I thought I would share this format we are using and developing. Your opinions and observations for improving it are welcome, but I wanted to make others aware of the idea for use at there stores to introduce the game and build the casual player base.

Here it is:

Format: “Middle Class Origins”

This is a casual style format designed to re-visit the four main “Origin” teams in DC and Marvel while allowing old and new players to play these teams for fun at a reasonable budget. It should be easy to obtain and build within this format. While Rare’s are not allowed, which does exclude some of the more powerful cards; this allows many under played cards to take on a better role in decks. The teams have been limited to the ones found in the “Origin” sets since they have a certain older feel and for the most part use simpler mechanics that do not always fit with the more advanced teams in later sets. It is a great format to introduce the game to new players and for existing players to dig out those old cards and have fun. There are a few exceptions to this explanation such as the use of “mutant” classes and the three traits and “Reservists” as an example of some of the newer keywords. But this does not seem to be a real issue, since the Rare’s are missing that break open these powers more than they should be in relation to the older sets. So far this has proved a useful and fun casual format.

This format can be expanded to include other teams or it can be adapted to another block of teams.

Teams that are allowed in this format are as follows:

X-Men
Fantastic Four
Brotherhood
Doom

Gotham Knights
Teen Titans
Arkham Inmates
League of Assassins

Decks are built from single team affiliations only or may be built around the affiliations named in the following cards:

MOR-182 - U - Common Enemy - Cost: 2 - Ongoing Plot Twist
MOR-195 - U - Heroes United - Cost: 2 - Ongoing Plot Twist
MOR-201 - U - Mutant Nation - Cost: 2 - Ongoing Plot Twist
MOR-219 - U - Unlikely Allies - Cost: 2 - Ongoing Plot Twist
DOR-159 - U - My Beloved - Cost: 2 - Ongoing Plot Twist
DOR-162 - U - The Brave and the Bold - Cost: 2 - Ongoing Plot Twist

Note: Arkham Inmates in this format may use one of the following two cards:
DOR-165 - C - World's Finest - Cost: 2 - Ongoing Plot Twist
DGL-201 - C - Millennium - Cost: 2 - Ongoing Plot Twist
Also: Arkham Inmates when using one of these team-up cards may choice only one other single affiliation from the following list:

Gotham Knights
Teen Titans
League of Assassins

Decks are to be built using only Common or Uncommon cards.
Decks must include at least 4 characters from each cost starting with Cost 1 through Cost 6.
Cost 7 or higher characters are not allowed.
Rare’s are not allowed.
Plot Twists, Locations, and equipments can only be used if they are team stamped for the team or teams in your deck, unless otherwise stated elsewhere.
A minimum of 30 characters must be used in each deck.
Where Plot Twists, Locations, and equipments are not team stamped, if a card’s art work clearly depicts a scene associated with a particular team affiliation only, then it may be used with that team affiliation but cannot be used with other team affiliations unless a team up is in affect.
Where Plot Twists, Locations, and equipments are stamped for a certain Keyword, if a team affiliation utilizes this keyword in its characters, then the Plot Twists, Locations, and equipments may be used with that team affiliation.
DC cards may be used only with other DC cards. Marvel cards may be used only with other Marvel card. No mixing of DC with Marvel cards.
Decks shall be a fixed 60 cards only.
Decks, when they are built utilizing a team up card, may use a team up card from the approved lists and are required to use 4 copies (no more, no less). Only one type of team up card may be used in a deck.
Starter deck cards are allowed (common and uncommon only; cost 7 characters are not allowed)
Starter deck cards are under the same restrictions as regular booster set cards in this format.
Cards may be selected from any released set.

Well, I hope you find this interesting. If any of you have done something similar, tell me how it worked for you.

Have a nice day.

The group I run with are all casual players.

We use similar rules, but not quite as restrictive.

- One affiliation only.

- No mixing of Marvel or DC.

Then again, we always break even those rules. True casual.:cool:

Mrow

No Terra, Optitron, or Garth.

