Expandable card game

Last updated
An expandable card game - here, Android: Netrunner - in progress Netrunner - Gateway starter decks.jpg
An expandable card game - here, Android: Netrunner - in progress

Expandable card game (ECGs), [1] [2] [3] also known as living card games (LCGs) [1] [a] , or non-collectible customizable card games [4] [b] - card games where each player has their own customizable deck of cards. Unlike in collectible card games (CCGs), where a player buys a starter deck of cards but then expands and improves that deck by purchasing booster packs containing a random distribution of cards, such decks are usually made from one or more sets sold as a complete whole, eliminating randomness while acquiring the cards.

Contents

Many ECGs are published by Fantasy Flight Games (FFG), which markets them under their trademarked term LCGs. [1] [3]

Characteristics

ECGs are card games where each player has their own deck of cards. [4] [9] Decks for ECGs are either pre-made decks (fixed starter decks) or made from sets sold as a complete whole, eliminating randomness while acquiring the cards. [4] [9] Such decks can still be customized, since after non-random expansion packs are released and purchased by players, they can customize their decks according to certain deckbuilding rules. [4]

Expandable Card Games vs Collectible Card Games

ECGs are often mistaken for CCGs. However, while these games are very similar to CCGs and can be seen as their subset (Fantasy Flight Games, for example, defines a "Living Card Game" as "a game that breaks away from the traditional Collectible Card Game (CCG) model" [10] ), they crucially lack randomness in the purchase and distribution of the cards. [4] [11] They are also seen as (and marketed as) costing much less than CCGs, and appeal to players who do not have time or resources to play CCGs. [8] [11] [10]

According to a price guide by John Jackson Miller, such games have less of a metagame and trading dynamic compared to CCGs. The secondary market for the ECGs cards is smaller than that of CCGs, but does exist due to existence of promotional, alternate art or foil cards implemented in some of those games. [4] [9]

Most ECGs are sold as complete sets (instead of starter decks and booster packs containing randomized cards) and are therefore not collectible as cards (only as sets; i.e. one can purchase a non-random deck or set of their choice, and then expand it with another non-random purchase of a deck or set, if available). [4] [8]

Some of the games occasionally classified as ECGs were meant to be traditional CCGs with expansions containing randomized booster packs, but the booster packs were never released. Examples include Anime Madness (1996) and Calore Kids (2000). [4] Some games have been converted into ECGs/LCGs from CCGs; for example A Game of Thrones and Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game where converted from CCGs into LCGs by their publisher. [8] [11]

Just like with CCGs, expansion packs or new standalone sets for successful games are released on a regular basis. [9] [10]

According to game historian Roger Travis, ECGs are more focused on the story narrative then regular CCGs, evoking comparison to storytelling games. [12] [13] They are also more likely to feature cooperative mechanics. [14]

History

According to Roger Travis, the genre has been inspired by CCGs as well as deck-building games like Dominion [c] and role-playing games. [12] In 2003 John Jackson Miller identified several games as belonging to this group, with the oldest one being Heavy Gear Fighter from 1995. [4] The genre has been popularized by the American game company Fantasy Flight Games, which published a number of ECGs under their trademark name Living Card Games (LCGs) since 2008. [10] [12] [1] [16] [3] One of FFGs most popular titles was Android: Netrunner , which debuted in 2012; since 2019 it has been published by Null Signal Games and rebranded as an expandable card game. [17] [6] [7] Since then, ECGs have been published by other companies, such as Renegade Game Studios, publisher of Vampire: The Masquerade Rivals . [18]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The term Living Card Game is a registered trademark of Fantasy Flight Games and officially applies only to the games published by that company, which is why other publishers use different names; [1] other names have also been used before FFG introduced the term. [4] Their term, however, became popular among the fans, and many non-FFG games can be unofficially referred to as LCGs; for example, Shut Up & Sit Down , a board game review website, has referred to Doomtown: Reloaded , an ECG published by Alderac Entertainment Group, as such. [5] At least one game, Android: Netrunner , has debuted as an LCG but has been rebranded as an ECG due to publisher change. [6] [7]
  2. ↑ The term is used as "Customizable Card Games" is one of the synonyms for the "Collectible Card Games". [8]
  3. ↑ However, deck-building genre appeared in 2008, roughly at the same time as FFG's LCG games. [15]

Related Research Articles

<i>Netrunner</i> Collectible card game designed by Richard Garfield

Netrunner is an out-of-print collectible card game (CCG) designed by Richard Garfield, the creator of Magic: The Gathering. It was published by Wizards of the Coast and introduced in April 1996. It was produced until 1999. The game took place in the setting for the Cyberpunk 2020 role-playing game (RPG), but it also drew from the broader cyberpunk genre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Booster pack</span> Sealed package of cards or figurines

In collectible card games, digital collectible card games and collectible miniature wargames, a booster pack is a sealed package of cards or figurines, designed to add to a player's collection. A box of multiple booster packs is referred to as a booster box.

