Designer(s) | Mike Elliott |
---|---|
Publisher(s) | Wizards of the Coast |
Players | 2 |
Playing time | Approx 20 min |
Random chance | Some |
Skill(s) required | Card playing Arithmetic Basic Reading Ability |
I believe about 50 cards. Delivery time is estimated using our proprietary method which is based on the buyer's proximity to the item location, the shipping service selected, the seller's shipping history, and other factors. Neopets® began way back in 1997 in a dingy little computer room. The site was launched on 15th November 1999. Neopets has been available in many languages since 2004 - including Spanish, French, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, German and Dutch. The Neopets Trading Card Game (or Neopets TCG) is a card game featuring the Neopets setting. It was published by Wizards of the Coast between 2003 and 2006. As well as being collected, the cards can be used in a two-player competitive card game.
The 'Neopets TCG' is a collectible card game and a spin-off of the popular virtual pet website, Neopets. Launched in 2003, this game is produced by Wizards of the Coast, a large trading card company that produces a variety of other trading card games. Neopets is aimed at a slightly younger audience than other Wizards of the Coast offerings such as Magic: The Gathering.[1] As with many other trading card games, there are two purposes of the trading cards; the first to collect the cards, and the second to play a devised game using the cards.
The card game was discontinued in 2006.
Gameplay overview[edit]
Neopets TCG is a two-player game, where each player has a play deck of at least 40 cards and a separate deck of at least 10 Basic Neopets. Most deck-building articles suggest a limit of 2-3 species for the Basic Neopets, along with a minimum of 20 Item and/or Equipment cards (essentially half of the deck).[citation needed] Each card may have only 3 copies included. Players start with a single Neopet on the first turn, moving up to three by the third turn. These Neopets compete against opposing Neopets in four different arenas: Strength, Agility, Intelligence, and Magic. Winning a competition during a player's own turn allows the player to bank or draw a card; banking enough cards of sufficient value eventually leads to victory.
Types of cards[edit]
The various Neopets cards are divided into categories that affect gameplay in different ways. The different card types are as follows:
- Basic Neopet
- Experienced Neopet
- Item
- Equipment
- Hero
- Villain
- Something Has Happened!
- Location
- Fate (Curse and Quest)
- Constellation
Basic Neopet (Yellow)[edit]
The Basic Neopet cards are the foundation of the game, and are based upon fictional Neopets taken from the Neopets website, including the species and color of the Neopet. The cards list four abilities or attributes, which are: strength, agility, intelligence, and magic. Each of these is given a value, with a higher number denoting a greater power or skill in a given category. Basic Neopets never have a printed score higher than 10, or lower than 1.
Experienced Neopet (Grey)[edit]
The Experienced Neopet is much like an evolved Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. An Experienced Neopet has higher attributes, and often has helpful side effects that influence various part of the game. The Experienced Neopet cards consist of a Neopet species, and an adjective describing that Neopet's advanced occupation, e.g. Jubjub Engineer. However, only Neopets of the matching base species can transform into the Experienced Neopet role, so, for example, only a Jubjub could turn into a Jubjub Engineer, while a Mynci could not.
Item & Equipment (Red and Blue)[edit]
Item and Equipment cards both increase a Neopet's abilities, by adding points onto the printed base number in one or more categories, and frequently have certain side effects that affect gameplay. Whereas Items can only be used once before being discarded, Equipment is attached to the Neopet and remains there until it is removed by another card. The advantage to Items is that they can be sprung upon an opponent unexpectedly.
Item and Equipment cards are also the only cards worth points, ranging from 0 to 8. A player needs to 'bank' 21 points worth of Items and Equipment cards to win the game.
Hero & Villain (White and Black)[edit]
Villain cards and Hero cards both have extremely high ability numbers, and are designed to oppose one another. If a villain is played, the arena in which the villain is located is effectively sealed off until the villain is confronted and beaten, until which point the players cannot start contests against their opponent in that arena, only the villain. A Hero card can be used to fight a difficult battle (often against a villain), but can be used only once before being discarded.
Something Has Happened! (Purple)[edit]
Something Has Happened! cards usually cause a one-time, instantaneous event or effect to occur. These cards often are used to influence the outcome of a battle, and are then discarded. Because one can discover that 'Something has Happened!' at virtually any time, such cards can introduce a heavy element of surprise.
