enjoy the flavor, lore, and mechanics. Those who are only here for the fantasy will enjoy the storytelling. If you’re looking for a game that is a bit more combat-focused or aren’t quite comfortable with your improvisation, I would hold off. The One Ring is a solid RPG, but it is made for a specific type of fan. It’s not going to be a fit at every table.

As a group of casual dads who like to mess around once a week, we’re enjoying it for what it is.

Board Games and TCGs

I Found the Pathfinder 2E GM Core Book Impressive

May 8, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I am excited to announce that I recently started a partnership with Paizo, the creators of Pathfinder and Starfinder. I’ll be covering both games moving forward and will start with the GM Core book.

Please note that I was sent free copies of a few of the rulebooks. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity, but I won’t let it sway any of my opinions. I am still running The One Ring, so I haven’t gotten to running a session of Pathfinder. I have read the book, and these are my honest impressions.

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

What is Pathfinder?

To put it simply, Pathfinder is the version of Dungeons and Dragons you play when you need something more technical. The amount of rules and details loaded in this book can seem overwhelming to the casual TTRPG enthusiast, but it does fit in its niche nicely. If you’re looking for an alternative to D&D, Pathfinder is a solid option. The game is familiar enough for an easy transition but with its unique vibe. This is a fantasy TTRPG that gives GMs everything they need to run their own campaigns, but there is quite a bit of prewritten content for those who need the help.

Impressions

I’ve read through a few different rulebooks, and the Pathfinder GM Core for 2nd Edition is by far the most detailed. This book goes into great detail on how to properly run every single mechanic of this game with tables, charts, and beautiful illustrations. This almost 400 book may seem daunting, especially to new GMs, but you aren’t reading this book cover to cover, and you aren’t going to use all the rules. This is a terrific reference, and you always have the freedom to run Pathfinder in the way that best fits your table. The book gives alternative rules so that you can run your game as casual or hardcore as you want.

What I loved most about the book is how it dedicates its first few chapters to onboarding new GMs to roleplaying games. I know most experienced GMs will skip through this section because it feels like common knowledge, but there is some good advice that translates beautifully into other RPGs.

Pathfinder seems like a solid fantasy RPG with an incredible amount of content. If you’re thinking of running this system, the GM Core has absolutely everything you need to run a successful campaign. It’s going to seem like a lot, especially for the more casual players, but it’s not that bad. Most of the book is spent on item and monster starts, charts, and ideas for settings, encounters, and plot hooks. Pathfinder is the game you get when you want everything spelled out, just in case you need it.

You can pick up your copy of the Pathfinder GM Core 2E hardcover off Amazon for $59.99 (Currently $44.70) using my affiliate link. If you don’t care about physical media, or want the ability to search, you can pick up the PDF on the official Paizo website.

Other TCGs

Order World Beyond Product on Official Akora Website Today!

April 27, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

World Beyond is officially live on the Akora website. If you’re trying to get into Akora, this is a solid set to start with. The set will include some exclusive promos you’re going to want to get your hands on. While I enjoy the cozy vibes of the older sets, this new set has some art cards I want in my collection. Too bad I don’t get paid till Tuesday. Stock is still available, but it is limited. Act before they’re gone!

You can find out more details about World Beyond from the official website and Discord. I’ve also collected all the spoilers in a post for those who want it. If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials. I am opening packs of Spellbound Wings on my TikTok and YouTube.

Full Store

Collectors Box $150

Blister Pack $9

Fire Theme Deck $15

Darkness Theme Deck $15

Board Games and TCGs

Dragonbane is a Beautiful Addition to my TTRPG Collection

April 21, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I was sent a free copy of the Dragonbane core rulebook to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you need to buy any trading cards, pick them up on TCG Player through my affiliate link. Don’t forget to follow the socials!

The Book

The Rulebook includes the rules, bestiary, roll tables to get you started on your own adventure. It also includes an introductory adventure if you need a good starting point.

Quality

I am a little disappointed that the cover has a glossy finish because it is going to be covered in fingerprints by the end of any session. You can easily clean it, but I wish it were matte instead. This is not a deal breaker because the book is beautiful. The images truly pop on its fine paper, and it is going to look great at your table. I have the PDF, and while I enjoy the convenience of the search function, nothing beats flipping through the pages and looking at all the pretty illustrations.

What is Dragonbane?

Dragonbane is Fantasy TTRPG brought to us by our friends over at Free League Publishing. It is an easy-to-learn system with some terrific flavor and interesting mechanics. If you’re looking for a new RPG, you are going to want to look into Dragonbane. I’ve covered this game before, so make sure you check out my older posts if you want to know more.

