The Altered TCG Kickstarter launched recently, and it was fully funded in two minutes. The campaign has blown well past its goals, and continues to gain traction. Altered attempts to redefine the TCG space with its creative gameplay and expansive world-building. I’m a huge fan of the art, and am curious to see how it plays. Check out my previous post for more details.
The Kickstarter introduces six distinct starter decks based on the factions that exist within the Asgartha peninsula. Let’s kick things off by looking at the Ordis starter deck! Note that you’ll only be able to get Adventure cards from the starter decks at launch, so its a good idea to nab a couple.
If you want to try out the Axiom starter deck, take advantage of the generous print-and-play feature on the official website. Join the Discord to stay up to date, and even make some friends. The campaign ends on February 28th, so don’t forget to back the Kickstarter!
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Deck List
1 x Akesha & Taru
1 x Beauty Sleep
1 x Monolith Archivist
3 x Studious Disciple
1 x Tooth Fairy
3 x Yzmir Stargazer
3 x Lady of the Lake
2 x Baba Yaga
1 x Baba Yaga (Alt)
2 x Kadigiran Alchemist
1 x Kadigiran Alchemist (Alt)
2 x Alice
1 x Alice (Alt)
2 x Dorothy Gale
1 x Dorothy Gale (Alt)
2 x Sakarabru
1 x Sakarabru (Alt)
3 x Off you go!
3 x Spy Craft
3 x Banishing Gate
3 x Kraken’s Wrath
Print and Play
If you want to try out the Muna deck, you can download the PnP from the official site in both A4 and Letter format. I’ll also leave the files below for your convenience:
The Altered TCG Kickstarter launched recently, and it was fully funded in two minutes. The campaign has blown well past its goals, and continues to gain traction. Altered attempts to redefine the TCG space with its creative gameplay and expansive world-building. I’m a huge fan of the art, and am curious to see how it plays. Check out my previous post for more details.
The Kickstarter introduces six distinct starter decks based on the factions that exist within the Asgartha peninsula. Let’s kick things off by looking at the Muna starter deck! Note that starter decks are the only way to get Adventure cards at launch, so it might be good to buy a couple decks.
If you want to try out the Axiom starter deck, take advantage of the generous print-and-play feature on the official website. Join the Discord to stay up to date, and even make some friends. The campaign ends on February 28th, so don’t forget to back the Kickstarter!
If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends.
Deck List
1 x Teija & Nauraa
1 x Physical Training
1 x Lyra Cloth Dancer
3 x Kitsune
3 x Spindle Harvester
2 x Sneezer Shroom
1 x Sneezer Shroom (Alt)
2 x Yong-Su, Verdant Weaver
1 x Yong-Su, Verdant Weaver (Alt)
3 x Inari
3 x Daughter of Yggdrasil
3 x Muna Druid
3 x Cernunnos
1 x Parvati
2 x Coniferal Coneman
1 x Coniferal Coneman (Alt)
2 x Meditation Training
1 x Meditation Training
2 x Nurture (Alt)
1 x Nurture (Alt)
3 x Beauty Sleep
Print and Play
If you want to try out the Muna deck, you can download the PnP from the official site in both A4 and Letter format. I’ll also leave the files below for your convenience:
Alchemical Revolution 1st edition releases on January 26th, so don’t forget to put in your preorders. 27,000 1st edition boxes and 2,500 starter deck displays have been printed for this run. The 1st edition booster boxes won’t be reprinted and the starter decks might, so make sure you put in your preorder. Always support your LGS, but you can pick them up on TCG Player.
If you like anime, you are going to want to look into Grand Archive. I love the art, and this upcoming set looks amazing. Alchemical Revolution will include 214 movie cards and 227 foil variations. The set will introduce three new classes (Guardians, Cleric, and Ranger), three new elements (Neos, Astra, and Umbra), and three new starter decks (Arisanna, Diana, and Tonoris). I’ll be doing a deeper dive on the set in a future post, so stay tuned for that.
Booster Boxes will MSRP for $107.99, individual starter decks for $14.99, and you can pick up the starter deck displays for $134.99. You can pick up booster boxes close to MSRP ($110 including shipping) on TCG Player, but I would look for decks elsewhere. Currently they are out of stock, but you can keep checking to see if they go up after release. I’ll leave links just in case.