Star Wars: Customizable Card Game (SW:CCG) is an out-of-print customizable card game based on the Star Wars fictional universe. It was created by Decipher, Inc., which also produced the Star Trek Customizable Card Game and The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game. The game was produced from December 1995 until December 2001. Since 2002, the game has been maintained by the Star Wars CCG Players Committee, with new virtual cards being released every few months and the capability to play both in person and online.

<i>A Game of Thrones</i> (card game) Collectible card game

A Game of Thrones: The Card Game is an out-of-print collectible card game produced by Fantasy Flight Games. It is based on A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of novels written by George R. R. Martin. The first set was Westeros Edition and was released in August 2002. It has since won two Origins Awards. The game's primary designer is Eric Lang, the lead developer is Nate French, with Damon Stone serving as associate designer.

<i>Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game</i> Card game based on the Cthulhu Mythos

Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game is an out-of-print card game produced and marketed by Fantasy Flight Games from 2004 to 2015. It is based on Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu role-playing game, the writings of H. P. Lovecraft, and other Cthulhu Mythos fiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game</span> Out-of-print trading card game

Dragon Ball Z Trading Card Game is an out-of-print trading card game based on the Dragon Ball series created by Akira Toriyama. The game was produced by Score Entertainment and uses screen captures of the anime to attempt to recreate the famous events and battles seen in the anime. Score then sold the rights to Panini which eventually ceased publishing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fantasy Flight Games</span> American game company

Fantasy Flight Games (FFG) is a game developer based in Roseville, Minnesota, United States, that creates and publishes role-playing, board, card, and dice games. As of 2014, it is a division of Asmodee North America.

Blue Moon is a German expandable card game (ECG) designed by Reiner Knizia and published by Kosmos and Fantasy Flight Games in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battlestar Galactica Collectible Card Game</span> 2006 collectible card game

Battlestar Galactica Collectible Card Game is an out-of-print collectible card game based on the Battlestar Galactica science fiction media franchise. The game, published by WizKids, saw first release in May 2006 and was officially canceled in March 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collectible card game</span> Game played using specialized playing cards

A collectible card game (CCG), also called a trading card game (TCG) among other names, is a type of card game that mixes strategic deck building elements with features of trading cards. It was introduced with Magic: The Gathering in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warhammer: Invasion</span> Card game

Warhammer: Invasion is a Living Card Game (LCG) designed by Eric M. Lang and produced by Fantasy Flight Games from 2009 to 2013, set in the Warhammer Fantasy universe. Like Fantasy Flight's other LCGs, Invasion is sold as a core set, which can be played on its own, or built upon with expansion packs. Each pack has a fixed set of 3 copies each of 20 cards. There are six factions in Invasion: Dwarves, Empire, Orcs, Chaos, High Elves, and Dark Elves. The first four have decks in the core set, while the elves' decks are available in the Assault on Ulthuan expansion.

<i>Android: Netrunner</i> Expandable card game

Android: Netrunner is an expandable card game (ECG) produced by Null Signal Games, previously by Fantasy Flight Games. It is a two-player game set in the dystopian future of the Android universe. Each game is played as a battle between a megacorporation and a hacker ("runner") in a duel to take control of data. It is based on Richard Garfield's Netrunner collectible card game, produced by Wizards of the Coast in 1996.

<i>BattleTech Trading Card Game</i> Collectible card game

The BattleTech Trading Card Game is an out-of-print collectible card game (CCG) set in the BattleTech universe. The game was developed by Wizards of the Coast (WotC) for FASA and released in 1996. It went out of print after its last expansion, Crusade, in 1998.

<i>The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game</i> 2011 fantasy strategy card game

The Lord of the Rings: The Card Game is a card game produced by Fantasy Flight Games since 2011. As part of the Living Card Game (LCG) genre, it is a cooperative and strategic card game set in Middle-earth, a fantasy world featured in literary works by J. R. R. Tolkien, including The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

A Game of Thrones: The Card Game Second Edition is a Living Card Game (LCG) produced by Fantasy Flight Games from 2015 to 2020. It is based on A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of novels written by George R. R. Martin. The second edition of this LCG, it is not backwards compatible with the first edition that preceded it.

