BattleTech Collectible Card Game
The BattleTech Collectible Card Game is an out-of-print collectible card game (CCG) set in the BattleTech universe. The game was developed by Wizards of the Coast (WotC) for FASA and released in 1996.
Card back to BattleTech CCG | |
Designer(s) | Richard Garfield |
---|---|
Publisher(s) | Wizards of the Coast |
Players | 2+ |
Playing time | Approx 20 min |
Random chance | Some |
Skill(s) required | Card playing Arithmetic Basic Reading Ability |
Description
BattleTech Collectible Card Game was designed by Richard Garfield, the designer of Magic: The Gathering; both games use a similar style of gameplay and card distribution. It was produced from November 1996 through 2001,[1] and features BattleMechs, characters, and technology from the original BattleTech board game, with new artwork done by various artists.
Gameplay
The goal of the game is to make your opponent run out of cards from their stockpile (deck of cards).[2] The one without any cards left loses the game. The most basic way of achieving this is to attack your enemy's stockpile with mechs and other units.
Each player will need a deck with a maximum of 60 cards. Those decks can consist of any combination of cards the player desires, although when playing with official FASA rules, choosing cards for your deck will be limited, e.g. only cards from one faction/clan. The right assortment of cards can prove vital to victory and is mostly linked to certain tactics.
Turn sequence
The turn sequence is divided into 6 phases, played in the following order.
- Untap
- Draw
- Repair/reload
- Deploy
- Mission
- End of turn
During the deploy phase, you will use special command cards (Command Resource) to buy off the costs of units and other command cards like pilots, political personalities and structures. Once they are paid for, they are put into play (deploy) and can be used to attack your opponents or gain tactical advantages. While attacking certain targets during a mission, your units can be aided by mission cards (which may be played as an instant) that give them the edge in fighting your enemy and his or her units.
Card types
- Unit, including mechs, battlesuits and vehicles
- Command, including resource, structures and pilots
- Mission, aka instants
Reception
In the October 1997 edition of Dragon (Issue 240), Rick Swan liked this collectible card game, calling it "simple (much easier, in fact, than the Magic: The Gathering game, designed by the same guy) and addictive (which means you better start saving up for the boosters)."[4]
Reviews
- Arcane #15 (January 1997)
References
- Miller, John Jackson (2003), Scrye Collectible Card Game Checklist & Price Guide, Second Edition, pp. 87–95.
- "Wizards of the Coast News", The Duelist (#12), p. 11, September 1996
- Cyznyk, "Ace" (October 1997), "More Bang for Your Buck", The Duelist (#19), pp. 58–59
- Swan, Rick (September 1992). "Roleplaying Reviews". Dragon. TSR, Inc. (185): 68.
- BattleTech Rulebook, 1998
External links
- An unofficial BattleTech CCG card database
- BattleTech Collectible Card Game at BoardGameGeek
- Review at www.gamecabinet.com