The best way to start is to check to see if your LGS will be holding any events for the release. There is also official print & play support for those of you who want to try it first, and an active discord for when you get hooked. I for one can’t wait to see more of the set because what I’ve seen so far has my hyped.
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I’ve been looking at the Weiss Schwarz TCG for a bit now because I like the art. Weiss Schwarz prints sets of popular IPs like Avatar the Last Air Bender, Sword Art Online, and Overlord, to name a few. There are some sets I am definitely thinking of collecting since the booster boxes aren’t expensive.
I’ll kick things off by showcasing the latest set, Guilty Gear -Strive-, released on December 15, 2023. I’ve never played the game, but some of these cards look so cool. A booster box of Guilty Gear -Strive- is only $60 on TCG Player which is cheap for a TCG.
Always support your LGS, but you can pick up Guilty Gear -Strive- or other Weiss Schwarz from TCG Player. I’ll leave links to the singles for anyone who wants them. If you like any of the IPs they cover or just want to collect some cool anime cards, check out Weiss Schwarz TCG.
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I’ve been looking at Grand Archive cards for a while because I like the art, and it seems like a neat game. If you like anime and want some neat collectibles, you might want to look into the TCG. I know I am a little late, but let’s start this showcase with the Fractured Crown set. The set has some very cool cards, and some that I want to get a hold of. The Fractured Crown booster box is only $45, which is very tempting.
Check with your LGS to see if they carry Grand Archive, but you can always pick up Fractured Crown and other Grand Archive products from TCG Player. I’ll also leave links to singles for those who need them.
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I’ve been running Dragonbanefor a couple of weeks now, and yesterday was the first game where only one of my players could make it. I was about to cancel the game, but my friend asked if I could run it anyway with just him. I’ve never run a 1 on 1 campaign before, but I figured there was no harm. He was ready to play, and I had a rough idea of what to run.
I’ve been going through the rewritten content in the core rule book, but I went a bit off-script for this adventure. It is always good to go off-script if that’s where the narrative takes you.
The party had made it to the Temple of the Purple Flames where a group of cultists opened a portal to the demon realm to bring forth their lord. The party found the portal and needed a way to close it before more demons got through. The book has rules on what happens if the players go through the portal. I ignored these and created an adventure out of it.
Prep
Prepping for the game took me thirty minutes. I run my game on Foundry VTT, and the official module has everything I need to put an impromptu adventure together. We used theater of the mind of this adventure, but having the stats and tables to roll from is always nice.
All I needed to do was comb through the bestiary for monsters to build thematic encounters and copy them to a new folder. I then wrote down some key descriptions to set the mood and created an NPC for roleplay and direction.
Gameplay
Dragonbane has rules for solo play, but I didn’t have enough time to look those over. Instead, I ran the game like normal but made a few adjustments that I thought worked out well.
For starters, I gave my player an extra turn in the initiative. I know there is a feat for that, but in the game, it was a blessing a random demon NPC gave him. This made it so that when he was outnumbered, he wasn’t waiting around for his turn. It also made boss encounters more exciting. Two turns gave him the option to parry or dodge without feeling like a turn was wasted. I also let him heal 1D6 for free after every encounter because I didn’t want to kill his character.
Reaction
The friend I ran this for is the least experienced in the group. We’ve been playing D&D for only a couple of years, and it was really cool to see how comfortable he’s gotten even with a new system. He came out of the gate roleplaying and got into character fairly quickly. I had designed the adventure thinking he would want to fight everything, but he kept trying to avoid conflict. I did my best to accommodate his creativity and had a blast crafting a unique narrative together.
One of the features that I like about Drabonbane is how they handle leveling. At the end of the session ask a series of questions to the table.
✦ 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?
Every yes gives players a marker they can use to level up a skill. Players roll a D20, and if the result is higher, the skill increases by one. For example, if the player wants to increase their Evade, they would use one of these markers to attempt to increase it. If their Evade score is 12, and they roll a 15, their new Evade score is 13.
