I started collecting Akora for a series I am doing on YouTube. I do a pack opening after every workout as motivation. I enjoyed the art enough to look into the game and have been following its development ever since. I’ve sat in on a learn-to-play event, and lurk through general from time to time to ogle at people’s pulls. If you’re thinking of picking up Akora, the Discord is a great place to start.
Discord Tournament
If you’re trying to find a place to play Akora, there will be a free official tournament hosted this Sunday, March 17th, on the official Discord. The tournament will be online and played through the Tabletop Simulator through the official module. Make sure you have that installed and at least somewhat familiar with the program. The tournament marks the end of the Eternal Echoes season, which means it is too late to grind for those exclusive promos:
1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Prizing
1st Place: 1x Legendary Prize Pack, 1x Epic Prize Pack, 1x Loot Prize Pack, 1x EE 1st Place Prize Playmat
Disclaimer: Players must have an Akora Play account to participate and have their shipping address up to date on their Akora Play account to receive prizing!
Go Sign up now!
If you’re looking for a new TCG, looking for something to do, go sign up for the tournament! Tournaments are fun with more people. If you don’t know how to play Akora, the game is pretty easy to pick up. There is an official guide on YouTube, and there is always someone on Discord ready to help newbies.
While there will definitely be people trying to win, there will also be patient and understanding people trying to get more folks into the hobby. The game is interesting, it has cool art, and solid flavor. The event is free so if you have time, it doesn’t hurt to try it out. Check the official website for deck ideas. Go sign up today!
The Goiânia Pokémon regionals were this weekend, and we got to see some surprising archetypes show up. While I enjoy playing Lost Box, it is nice to see a list where most of the top decks aren’t running the engine. I know there will be some disappointment in seeing Snorlax Stall on top, but I love seeing how diverse the meta is heading to worlds.
I’ll leave links for the singles, but please be mindful of the upcoming rotation if you’re building decks to compete in official events. After April 5th (March 21st on PTCGL) all regulation “E” cards will be rotating out of the format. That means things like Celebrations Mew, Shinning Arcana Gardavior, and Radiant Greninja will be leaving the format. I’ve left the decks as is for historical purposes.
Always support your LGS, but you can always pick up Pokemon Products like the upcoming Temporal Forces set from TCG Player using my affiliate links. It really helps me out if you do. If you need any accessories like deck boxes or sleeves, pick them up at Gem Tech. Use my discount code churapereviews10 for 10% off your purchase.
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The Michigan Regionals were this weekend, and we got to see a few familiar faces do their thing. Tonoris seems to be carving his place in the meta while Zander shows his consistency yet again. It is cool to see the small tweaks and shifts in the meta as we get closer to words. I wonder what we’ll end up with?
I went ahead and collected lists for the top three decks, and I’ve left my affiliate links for the singles. Check with your LGS for a local scene and product, or use the Store Locator to find one. The Grand Archive TCG Discord is a fantastic source of news, information, and friendly faces to share the hobby with.
If you need any Grand Archive product, like the latest Alchemical Revolution set, get it over at TCG Player using my affiliate links. If you need accessories for your cards like decks, dice, or bags, get them over at Gem Tech. Use discount code churapereviews10 at checkout for 10% off your order.
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1 Gwendolyn, Spirit of Wind (You can use Spirit of the Wind) 1 Lorraine, Wandering Warrior 1 Tonoris, Lone Mercenary 1 Bulwark Sword 1 Fire Resonance Bauble 1 Grand Crusader’s Ring 1 Life Essence Amulet 1 Nullifying Lantern 1 Safeguard Amulet 1 Sword of Seeking 1 Water Resonance Bauble 1 Wind Resonance Bauble
I was sent a physical copy of the Alien the roleplaying game core book for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I’ll be honest with my impressions. I haven’t had a chance to run a campaign in the system yet, but I have read through the book and have some thoughts.
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Alien RPG takes players into the unforgiving vacuum of space as humanity makes its feeble attempt at conquering the universe. You and your crew have been brought together by the siren’s call of necessity. Whether you’re on this ship for money, knowledge, or fame, you are all insignificant against the vastness of the universe.
