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I've always had a love/hate relationship with deckbuilding games. I love the strategies that the mechanics introduce, but their ephemeral nature always got on my nerves. Whether I was playing Dominion or Star Realms or Ascension, by the time I managed to get a halfway decent deck together, the game would already be over. This was especially true with Ascension. As soon as I would get some cards in my hand that synergized nicely, or as soon as I could afford the one card that would make my deck OP, someone would trigger the ending condition and my grand strategy would never come to fruition. Given those frustrations, please indulge me for a minute while I nerd out about this game.
The Pathfinder Adventure Card Game completely destroys the time limitation by allowing you to build your deck over multiple games, freely culling and selecting whichever cards you've gained between scenarios. It allows me to theorycraft strategies that I can actually put into play through the course of a scenario, or at least work towards getting the cards/feats to realize that strategy in a future scenario. The cooperative aspect means I'm no longer anxious about playing the game with veterans, which was always a concern when I played Dominion with the person who owned ALL the expansions and never needed to read the cards. It also means I don't feel like I need to keep buying booster packs in order to get the rare cards to be able to compete, which was why I never got into magic (also--because it would ruin* me). Add in the gorgeous art, the way the mechanics solidify the theme, the dice rolling for a little bit of randomness, and the RPG mechanics, and I have a hard time imagining a more perfect deckbuilding game.
So, thank you Paizo and everyone who had a hand in making this game (and the community that helps it grow), it's been a wonderful time so far.
* I have completionist tendencies which really become apparent with collectible card games. I easily spent $200 on the Pirate Constructible Card Game boosters without even having friends who were interested in playing it with me. That game was so good, but no one else wanted to take the time/money to invest in it =/
Huh. You might have a point. Betrayal at House on the Hill is another of my favorites. It also looks like he was a Creative Director on the first version of D&D I played.
I also heard somewhere that he had an idea of a different progressive game much like PACG but put it on hold to release PACG. I wonder what kind of game that was/is and if he still has plans on continuing that project. Or maybe I'm just imagining it and just want more games from Mike. :)
I wouldn't even consider the PACG a "deckbuilding game".
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I wouldn't even consider the PACG a "deckbuilding game".
How is it not? It just happens to be a living deck building game. Yes, it is a variation since you're also building a character as well but the character's deck grows and changes throughout the Adventure Path. If you are saying that PACG is not a pure deck building game, then I agree. But it has the elements of a deck building strewn throughout it.
So...
Deck Construction Game: Before the actual game you select the cards that will be your deck for that game. Example: Magic, The Gathering.
Deck Building Game: During the actual game play you add cards to your deck to enable you to do more things with your deck than you could at the start of the game. Example: Dominion
I agree PACG is neither of those two exactly. Living Card Game is, I believe, a copyrighted term. So how about a new term? Maybe "Living Deck Game" or "Deck Growing Game" or "Deck Improvement Game", something that would mean, "you play multiple times and during game play your deck is changed by interacting with the game, resulting in a new deck for the next time you play the game."
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It's got more to it, but PACG is most definitely a deck building game.
My favorite part is probably that it's co-op. I can get people to enjoy playing it with me, because I rofl-stomp the monsters with my awesome deck instead of them.
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Aw, you guys are sweet.
I frequently describe PACG as "the slowest deckbuilding game ever." This does not endear me to fans of deckbuilding games.
And yes, I do intend to make that other game eventually.
PACG is easily my favorite board game/card game ever (Bridge is the closest, but really hard to just play), and I will probably be playing it for many, many years to come.
Chief Technical Officer
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So...
Deck Construction Game: Before the actual game you select the cards that will be your deck for that game. Example: Magic, The Gathering.
Deck Building Game: During the actual game play you add cards to your deck to enable you to do more things with your deck than you could at the start of the game. Example: Dominion
I agree PACG is neither of those two exactly. Living Card Game is, I believe, a copyrighted term. So how about a new term? Maybe "Living Deck Game" or "Deck Growing Game" or "Deck Improvement Game", something that would mean, "you play multiple times and during game play your deck is changed by interacting with the game, resulting in a new deck for the next time you play the game."
We call it an Adventure Card Game. Note that that is *not* a trademarked term (though the proper name "Pathfinder Adventure Card Game" is).
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For those who are fans of Mike's work, I'm going to shamelessly plug Yetisburg, an incredibly fun 2-player game. At 3 bucks it's an incredible steal.
I admit to being totally biased about this game, as it was because of it I first met Mike and many of the Paizo folks.
However, I can say that I ran it continuously for 3 days straight at a major convention, and still wanted to play it when I got home :)
Yetisburg is worth at least 3 bucks! Maybe even $3.50!
I picked Yetisburg up during the great golem sale this past fall for $2. If it is ever on sale again I am going to load up on it for future Christmas gift exchanges.
It got a pretty good review here.
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For those who are fans of Mike's work, I'm going to shamelessly plug Yetisburg, an incredibly fun 2-player game. At 3 bucks it's an incredible steal.
I admit to being totally biased about this game, as it was because of it I first met Mike and many of the Paizo folks.
However, I can say that I ran it continuously for 3 days straight at a major convention, and still wanted to play it when I got home :)
Aaaaannnnd now I have a new game. Hopefully it gets here soon.
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Aaaaannnnd now I have a new game. Hopefully it gets here soon.For those who are fans of Mike's work, I'm going to shamelessly plug Yetisburg, an incredibly fun 2-player game. At 3 bucks it's an incredible steal.
I admit to being totally biased about this game, as it was because of it I first met Mike and many of the Paizo folks.
However, I can say that I ran it continuously for 3 days straight at a major convention, and still wanted to play it when I got home :)
Yes!!
I knew that secretly siphoning off some of Liz Courts' product-selling-powers would eventually pay off!!Only problem is that I now think I need 2 or 3 more copies for myself...