What I enjoy about Dragonbane

What makes Dragonbane unique is its leveling system. Classes in Dragonban act as a starting template, but players have the freedom to explore their character in whatever way feels best. Want to play a wizard who is also good at sword fighting? Dragonbane can accommodate, so long as you pass the checks.

What I enjoyed most about Dragonbane is how experience points are handled. At the end of every session, players are asked:

✦ Did you participate in the game session?

✦ Did you explore a new location?

✦ Did you defeat one or more dangerous adversaries?

✦ Did you overcome an obstacle without using force?

✦ Did you give in to your weakness (optional rule)?

Players get a point for every yes. We didn’t play with weaknesses, so they had 4 points every session to level. These points could be used to attempt to level up their skills once. Players need to roll a D20 and roll a number bigger than the skill they are trying to level. Say they have a 4 in their sword skill, they will need to roll 4 or higher to level up. My players liked this tangible form of XP, and the gambling aspect made things interesting. Sometimes you leveled all 4 skills, sometimes you didn’t level any.

What I particularly appreciated about this system is that it made creative with their encounters. They would always try to get out of an encounter without using force. This always led to interesting roleplay and took my players from being somewhat murder hobos to more developed player characters.

Dragonbane also has an interesting combat system that I enjoyed as both a player and a GM. Dragonbane uses cards for initiative which eliminates rolling and bonuses. Players and creatures draw from the same card and the lowest number goes first. These turns can be traded, which gives potential to some cool strategy. Players only have one action or reaction per round, which means they are either attacking or defending. There were times when players were on death’s door, and a lucky dodge roll kept them in the fight long enough to earn that epic kill.

I particularly enjoy that monsters have roll tables for their actions. Running a monster had the excitement of uncertainty. Would the monster kill a player with a powerful attack? Will it stun the party for another turn? Some of the tabled do need tweaking because they felt underwhelming, but I enjoyed the randomness.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been championing Dragonbane for a while now. I’ve run through both the quickstart and the prewritten adventure and enjoyed every minute of it. I did go off-script a lot in this game, but I used as much of the flavor as I could fit. The game is a great little system, and the book is a beautiful addition to my collection. This is one of the books I really wanted because of how much I enjoyed the game and how much I love the art. I fell in love with Dragonbane because of the art. My interest in Dragonbane is also why I have the wonderful opportunity to try all these cool indie TTRPGs.

You don’t need to buy the rulebook to play Dragonbane. I recommend you check out the free quickstart guide below, or on Drivethru RPG to get you started. The quickstart has a prewritten adventure to run and pre-generated characters to choose from. It is a streamlined version of the game, but it provides a solid snap shot of what to expect from Dragonbane.

Dragonbane_Quickstart_Guide_v1 Download

Once you fall in love with Dragonbane, you can make due with the PDF, pencils, and paper. If you like physical media, the book is so pretty and printed to the high quality standards I’ve come to expect from Free League Publishing.

Pick up your copy of the Dragonbane Rulebook on Amazon for $39.99.

Other TCGs

Played my First Game of Lorcana on Pixelborn it was Awesome

April 17, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I finally got around to playing Lorcana, and I am a fan. The game is easy to learn, and you can play online through the third-party Pixelborn app for free with a minimal amount of tinkering.

How to Play Lorcana

The best way to learn Lorcana is by playing, but Dicebreakers has a fantastic tutorial on their YouTube if you need help getting started. I recommend setting up Pixelborn so you can try out the game for free to see if you like it, but starting with your favorite starter deck is a valid option.

Gameplay

The gameplay is pretty casual TCG. All the actions happen on a player’s turn, so you don’t have to worry about things like counterspells. The main trick to this game is managing resources. You need to be aware of what cards you throw in your ink well, when to challenge other characters, and when to send characters on quests. Keywords add some complexity to this loop, but Lorcana never felt like it was an overwhelming ammount of moving parts. At least based on the games I played with a friend who was also playing for the first time.

How to Play Lorcana for Free

There are three ways to play Lorcana online for free: Tabletop Simulator, untap.in, and Pixelborn.

