Breakfast Topic: Have you played those other games?
by Daniel Whitcomb 
Aug 28th 2009 at 8:00AM
One of the things I got to do at BlizzCon 2009 that ended up being a whole lot of fun was sit down and play a few rounds of the World of Warcraft TCG at the Upper Deck Booth. I actually plan to write a bit more on that later, but for now, my main thought on it was that it was pretty fun. As a former Magic: The Gathering Player way back in the early 3rd edition days, I've always held a soft spot in my heart for a good solid card game, and I've been meaning for the longest time to check out the TCG as something more than a silly thing that refuses to give me a mount. I have to say, if anything, that I probably enjoyed it too much. Not only did I catch onto the rules pretty quickly, but I was transported back to the old magic days, and I'm halfway tempted now to perfect a good solid deck and go out to my local gaming store in a couple weekends to see if anyone else plays. On the other hand, I'm trying to avoid that temptation, because I just know it'll eat up my life like Magic did back in the day.
I had actually hoped to head back and get in some play time on the minis game as well, but unfortunately, I just couldn't squeeze it into my schedule. Of course, once we finished up the Podcast on the second night, Kevin Kelly broke out the World of Warcraft Adventure game, and while I didn't actually play, I laid drowsily on my hotel bed and listened to everyone else figure it out. It actually seemed like it might be alright once you figured out the rules.
There's probably a stigma with the board and card games that have come out of WoW, just because some people probably figure they're just a way to make a quick buck off a popular product. Why play a game in meat space when you can log on to the MMO anyway? My answer, having finally played one, is that they're a hell of a lot of fun. The atmosphere and storyline of WoW work well for me, so taking that sense of style and structure into other mediums leads to enjoyment too.
Anyway, here's my question: What's been your experience with all the extra card and board game spinoffs of WoW? Have you tried them? If so, did you like them? If you haven't tried them yet, why not?
Filed under: WoW Social Conventions, Odds and ends, Breakfast Topics, WoW TCG
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Jimm0thy Aug 28th 2009 8:31AM
We have both the TCG and the Mini's Board Game , and enjoy them. As you said the TCG is very similar to early Magic, yet much simpler.
Shukes Aug 28th 2009 8:13AM
I've tried the WoW Board game, and it takes up at massive amount of time to set up and play through but if there are 4 or 6 of you playing and take your turns simultaneously it can be fun (though id recommend a few beers to make the later turns a little less irritating. I Haven't tried the TCG as I've only fairly recently started play MtG and so i don't want to invest any more money in a second game at the moment.
Tim Aug 28th 2009 8:18AM
When I was 14 I tried to play Pokemon TCG. I had tons of cards at one point, nothing really to brag about (No Charizard), but I never got close figuring out the rules. At one point I thought I did but then I figured out there were energy cards and items and stuff. Then my senior year of college rolls around and a friend challenged me to a game of Yu Gi Oh (SP?). He destroyed me like any one that has watched the entire series of One Piece should.
Card games confuse/ scare me.
kooda Aug 28th 2009 8:39AM
Yeah i must have had about 200 pokemon cards as a kid (i had quite alot of charizards and 2 zapdos) thing is i never actually used them because nobody else had them so there somewhere in my house gathering dust
Kidneystones Aug 28th 2009 9:46AM
I had a lot of pokemon cards when I was little, but someone stole them. And to mock me he gave me only one back. So I threw that zapdos back in his face and pushed him into a compost heap. Good times.
Arbitor Aug 28th 2009 11:03AM
200 cards?
Ha!
Not to sound like an elitist but I have been into Pokemon since Pokemon red way back in 98, and I'm 15, my card number most likely spiraled into the 10 thousands, and I'm not kidding.
The cost at £3 a packet must have made it into the thousands as well, maybe even hit the 10k mark at some point, but you don't notice it when its spread out over several years.
I've always been a gamer at heart, and while WoW has pushed me away from console games (I blow through 360 games in a week, and Wii is noob casual) Pokemon has always been the thing to keep me stuck to hand helds, I play ever Pokemon game from start to finish and have gotten the "Caught them all!" reward in 4 different games.
I use to play the Pokemon TCG proffesionally but gave it up when I hit Senior school, now looking for a hobby I have picked it up again, and Its incredibly fun to play in my WoW downtime, although it is a bit disheartening to find the new rules have rendered all my classic cards useless and "Collector's items".
I sincerely urge anyone who is in to RPGs or card games in general to pick it up and give it a try, the characters are cute and colourful while retaining a cool element, the games are quick and easy when thrashing an opponent while they can still be drawn out if two players are equally matched, as the tide can turn in a second.
To sum this all up, Pokemon good, me crazy.
Metal0130 Aug 28th 2009 12:02PM
TCG's scare me too :) I have a couple starter decks and some other random cards I bought (looking for loot of course). I have even tried to sit down with a brother and try to go through all the rules and L2P. But there was just too much to remember and after a while of trying, it just didn't seem worth it. I think I'll stick the the MMO version of WoW.
Note: I admit I could probably learn pretty quickly if I was playing with someone who knew what they were doing...