You are not alone, and the unknown is full of danger. Xenomorphs hunt you from the shadows, marauders chase after your cargo, or you can find yourself on the wrong side of a mutiny. To make matters worse, your resources are limited. While you are busy watching your back and doing your job, you must also manage your resources. Survival will take its toll, and as brave and tough as you may be, the stress will wear on you.
Alien RPG is a bleak and dark tale of survival and horror. There is no winning, you’re just trying to stay alive long enough to cash your paycheck. Do you have what it takes?
Gameplay
Alien RPG is a D6 system. Players roll a number of dice based on their stats and stress levels and succeed on every six they roll. You only need one 6 to succeed, but rolling additional 6s allows players to perform stunts. Stunts are helpful bonuses specific to the skill a player is rolling against. For example, a stunt when fighting could mean extra damage or let you help a teammate succeed in their role.
On the reverse side, failing can leave a player stressed. Stress that builds up leads to adverse effects that affect gameplay. You can waste your bullets and empty your clip or even go on a rampage and start killing your crewmates. Add all the rolls you need for survival, and you have a very unforgiving adventure, as you should expect from a game in the Alien universe.
Combat uses a simple D6 system with a few factors to affect the outcome, such as cover, enemy size, and aim. The panic, stress, stealth, and resource mechanics are what give combat its complexity. Do you have enough ammo to kill a Xenomorph? Do you have enough nerve to stay and fight? Is it even worth fighting?
In the end, Alien RPG is a game of survival, and its unique mechanics attempt to capture that spirit.
Thoughts
If you like physical media, the Core Rulebook is a solid purchase. You get a nice hardcover book with beautifully printed pages. The physical copy of the rulebook also gets you a copy of the PDF at no extra charge. I have both versions and while I like the convenience of the pdf, nothing beats that new book smell. I spent a lot of time just flipping through the pages and admiring all the beautiful illustrations.
If you are a fan of the Alien franchise, you’re going to love the amount of flavor that is put into this book. You’ll enjoy the carefully crafted sci-fi aesthetic, the carefully selected quotes and references, and the unique lore that fills its pages. I loved the lore and reading about all the factions, worlds, and aliens so much that I’m planning a deeper dive into the universe after this review. I’m already working on a list of books and movies.
The game itself seems like a solid RPG experience. The mechanics are simple to learn and seem to leave enough room for RP and drama. The book also includes enough lore, items, and monsters to fill a campaign. If you need a little extra help, the game also has tables for encounters, events, maps you can reference, and even a couple of quests you can use for one shot. If you’re thinking of running the game, the core rule book is a solid resource for any GM.
What I appreciate the most about this system is its flavor. As small as it may seem, I love that GM in Alien RPG is short for Game Mother. Aliens have a queen, and this game has one too and I love it! The rest of the game is filled with this bleak and almost hopeless adventure that can easily end from a bad roll, and I am here for it.
I am very impressed with how the survival mechanics work in this game. I love the stress of having to survive a situation where everything seems stacked against the players. It is a lot different than the fantasy we are used to at my table, so it may take some getting used to, but I think they can come around.
It’ll be a while before I run a campaign of Alien RPG, but we will get around to it eventually. I am getting ready to run The One Ringfor my group because even though I have read through my physical copy of the Alien RPG core rulebook, my friend wants to play Legolas and I got outvoted. Stay tuned for that.
If you’re looking for a new RPG that is dark, gritty, and full of danger, consider the Alien Roleplaying Game. You can pick up a copy of the core rulebook on the official Free League Publishing website ($54.21) or Amazon ($42.30) if you need it a little faster.
The Houston regionals were this weekend. If you missed it, the VODs are up on the Grand Archive official YouTube. It seems the meta is shaping up with some familiar archetypes, but it is nice to see some new cards starting to trickle in. Congratulations to Matt for getting first place.
A detailed list of the tournament’s standings and decklist can be found on Omnidex, but I went ahead and collected the top three for you. I’ll also leave links to the singles for those who need them. If you need any Grand Archive product, like the latest Alchemical Revolution set, get it over at TCG Player using my affiliate links. If you need accessories for your cards like decks, dice, or bags, get them over at Gem Tech. Use discount code churapereviews10 at checkout for 10% off your order.