Tabletop Simulator

Tabletop Simulator is a fantastic piece of software, especially if you enjoy playing board games and trading card games. Indie trading card games always typically have official TTS modules and a vibrant community around them. The issue with TTS is that you have to buy the software ($30), but the modules are free. Another issue with the TTS is that it is a little clunky. Once you get used to the software, you don’t notice it, but it is there. Lastly, you have to be a bit more active with your matchmaking. You either find the discord to find people to play with, have friends who also have TTS who are down to play, find a room playing Lorcana, or make your own and wait for someone to join. It’s not an impossible task, but it is a little inconvenient compared to Pixelborn. That said, Tabletop Simulator is a fantastic option, especially if you’re interested in other board games. This is the Lorcana Module I used.

Untap.in

Untap.in is a browser-based solution for Lorcana and other popular TCGs. If you don’t have the hardware to run TTS or want something more simple, untap.in is a fantastic solution. The problem with untap is that you either have to have friends who play, find a lobby hosting a game, or look for a game on Reddit. It’s not impossible, but again, lacks convenience. But if you want to jump between other TCGs for free, it’s a great and simple tool that doesn’t take too many resources.

Pixelborn

Pixelborn is my favorite way to play Lorcana. It does take a bit of tinkering to get it to work, but it isn’t a complicated process. There is a fantastic tutorial on this fansite to get you started. Pixelborn looks great, runs well, and has a lot of phases and mechanics programmed to make learning easy. Best of all Pixelborn has integrated matchmaking. It can take some time to find a match depending on when you get on, but it should get easier if the game gets more popular. There are ranked and casual ladders, and tournaments as well. If you want the easiest, freest way to get into Lorcana, play it on Pixelborn.

How to Install Pixelborn

There are instructions on the official Pixelborn Discord on how to install the program. I’d join the Discord to meet other folks who also love the game, and to be on top of the news. This fan page has a great tutorial and all the links you need to get you started.

Impressions

I enjoyed Lorcana. I’ve always been a fan of the art, but I enjoyed the mechanics of the game. Now that I have a friend to play with, I will be playing it more regularly. I never get to see this friend, so its nice to have something we can share. If you’re looking for a casual game that is easy to learn and teach, Lorcana is a fantastic place to start.

Grand Archive TCG

Grand Archive Path of Silver: New Competitive Mode for Collectors

April 12, 2024 josechurape 1 Comment

Ascent Worlds is coming to Las Vagas on May 11 to the 12th. It will be an exciting time for fans of the competitive scene, I can’t wait to see what deck comes out on top. Tickets are still available.

Recently, Weebs of the Shore announced the Path of Silver event that will also be happening at Worlds. Collectors will have a chance to compete for some exclusive promos without having to play the game. This is fantastic news for those who aren’t good at the TCG or collectors of the game and still have a chance at some of the beautiful promos Weebs of the Shore hands out as prizes.

How it Works

The competition is limited to 200 participants. Participants must build a 50-card deck from their collection. You can look up the card value on the official database. A special multiplier will be announced during the day of the competition to shake things up. The person with the most points wins. You must submit your list through Omnidex before the event and have the physical card on hand. Make sure you have an account. Check the official post for the full details.

Top Prize Promo

These promos are so cool, and they’re going to look even better in person!

Catagory Prize Promos

Conclusion

This is a very cool idea to encourage collecting. I like that it rewards collectors who want to enjoy the game, but don’t want to dip into the competitive scene. The multiplier is an interesting idea for making the contest a little less pay-to-win, but I have to see it in action first.

The contest has some solid prize support, so make sure you go through your collection and get out there. Always support your LGS, but if you need Grand Archive singles for the competition, you can always pick them up on TCG Player through my affiliate link.

If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. Don’t forget to follow the socials! I’m doing pack openings of Battle Spirits Saga on my TikTok and YouTube.

Grand Archive TCG

All the Mercurial Heart Spoiler Art so far – Grand Archive TCG

April 5, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

There have been more spoilers since this post: Check the latest round of spoilers

As we gear up for Grand Archive’s Worlds on May 10th – 11th, I’ve gathered a few spoilers to get us excited for both the event in Vagas and the upcoming set, Mercurial Heart. The set releases on May 17 which means we’re getting close to spoiler season! There will be an exclusive Pre-Release event at Worlds. Make sure you sign up if you’re attending!

I’ll be including all the spoilers to have so far to have them all in one convenient place. If you enjoy these updates, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you need any Grand Archive, like the latest Alchemical Revolution set, get it over at TCG Player through my affiliate link. Don’t forget to follow the socials! I started cracking packs of Battle Spirits Saga on my YouTube and TikTok.

Words’ Prize Card

Winners of worlds will receive this unique Apotheosis Rite. This card is beautiful, and it makes me wish I could make it to locals. Good luck to everyone competing, I am extremely jealous.