Location (Green)[edit]
Location cards can be played in one area to affect all future battles taking place there (until they get replaced by another Location). The Location can give an advantage to a certain kind of Neopet, or can cause some side effect to any battles occurring there. Location cards are typically based upon fantasy locations on the Neopets website.
Fate (orange)[edit]
Fate cards are divided into two sub-categories: Curse and Quest. Curses are usually placed on a Neopet belonging to the opponent, and have a negative or detrimental effect on that Neopet. Because Curse cards typically remain in play, they can cripple a given Neopet's ability to perform effectively. Quest cards affect all parts of the game, and are (usually) neutral.
Constellation[edit]
Constellation cards represent constellations in the sky which impact play in some way. For example, a given Constellation might confer an additional power to the Neopets in play, or otherwise might change the game in some fashion. Wizards of the Coast has not given any official ruling as to the rules regarding constellations, but popular rule sets online (most notably in player-created 'guilds' on the Neopets website) considered them similar to Magic's enchantments.
Expansions[edit]
The Neopets Trading Card Game has seen a series of expansions, with each release including new cards and in many cases, new categories of cards. Only three Neopets species did not make it into the TCG, as produced by Wizards of the Coast: Gnorbu, Ogrin, and Xweetok. Checklists can be accessed if players have a Neopets user account.
Base set[edit]
The first Neopets card set was simply an introductory 234-card set, with no prevailing theme whatsoever. This set introduced the card types Basic Neopet, Experienced Neopet, Hero, Villain, Item, Equipment, and 'Something Has Happened!'. The Basic Neopet types that were introduced were Aishas, Korbats, Myncis, Scorchios, Shoyrus, Kacheeks, Acaras, Lupes, Wockies, Poogles, Eyries, and Grarrls.
Battle For Meridell[edit]
This expansion's release was coordinated with an online plot/war, which was set in the virtual feudal-themed land of Meridell. Thus, the 140 cards in this set were designed with a Middle Ages-like style. This expansion introduced ten new species of Neopets, (Basic Type: Blumaroo, Draik, Gelert, Ixi, Meerca, Quiggle, Skeith, Uni, Usul, and Zafara) in addition to the Location card type.
The Return of Sloth[edit]
Intending to be tied into an online plot, this set was released in 2004 & the online tie-in was delayed until early 2008 due to workload.[2] This set totaled 100 cards. This expansion's theme was space, providing players with futuristic and robotic items and equipment. Six new Neopet species made their debut in this expansion (Basic Type: Cybunny, Grundo, Jetsam, Jubjub, and Kougra).
Mystery Island[edit]
Based upon a tropical island locale, this 100-card expansion provided no new card types, but did introduce four new Neopet species, including the Pteri and Techo (other Basic Type: Krawk and Peophin). The related plot was the Secret of the Volcano mystery plot in Fall 2003, but the plot and the expansion were not released together.
Hannah and the Ice Caves[edit]
Revolving around a central popular game character known as Hannah the Usul, a substantial plot was released on the Neopets website along with this 150-card set; it was also the first set to have 'secret' cards (5 Jelly cards 151/150-Jelly Poogle, 152/150-Jelly Shoyru, 153/150-Jelly World, 154/150-Jelly Puppyblew, and 155/150-Orange Jelly). The locale for this expansion, released in October 2004, was a wintry, icy environment. A game is also based upon the plot of this expansion of the same name, and is currently online at the Neopets website. This expansion introduced the Basic Neopets known as the Bori, and the Bruce (other Basic Type: Elephante, Flotsam, Kyrii, and Moehog). One new card type was released: Fates.
Curse of Maraqua[edit]
This 120-card expansion revolved around the underwater city of Maraqua, which was rebuilt during the plot of the same name on the Neopets website. Four new Neopet species were released with this set, including the Yurble (other Basic Type: Chomby, Lenny, and Tuskaninny).
Lost Desert[edit]
This 100-card expansion took players to the shifting sands of the Lost Desert. Basic Neopets released in this expansion are the Ruki, the Kau, and the Tonu. Site-wise, there was a plot and war revolving around this expansion.
The Darkest Faerie[edit]
This 150-card expansion (with 5 secret cards) featured several cards relating to the PlayStation 2 game, including several familiar characters from previous sets. The most notable of these were the Darkest Faerie, the Dark Faerie Sisters, and the Werelupe King. This expansion also introduced another new type of card, the Constellation (Basic Type: Buzz, Koi, and Nimmo). Oddly, this expansion was absent of any Fates.
