World of Warcraft Trading Card Game

World of Warcraft Trading Card Game

WoW TCG card back design
Designer	Mike Hummel, Brian Kibler, Danny Mandel
Publisher	Upper Deck Entertainment
Players	Two and up
Age range	13 and up
Setup time	< 3 minutes
Playing time	approximately 20 minutes
Random chance	Some
Skills required	Card playing Arithmetic

The World of Warcraft Trading Card Game is a collectible card game based on Blizzard Entertainment's MMORPG, World of Warcraft. The game was announced by Upper Deck Entertainment on August 18, 2005, and released on October 25, 2006. Players can fight against each other one-on-one, or can join others in order to defeat raid bosses such as Onyxia, Ragnaros or Magtheridon.

Game details

In this trading card game (TCG), each player uses a hero card and a deck consisting of allies and other supporting cards. In booster and starter packs, gamers can find cards representing weapons, abilities, armor, items and quests. Some booster packs also contain legendary rares, or loot cards (i.e., special versions of normal cards) which contain a scratch-off code. This code can then be redeemed in the online game for a virtual prize. The prizes include special tabards, gimmick items and mounts.

During play, players start with a single hero, and then play additional cards to augment the hero's powers or add additional members to his or her party. As in games such as Magic: The Gathering, the goal is to reduce the remaining health of the opponent to zero. Unlike Magic, combat attacks are always directed at individual heroes or allies, rather than simply declaring an attack with a number of creatures. Furthermore, damage done to allies accumulates between turns, making combat more expensive for both the attacker and defender.

Raid Decks

In addition to standard 2-player game play, the game also features "Raid Decks", representing struggles involving large numbers of players against epic foes. These need 1 "Raid Master" and 3 to 5 other players. The Raid Master controls all monsters and foes, while the other players control the characters participating in the raid. Players who are victorious may be able to win certain "loot" cards from the treasure pack that came with the deck.

A treasure pack contains holofoils, and sometimes contains a random insertion of a "loot" card. Upper Deck Entertainment also made treasure packs available from their UDE points store, although the cards in these packs are not holofoil.

The first raid deck, released in December 2006, features the dragon Onyxia (including stage 1, 2, and 3). The second, set within the Molten Core, was released May, 2007. The third Raid Deck is Magtheridon's Lair, which was released on January 16, 2008. The fourth Raid Deck, The Black Temple, was released on September 23, 2008. The fifth raid deck, called Naxxramas Raid Deck, will be released December 15th, 2009.

Artwork

As with many trading card games, the card art is drawn by a variety of different artists with different styles.

Some of the card art is being done by Penny Arcade's Mike Krahulik ("Gabe"). In the May 26, 2006 update of the Penny Arcade site, Krahulik revealed his artwork for a card that was based on the exploits of Leeroy Jenkins.

Other artists include Doug Alexander, Julie Bell, Mauro Cascioli, Matt Dixon, Alex Horley, Todd McFarlane, Jeremy Mohler, Ariel Olivetti, Dan Scott, Greg Staples, Mike Sutfin, Samwise, Boris Vallejo and many more.

Card types

The following types of cards are featured in the game:

• Hero - The character which a given player is playing as. Each player starts with a hero, and it is the hero which determines what other cards can be utilized or included in the deck (e.g., Horde heroes can only have Horde allies). The hero card provides information about starting health, race, class, specializations, and professions. Lastly, each hero has a unique power which can be used once per game (after which, the hero card is turned face down).

• Master Hero - Master Hero cards replace a player's hero in favor of a new card. However, Master Heroes still work like regular cards with a casting cost. The original hero is removed from the game and any damage, abilities, equipment, tokens or attachments that were on the hero beforehand is brought onto the Master Hero. Master Heroes, unless specified otherwise, can use all equipment and abilities, but abilities on cards that look for specific types cannot be activated. Abilities originally on heroes do not carry on to the Master Hero.

• Ability - Cards played from the hand to cause some immediate impact to the game. Abilities can either be of the standard type, able to played only during one's turn, or can be instant abilities, able to be played at virtually any time. As with a number of the cards, many abilities include a trait icon, which limits what classes can include the card in their decks.

• Armor - Defensive cards which protect the player from damage. Once played, by paying the appropriate resource cost, armor can be exhausted each turn in order to reduce damage dealt to a player's hero. Players are limited in how many different pieces of armor they may equip on any given "body part" (e.g., only one piece of chest armor at a time). Armor cards may also have additional effects above and beyond their defensive value.