What I like about this system is the question about overcoming an obstacle without using force. In Dungeons and Dragons, I had to go out of my way to describe NPCs as non-threatening because everything ended in a fight. In Dragonbane, my players try to find alternatives wherever possible because they want that extra mark for leveling. It makes for interesting RP moments, and it creates a nice balance of combat and Roleplay that I’ve enjoyed tremendously.
The extra turn made combat feel great. I did have a few issues balancing a couple of the encounters, but I was happy overall with the results. My friend ended up rolling the best he’s ever done. He rolled two dragons and saved at every pivotal point. It definitely made for an exciting session.
Conclusion
I’ve been having a lot of fun with Dragonbane, and running this 1 on 1 session was a real treat. It gave me a chance to hang out with my buddy and mess around in the system in ways we normally can’t. If you’re thinking about running a 1 on 1 adventure, go for it. Do your prep and have fun with it. For those of you interested in Dragonbane, I recommend you start with the free Quick Start guide.
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The San Antonio Pokemon regionals happened over the weekend, and we got to see some new archetypes hit the format. Charizard ex Finally takes the gold, and the Snorlax control continues to perform well. I’ll be listing the top five archetypes based on placement, and leave links for the singles using my affiliate links.
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1. Charizard ex
I know Charizard has its hate since it was released with Obsidian Flames, but it is such a good card. It’s bulky, it can hit hard when you’re behind in prizes, and its ability lets you power up your Pokémon. It’s not unbeatable, but it creates situations that are hard to come back from. The deck is easy to learn, and will make up most of your matches on PTCGL until the next tournament. Congratulations to Azul Garcia Griego for taking first place!
To no one’s surprise, Losttina continues to do well in the tournament despite Jirachi entering the format. There’s nothing wrong with silver, and if you’re looking for a fun deck to play, this is a solid choice. I’ve played a variation of this on PTCGL and loved every minute. Congratulations to Grant Hays for 2nd place!
Energy (13) 4 Jet Energy PAL 190 4 Psychic Energy 5 3 Grass Energy 1 2 Water Energy 3
3. Palkia VStar
Palkia VStar also made its appearance. Palkia VStar has always shown up to tournaments, but San Antonio is where it truly shined. This is going to be an archetype to look out for. Congratulations to Joseph Nawal for taking Palkia VStar to 3rd place.
I know there is a lot of hate for Snorlax control because it makes for boring games, but it’s a valid strategy. I am just happy to see the format change, and it’s a great excuse to bust out Alakazam ex. Congratulations to Calvin Conner for making top 5.
This doesn’t surprise me at all, Maraidon ex is strong right now. I’ve been playing it on the ladder and love it. It is easy to pick up and pilot, and it is a really quick deck. With the inclusion of Iron Hands ex, this deck is a beast! Congratulations to Nick Robinson for getting 7th place!
The team at Alchemy VTTis holding 1-hour workshops to teach players how to play Vaesen. Alchemy VTT aims to create an immersive experience that is easy to use and even easier to stream to your favorite platform. With features like integrated video chat, automated NPCs, and animated spells and effects, Alchemy VTT is sure to be a spectacular hit at some tables. You will need to buy your content and pay a subscription for added features, but it might be worth it for the experience it provides.
The seminar will feature the official Vaesen module for Alchemy VTT. The team will go over how to get started with game and character creation, and showing off some of the immersive gameplay Alchemy is capable of. If you are interested in checking out Vaesen or Alchemy VTT, make sure you sign up for one of the available time slots. (As of writing this)
DATE
TIME
12/27/2023
6 AM
12/28/2023
10 AM
1/2/2024
2 PM
I was sent a book to review before this announcement, so I’ll be joining the seminar for the free overview. I also don’t mind looking into a new VTT. The trailer made it look like such a neat experience, especially with all the integrated features.
The event is free to join, all you need is an Alchemy VTT account and you must join the official discord. It is really cool to see a VTT work closely with developers to not only create a catered experience for their players, but to also onboard new ones. So if you have an hour to spare and want to check out a new game, make sure you check out the seminar! Seats are filling up fast!
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What is Vaesen
In dark forests, beyond the mountains, by black lakes in hidden groves. At your doorstep. In the shadows, something stirs. Strange beings. Twisted creatures, lurking at the edge of vision. Watching. Waiting. Unseen by most, but not by you. You see them for what they really are. Vaesen.