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1 Spirit of Fire 1 Lorraine, Wandering Warrior 1 Rai, Spellcrafter 1 Lorraine, Blademaster 1 Arisanna, Lucent Arbiter 1 Channeling Stone 1 Discordia, Harp of Malice 1 Grand Crusader's Ring 1 Safeguard Amulet 1 Sword of Adversity 1 Tariff Ring 1 Viridian Protective Trinket
The March Banlist for the Grand Archive TCG has been posted. There were no changes from last month’s, but I thought I would post about them all the same. Join the official Grand Archive Discord to stay up to date with all the news and maybe find new friends in the hobby. Always check with your LGS for products and a local scene, but you can always find Grand Archive, like the newest Alchemical Revolution, on TCG Player through my affiliate links.And if you need accessories, get them over at Gem Tech. Use discount code churapereviews10 for 10% off your order. It really helps me out.
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There are still only three cards banned in the format: Currently, Sword of Avarice, Reckless Conversion, and Crystal of Empowerment. Make sure these cards are out of your deck if you’re going to any official events.
Watch List
The official announcement splits them into categories. There is only one category for bans (see above) and the other two are watch lists for cards that might be problematic with future releases. There are currently six cards on the watch list: Creative Shock, Varuck, Smoldering Spire, Dream Fairy, Freezing Hail, Erupting Rhapsody, Scepter of Lumina. This is just a watch list, so you don’t need to take them out of your decks just yet.
Savior of Chaos just dropped for Battle Spirits Saga, and the set looks amazing. I love the flavor of some of these monsters. I bet they look even better in person. Check with your LGS for events and product. If that isn’t an option, you can get your Savior of Chaos booster boxes, singles, or any other Battle Spirits product on TCG Player using my affiliate links. If you need something to keep your cards safe like bags, sleeves, or deck boxes, get them over at Gem Tech. Use discount code churapereviews10 for 10% off your purchase.
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The official Tales From The Loop Alchemy module is live on the marketplace, and in celebration, StartPlaying is hosting A Weekend in the Loop! Players from around the world wanting to join a game run by experienced and vetted game masters should take advantage of the event. StartPlaying is a site that connects players with professional Gamemasters. Sessions are paid, but steps have been taken to eliminate any guesswork that would go into finding some random on the internet. The event runs from March 7 – 10. There are seats available as of writing this.
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Alchemy RPG is a VTT that aims to enhance the focus on the story rather than combat through ambient sounds, music, visuals, and easy-to-use system integration. While DMs and players can upload their content to the platform to use freely, Alchemy RPG sells specially designed modules for its systems. Alchemy works closely with publishers to produce high-quality animated images and immersive soundscapes for these modules that are sure to bring your next story to the next level.
The platform also has an integrated voice chat function, end-user customization, and most importantly, it is easy to use.
The Alchemy Module
The emphasis on storytelling makes Alchemy RPG an excellent VTT for running a Tales From the Loop Campaign. There is no combat in the system. The focus of the RPG is to create this collaborative adventure with your friends. I’ve messed around a bit with the module, and am impressed with what it can do. Full disclosure, I did receive a copy of the module for free, but that doesn’t affect my options.
The VTT is easy to learn, which is important when you’re bringing people from different backgrounds to the table. I run games for a table of busy dads, and they don’t have the time to learn anything complicated. Simplicity is crucial for my pitch, and Alchemy RPG does it beautifully. I appreciate that moving parts like images and soundscapes are cool and impressive, but they aren’t distracting.
Most importantly, I like the convenience of the module. All the core rules and mechanics are preprogrammed, and I can easily pull and reference rules as needed. If you’re running a prewritten adventure, everything you need to run it is ready and neatly organized. Programing homebrew or anything outside of the modules doesn’t seem too tricky, but as a busy Dad myself, I appreciate not having to do it.
What is Tales From the Loop
I’ve done a post on the Tales From the Loop where I go into more detail that you should read if you have time. Tales From the Loop is essentially Stranger Things. In this alternate 80 timeline, technology has advanced unprecedently. Governments around the world race for supremacy, but there is a cost. In the small towns near these research facilities, strange things start to spring up. Only the kids in these sleepy boring towns seem to notice, and it is up to them to uncover what is going on. Gather your friends on a mystery adventure you’ll never forget.
