What Makes Living Card Games from Fantasy Flight Games So Fun?
My father-in-law and I just recently finished another campaign of the Lord of the Rings: Living Card Game, and despite some random struggles throughout, we came out the other side with a victory. As we packed up, we looked back on our 3 completed campaigns of this game, and both said we were excited to do this again. We played Marvel Crisis Protocol as well – wasn’t really a big hit with us, but it is the fan favourite of them all I think – and we will be reviewing the new Arkham Horror Card Game core box soon. Why are these living cards games so popular?
For me, it’s the trading card game feel without the collectability and randomness of booster packs. I get the excitement of building a cohesive deck that works well given scenarios, with the knowledge of what cards I have available, and exactly where I can get other cards should I want them. Building decks is one of the major hooks for me when it comes to Trading Card Games, but I’m always frustrated when I don’t have the cards I want, and getting them either means buying singles and waiting, or buying more packs and hoping.
It might also be because these are based on popular intellectual properties. I am a huge Lord of the Rings fan, and have enjoyed games like Fate of the Fellowship, The Lord of the Rings: Trick Taking Game, and The Lord of the Rings: Journey’s in Middle Earth. Add to that Duel for Middle Earth and There and Back Again and you can tell I love my Lord of the Rings games. So if you give me a Lord of the Rings adventure with cards, it’s probably going to be something I really enjoy. So may be that is what keeps me coming back.
Or, and more likely, it’s that Fantasy Flight Games has managed to create a really great card system in all their games that feel familiar, yet different, meaning there is a reason to play all three – Marvel, Lord of the Rings, and Arkham – but knowing that the system is going to be really thought out. Either way, this is your push to go try a Living Card Game from Fantasy Flight Games – it will be worth it!
Article By Adam
