wow-tcg
Latest
Weekly news roundup with Panser of TradeChat
TradeChat's official WoW Insider weekly news recap is here once more, and as probably expected the biggest news on the tips of everyone's tongues is patch 5.4 and everything related. Topics covered in this week's video include: WoW TCG packs up its decks for good Patch 5.4's release date confirmed for September 10th Blizzard's official patch 5.4 gear guide, as well as WoW Insider's version of the same Panser's wonderful interview with Dave Kosak Blizzard at Gamescom: WoW character model revamps under way plus could WoW go FTP? Discussion Topic: Would you still play WoW if it went free to play? If you like the show, make sure to subscribe to TradeChat, leave comments, and tune in next week for a new episode!
Breakfast Topic: Will you miss the WoW TCG?
It's official: the WoW TCG is dead. The latest expansion -- Timewalkers: Reign of Fire -- will be the game's last. But will WoW-players miss it? The game was certainly fun for WoW-players who were interested in card gaming, but for computer-accustomed gamers the difference in gameplay could be quite a leap. And with Blizzard attempting to bridge the gap themselves with the digital card game Hearthstone -- and former WoW TCG-maker Cryptozoic developing their own digital card game Hex -- perhaps the era of the TCG has simply come to its natural end. That said, we will miss the cool loot cards the TCG had... though we won't miss the battle to collect them. (Fortunately, though, the last expansion has extra loot cards so we can get our looting in before the game is gone.) But what about you, readers? Are you sorry to see the TCG go -- or does it not matter to you in the least?
The Queue: Horehound is not a bad word
Welcome back to The Queue, the daily Q&A column in which the WoW Insider team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Alex Ziebart will be your host today. As you read this, I'm off exploring the halls of the Milwaukee Public Museum and buying copious amounts of horehound candy sticks. Who doesn't enjoy eating stuff that tastes like licorice pennies? @ExileDispatches asked: Is it possible for WoW to go free-to-play without ending up pay-to-win?
World of Warcraft Trading Card Game closes its doors
The latest release in the WoW TCG -- Timewalkers: Reign of Fire -- is also its last, according to an announcement on the official site. For nearly seven years, the WoW TCG has been a staple among players in and out of the game alike -- tournaments hosted around the world were as wildly popular as the loot cards in decks that could be turned in for in-game items. Reign of Fire not only tackles the events and story of Warcraft III Timewalkers style, it also includes every loot card that has ever been released for the popular TCG. Although this is the last set release for the WoW TCG, players will still be able to redeem loot codes for the game on the official website -- so don't despair if you've yet to use your codes for in-game loot! This announcement also marks the end of official tournaments hosted by Cryptozoic or Blizzard, but player-run tournaments will likely still be around for some time to come. At the moment, it seems that Blizzard will not be renewing the license for the WoW TCG. This is, of course, not the last we'll see of Blizzard-inspired card games, with Hearthstone on the horizon. However, the WoW TCG, introduced during the Burning Crusade expansion, has been a constant for WoW players, and its contribution both in and out of the World of Warcraft will be missed. The announcement on the official website has more information for players, as well as a short FAQ.
Blizzard ending World of Warcraft trading card game
Blizzard Entertainment has announced that the World of Warcraft trading card game's recently released Timewalkers: Reign of Fire expansion will be the final new set brought to the series. Timewalkers has the distinction of including every previously released rare loot card, but will mark the end of new production for the World of Warcraft TCG. Blizzard thanked its players in the announcement, noting: You made ripping open booster packs, discovering the wonders they held, and then building decks and taking them into battle a truly awesome experience. Fans of card games and Blizzard can take solace in the fact that Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, is currently cruising through closed beta and should launch later this year.
Bonus loot coming to WoW TCG's Reign of Fire expansion
The third set in the WoW: TCG Timewalkers block, Reign of Fire, is due for release on Tuesday, July 23rd and even if you aren't a regular WoW:TCG buyer, you may want to reconsider this one. That's because according to this post by Mike Rosenberg, any and all Loot Cards from each of the twenty previous expansions will be available in Reign of Fire. In addition, the odds that one will appear have been increased to 1:9 from the normal 1:11. There will thus be four Loot Cards per box, and four rare Loot Cards per case. That being said, the previous designations of common, uncommon, or rare, don't necessarily indicate their frequency of appearance in Reign of Fire, so be warned! The rarest of all additions to the new expansion, however, are the so-called God Packs. These are entire packs featuring nothing but loot cards. That's right--an entire pack of WoW:TCG loot cards. I'm certain this will make numerous collectors very happy, however be warned! The God Packs are extraordinarily rare. Simply getting one is a feat in and of itself!