(Hah! My click-fu is too strong for our beloved deranged bear. See if anyone can figure out what he asked from my answer.)

Or heroic sacrifice. or raven. or argus.

: (

Rabid bear paw > click-fu

I dont see why I can't use Terra, Optitron or Garth.

My only reservations were about no Finishing Move and no Press, but you can just run BnB instead and just own?

Edit: Reading comprehension > bear

Me thinks that Brotherhood Lost City version would absolutely wreck this format.

I've got to respect that. Casual should reflect the players there. Fun is the bottom line.

We enjoy the limits this format imposes. It's not perfect, but it gives us a interesting little Meta for the old teams and Common/Uncommon cards.

Thanks for the comments.

Random decklist ftw.

Powerup.dec

I didn't even test draw this yet, but considering the limitations of the format this deck should be slightly nutty. (Pretty sure I double checked all the rules :))

1 Drops
3 Pyro
2 Toad
2 Destiny

2 Drops
3 Toad
3 Destiny (starter)
2 Pyro

3 Drops
4 Scarlet Witch (starter)
3 Mystique

4 Drops
4 Toad
3 Mystique (starter)

5 Drops
4 Scarlet witch
2 Magneto

6 Drops
4 Mystique

Plot Twists
4 Finishing Move
3 Flattened (starter)

Locations
4 Lost City
4 Avalon Space Station
3 Savage Land
3 Brotherhood Hideout (starter)

No one has yet played such a build, so we have not had to deal with that yet. What would you suggest to correct this if if proves to be a problem. I would like to preserve the structure of the format without over complicating it more than it seems to be. Thanks for the observations.

P.S. Nice quick build by the way.

I'd have to see this style of deck in action before I would call it a problem. I just think that it's ability to naturally give its characters +3/+3 may just be a bit much for a format with a lack of "true" combat pumps or power-up hate. Then again it is forced into drawing both Lost City and Avalon naturally with no search, so that may be a slight issue and it may lose to its own consistancy issues. I would love to seriously give a few of these decks a go though, because I'm a fan of "pauper" formats.

I have only tested this out as a format a couple of times at some of the more remote stores that I support. But it was recieved well. These are places where they are building up fresh new player bases. The owner in this example has many boxes of commons and uncommons as well as starters that make this easy to get a new player up and running for little outlay. I felt it caught much of the charm of the various teams that new players like to feel at ease playing from there comic hero experiences. The flavor is part of what attracts some of these new players that are casual.

We allow the Flying kick into the F4 decks since it comes in a Shehulk version in the MFF-025 stater edition. That has been fun for that team.

Gotham Knights has Combat Relexes and From the Shadows that really can be nice.

Mega-Blast for Teen Titans.

League of Assissins can use Flying Fortress or Trail by Sword.

Just to name a few Art Work stamped attack pumps.

I have not explored all the ins and outs, but the rule that allows art work stamped cards to be used with teams seems to have added flavor and limits that may be working.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks for the attention from a more experienced source.

Have a nice day.

How would most of your "serious" players do without their copies of Eome. Would make them actually work up a sweat.

(LOL)

Now, now, let's not panic those serious players. Let them find out that EomE is not included in this format afterwards. They might just find out they secretly like the format.

But seriously. This format is not designed to replace anything or other challenging formats, it's just a break for some players and a lot of fun for others while creating a place for new players to "get in".

I'm not a pro but I always fancy myself being able to compete once and a while (So I like to play in some of the PCQ's). I am for the most part more interested in playing on a casual level. But I do love the pro events. It's why I have supported our few pro players and got into juding, even at PC level events. Competition is good for the game. But letting down to have a little fun is just as important.

The collector and theme oriented player in me wants to play around with the flavor of the cards and the fun of teams. At this point, I find it important to respect the needs of the casual players, since they are in the majority in our area (perhaps in most places that is the case). This seemed to be a good, new, fun format to let them have their day with their teams (our group really likes to have favite themes or teams).

Have a nice day.