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Altered TCG is coming to Kickstarter! I saw this game during the Vichy festival last September, and the least we can say is that it is surprising and ambitious in the cosmogony of the TCG. QR codes, gameplay outside of the usual fighting guns, a design alternative fantasy rather very successful…
Altered, a TCG like no other
“In Altered, you will play as a Hero, a faction, and you will forge your own adventure in a constantly evolving game. Lead your expeditions into the unknown and be the first to discover what the Altered universe has to offer. With its vibrant artwork and revolutionary gameplay, Altered could be a dream come true for many card game players.”
So that’s the official pitch, when I met Régis Bonnesée (the author of Dixit, Seasons, Dice Forge, Mysterium…) it was a little more concrete, even if the formula will be, like any TCG, refined. Altered’s gameplay breaks a bit with TCG standards, by offering locations
On the card side, a QR Code is present on each of the cards in the game (on the front yes yes) in order to be able to create several interactions. Register your collection online, request print-on-demand duplicates…a very, very complex concept!
An original card rarity system too
Altered really focuses on the unique side of certain cards, much more developed than in other TCGs. Altered ad a unique card in the world every 8 boosters ! Probably hell to balance too! 3 levels of rarity will be present, with different illustrations at each level. The salt of Altered will lie somewhat in the creation of unique and surprising decks.
The system of foil is also very innovative:
The boosters do not contain foil cards (metalized), but rather cards called Foiler, which represent a right to metallize a card of your choice. Always thanks to the QR Code system. The Foiler and the targeted card must have the same rarity level (common, rare and unique). I imagine that the request is made online via the Altered app, and that the company that publishes the game is responsible for producing and shipping the foil card.
Foiler cards can be exchanged on a marketplace, but the foil character of a card is not transmitted. The drop rate for a foiler card is around 25%, and they will also be part of tournament rewards.
I find it difficult to see the organization and the processes behind these principles, but given Régis Bonnessée’s experience in publishing I suspect that everything has been thought through.
To read : Gen Con: Magic card burglars are game creators!
Altered products
Not too many surprises in terms of the products available: like Lorcana, we start with starter decks and boosters, on display or individually, as well as accessories from Gamegenic. For now, here is what has been announced in terms of depth:
- 18 hero cards (3 per faction)
- 162 municipalities (including 109 characters)
- 324 rare
- unique altered cards of all 109 characters
- spells and permanents
What does an Altered booster pack contain?
- 1 slot for a token (75% drop rate) or a Foiler (25% drop rate)
- 1 slot for a hero card
- 8 community cards
- 3 rare
- 1 unique card will occasionally replace a rare card (drop rate 12.5%)
To read : Explorers of the Woodlands: a sublime cooperative forest crawler released by Matagot
QR Codes
On each Altered card there will be a small QR Code at the bottom right. To better articulate the digital and physical side, it will be possible to scan your cards, for reasons of collection, simplified exchanges…and lore. Likewise, Altered announces that it can print your favorite cards on demand, in foil version, in several copies, or in the event of an accident. As long as you have scanned the QR Code!
I don’t know what to think about it at the moment.
A little lore
Here is Altered’s pitch, which you can find on the official website.
“Centuries ago, our reality collided with the world of dreams and stories, in a cataclysm called the Confluence. This unexpected event profoundly shook the Earth and dramatically changed the way we live. At the same time, beings of the imagination appeared among us, coming from the collective unconscious. Through the alliance we formed with these entities, a new civilization emerged from the rubble of the world.
Now that peace is assured within our home, it is time for us to rediscover the altered world that exists beyond its borders. Six Factions have each chosen their heroes to lead courageous expeditions beyond the gates of our nation, where the Tumult, a vestige of the ancient Confluence, continues to alter and metamorphose everything in its path.
The Altered trailer
Follow the project on Kickstarter
Altered will launch on Kickstarter on January 30, I’m curious to see what exclusive rewards they’ll offer!