Transmog helms, TCG-style items coming to Blizzard Pet Store
Blizzard is adding a little variety to the Pet Store, in the form of transmogrification items and toys. In the preview posted on the official site, Bashiok talks about each of the items that will be made available at some point in the future. Perhaps the most interesting items are new helms with vivid spell effects that players can use for transmogrification purposes. One is an icy helm with a skull that covers the player's face, another is a set of fiery horns, and the third is a glowing red and black hood, which appears to be complete with a pair of ominous red eyes. In addition to the transmogrification items, Blizzard will also be adding some fun, limited-use items similar to those that you can currently get from the WoW TCG. The first is a seesaw that you and a party member can hop on, the second is the Iron Hitching Post, an item you can place on the ground. Up to 24 players can click on the item to jump on a gorgeous Iron Warhorse mount -- perfect for storming the Battlegrounds. It's interesting to see Blizzard take a different approach to the Pet Store. Originally just a place where players could purchase fun pets and mounts, the new additions add a lot of variety. I doubt I'll be purchasing any of the helms, but that Iron Hitching Post is certainly tempting, as is the seesaw. I don't think I mind the new additions, as they serve the same purpose as mounts and pets -- nothing that will further your character's performance, just fun items for cosmetic purposes. While we don't know exactly when these items will be hitting the Pet Store, what do you think? Are there other things you'd like to see added? Would you rather transmogrification gear simply be an in-game option? Will you be purchasing any of the new stuff?
WoW TCG introduces Timewalkers: Reign of Fire and more loot cards
Mourning that you never got some of the great loot cards of earlier WoW TCG sets? Well, you're in luck, because the latest expansion to the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game, Timewalkers: Reign of Fire, is all about time travel, which means loot cards long gone are back again. That's right: this expansion features every loot card that we've seen in the game to date. We're sure this is going to make it a hit with WoW players looking for swag, but if you're more interested in the TCG itself, Timewalkers: Reign of Fire sends TCG players back to the era of Warcraft 3 to fight -- or aid -- the Burning Legion. Have we piqued your interest? Timewalkers: Reign of Fire will be available in stores on July 23rd. Let the loot card wars begin! Thanks Lenny for the tip
Win a Gusting Grimoire pet from WoW Insider
The newest WoW Trading Card Game set, Betrayal of the Guardian, is almost upon us, and what better way to ring in such a magical event than with a giveaway with equally magical rewards? We've got three codes for the TCG-exclusive Gusting Grimoire pet, a floating spellbook with a mind of its own. Battle pet collectors will totes love this tome For a chance to win, just comment on this post before 11:59 PM on February 21 and tell us your favorite spell in the game. On February 22, we'll randomly choose three winners and contact them to deliver their codes. You can only enter once. Because this is a purely digital item, readers of all ages and regions may enter for a chance to win.
WoW TCG Betrayal of the Guardian exclusive preview: Aegwynn
Fans of the WoW TCG already know a little bit about the next set available, but we have an exclusive preview of one of the cards from the new set. Betrayal of the Guardian is the second set in the Timewalkers block, sending players back to the days of the First and Second Wars on Azeroth -- the days of Orc vs. Humans and Tides of Darkness. Of course, you can't really call a set Betrayal of the Guardian without an appearance by the Guardian herself -- Aegwynn, Guardian of Tirisfal. Aegwynn was appointed Guardian by the Order of Tirisfal in the earlier days of Azeroth's history. She accomplished more than a few astounding feats during her time as Guardian, including the defeat of the Avatar of Sargeras in Northrend. But what she didn't realize was that Sargeras' spirit then leapt to her body, and later, to her unborn son. When Medivh, Aegwynn's heir and the next in line for Guardian, was born, he was born with that piece of Sargeras' spirit slumbering inside of him, waiting for the right opportunity to wake up and take over. But enough about Aegwynn's history. Let's take a better look at that gorgeous card after the break.
