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Around Azeroth: The elusive turtle mount
Reader Steve sends in this lovely shot of the rare turtle mount, which you too may be able to find if you buy enough packs of WoW TCG cards. It's slightly Photoshoped to give it that proper photorealistic effect. Not half bad, if I do say so myself.Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! You can attach a picture file or send us a link to one -- and don't worry about formatting, we'll take care of that part.
WoW TCG: Prizes, fabulous prizes!
As you may have heard, there are two ways to receive in-game rewards from World of Warcraft's trading card game: special "loot" cards giving specific prizes and by collecting UDE points, which come with each pack of cards. You get 100 points per booster pack (which gives 200 points per starter deck, as it contains two boosters) via codes you enter on Upper Deck's website. And there are some fun rewards here, too! Beyond special wallpapers with unique artwork, there's a funky blue tabard, a trinket that sets off a unique fireworks display, and a trinket that turns you into an Ogre. The problem, however, is cost. The tabard costs 2,000 points, the fireworks trinket costs 10,000 points, and the Ogre trinket 25,000 points. So 20 booster packs, 100 booster packs, and 250 booster packs, respectively. Paying about $4.50 per booster, that's $90 for the tabard, $450 for the fireworks trinket, and $1,125 for the Ogre trinket. Yikes -- that's a heck of a financial investment for a pretty bauble.
WoW TCG preview: Stealth
The TCG's Stealth ability is just what you'd think it is -- if you're a rogue, it allows you to fade into the shadows and quietly sneak up on your opponents unseen. In the TCG, it's similar to Bear Form, in that when it is destroyed, you can pay two resources to return it to your hand. Stealth in the TCG allows you to avoid your opponent attempting to direct damage done to a strong tank character (one with the protector ability, that is) and strike any target your enemy may have in play. Just like a rogue...!
WoW TCG preview: Bear Form
Druids -- so versatile! Jumping from one form to another, tanking, dealing melee DPS, casting damage spells from afar, and even healing in the blink of an eye. The TCG seems to mimic the online game's playstyle well in this regard. Bear Form is instant cast, costs a single resource, grants you the "protector" ability (think of it as an anytime taunt), and whenever it is removed from play you can pay two more resources to put it back in your hand -- allowing you to shapeshift back later. And being in an animal form allows you access to numerous unique feral abilities -- like the also-previewed Predatory Strikes, which gives your hero +2 ATK while in cat or bear form.
WoW TCG preview: Starfire
I admit -- I had to log on to my druid to remind myself what Starfire was in the online game. Moonfire, sure, everyone knows about that, but Starfire? It's an arcane damage spell with a long cast time and high damage -- but the lengthy cast time tends to mean that I tend to use Wrath (a shorter cast time, but lower damage) whenever I'm in caster form. However, the version of Starfire that finds itself in the TCG is a bit more interesting. Mimicking the in-game ability, it costs a lot of resources (6 resources probably compares equitably to the 3.5 second cast time the spell has online) and does a good amount of damage (5). But there's an added bonus -- after casting Starfire you get a chance to draw a card. And when cards represent all the damage you can do, the resources you can draw upon, and the quests you can complete, this is nothing but a good thing.
WoW TCG Preview: Smite
As far as priest abilities go, smite used to be a joke -- and the punchline was usually "lol." However, since the priest changes came through a few patches back, smite has become a decent way of dishing out holy damage on your unsuspecting foes (who probably mistakenly think that a holy priest is nothing but sweetness and light!). The trading card version of Smite dishes out 4 damage to your target at the cost of 5 resources -- and while this may seem like a high price to pay, be aware that the damage caused by smite cannot be avoided or negated. Now that's not a bad deal.
WoW TCG Preview: Frost Shock
The shaman's shock spells must be some of the most entertaining spells in the game. Dealing with a spellcaster? Earth shock! Trying to cope with runners? Frost shock! And the trading card game's version of Frost Shock is no different. For the cost of only 2 resources, you deal 2 damage to your target and prevent them from being used to attack or protect this turn -- allowing you to control whom your opponent may use in combat. Certainly makes you want to be sure to always have a shaman on your side...!
WoW TCG Preview: Fireball
This preview shows off the damage potential of the mage class -- the mage ability Fireball. A fireball in the trading card game is similar to what you would expect from a fireball in the online game. It provides high burst damage and causes the target to burn for a while after the initial impact. For the cost of 4 resources, Fireball deals 4 damage to your target, and causes an additional point of fire damage to the same target at the start of your subsequent turns. And if burning your enemies into a toasty crisp isn't fun, I don't know what is!
WoW TCG Preview: Barman Shanker
This preview presents us with the rogue's friend -- the Barman Shanker dagger. What makes this dagger so special, besides its unique appearance? Well, it hits exhausted targets harder than normal targets, and because you must exhaust any of your ally cards in order to utilize their special abilities, it make make your opponents think twice about using their own skills. And in case they wise up and start holding back? Well, fortunately a rogue can exhaust any card by using the gouge ability.
WoW TCG Preview: The Battle of Darrowshire
I think I've done the in-game Battle of Darrowshire quest once. It was a blast, but since that first time, I've found it difficult to get a group together to complete the quest on other characters. Fortunately for me, completing the trading card game's version of this quest won't require a dozen players' time and attention -- instead, you pay one resource and discard three allies from your graveyard, in your own little reenactment of the battle. For your tireless efforts, you're allowed to draw an additional card.
WoW TCG Preview: Boris Brightbeard
This preview focuses on a hero card - Boris Brightbeard, a Dwarf priest with a holy spec and -- unsurprisingly! -- a healing ability. The ability itself is straightforward -- Boris is able to heal damage equal to the amount of resources you spend on the heal. And, while this card doesn't tell us anything new or interesting in terms of gameplay ability, it presents some nice artwork and, of course, amusing flavor text. (Be careful, making troll jokes can get you on my do-not -heal list, too!)
World of Warcraft TCG: Ally Cards
These two preview articles highlight the different allies you'll have access to in-game, and what they can and can't do for you. There are different allies for players playing alliance and horde heroes, which I imagine adds some distinct flavor to playing either side in the game. Each ally has a resource cost (the number of resources you must expend to put it into play), an attack power (the amount of damage they can do to an opponent), a health rating (the amount of damage an enemy has to do to kill them), and sometimes special abilities. One ability of note is the "protector" ability - which I would describe in in-game turns as a warrior's taunt. When one player decides to attack another in the TCG, they choose an ally to attack with and an ally on their opponents' side to attack - however, if their opponent has any allies with the protector ability, they may use those cards to defend against the attack instead. The alliance preview introduces us to the dwarf paladin Maxum Ironbrew (who can heal himself) and everyone's favorite king of Ironforge, Magni Bronzebeard (who summons a dwarf warriors each turn to fight with you and also allows all dwarves in your deck to be protectors). The horde preview introduces us to the Orgrimmar grunt (which becomes more powerful the more grunts you have in play) and Warchief Thrall (who increases the attack power and health of all your horde allies).
World of Warcraft TCG: Quest Cards
The most recent TCG preview features quest cards - three of them in fact: Your Fortune Awaits You, Are We There, Yeti?, and Tooga's Quest. I find it interesting that these cards more or less mirror existing in-game quests, though fit neatly into the TCG's own structure. What's the point of quests? Well, they offer you rewards - usually extra cards, but sometimes other useful things - in exchange for resources. So what are resources? During every turn a player may play one card face down (any type of card? I'm a little unclear on this). You can use this card to pay a single resource cost. Thus, the further into the game you get, the more you can afford to pay for skills, abilities, and interesting quests.
