New TCG Altered launches today in Australia
With the help of publisher Asmodee, French design studio Equinox have launched their new TCG Altered in Australia today following a multimillion dollar crowdfunding success.
The newest design from Régis Bonnessée, creator of titles like Dixit, Seasons and Mysterium, Altered is a collectible/trading card game which has a strong focus on digital rights/ownership of cards for players. In a game of Altered, players must reunite their Hero and Companion tokens by journeying across a fractured land, represented by three randomly selected cards. Each card contains one or more of three different terrain types which are also found on the Character cards players will deploy from their deck. By having a higher value in a matching terrain type than their opponent, players will be able to move their Hero or Companion token one space forward, ending the game when they meet in the same location. Altered employs a ‘draw two, play one as a resource’ mechanic that is becoming a popular design choice to negate bad card draw that has stifled many a Magic: The Gathering player over the years.
Altered does have a few twists – Characters can be deployed to the left or right side to move either the Hero or Companion token, making it a tactical decision around whether to push from one side while potentially allowing the opponent to go uncontested from the other. Cards also don’t disappear right away at the end of a round – instead, up to two will go into a Reserve space and can be played again for a lower Resource cost the next round. There are unsurprisingly decks built around messing with this mechanic to further the potential for mind games between opponents. Holding cards in Reserve or using the Anchor mechanic to keep a card in the main row can turn the tide if done correctly.
With a pleasant art style and a distinct lack of direct conflict, Altered is a family friendly title that is easy to pick up and quick to play. Equinox have generously made a Print and Play demo available on their website, while the Quick Start rules can be found here.
There are currently six Starter Decks to choose from which focus on a different playstyle, alongside 12 card Booster Packs and a slew of accesories including sleeves, card portfolios and premium tokens. Starter Decks have a RRP of $29.95 while Boosters are $7.95. Altered is currently available to order from the following Australian retailers:
Keep an eye out for a Player2 review of Altered in the near future!
