Epic Battles
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Epic Battles is a collectible card game by Score Entertainment released in September 2005. Gameplay attempts to emulate a traditional fighting game experience and features characters and attacks from several different franchises. Currently there are five separate sets of cards available (or planned) that feature Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Tekken, and an unreleased Darkstalkers set. As of February 2007, Score has stopped production on Epic Battles.
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[edit] Gameplay
Gameplay is divided into turns of five steps. each, although unlike most collectible card games players make take any action on any turn. The goal of the game is to "damage" your opponent with attacks, forcing them to discard cards from their deck. When a player runs out of cards, they lose the game.
Each turn begins with both players drawing three cards. Next both players set any events they have drawn face down on the table. They may flip these events at any time that the requirements (stated on the event itself) are met. Next the "aggressor" may play an attack. The other player may play a block to stop this attack or can take damage from it. If the aggressor can "link" their first attack to another one, then they may do so. (How this is done is explained below in 'Card Types'.) Once the aggressor has ended their combo, the other player has the option of attacking. Battle goes back and forth until both players pass in a row. Once this happens, both players discard cards from their hand down to three and the turn ends.
Many cards have an energy cost to play. This cost is paid for from the energy pile. The energy pile is built by playing attacks as every attack, whether it is blocked or hits, goes to the energy pile. To pay a cost, a player discards cards from their energy pile for the value of the cost (i.e. a cost of two is paid by discarding two cards from the energy pile).
[edit] Card Types
- Characters - A card which represents the combatant whose role the player is currently assuming. Character cards may also have special abilities attacked to them. Any attack that names a character can only be played if the player is using that character (i.e. "Elena's Healing" can only be played if a player is playing as Elena).
- Attacks - Attacks are the most common type of card. Attack cards have an archetype, either High Attack or Low Attack, and then a subtype, which can include Punch, Kick, Throw, Projectile, Weapon, Special, or even Bite. Attacks list both the amount of damage they deal and an energy cost. Generally, but not always, the higher damage attacks cost more energy than the lower energy ones. Attacks can also be linked to form combos and list what type of attack they link to on the right side of the card. An attack will link to either an archetype or a subtype, giving a player extra leeway in linking.
- Blocks - Blocks are played in response to attacks to prevent (or reduce) the amount of damage they deal. Some have energy costs and special abilities, but not all.
- Events - Events represent the random things that may happen in a fight. They are initially played facedown and must be turned over and played when the requirements on the card are met.
[edit] Sets
Name of set | Release date | Unique cards | Common characters | Rare-Ultra Rare characters |
---|---|---|---|---|
Street Fighter: Round 1 | September 2005 | 117 | Alex, Dudley, Ibuki, Ken, Ryu, Sean, Twelve | Elena, Gill, Hugo |
Mortal Kombat: Round 1 | September 2005 | 117 | Ashrah, Baraka, Bo' Rai Cho, Darrius, Kabal, Sindel Sub-Zero | Hotaru, Jade, Noob Saibot-Smoke |
Mortal Kombat: Premier | March 2006 | 172 | Dairou, Kira, Kobra, Li Mei, Mileena, Scorpion, Shujinko | The Dragon King, Kenshi, Quan Chi, Raiden |
Tekken: Round 1 | July 2006 | 172 | Bruce Irvin, Bryan Fury, Christie Monteiro, Craig Marduk, Ganryu, JACK-5, Julia Chang, Kuma, Lee Chaolan, Wang Jinrei, Yoshimitsu | Devil Jin, Heihachi Mishima, Jin Kazama, Jinpachi Mishima, Kazuya Mishima, King, Ling Xiaoyu, Marshall Law, Nina Williams, Paul Phoenix, Raven |
Darkstalkers: Round 1 | Cancelled | ? | Unknown | Unknown |