Hey there <insert company name here> fans! Truk (Kurt Creswell) here coming at ya with something near and dear to my heart, Trading Card Games (TCG)! I have been playing Trading Card Games at a competitive level since 2010. I qualified for the World Championships with the Pokemon Trading Card Game in 2010 and 2011, and have found recent success in several indie TCGs such as Metazoo and Sorcery: Contested Realm. I am an avid fan of retro format Yu-Gi-Oh and have recently begun to dabble in Flesh and Blood. I consider myself adept at picking up TCGs regardless of their age and quickly begin playing them at a high competitive level. Now that you know a bit about me let’s jump right into the top 5 things I look for in a new TCG.
1. Affordable Entry Point
In a world of paying $15 for a McDonalds meal, everyone is looking to stretch their dollars as much as they can. This is also true with TCG Players who are looking into picking up new games! Having an inexpensive entry point into your game is important, a $10 pre-constructed starter deck to buy and play with your friends is often the first step for most players getting into a new game (myself included). After a few games, interested players will explore the more competitive side of deck building, where they will look to purchase sealed products or singles. Having readily available sealed products and/or a thriving secondary market is important and can make or break a new game. It is critical to think about how to avoid “pricing out” your player base from ever giving your new game a shot.
2. Roadmap for Competitive Play
The spirit of competition is a part of just about everyone, especially within the TCG community. Goals of making it to a regional tournament, qualifying for the world championships, or even going undefeated at a local store tournament is something most TCG players strive for. It is important for trading card games to acknowledge this, plan for it, and release the information to their community and consumer base as quickly as possible. With a solid set of dates for store-level competitive play, regionals, and even a qualifying national-level event, players will be motivated to play, practice, and purchase the game pieces they need to succeed! Any trading card game without this in mind will succumb to a light stint of casual play in areas where developers of the game reside but ultimately peters out, sometimes before a game can even ever truly be established.
3. Familiar Game Mechanics
You see a new game being played at a card shop and ask about it. Often times there are comments such as, “So you play lands like in Magic,” “It has Life Points like in Yu-Gi-Oh,” “You evolve your creatures like in Pokemon.” Familiar generalized game mechanics in new TCGs provide a comfortable starting point for someone interested in the game. Tapping your land is like riding a bike, you never forget how to do it, no matter what game you’re playing. Using an established general game mechanic will entice players from different TCGs to give yours a try!
4. Unique Game Mechanics
Wait, I thought you just talked about using familiar game mechanics to get players into your TCG. What do you mean “unique” game mechanics? Familiarity gets my foot in the door, but an interesting and unique game mechanic concept gets me to sit down and play. This can range from all sorts of things: 4th wall effects like in Metazoo, starting with a weapon and armor to aid your deck like in Flesh & Blood, status effects like in Pokemon, TRAP CARDS! All of these mechanics set your game apart and create a fulfilling gaming experience that will keep players like myself coming back. They also provide a unique pitch that a game company or other players can use to entice others to play, “Yeah it’s like Magic but every card can be a land!”
5. Artwork & Characters that Resonate with Players
Have you ever seen a silly little guy on a card and thought to yourself, “Yeah I want that card in my deck, I want to protect him with my life.” What about artwork of a half elf paladin that makes you want to give up the world for her? Maybe it’s just a big gorilla charging through the battlefield covered in blood. Whatever your “it” may be, characters and artwork that resonates with players are important for any new TCG as it helps create a sense of identity. You can still enjoy playing the most powerful cards, sure, but before long you’re collecting anything and everything related to a useless little orange Karp and there’s no turning back!