Secret cards: 151- Amulet of Thilg, 152- Bewitched Ring, 153- Fyora, Tower Guardian, 154- The Hidden Tower, 155- Wand of Ultanova.
Travels in Neopia[edit]
This Neopets card 'expansion' is actually a re-packaging of 200 cards from previous card sets. This includes favorite cards, as well as Neopets from each and every known Neopet species; 3 exceptions from the list of 54- Gnorbu, Ogrin, and Xweetok (introduced Basic Type: Hissi, Kiko, and Lutari). Only one color for each Basic species was included. The general theme of this set is about encouraging fans to re-live past plots, or, for those new to Neopets, catch up to them with some of the more well-known aspects of the series. There was barely any publicity at all related to this expansion.
The Haunted Woods[edit]
The newest expansion, featuring 100 cards with a spooky theme. Cards are related to ghosts, werewolves, and zombies, among others. This deck is associated with the plot, Tale of Woe; where a village has fallen under a curse, and only the Neopets can determine what happened to the townsfolk. There are no new Basic Type cards, although they did fill out the basic 4 colors for the Lenny and Tonu. Special color versions are included for Acara, Aisha, Cybunny, and Korbat. As with previous recent releases, this release appears to be been done with a minimum amount of publicity. This is the last expansion produced by Wizards of the Coast.
Hubrid's Hero Heist[edit]
A game was created to tie in with the TCG, and it was named Hubrid's Hero Heist. It features several Neopian heroes being captured by Hubrid Nox and the player, as the Poogle Apprentice, is tasked to save these heroes. The heroes which the player saves are, in order of saving, Magnus the Torch, Jeran, Master Vex, Illusen, Jerdana, and finally, Fyora the Faerie Queen.[3]
References[edit]
- ^Kaufeld, John; Smith, Jeremy (2006). Trading Card Games For Dummies. For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN0470044071.
- ^'Neopian Museum: The Return of Dr. Sloth'. Jellyneo. Dreamhost. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
- ^'Your Friendly Walkthrough to Hubrid's Hero Heist'. Neopian Times.
External links[edit]
- Wizards of the Coast Neopets product page[dead link]
- Neopets Trading Card Game at BoardGameGeek
Neopets Cards Ebay
The Neopets Trading Card Game (or Neopets TCG) is a card game featuring the Neopets setting. It was published by Wizards of the Coast between 2003 and 2006. As well as being collected, the cards can be used in a two-player competitive card game.
In addition to the original base set of 234 cards, seven expansions were released that usually tied in with a plot on the website bring the total to 1410 different cards. Versions of the cards also exist as on-site items.
- 1Gameplay
- 2Expansions
Gameplay[edit]
The goal of each game is to bank twenty one points of equipment and items. Equipment and items may be put in the player's bank when they win a contest against their opponent. A contest is a competition in either strength, agility, magic, or intelligence between the player's Neopet and hero cards and their opponent's. Each player can use equipment and items to improve their cards' statistics. Alternatively, a player wins if their opponent runs out of cards from their deck.
Each player starts the game with a stack of basic Neopet cards and forty cards in their deck. Each game also needs a die. Each turn (except for the very first turn) the player draws the top card from their deck and puts it in their hand. The player must have up to three basic Neopets in play at any one time: if the player has less than three out, then they must turn over the top card from their Neopet stack and put it into play. They can do this once per turn.
When put into play, a basic Neopet is placed into one of four arenas, each one corresponding to one of the contest statistics (strength, agility, magic, and intelligence). The player can move their Neopets to a different arenas once they are in play. Drawing a Neopet from the Neopet stack, moving it between arenas, and starting a contest with it all tap the card: this means that it has been used and can't be used for anything else until it is untapped, usually on the next turn. The player shows a card is tapped by turning it ninety degrees to the side, and untaps it by straightening it up again.