12 Days of Winter Veil Giveaway: War of the Ancients WoW TCG Epic Collection
12 Days of Winter Veil is under way here at WoW Insider. That means 12 days of giveaways, 12 chances for you to win some of the awesome swag we've accumulated over the year. Whether you've been a good goblin or a naughty night elf, there's a chance that WoW Insider has a holiday gift for you this season. On the 11th of Winter Veil, we're giving away a War of the Ancients Epic Collection from the World of Warcraft TCG, courtesy of Cryptozoic Entertainment. While it doesn't have the sweet tin we gave away last week, it does come packaged with a whole lot of great stuff, including: 6 War of the Ancients Booster Packs 1 War of the Ancients Playmat and Deckbox Collectible storage box with class dividers 1 Loot card War of the Ancients visual pocket guide 5 random foil War of the Ancients heroes To enter for a chance to win, leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m. ET, Sunday, January 6, 2013. You must be 18 years of age or older and a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). You may only enter once. One winner will be chosen at random and we will contact you via whatever method you've used to comment. Official rules here.
Patch 5.2 PTR: New pets, mounts, potential TCG items
An early build of patch 5.2 is hitting the PTRs early tonight, though it isn't yet available for play. A small selection of new mounts, pets, and flavor items are among the datamined additions. The Gusting Grimoire, Living Sandling, and Red Panda are the three new companions. The new mounts are the Ghastly Charger, Armored Riding Pterodactyl, and the Spawn of Horridon. The latter of those we assume to be a drop from the new raid (or dungeons?) in patch 5.2. Set 20 of the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game was announced earlier today, entitled Betrayal of the Guardian. The set is themed around Medivh and Karazhan. Given that information, it seems very likely that the upcoming set of TCG loot has been included in this PTR patch. The Ghastly Charger is likely the rare mount of the set, while the Gusting Grimoire is likely to be the relatively common pet. As for the uncommon vanity item? There's a miniature Dark Portal amongst the datamined. Fitting, we think.
Cryptozoic reveals World of Warcraft TCG Set 20: Betrayal of the Guardian
Return to the days of the first and second war, when Orcs first came to Azeroth with Betrayal of the Guardian, the second set in the epic Timewalkers Block! Medivh, the last guardian of Tirisfal, first orchestrated the eventual wars that pitted humans versus orcs by bringing the bloodthirsty orcs and Gul'dan to Azeroth through the Dark Portal. Relive the first moments of the original Warcraft games with cards that harken back to this time. Will you be part of the stalwart humans, the bloodthirsty orcs, or will you be tempted to support the Monsters that have been left to lurk in Karazhan after Medivh's corruption? Cryptozoic, the company who brings us the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game, has revealed the latest set. Betrayal of the Guardian, as the set is titled, is set 2 of 3 in the Timewalkers block, with 232 cards including 30 hero, 60 rare and 30 12 epic. Players can ally themselves with the Timewalkers, who become more powerful if you control multiple copies of a Horde or Alliance race. You can choose to aid the Alliance, help the Horde, or become a Monster and fight against both factions! Cryptozoic has a selection of sample artwork from the set, along with further information. The set will be available for purchase in early 2013, retailing at $3.99 per booster pack. A few WoW Insider writers were lucky enough to have their characters included in the set, so we'll all be rushing out once it's released to obtain a copy of our cards and those of our colleagues!
12 Days of Winter Veil Giveaway: World of Warcraft TCG Feast of Winter Veil Collector's Tin
12 Days of Winter Veil is under way here at WoW Insider. That means 12 days of giveaways, 12 chances for you to win some of the awesome swag we've accumulated over the year. Whether you've been a good goblin or a naughty night elf, there's a chance that WoW Insider has a holiday gift for you this season. Today we're giving away a Feast of Winter Veil Collector's Tin from the World of Warcraft TCG, courtesy of Cryptozoic Entertainment. The delightfully festive collectible tin includes: 1 Card Set (9 Rares) 2 Mini-Pet Cards 3 Packs of War of the Ancients 1 Deck Box To enter for a chance to win, leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m. ET, Friday, December 28, 2012. You must be 18 years of age or older and a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). You may only enter once. One winner will be chosen at random and we will contact you via whichever method you've used to comment. Official rules here.