• Weapon - Offensive cards which can augment a player's melee or ranged capabilities, as well as provide other benefits. As with armor cards, players are limited on how many weapons they may have equipped at once. In order to use a weapon card to increase attack power during combat, a player must pay a resource cost associated with the weapon. Weapons can be used when either attacking or defending, but usually only one weapon can be used per combat.

• Quest - Special cards which act as resource cards, but with additional abilities. Quests can be completed by fulfilling a condition described on the card. When this is done, a reward is earned (e.g., drawing additional cards) and the quest is normally turned face down.

• Ally - Other individuals and companions who assist and fight on behalf of the main hero. Most allies are affiliated with either the Horde or the Alliance, so only cards matching the hero's own affiliation are permitted in a deck. Neutral allies can be included in either faction. Once brought into play by paying the appropriate cost, allies remain until destroyed or removed from play. Allies can attack (or be attacked), and can also provide special powers or abilities.

• Location - Location cards are similar to quest cards, but are not turned face down to use their abilities. Only one location can be controlled at a time, even if locations have different names.

• Loot - Loot cards are special versions of cards which can be used within the card game (e.g., as normal allies), but which also contain a scratch-off code. This code can be entered into the website for the online game, which will provide a unique in-game item.

Products

The following products are available or have been announced:

• Starter Deck - This UDEck box contains: A pre-constructed deck consisting of 33 fixed cards built around one of the 9 classes, 2 booster packs, 3 oversized hero cards and a rulebook. These decks contain 1 rare, 6 uncommons, and the rest are commons. Starter decks released so far:
  • Heroes of Azeroth Starter Deck
  • Through the Dark Portal Starter Deck
  • March of the Legion Starter Deck
• Battle Deck - A PvP variation of the Starter Deck that contains: 2 pre-constructed decks consisting of 44 fixed cards, 3 oversized hero cards and 8 exclusive allies.

^[1]

• Booster pack - 15 random cards - 10 commons, 3 uncommons, 1 rare or epic, and 1 hero card or loot card. Booster packs also have one UDE point card redeemable online. ^[2] Boosters are available for all released card sets. Starting with March of the Legion, Booster packs will contain 19 random cards: 3 extra commons and 1 extra uncommon.^[3]

• Raid Decks - Raid Decks are specially designed decks used for a cooperative experience. They combine elements from the World of Warcraft (the team-based questing), and Dungeons and Dragons (the Deck Master).
  • Onyxia's Lair Raid Deck - 3 epic raid boss cards, a 60-card ability deck, a 30-card event deck, 20 Onyxia Whelp tokens, and a 10-card treasure pack, as well as special rules for the deck.
  • Molten Core Raid Deck - 10 epic boss cards, from Lucifron to Ragnaros the Firelord. This deck includes a main deck for the first 9 bosses, tokens to represent different Minions and a separate deck for Ragnaros. It has a different ruleset than the Onyxia's Lair Raid Deck. It comes with a 10-card treasure pack.
  • Magtheridon's Lair - Contains the Pit Lord Magtheridon, his shadow channelers, and the cubes required to interact with him.
  • Black Temple Raid Deck - The fourth raid deck contains a 10 hero raid set with heroes such as Supremus and "The Betrayer". The treasure pack contained 12 cards including the 2 Warglaves and the Illidan Stormrage Master Hero card.

• Bonus Card Sets - Bonus card sets are released independently to mark special events or dates.
  • Burning Crusade Set - A set of 3 cards to mark the WOW expansion of The Burning Crusade. Two Heroes of Azeroth starter decks were included alongside the exclusive cards.
  • Wrath of the Lich King Set - 2 exclusive cards were included in the Collector's Edition of WotLK with 2 March of the Legion starter decks.
  • Feast of Winter Veil - A special collector's set released in November 2007 which corresponds with the holiday in the online game. This comes in a presentation box which contains a booster pack from Heroes of Azeroth, Through the Dark Portal or Fires of Outland, a deck box and 10 Winter Veil themed cards, as well as 2 vanity pets.
  • Darkmoon Faire - A special collector's set released in September 2008 which includes 5 preset Darkmoon Faire themed cards and 2 Through the Dark Portal booster packs.
  • Arena Grand Melee - A small collector's set released to supplement the Arena theme. This was released with two decks; one for the Alliance and one for the Horde.

