After weeks of reading about it, I finally got a chance to PLAY the freaking game for the first time. Gotta say, I'm impressed.

The local shop was running demos. Not much going on at the time, so the guy running the show and I played a couple games. Nice pace, nice balance. Good gameplay, not too overly complicated, but not so simple as to make me think that the game will become "boring" after playing a while.

Picked up Solidarity (Gongen) and Alliance (Earther-Maverick) starters along with a couple boosters. The shop is having a big Decipher weekend next weekend, so I need to get ready.

Alas, in talking with the guy running the demo and the shop owner, there's been some interest in WARS, but mostly just "kickin' the tires". They've sold 4 or 5 starters and a handful of boosters during the first two days of release. They're hoping for a decent turnout next week, and for a core group of players to develop, but they're not holding thier breath. It's not for a lack of CCG players in the area, there are. It's just that WARS is yet another fish in an overflowing pond of well stocked salmon. Their shelves are full of CCG's, some doing quite well there (MtG, Vs, YGO, L5R) and others that are just sitting there (too numerous to list...man, I didn't realize how MANY CCG's are out there).

But I finally got to sit down and play a real, live game. Man, it was fun. Came home and my wife thought I was out cheatin' on her, I was so happy :classic:

Heh heh! Glad to hear you enjoyed it.

I got to play a game last night... against myself. I built two decks and playtested them against each other. Man, that's not easy! Trying to figure out how to time everything during battle for both sides was tough! Ah, but it's good to be playing again.

As for developing a core group of players - you just gotta get people to play. The gameplay is good enough that if you get people to play a little bit, most will be hooked. Find people who like strategy games - computer, board, whatever. This game is all about strategy, and the complexity will definitely appeal to those types of people.

So, in summary - just keep playing! If you play it, they will come. :)

thats great people are enjoying thats very good lets crush magic with one mighty fist with wars!

WARS is definitely a sleeper at the moment. When the tournament scene starts going you will see a lot more people start to pick up the game. There are a lot of gamers sitting on the fence waiting to see how the game does.

Welcome aboard!

it will take a little while before word gets more spread, now that it is out people will come in and see people in the store playing it and will get more interested so i would expect that the intrest will spike within the next month or so.

I really hope so.

A couple kids there, who were waiting for the weekly Vs Hobby League, came by and bs'ed for a while. They were ragging on the Star Wars engine and #####ing that WARS didn't have the "Bring Darth Vader out on the first turn" capability like Star Wars:CCG did. (read: gimick). I'm thinking, why the hell would you WANT to play a game with gimicks like that inherent in the game?

The more I thought about those kids dissing the game, the more I thought about what I've found in Vs compared to what I'm seeing with WARS. Vs (and many of the games out there) aren't so much about stragedy as they are about "having the biggest hammer". I can't speak to MtG or L5R, but Vs seems very much about the smackdown. Getting the big hitters, and pounding your opponent into the ground. Less brains, more brawn, for lack of a better analogy. And it's found too in the people who play Vs (at least the kids and competitive folk). And it's a trait that has turned me off of Vs for the time being (getting smacked by a 15 year old brat who has more enjoyment in humiliating the opponent than playing the game...found time and time again in my travels thus far).

WARS doesn't seem to be about the "smackdown". It's chess to the others checkers. Now, I haven't played NEAR enough to make blanket statements about ANY playing genre. But in reading the many posts on the many bulletin boards, and seeing and now playing in person, I'm hoping that I'm correct in my assumptions about WARS and that it draws in the "anti-smackdown" crowd.

Who knows? All I know is that I'm having a blast thus far.

And that's what it's all about, my friend.


In this game, as with all others, I won't lie and say that the amount of money you spend makes no difference - it does. But not to the extent of Magic and, from what I hear, VS. And probably most others.

The ol' noodle plays a big part in how well you do. :)

A lot of what I have read in this forum made me remember why I got out of MAGIC. I was playing off and on for about three years but I remember hating going to tournaments because they were so stressful. You always had to worry about doing something wrong, and many players took the game as a job instead of having fun; and when playing with them, you felt VERY stressed. I eventually just got out of it after going to the state championships and wishing I was home all day long.

I have also tried out VS. because it seems like such a great engine. The game is great, but many MAGIC players have come over to VS. because of-guess what-the money. I was really hoping UDE (Upper Deck Entertainment) wouldn't do that because I enjoy VS. so much. They even gave Championship Invites to previous MAGIC Players, which I thought was horribly, horribly wrong. The games are even made by different companies, for crying out loud! I didn't think it was right to give the upper hand to people who had played a totally unrelated game in the past, while new players looking to get into VS. on the same level as everyone else were totally screwed. I still play VS. off-and-on, but nothing competitive.

That's why I like Decipher's games. It's not just Decipher-it's the community. I am very glad they do not give out HUGE amounts of cash (just some) that would draw overly competitive players into the game. Sure, it may be more people to play against, but that's not anything if you don't have fun playing.

I remember from my first Young Jedi tournament on, I've pretty much loved Decipher's games, and tried every single one, even if I wasn't a fan of the property. (See: BEYBLADE) I even liked some of the features in those games (heh, I liked the stickers for BEYBLADE)

It's great that Decipher finally has it's own property to flex it's imagination and bring in new players. Add to that an engine that is already known and loved (I played Star Wars CCG when I was nine years old) and I think you've got a recipe for a great community for a great game.

Amen, very true and accurate. But when it comes time for those big $10k tournaments don't think for a second it will be friendly and relaxed. :) Local tournament play will definitely always be friendly, or should be we hope.

this is precisly what i think, WARS has far more strategy than most other games out there especially VS, now granted i do play versus and i do enjoy it, mostly just cause i am such a huge comic book fan, but the game itself lacks depth and that is where WARS excells i am so pumped to go to the first tournament we get going here and am very excited about the community, the atmosphere and freindliness of the community is what will make this game great.

I haven't been able to play yet. I am hoping I get to soon if it is that great of a game. :) Is it a good game your opinions?

Matt

Indeed it is...this is one reason why I am going to play WARS TCG and to get a real good feel of it. Although only Incursion is out....I will still pick up a starter, and get one for my friends, and then I'm going to get them interested. I know I'm going to like it from all of this great talk about it!

Eric

Heh, I never thought that for a moment. But at least most of Decipher's players are pretty friendly even under pressure.

Lots of people in games stress out when in pressure, which in theory makes them lose the game..I must meet the Decipher people, as they seem like nice people.

Eric

That is very true. People are usually under stress when it comes to a tight squeeze. That shouldn't stop from people playing it though. They are friendly.

Matt