Know Your Lore: The fascinating implications of the WoW TCG
The World of Warcraft is an expansive universe. You're playing the game, you're fighting the bosses, you know the how, but do you know the why? Each week, Matthew Rossi and Anne Stickney make sure you Know Your Lore by covering the history of the story behind World of Warcraft. The Cataclysm expansion set out to do what prior expansions tried to do, and improve upon it in a significant way -- significantly inject lore into gameplay. And to some degree it worked; players found themselves working their way through zones both new and old by taking part in an interactive story. In between, we had short stories and novels that tied directly into that gameplay, weaving each part of the Warcraft franchise together into a solid storytelling tool. But it also had its flaws. Storytelling in zones was fantastic upon first playthrough, repetitive upon repeated play. The story of Cataclysm was so widespread that it didn't seem to have the kind of dramatic impact it was intended to have. And Cataclysm introduced so many loose threads of story that trying to pick a clear resolution out of the tale was difficult, to say the very least. And then we have the ending, signifying the dawning of the "Age of Mortals" with no clear definition as to what that really meant. We've got a little more definition now, and it's from an incredibly unlikely source, the last part of the franchise that didn't seem to have any significant lore tie-ins at all: the WoW Trading Card Game. Please note: Today's Know Your Lore contains some minor spoilers for Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War. If you're looking to avoid all spoilers, you may want to come back when you're done with the book!
Baine Bloodhoof stomps his way into WoW TCG's War of the Ancients
As one of the featured races in the upcoming WoW TCG Timewalkers block, the tauren received the powerful Tribe keyword, which lets them activate each others' powers when they come into play. But they can't protect the timeways alone -- they need a chieftain to lead the charge and protect them. Enter Baine, Son of Cairne, the epic tauren ally in the upcoming War of the Ancients set that Cryptozoic sent us to preview. Baine comes packing the powerful War Stomp keyword, knocking out a hero or ally when he swings, and further damaging them when they exhaust. His high health pool and Protector keyword will let him protect your weaker allies to keep their Tribe powers rolling in the late game. We previewed the ultra-rare extended art version of the Malorne the White Stag master hero card last week, and Cryptozoic has begun their own official previews of War of the Ancients, which features playable lore characters as heroes for the first time in a standard WoW TCG set. Play as Malfurion, Queen Azshara, Broxigar the Red, and more heroes from every era of Warcraft history as you protect the timeways of the Caverns of Time with the Timewalkers faction. Timewalkers: War of the Ancients releases October 2nd.
WoW TCG Timewalkers: War of the Ancients previews have begun
It's all a matter of time - time, and those walking in it, that is. Welcome to the Timewalkers: War of the Ancients preview up on the official WoW TCG site. Even if you don't play the TCG, just as a lore nerd or art loved these cards have a treasure trove of neat new things for you. I honestly plan on collecting several of them just for the art alone, like our old friend Broxigar the Red up there in all his wooden axe wielding glory. Have you ever seen a tree that could chop down another tree? Now you have. But for players of the game, there's a lot more than pretty art and cool characters in store. (Although those are definitely part and parcel of the experience.) The new keywords in the set allow for themed decks built around various races (in this case, humans, orcs, tauren and night elves) to be constructed and to gain synergy and benefits from doing so. If you remember our preview of Malorne, that's just one of many awesome cards available in this set. The Ancients, heroes of legend, and even the mysterious Timewalkers faction await your discovery. Remember, the Timewalkers: War of the Ancients officially releases October 2nd, but there will be sneak previews at various game and hobby shops September 22nd and 23rd, so keep an eye out for your chance to play it early. It's open warfare between Alliance and Horde in Mists of Pandaria, World of Warcraft's next expansion. Jump into five new levels with new talents and class mechanics, try the new monk class, and create a pandaren character to ally with either Horde or Alliance. Look for expansion basics in our Mists FAQ, or dig into our spring press event coverage for more details!