The player can put more than one basic Neopet in one arena to improve their score in it. They can also play cards from their hand to enhance their performance. These include experienced Neopets, which replace one of the player's basic or experienced Neopets of the same species in the arena they were in. When replaced in this way, basic Neopets are returned to the Neopet draw pile, while experienced Neopets are discarded. Heroes are cards that can be added to an arena to start or join contests like a Neopet card, but are discarded at the end of the turn. Equipment cards can be attached to a basic Neopet, experienced Neopet, or Hero, and provides a stat bonus. Attaching equipment usually requires a Neopet to be tapped - but not necessarily the Neopet the equipment is going to.
The player can put Villain cards in any arena that doesn't already have a Villain in. Villains must be defeated in a special contest that does not let the opponent bank any equipment before a normal contest in that arena can be performed. Something Has Happened cards perform special actions and can be played at certain times.
Contest[edit]
A player can start a contest on their turn with any untapped Neopet. More than one Neopet and Hero can be used in each contest, but they must be in the same arena. The player first taps the Neopets and Heroes they intend to use. Excepting Villain contests, which don't count towards the limit, the player can only perform one contest per arena per turn.
If the opponent doesn't have any Neopets or Heroes in that arena, then the player wins automatically. Otherwise, they must compete. The player who's turn it is (who started the contest) can chose to add an item card to the arena. Whether or not they chose to do so, their opponent can then play an item card of their own, if they choose to. These are played face down: after the opponent has decided if they want to play an item card or not, they are then turned over and their instructions followed. Item cards usually add stat bonuses.
The player and their opponent must both roll a die. If one of them rolls a six and the other person doesn't, the one who rolled the six wins. If they both rolled a six, they must roll again. If neither rolled a six, then each player must add up the stats for that arena for all their Neopets and Heroes in the contest, including their equipment, the stat bonus from the item they played, and their dice roll. Whoever has the highest number wins - in the event of a draw, the players re-roll and start again. Once a winner is found, the items cards are discarded.
If the player who started the contest won, they may chose to either put an equipment or item card from their hand into their bank - twenty one points of equipment and items wins them the game - or they may chose to draw a card. If the other player - who didn't start the contest - wins, then neither player may bank or draw a card.
Expansions[edit]
First Edition[edit]
The first edition contained 234 cards.
Battle for Meridell[edit]
The first expansion set was released in conjunction with the Battle for Meridell plot. It contained 140 cards, and two theme decks could be bought (one for Meridell and Darigan). It introduced ten new Neopet species, and Location and Plushie cards.
Return of Dr. Sloth[edit]
The Return of Dr. Sloth expansion was the second expansion set released. It was intended to coincide with The Return of Dr. Sloth plot, but the plot was postponed for another four years. The expansion contained 100 cards, and introduced 6 new Neopet species, new abilities, and Petpetpets.
Mystery Island[edit]
100 cards, 4 new Neopets, new locations, tropical fruits, island plushies, powerful Codestones, and exotic totems.
Hannah and the Ice Caves[edit]
150 cards. Introduced Curse cards. Was released in conjunction with the Hannah and the Ice Caves plot
The Hannah and the Ice Caves Release Tournaments were held October 30, 2004. All players received a Red Bori promo card and a Hannah and Bori lanyard. Prizes included Hannah and the Ice Caves booster packs and the first place winner took home a Hannah and the Ice Caves Snow Globe Trophy.
Curse of Maraqua[edit]
120 cards. Introduced Maraquan equipment, new ways for Neopets to move around, and four new Neopets. Released in conjunction with the Curse of Maraqua plot.
Lost Desert[edit]
100 cards. Introduced three new Neopets. Released in conjunction with the Lost Desert Plot.
The Darkest Faerie[edit]
Released along with the PS2 video game Neopets: The Darkest Faerie. 155 cards, introduced magical constellations, original-art sketch cards, and the legendary world Altador.
Travels in Neopia[edit]
Expansion which rereleased many popular cards from previous expansions along with a few new cards. It contained 200 cards.
Neopets Trading Cards
Haunted Woods[edit]
This 100 card set introduces Haunted cards.
Promotional cards[edit]
There were 11 cards not part of any expansion that were given out as as promotional items.
Random Event[edit]
The on-site versions of the Neopets TCG cards are featured in the following Random Event, which gives the player a random trading card.
Neopets Cards Price Guide
Trivia[edit]
Neopets Collectable Cards
- For April Fools' Day 2004, The Neopets Team announced the release of a hoax Quiguki expansion set.
External links[edit]
Neopets Trading Cards Price Guide
- Caption Competition:#367, #408