Lemons Aug 28th 2009 3:00PM
I remember back in elementary school everyone I knew had pokemon cards and traded them, but we never really actually played the game. I didn't even know how. I just liked collecting them.
To this day I must have around 300 pokemon cards somewhere in my house and I still don't care to learn how to play the actual game...which is a shame cause I have a holographic Arcanine card that can do like...120 damage in one attack...I'm thinking he'd pwn.
Jon Do Aug 28th 2009 8:24AM
Two words to sum up why I haven't tried them:
Money sink
nekorion Aug 28th 2009 12:45PM
here here.
sure i come back to the games but thats always why i stop.
artifex Aug 28th 2009 7:16PM
Yeah, this.
I have binders full of Jyhad cards. (Later called Vampire: The Eternal Struggle)
Probably totally worthless unless I find someone collecting obscure card games.
(Except, crap, just looked on Wikipedia and see they've still been releaing expansions all these years. But that would tend to make my "base" cards even more worthless, except they have the old-name backs)
drebengolem Aug 28th 2009 8:24AM
I have some wow tcg cards,but never played them.Never tried the board game either.But i have some cards and play the Magic the gathering TCG,which has nothing to do with WoW.
SunGod228 Aug 28th 2009 8:26AM
I played Magic back in the day as well (started with 5th Edition) and I have countless cards.
I goofed around with other card games since them but none seemed as solid. Then my friends and I, some who played magic before and some who didn't, picked up the WoW:TCG. Frankly the system and rules are solid and makes for a lot of fun.
Now that being said my friends and I never got into the 1-on-1 play as much as free-for-all matches when we did play Magic. That's what makes the WoW:TCG really great, the Raid Decks!!!! They are a must try!
Trevor Aug 28th 2009 8:28AM
I have built my computers since i was 10. I have produced live television for two different TV stations. I have set up audio/video equipment for a the President of the United States.
But, the TCG and all other variations (Magic, Pokemon, Bakugan and probably the minis game) confuse the hell out of me. Something so inherently simple blows my mind every time my 9 year old tries to sit me down and explain it to me.
Hoggersbud Aug 28th 2009 11:27AM
Dude, I think the problem is getting an explanation from a 9 year old.
Kids that young can be pretty smart, but good at teaching? No.
Candina@WH Aug 28th 2009 8:28AM
I refuse to supplement one near addiction with another ;-)
Played MtG back at the first expansion (Flying Men FTW). Had too many cards at one point.
Decided I wanted a life. Later, a friend of mine introduced me to WoW (that cold hearted bastard!) and I haven't had one since...
The mini's game intrigues me. I like the tactile feel of it. But I don't like the expense of it.
Kanap Aug 28th 2009 8:32AM
I tried the board game once it was well an experience. Not saying it was bad just as some has already stated took way too long to set up. I do enjoy the card game and wish i knew more who play, I based my deck off my main on wow, a prot paladin, which I have not been able to get from a booster as to this day, but all my cards are based on shields and what not. I substituted a ret pally for the prot and it works for now.
trig565 Aug 28th 2009 8:56AM
ive played the TCG, the board games, and the minis so i'll give my impression of each:
1. the TCG is a better version of MtG in my opinion. it clears up some of the more confusing rules and poor designs and implements them in a better way (the way you create mana for example). nonetheless, its a money pit.
2. WoW:TAG (aka the shorter WoW board game) is a waste of time. its too much energy for too little fun and overall just plays like a bad version of Life (the game). WoW the board game is fun if you're into that type of tabletop gameplay. its complicated and in depth, but worth while if you enjoy it.
3. the minis might be my favorite of the three, but its also the only one i have the least outside experience with (WoW minis are the only minis ive played). its different and engaging and has an easy learning curve. it also is somewhat of a money pit like the cards but certainly can be a fun way to spend an evening.
Cogfizzle Aug 28th 2009 9:00AM
I work for Upper Deck covering the TCG. As you've said it's a LOT like Magic - if you've ever played Magic then you'll need like 5 minutes to understand WoW. I think it can also be really flavorful and recognisable for people who are used to the MMO. It certainly meant something to me that I was playing an Undead Warlock or a vicious Troll Shaman. Mage decks are slightly too good at the moment, but nothing dominates and pretty much any class but Death Knight is playable in competition.
This isn't sales patter - I played Magic for 15 years and the WoW TCG is the first card game I ever came across that made me put down the Magic cards and play something else.
If you like Magic, and you like WoW, you will LOVE the WoW TCG.
And the big selling point that Magic simply doesn't have - the raid decks. You and 4 friends vs Onyxia. She'll beat you, she'll beat you hard. So you go away and tweak your decks, she beats you again, so you go away and tweak your decks... etc etc. For WoW fans the raid decks (Onyxia's Lair, Molten Core, Magtheridon, Black Temple) really are unmissable!
Cyanea Aug 28th 2009 2:13PM
You're not the first person to say that. I play the WoW TCG weekly with four of my friends, and every single one of them is an ex-Magic player who gave up the game when they found the WoW card game.
The Arena Grand Melee and raids are by FAR my favorite part of the card game.