Riftbound RQLA – Day One Recap
The Riftbound Regional Qualifier kicked off today in Los Angeles with a bang, hundreds of matches being played in a packed Convention Center Hall filled with play tables, vendors, an official Merch booth, the ‘Ripper’s Bay’ dedicated pack ripping station and a main stage which brought some juicy info regarding the upcoming Radiance wave, releasing on October 23rd.
Player2 were fortunate enough to be brought in as guests of Riot to experience first-hand the community they are shaping at the very same time it continues to explode in popularity just 11 months on from its English language launch. The vibe across the entire day was one of positivity and mutual respect, wandering through the play tables dominating the event floor a delight as the enthusiasm in the air became infectious; whether it be an incredible ‘pull’ from a booster or a great play, cheers and congratulations were doled out in equal measure. There’s something so wholesome about seeing passion manifest in such a way in an event space and it’s always a keen reminder of why players make regular pilgrimages to their local game night or even annual events; the sense of belonging. To be amongst our own, united by a common interest regardless of anything else. A good reminder that for those of us Down Under, PAX Aus is just around the corner.
When asked what events I wanted to participate in, I elected to jump into a Learn to Play session run for Press, alongside a subsequent Vendetta Sealed event so I could get a taste of that format, given my Riftbound experiences to date have largely centered around Standard 1v1 matches using modified pre-cons at best. Paired up with another journalist who was playing Riftbound for the very first time (but coming in with other TCG experience), we were guided through our Learn to Play match by amazing Riot staff members Julian and Parkes, both of whom were incredibly adept at breaking down general and advanced concepts alongside providing strategic guidance when requested.
The Learn to Play matches centred around the four latest demo decks the Riftbound team have developed for on-boarding new players in event and FLGS environments. Featuring Shen, Renekton, Mel and Nasus, each contains a legal 24 card main-deck, a Champion Unit, a Legend, a single Battlefield and of course, 12 Runes. Even more-so than a Showdown Set or a pair of Single Player Pre-Cons, these demo decks have the juice when it comes to giving a new player everything they need without overwhelming them with decisions from the get-go. Having been critical of Riftbound’s on-boarding experience in the past, it’s clear Riot have their ears to the ground around this one and are proactively making that first play as seamless as it is engaging. Taking the match 8-7, my first thought was that I couldn’t wait to toss one of these decks at my 9 year-old and see where it landed for him, having taken him through both Lorcana Gateway and monocolour MtG demo decks which try and serve the same purpose.
Following the Learn to Play, I was lucky enough to be paired up with Jon Moormann, lead designer of Radiance, for two quick Vendetta Sealed matches. I say quick, because Jon didn’t need long to snatch victory away from me, although I did appreciate his graciously allowing me to secure a few more points in our second match before crushing me in the most courteous way. Given this was my first experience with the Sealed format, it was great to simply watch someone with as much experience from both design and play perspectives make the most of six booster packs. I won’t pretend my deck was anything but a janky Jayce/Gear abomination, but Riftbound, much like Omen and many of my other favourite tabletop experiences, remains enjoyable even when losing. Immediately after, it was time to head to the Main Stage area to watch the Radiance – Taking the Stage presentation which revealed a number of things Riftbound players and collectors alike can get excited about including new mechanics, a new Ultimate Rare and the announcement that easily got the loudest crowd reaction, Heartsteel Overnumbered cards with a solid late 90’s boyband aesthetic.
This felt like the crowning jewel of the news that Riot are commissioning a huge amount of new art going forward, having exhausted much of the Runeterra art they had repurposed for Riftbound. Radiance also marks the debut of Champion Unit Neeko, the first Neutral Domain card in the game. There’s plenty of information available on the official Riftbound website covering the bulk of the Radiance panel contents, but I think there’s no better way than to see aforementioned lead designer Jon Moormann rock some truly intense snakeskin pants alongside game director Dave Guskin in the video below.
Not long after the panel presentation, I headed upstairs for a 30-minute sit-down interview with Jon which will appear on Player2 and out YouTube channel over the coming days. Jon was fascinating to talk to, his love for his craft pouring out in every answer and the sort of person whose zest for their profession would make many envious. Afterwards, I headed back down into the throng to take some more pictures of both the crowds and the many cool displays Riot had placed around the event floor as well as detour quickly to Ripper’s Bay, Riot’s dedicated dual camera ‘ripping’ station, the results of which are over on our Instagram page.
I didn’t stick around for the Nexus events running late into the night, opting to endure a failed attempt to visit the Griffith Observatory, a decision completely destroyed by country music artist Riley Green whose fans clearly outnumber any amount of parking spaces the surrounding areas could hold. Finding solace in an In-n-Out Double Double on the drive back, I couldn’t wait to head back down to the Convention Center the next morning and see just how much more excitement the Saturday would bring with some more Sealed events and an even larger crowd of Riftbound fans.