WoW TCG's Timewalkers: War of the Ancients coming October 2
Set 19 of the WoW TCG, releasing next month, will take players back to one of the momentous events in Warcraft history: the War of the Ancients. The set will feature heroes from the era, including Queen Azshara, Malfurion Stormrage, and the novel fan-favorite Broxigar the Red, all as playable characters. This isn't restricted to your favorite humanoids, either. The ancients themselves, such as Malorne pictured in our exclusive art preview seen to the right, will be making their presence known in the upcoming TCG set. If, due to the nature of the War of the Ancients, you're afraid this set will place restrictions on the races playable in the set, worry not. You will be joining a faction of adventurers known as the Timewalkers, heroes who have traveled to the era of the Ancients via the Caverns of Time. Orcs and humans will be represented alongside the elves and tauren of yore. If you're the loot-hunting type, War of the Ancients will provide with the common Eye of the Legion, uncommon Demon Hunter's Aspect, and rare Feldrake mount, which were discovered in the World of Warcraft game files as far back as patch 4.3.2. Timewalkers: War of the Ancients releases nationwide October 2, 2012, at a retailer near you. Keep an eye on the official WoW TCG website, as they'll be starting their own previews beginning next week.
WoW TCG Battle of the Aspects Raid Deck now available
The thrill of taking down Deathwing might be winding down in the MMO, but in the WoW TCG, those cylinders are just starting to fire. The Battle of the Aspects Raid Deck lets you and your friends use your decks of choice to take down the Destroyer's automated boss deck. Unlike previous raid decks, this one gives you options to adjust the difficulty. If you're running basic decks or you're a more casual player, the base experience will work just fine, but if you're a high-level player, you can ratchet up the difficulty with up to four Tentacle cards that give Deathwing new abilities. The raid deck is augmented with one Treasure Pack booster with random cards from the 75-card Treasure set, including weapons, allies, and abilities (and a chance at Loot cards, too, since that's the question on your mind). Treasure Pack boosters are also available separately. Battle of the Aspects is available in stores now. P.S.: If you're wondering who wrote the brilliant flavor text on these cards, it was me. I did.
Blizzard's schedule for Comic-Con 2012
Are you headed to the magic, the wonder, the majesty of Comic-Con 2012? The San Diego Comic-Con has evolved into something far more than just comics -- it's now about all kinds of geek entertainment, including video games. While Blizzard won't have a booth at Comic-Con, they'll still have a presence and even a panel for attendees. If you're lucky enough to be headed to geek mecca this weekend, take some time to check out the following. Blizzard Entertainment product showcase Thursday, July 12 Room 6BCF If you've never been to this panel, it's worth attending. While the panel doesn't discuss game development or release dates, it does talk about the other side of Blizzard's products -- the comics, books, action figures, toys and other material they release in conjunction with their games. There is a Q&A at the end of the panel, which will include Chris Metzen and be moderated by Kat Hunter. Add it to your schedule if you're wondering what's going on in the world of Blizzard merchandise! Blizzard Entertainment autograph signings Insight Editions Booth #1035 Want to get your favorite Blizzard stuff autographed? Here's your chance. Friday morning from 10-11:30 a.m., you'll find Micky Neilson, Flint Dille and Matt Burns happily scrawling their signature for you, and from 4-5 p.m. on Friday, Chris Metzen and Samwise Didier will be signing. The Insight Editions booth will also have a sneak peek at the upcoming The Art of Blizzard book, so stopping by is advised! Christie Golden autograph signings Christie Golden has written a ton for Blizzard, and if you've got one of her books, getting it signed is a great idea. Christie will be at the Cryptozoic Store on Thursday between 7-8 p.m. and at the Mysterious Galaxy booth, #1119, from 4-5 p.m. on Thursday. Please note that the Cryptozoic Store is not at the convention, but it's a just a few blocks away; the address is 411 Market Street, downtown. Having gone to Comic-Con a few years, I can tell you that the best way to make sure you get into a panel or an autograph section is to get there early. I can't stress this enough. If you have something to sign, make sure it's not buried in a backpack -- and it's helpful to put a bookmark in the page you want signed, too, if you're bringing a book! Blizzard also has a host of licensing partners showing off all kinds of products from sculptures to books to the WoW TCG. Check out the full post on the official website for more information.
