Fortune Cards: and randomized collectible cards come to D&D

[Imaro]

The requirements simply state that there needs to be 2 packs per player. It says that the players should buy it, but that doesn't mean that, to get players to play the game, the FLGS couldn't simply open a couple of packs and have them at each table for players to use.

What? It says the players should buy it. But, because it doesn't say force the players to buy it... there's the off chance that an FLGS (but not WotC) will just give them out for free, otherwise anyone who wants to try GW out before spending money on it is outta luck... Really, this is the argument you're making?? This is really stretching it... it's clear they are encouraging and even expect a totally new gamer to buy two packs of cards before playing their first game of GW.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I have nothing against card games, board games, or whatever people enjoy for amusement. What I find dissappointing is the transformation of an RPG into a CCG just to grab some revenue. This is a classic example of the industry serving it's own interests at the expense of the hobby.

As I said a couple years ago when 4e just came out, it seems to me WotC isn't interested in hobbyists, they're interested in consumers.

 

[Imaro]

I wouldn't say apples and oranges.

Both are add on products that are designed to enhance your game experience.
While true, you have no idea the exact nature of the cards you are buying, their effect on your game will be the same no matter which pack you buy.

It would be similar to if you just bought dice, and they sent you a dice set of a random color.

Sure- not being able to choose the color is a drawback, but not of the level that effects your game, and not of the level some people seem to be indicating about the cards.

No the effect on the game won't be the same regardless of what cards you get... because the cards have different effects... thus why the randomization would work... otherwise randomization wouldn't mean a thing.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I'm not getting the outrage here. If the idea is to throw some random fun into th emix and do it via a card pack, what is the problem? As others have said, there is no advantage to have a "complete" set of cards, so it really isn't a collectible system, other than for the sake of being complete.

As for there being different levels of rarity, that makes perfect sense to me: If there is a card that states a fog/steam/smoke could overlays one half the battlefield creating penalties, that card might be a "common" card because it is a simple and fairly expected event. On the other hand, if there is a card for a minor earthquake that reduces movement rates or requires balance checks, that card should be a heck of a less common to encounter in card packs, because you don't expect minor earthquakes to happen on your battlefields as often as you might find a fog cloud.

As for them becoming a future requirement, rather than an option; well, perhaps that can happen in an offcial tournament or event, but they certainly cannot make the cards a requirement at your home campaign. Even the Gamma World cards as described aren't a requirement. To take them out, you just need to substitute a little personal creativity to derive and explain some of the random mutations. Maybe your group would need to buy (or borrow) a couple of packs to learn how to construct your own balanced mutations, but you would not need to buy them for each session.

 

[Scribble]

What? It says the players should buy it. But, because it doesn't say force the players to buy it... there's the off chance that an FLGS (but not WotC) will just give them out for free, otherwise anyone who wants to try GW out before spending money on it is outta luck... Really, this is the argument you're making?? This is really stretching it... it's clear they are encouraging and even expect a totally new gamer to buy two packs of cards before playing their first game of GW.

I would much rather pay 3 bucks to try out a game then pay over 30 to buy it... try it, and realize it's not for me.

Sure it would be great if WoTC foot the bill for the packs of cards, but is that feasible?

If the answer is no, they wouldn't be able to afford that- I'd rather have a small buy in to try the game before the big buy in, rather then no buy in, but no ability to try it before you buy it.

 

[Matt James]

I don't recall the backlash in 2e when trading cards were introduced by TSR in the early 90s.

 

[Scribble]

No the effect on the game won't be the same regardless of what cards you get... because the cards have different effects... thus why the randomization would work... otherwise randomization wouldn't mean a thing.

They're randomized within the packs, so that the benefit of each pack is = to the benefit of each other pack.

For instance there's no chance that say a card in this pack will give you a +5 bonus, but the highest bonus from a card in the next pack will give you only +2. Both will give you a card with the +5 bonus possibility.


The cards might have different flavor- but thats the equivalent of the dice colors.

You don't need to continuously buy packs on a quest to hunt down the elusive +5 bonus card.

 

[Imaro]

I would much rather pay 3 bucks to try out a game then pay over 30 to buy it... try it, and realize it's not for me.

Sure it would be great if WoTC foot the bill for the packs of cards, but is that feasible?

If the answer is no, they wouldn't be able to afford that- I'd rather have a small buy in to try the game before the big buy in, rather then no buy in, but no ability to try it before you buy it.

First off, I totally disagree... I shouldn't have to pay to demo a product you are trying to sell to me... Second, if the cards are optional, as has been stated before, why put this requirement in the GD at all? If GW is perfectly playable without boosters let the game sell itself.

 

[mudbunny]

What? It says the players should buy it. But, because it doesn't say force the players to buy it... there's the off chance that an FLGS (but not WotC) will just give them out for free, otherwise anyone who wants to try GW out before spending money on it is outta luck... Really, this is the argument you're making??

Note that I did not say "give them out for free". I said that the store would have a couple of packs open at each table for players to use if they want to try it out. This is no different than my FLGS, which is fairly heavily oriented towards Magic and YuGiOh, having a bunch of starter packs open and available for new players who would like to give it a try to use.

 

[Matt James]

I think we're veering into Gamma World. This should probably remain about Fortune Cards as they relate to D&D.