CCGs are something that hasn't been around all that long. I was first introduced to this as a sophomore in college when my roommate's boyfriend started her playing. She started buying lots of card whenever she could, and even selling them over the internet. I resisted the impulse until Christmas, when she gave me a deck. I then taught my brother, and a couple of other people and found some more on campus. It was fun, though I don't have the temperament for tournament play, and I don't enjoy playing people who have spent tons of money and are out to get your cards. Anyway, since then I have discovered several other CCGs, and usually play them a little more often.
The object of CCGs is to make decks using card you have bought. The better cards are rare, and you have to buy lots of the packs to get them. You can buy specific cards sometimes, though it's usually more expensive. The companies put out expansion sets, so you have to buy more cards, so you can make better decks. I have spent a ridiculous amount of money on CCGs. It's amazing how addictive they are. I'm finally to the point where I just play with what I have, unless I see something at a really really good price. I bought a couple of boxes of Mythos at one point for about half price. That was worth it...:)
This is the first CCG I got started with and is put out by Wizards of the Coast. The idea behind it is you are a wizard and you cast spells which are either summon creatures to do your dying for you, enchant either the world or specific creatures, or do some other magical effect, like counter someone else's spell. The object is to kill the other person using your spells before they kill you. If you do well, you survive and get to play another game. There are tournaments for this game...even world championships. I don't think I would do well in a tournament. I play for the enjoyment of the game, and it's not enjoyable to slaughter your opponent utterly. *sigh* I'm not as fond of this game as I used to be, though it has the fantasy element others don't...
This CCG, done by Chaosium, is based on the world, mostly, of Howard Lovecraft. It's a world full of large monsters and elder gods, and generally a little scary. There are two types of games you can play. Short games end when either the opponent is at 0 sanity (not life) or you have an adventure. The adventures are cards which need other cards to be played. For example, you might need three locations from other cities, a monster and a corrupt ally. The harder ones are worth more, and usually require specific cards, like the Pnakotic Manuscripts for example. Long games also end when the opponent is at 0 sanity, but the object is to play adventures. You need to play 20 points worth of adventures. At the end, you add up the number of adventure points, and add that to your sanity total. Whoever has the higher total wins the game. It's lots of fun, and I really like playing this game...even though I am very much not into horror.
Middle Earth
The CCG based on Tolkein's fantasy world and created by Iron Crown. The basic idea is to go from place to place and find things and people. The key is that once you leave a place you can't go back. Along the way, your opponent can put things in your path to delay or kill off your characters. You can also play for the bad guys and try to stop the heroes from winning. I don't like this game as much as some of the others, though I'm not sure why... Probably part of it is that I keep losing miserably...*sigh* I really like the world, and being able to recreate the scenarios in the books are interesting, but it doesn't hold my interest all that much.
Illuminati: New World Order (INWO)
The cards, held upside down, spell OMNI for no reason whatsoever....really. The idea behind this game is that there are being out there who control everything that happens in the world. These are the Illuminati. They are behind every conspiracy theory, and nothing is as it seems. Just because Catholics hate gays, doesn't mean the Pope can't control the Gay Activists. The way the game works is that you have an Illuminati and they control some other elements each of which control other elements. You weave a web with the Illuminati in the center, and try to circumvent your opponent by destroying pieces of their web. This means that you may have orbital mind control lasers, and that your Mafia is peaceful. (We'll make you an offer you can take or leave.) *sigh* I haven't played this game much at all (read, once), but I did like it. Warning: this game is not for those who take this seriously... Steve Jackson Games had an original Illuminati game which was not a CCG, but I don't know much about it.
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This page last updated 02/16/2000. If you have any questions/problems/comments/help, write me