City of Heroes Collectible Card Game
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The City of Heroes Collectible Card Game is a collectible trading card game based on the NCSoft MMORPG, City of Heroes. The card game was designed by David Williams, the designer responsible for other games such as Legend of the Five Rings. The initial product release from Alderac Entertainment Group was in January 2006.
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[edit] Gameplay summary
Players take on the role of superheroes, testing themselves against other superheroes in the arena of Paragon City. Players take turns performing a single action, until only one hero remains standing; that player is the winner.
Players can take the following actions:
- Power Up - Put a new Power, Enhancement, or Sidekick into play.
- Act - Use an action from an Edge card held in the hand, or from existing cards in play.
- Move - Move from close quarters combat to distance combat, or vice versa.
- Assemble - Call for help by searching the deck for a Sidekick, revealing that card to the opponent, and then putting it into the hand.
- Recharge - Gather strength by moving non-ready Powers one step closer to again being ready.
- Mission - Reveal a threat to the city by playing a Mission card.
- Rest - Draw two cards to replenish one's hand, while taking no further action.
The core gameplay revolves around using powers to damage opponents, while simultaneously positioning oneself favorably (by adding or upgrading powers and activating defensive powers). Because powers must be recharged before they can be used again, it is possible to get into a state where a number of turns must be spent simply getting back into a position from which one can again attack.
[edit] Card types
The cards in the City of Heroes Collectible Card Game can be broken up into the following types:
- Heroes - The actual superhero himself (or herself). These cards define starting powers as well as other attributes (e.g. travel method, such as flight).
- Powers - The super powers which set the hero apart from others. Powers can be used to attack opponents or protect oneself.
- Enhancements - Enhances existing powers, focusing them in some unique way (for example, causing them to do more damage).
- Edges - Gaining the edge or the upper hand, these cards allow a one time effect to occur.
- Sidekicks - Junior superheroes, able to assist as needed. Sidekicks do not enter play with any powers, but can gain them during the course of the game.
- Missions - A threat or villain terrorizing Paragon City. Such cards have a negative impact on all superheroes until defeated, at which time they turn into rewards.
Cards also feature small inspiration icons in the bottom corner. These icons represent a fixed minor effect which can be utilized by discarding the card, instead of playing it normally. Because the game has no draw phase, this mechanism must be used with care, to avoid exhausting one's hand.
[edit] Hero types
Heroes are split up into five different categories or archetypes. These archetypes define the types of powers that a hero will have and hence how a deck will be constructed. The following types of heroes exist:
- Blasters - High-offense heroes adorned with long-range powers. Capable of inflicting great damage, they often lack defense.
- Controllers - Manipulative heroes with the ability to distract or confuse their opponents.
- Defenders - Adept at helping and boosting the powers of others, Defenders can also use their powers to assist themselves.
- Scrappers - Masters of mêlée combat, these heroes are used to getting in close and fighting hand-to-hand.
- Tankers - The toughest of heroes, capable of withstanding incredible damage.
[edit] Products and availability
The City of Heroes: Arena base card set consists of 330 unique cards. Of these, 99 are only available as part of a battle pack, 75 are common, 75 are uncommon, and 75 are rare. The following products are available for purchase:
| Product | Cards | Notes and other comments |
|---|---|---|
| Battle box | 145 | Includes 4 battle packs and 4 booster packs |
| Battle pack | 25 | Features a hero and his or her special powers |
| Booster pack | 11 | 7 commons, 3 uncommons, 1 rare |
The first expansion set, Secret Origins, is scheduled for August 2006. It introduces 22 new heroes, 10 new powersets, and a new winning condition. This set will be available both as booster packs and as battle packs containing the new heroes.
The game also allows one to make use of a "Build your own hero card" mechanism, provided by the official website. One fills out a form, picks appropriate powers and selections, and then uploads an image. The data is then processed into a PDF file which can be printed out and used in official play (including in tournaments). Presumably this is not considered exploitable because all heroes created using this system are balanced appropriately.