<i>Arkham Horror: The Card Game</i> 2016 American deck-building card game

Arkham Horror: The Card Game is a cooperative living card game produced by Fantasy Flight Games since 2016. It is set in the universe of Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu role-playing game which is itself based on the Cthulhu Mythos of H. P. Lovecraft and other cosmic horror writers. The title refers to Lovecraft's fictional town of Arkham, Massachusetts which is mentioned in many Mythos stories.

Legend of the Five Rings: The Card Game is a Living Card Game (LCG) produced by Fantasy Flight Games (FFG) from 2017 to 2021. It is a two-player game set in the world of Rokugan. During the game, players take on the leadership of one of the Great Clans which define Rokugani society, and they are cast into conflict against another clan. The conflicts will decide the future of Rokugan.

A digital collectible card game (DCCG) or online collectible card game (OCCG) is a computer or video game that emulates collectible card games (CCG) and is typically played online or occasionally as a standalone video game. Many DCCGs are types of digital tabletop games and follow traditional card game-style rules, while some DCCGs use alternatives for cards and gameboards, such as icons, dice and avatars. Originally, DCCGs started out as replications of a CCG's physical counterpart, but many DCCGs have foregone a physical version and exclusively release as a video game, such as with Hearthstone.

A Cube is a variation of gameplay for collectible card games. It is a player-made set of at least 360 cards created for the purposes of drafting, though as many as 720 can be used. Booster packs are simulated from the contents of the cube and are used to draft cards for play. Essentially, a cube is a self-contained CCG set that requires no additional cards to play. It has everything it needs to be self-sufficient and can be used repeatedly. A cube typically accommodates up to 8 players. In some aspects, a cube is constructed to be played like a non-collectible customizable card game or ECG, also known as a Living Card Game (LCG). A cube's construction is done with a focus on what type of metagame is desired.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Marler, Chaz (May 30, 2015). "Expandable Card Games (ECG), Trademarks & Patents (3 of 3)". PairofDiceParadise.com. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  2. ↑ Sprinks, Harry Ted (2023-09-10). "6 Best Living Card Games". Game Rant. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  3. 1 2 3 Jarvis, Matt (2021-08-09). "Arkham Horror, Marvel Champions and Android: Netrunner studio says it's still committed to the living card game format". Dicebreaker. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Miller, John Jackson (2003), Scrye Collectible Card Game Checklist & Price Guide, Second Edition, pp. 15–16, 684–685.
  5. ↑ "Holy Cow: Doomtown Is Pretty Neat - Shut Up & Sit Down". shutupandsitdown.com/. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  6. 1 2 "What is Null Signal Games?". Null Signal Games. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  7. 1 2 Jarvis, Matt (2023-11-09). "Android: Netrunner creator loves the fact fans have kept the cancelled LCG alive - and has "considered" designing more cards himself". Dicebreaker. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "LCGs Top CCGs". ICV2.com. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "What Are Living Card Games?". Dragon Shield. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "LCG Player's Guide". Fantasy Flight Games. 14 October 2008. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 Yih Yang, Chee (July 6, 2015). "Choosing your Living Card Game". TheStar.com. Archived from the original on 2015-08-01. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 Travis, Roger (2020-07-07). "The Living Card Game: a New Mode of Epic Performance". Play the Past. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  13. ↑ Travis, Roger (2020-09-22). "The Living Card Game as Formulaic Epic, part 3: Scenario Advancement". Play the Past. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  14. ↑ Roger, Travis (2020-08-11). "The Living Card Game as formulaic epic, part 2: cooperation and scenario". Play the Past. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  15. ↑ Nakamura, Darren (June 11, 2010). "So what exactly is a deck-building game anyway?". Destructoid . Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  16. ↑ Zimmerman, Aaron (2017-02-04). "Star Wars: Destiny is a fantastic game you may not want to buy". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  17. ↑ Theel, Charlie (2022-08-02). "Fans have taken back Android: Netrunner, the popular card game discontinued in 2018". Polygon. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  18. ↑ Meehan, Alex (2020-07-15). "Vampire: The Masquerade - Rivals is a new expandable card game based on the RPG". Dicebreaker. Retrieved 2024-11-25.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.