Sets Released

• Heroes of Azeroth (released October 2006)
• Through the Dark Portal (released April 2007)
• Fires of Outland (released August 2007)
• March of The Legion (released December 2007)
• Servants of the Betrayer (released April 2008)
• The Hunt for Illidan (released July 2008)
• Drums of War (released November 2008)
• Blood of Gladiators (released March 2009)
• Fields of Honor (released June 2009)

The color of the set number on the card indicates its rarity, using a rarity system similar to that of the online game; white for common, green for uncommon, blue for rare, purple for epic, and orange for legendary. ^[4]

Spectral Tiger loot card

Events

Along with weekly battleground tournaments at local hobby stores, Upper Deck Entertainment hosts "Darkmoon Faires." Darkmoon Faires are a weekend event from Friday through Sunday in cities all across the world.

Previously, the most notable competition featured was the Dream Machine Championship, which the winner received a custom built computer.

Currently Darkmoon Faire Championship Events offer a variety of prizes. North America events often give the champion a choice of a custom built computer, home theater package, or travel to a future Darkmoon Faire event anywhere on the globe.

DMF Championship winners:

2007:

• Darkmoon Faire Los Angeles - Oliver Schmid
• Darkmoon Faire Austin - Tim Batow
• Darkmoon Faire Frankfurt - Pierre Malherbaud
• Darkmoon Faire Chicago - Brad Watson
• Darkmoon Faire Milan - Erik Van der Laan
• Darkmoon Faire London - Stuart Wright
• Darkmoon Faire Philadelphia - Brian Durkin
• Darkmoon Faire Lille - Jonas Skali Lami
• Darkmoon Faire San Diego - Tomas Kuchda

2008:

• Darkmoon Faire Orlando - Brad Watson
• Darkmoon Faire Columbus - William Postlethwait
• Darkmoon Faire Stuttgart - Laurent Pagorek
• Darkmoon Faire Lyon - Bernd Reinartz
• Darkmoon Faire Seattle - Morgan Findlay
• Darkmoon Faire Antwerp - Christian Pfeiffer
• Darkmoon Faire Indianapolis - Jimmy Choi
• Darkmoon Faire New Jersey - Brad Watson
• Darkmoon Faire Paris - Pierre Malherbaud
• Darkmoon Faire Anaheim - Tim Rivera
• Darkmoon Faire Lyon - Bernd Reinartz
• Darkmoon Faire Prague - Gabor Körös

2009:

• Darkmoon Faire Milton Keynes - Erik van der Laan
• Darkmoon Faire San Francisco - Damien Dufresne
• Darkmoon Faire Koln - Stuart Wright
• Darkmoon Faire Charlotte - Bobby Victory
• Darkmoon Faire Turin - Jan Palys
• Darkmoon Faire Sydney - Brad Watson
• Darkmoon Faire Boston - Pat Eshghy
• Darkmoon Faire Indianapolis - Phillip Martin
• Darkmoon Faire Amsterdam - Anssi Alkio
• Darkmoon Faire Austin - Rob Swarowski

The next Darkmoon Faire will be held on December 5, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

WoW Nationals

The U.S. nationals took place August 16-August 19, 2007 at Gen Con, a gaming convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. After the first day of constructed play, any player with a record of 5-3 or better advanced to day two. Two sets of draft were played on the second day, each set with three rounds. Players sat in draft pods based on their records from day one. They drafted two packs of Heroes of Azeroth, and two packs of Through the Dark Portal. The finals were held on the third day, played between the top eight selected after draft play concluded. Brad Watson was declared the U.S. Nationals Champion after his victory in the finals.

World Championships

The first World Championship took place November 30-December 2, 2007 in San Diego, California. The winner, French player Guillaume Matignon, became the inaugural World of Warcraft TCG World Champion and received $100,000, the largest prize in TCG history.

The second World Championship (World Championship 2008) took place in Paris, France from October 16 till October 19. Jim Fleckenstein of Virginia won the title of 2008 World of Warcraft TCG World Champion using the hero Kil’zin of the Bloodscalp.

The third World Championship (World Championship 2009) took place in Austin, Texas from October 9 to October 11. William Postlethwait, also known as Billy P, won this Drums of War Block Constructed WoW TCG Championship to win the title of 2009 World of Warcraft TCG World Champion.

References

External links

• The official World of Warcraft Trading Card Game website
• World of Warcraft Trading Card Game on WoWWiki, a Warcraft wiki