Welcome to the Mythic North – northern Europe of the nineteenth century, but not as we know it today. A land where the myths are real. A cold reach covered by vast forests, its few cities lonely beacons of industry and enlightenment – a new civilization dawning. But in the countryside, the old ways still hold sway. There, people know what lurks in the dark.
They know to fear it.
– From the Free League Publishing website
Vaesen is a horror RPG where players solve supernatural mysteries. The art is beautiful, and the flavor is fantastic. I’ll need to run a few games in the system to judge it even further, but it has my attention. The core book will have everything you need to get started, like the rules, pre-generated characters, and a prewritten mystery. If Vaesen appeals to you, make some time to join in on the seminar.
Where to Buy
You can pick up the core book from the official Free League Publishing website ($52.91 + shipping). You also get access to the PDF so you won’t have to wait to get started. The core book is also available on Amazon ($64 book only) and DrivethruRPG ($24.99 pdf only).
The Core Rule book includes:
Ten ready to use archetypes let you create a character in minutes – or use the included life path tables and let the dice decide.
Quick and flavorful rules for combat, investigations and horror.
Rules for developing the player characters’ headquarters during campaign play.
A detailed gazetteer of the Mythic North setting and the town of Upsala.
A score of bloodcurdling vaesen to encounter, all beautifully illustrated by Johan Egerkrans.
An introductory Mystery called The Dance of Dreams.
If you like survival horror, zombies, The Walking Dead, or simply looking for a new system, check out The Walking Dead RPG. This officially licensed product puts players in the stressful post-apocalyptic world based on the popular series where the goal is survival, but there is no winning.
There are two ways to play the game: Campaign Mode and Survival Mode. Campaign Mode is played over a longer period of time. Choices the players make matter, and the table works together to create a communal narrative. Survival Mode features dangerous situations players need to overcome, like one-shots. However you choose to play it, the experience promises to be intense.
The art in this book is beautiful, and the system seems interesting. I was lucky enough to be sent an early copy and will post my review as soon as possible. I have to get through all my Dragonbane content first. Stay tuned for that.
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Physical Release
Core Rules ($47.96)
The Walking Dead RPG Core Rules book also get a copy of the PDF so you can get started while you wait for your copy.
A 40-page condensed rulebook. The game rules are based on the acclaimed Year Zero Engine, but further developed and uniquely tailored for The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Game.
The 16-page booklet The Wolves’ Den – presenting the first full‑length survival mode scenario for the game.
Six pre-generated characters to play.
Carol, Gabriel, Glenn and Michonne from the TV series as playable pre-generated characters.
A double-sided area map in format 558 mm × 432 mm, depicting an area north of Atlanta, Georgia, and a region in Virginia.
Three adventure maps in format 432 mm × 279 mm, showing locations in The Wolves’ Den scenario.
Ten custom Base Dice and as many Stress Dice, specifically designed for the game.
A Threat Meter, to keep track of the threat from walkers in the surroundings.
The Bundle ($116.90)
The Walking Dead RPG Bundle is currently on sale for $96.10 as of writing this post. I am not sure when the sale ends. The Bundle includes:
The full-color hardback Core Rulebook.
The boxed Starter Set.
A deluxe Game Master’s Screen in landscape format.
Digital
If you play online but want the book for your collection, make sure you use the discount codes TWDStarterVTTBundle or TWDCoreVTTBundle at checkout for 60% off the corresponding module when you buy both physical and digital versions.
Condensed rules. The game rules are based on the acclaimed Year Zero Engine, but further developed and uniquely tailored for The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Game.
The Wolves’ Den – presenting the first full‑length survival mode scenario for the game.
Six pre-generated characters to play.
Carol, Gabriel, Glenn and Michonne from the TV series as playable pre-generated characters.
Maps depicting an area north of Atlanta, Georgia, and a region in Virginia.
Three adventure maps showing locations in The Wolves’ Den scenario.
Paldean Fates releases on January 26, 2024. The mini set will include some exciting new cards and shiny versions of existing ones. This is a neat little set for those of you who want to pretty up your deck, or just need some shinys for the collection. Preorders for the Pokémon Center ETB and the Booster Bundle are up on the Pokémon Center site. Lets take a look at all the shinys!
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