The game doesn’t have combat or death, and the focus of the system is to create this collaborative narrative together. This means it can be a bit more roleplay-heavy than the typical RPG, but that isn’t always a bad thing. I’ve been playing with my current group for a couple of years now, and we’ve come a long way from the murder hobos we used to be. While I don’t think we’re ready for Tales From the Loop, we’re getting there. I recommend you check it out, it might surprise you how much you want it at your table.
I started opening packs of Akora on a series I am doing on my TikTok and YouTube. I wanted to open a booster pack of a random TCG as motivation and a way to catalog my progress. I started with Akora because I found a booster box of Spellbound Wings1st edition for cheap. The more I opened the box, the more I wanted to learn about it.
I’ve sat through the learn-to-play event on their official Discord and have even started reading through the Manga. I enjoy the art and I think the gameplay loop is interesting. If you want to learn how to play Akora, check out the instructional video on the Akora TCG Youtube:
There’s also a booklet you can read on the official website, but I’ll leave it here for your convenience:
Last night, more spoilers for the upcoming World Beyond were posted and I am hyped for the set. The art looks so good, and I thought I’d share to muster up more excitement! Purple is still my favorite color, but the other colors have some interesting stuff going on. I just hope I’m not broke and can make it to a prerelease. These seem to be special full arts that you are going to have to chase, but I’m about ready to throw some money I don’t have at this problem.
Conclusion
I’m impressed so far and can’t wait to see more. Check your LGS if they carry Akora or run events. If that’s not an option, the official Discord is pretty active with passionate fans ready for a game. If you want to pick up any Akora, like their latest set Eternal Echoes, pick it up on TCG Player. And if you’re need a place to store your cards like deck boxes, back packs, or other accessories, get it over at GemTech. Use my discount code churapereviews10 for 10% off your purchase.
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The Altered TCG Kickstarter has blown its goals out of the water and is sitting comfortably at $2,951,765. It is definitely going to break four million, so make sure you back the project and grab your product while it’s at Kickstarter prices. I’ve already written about Altered in a previous post, so start there if you want to know more about the TCG.
What is Altered TCG
Altered TCG is the game that intends to revolutionize the hobby. While most games have players combat against each other, Altered has players race against each other in an adventure. Choose your faction, and with the help of allies and magic, guide your faction leader over Asgartha in what promises to be an unforgettable adventure.
Impressions
While we wait for the launch, I went and took advantage of the print-and-play starter decks available on the official site. I started with the Muna and Yzmir decks. While I found myself enjoying the Muna deck a little more, there are mechanics in both that I enjoyed. Muna felt like a more aggressive deck, but Yzmir had some nice control. I don’t think I am smart enough for Yzmir, but I am willing to try.
I will commend the team for making the factions feel different in both flavor and playstyle, and I am curious to see what the rest of the factions have in store. I haven’t quite found the faction I want to main yet.
Altered feels like the perfect blend of board game and TCG. The game is easy to learn and understand, and it has some terrific flavor. I need to play a bit more, but here are some things that I like so far:
There aren’t any mana issues. At the start of your turn, you can discard cards into your mana zone and summon allies or cast spells using those cards. There is nothing worse than losing a game because you can’t play the game because you can’t find the right mana.
You don’t lose the game when you run out of cards, which means you can’t get milled. I am a little conflicted with this one because I love building mill decks in whatever game I play, but I play a lot of Pokemon where I mill myself because I am not paying attention. I would definitely mill out here so I appreciate the buffer.
The Reserve is an awesome mechanic. In Altered, creatures you summon need to rest, or leave the battlefield at the end of the day (turn). Unless they have the anchored ability, cards you cast go to your reserved zone. This is an extra zone that you can cast from. You can change up the cards that live in your reserve, and this will open up the game for some very cool plays.
The art is fantastic. The more I look at it, the more I appreciate the flavor and style that went into this game. I just want to crack some packs and hold these in my hands!
If you’re looking for a new TCG that is unlike anything you’ve played before and is fun, I recommend you check out the Altered Kickstarter. There are 13 days left for the campaign, so make sure you go back it now!
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