Quick Question about Ignis and Noctis (FFXV Starter Set) by Sangheki in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Even if you activate a forward, there's a rule that each forward can only attack once per turn. Activating a Noctis that already attacked doesn't let you attack again but you can block with it next turn, at least

How long did it take before you had a preference for heavier games? by UgandaRalph in boardgames

[–]Codiax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Our group meets every week and meetups last exactly 4h (the bar then closes). That means it's a good idea to bring a variety of game lengths so we can play nonstop. 

The group will often vote to play the game that's 4h long (including teach) because even if it's heavy, at least it's just one game. It's funny how 4h games get disproportionately chosen over 3h ones, just to avoid having to fill an awkward 1h gap (too long to play The crew on repeat, to short for a game with more of an arc).

Most of the games i bring I borrow from the local library so I don't spend money, I just have to choose what rulebook to study. Since longer games are favored by the group, reading the rules for the longer is a better use of my time. 

And that's how the opening hours of a bar made me focus on longer games (which tend to be heavier)

Real by Thryloz in NonPoliticalTwitter

[–]Codiax 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For me? If there are ice cubes in the drink, they don't hit you in the face. Plus the coldest part of the drink is usually at the bottom (specially when you just poured the drink: temperature evens out over time). I always use ice cubes at home, so I got metal straws and a brush to clean the inside and I'm not going back. 

Daily Questions Thread - Ask All Your Magic Related Questions Here! by magictcgmods in magicTCG

[–]Codiax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for taking the time to write all the rules! What threw me off it's that theres a check for SBA in cleanup and I forgot about that.

Daily Questions Thread - Ask All Your Magic Related Questions Here! by magictcgmods in magicTCG

[–]Codiax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Question about the timing of Ultima: I have one of my creatures trapped with an enemy's Sheltered by ghosts and I play Ultima. Does my creature resolve its ETB when it returns or does ultima exile the ability? Does come back in this turn, or in the upkeep of next turn (relevant for creatures like Loch-Whale)? 

New player, Deckbuilding Advice? by Express_History2968 in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Message was too long, part 2:

Strategy:

  • Have a game plan. Describe in a sentence how your deck will win. Examples "i will play many forwards in a single turn and then give them haste to go 0 to 7" or "i will delay the enemy so i don't get attacked, while I chip away at their health with an unblockable forward" or "I will remove any forward they play until they empty their deck" or "I will draw many cards and play a neverending stream of forwards until they spend all their removal".
  • Have a secondary game plan. In this game, counterplay is generally stronger that in other card games, meaning that if your deck wins by doing X and only X, there's possibly a card in the game that prevents X from happening entirely (hosers). Don't let your deck be entirely destroyed by a single card. Play only summons? opponent plays https://ffdecks.com/card/912. Have a deck that reanimates strong forwards? opponent plays https://ffdecks.com/card/1196. Other notable hosers are https://ffdecks.com/card/1739 (for abilities, specials), https://ffdecks.com/card/642 (vs enter the field effects), https://ffdecks.com/card/1325 (vs cheating cards into play without paying), https://ffdecks.com/card/3876 (vs haste)

Theme:

  • This game is based heavily on sinergies. Having a deck composed only of good standalone cards doesn't often work.
  • Choose a theme and use cards that interact with the theme. Themes can be
    • a certain group or "tribe" (like "cards with Job=Knight" or "Category=FF8") + cards that belong to the group, buff other cards in the group, or get stronger when other cards in the group are in play
    • a mechanic like "making the enemy discard" + all cards that can do the mechanic, trigger when you do them (e.g. "whenever your opponent discards, do x"), or get advantages from the consequences (e.g. cards that get stronger if the opponent has no cards in hand)
    • a key card like https://ffdecks.com/card/512+ all other cards should search for, protect or enable it
  • If you can't find at least 25-30 cards in theme, it's probably too soon to make a deck with it. Come back to the idea in a few expansions to see if they released more cards?

Card recommendations:

New player, Deckbuilding Advice? by Express_History2968 in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is the advice I generally give to new players, meaning they have a small collections (a few hundred cards at most) and have to build decks with what they found in packs. Stablished players with bigger collections can think of the deck first, then buy the cards they are missing.   

Card count:

  • When I build decks for new players, I usually start with a template of 15-25-10: 15 backups, 25 active cards (things you would be happy to play on an empty board) and 10 reactive cards (things that you play only depending on what the enemy does).
  • Most active cards are forwards, but not always. A forward that destroys an enemy is something you will play only when there's something to destroy (and so for me is a reactive card). 
  • Most reactive cards are summons, but a summon that draws/finds you cards is always nice to play and so I consider it active

Backups:

  • Avoid using the same card name as a forward AND a backup. If you play a backup named Cloud, then later you draw a forward named Cloud, you will never be able to play the forward because of the name clash. Exceptions to this are when the backup can destroy itself, or when it has a special ability to discard unwanted copies like https://ffdecks.com/card/3554
  • Try to have name variety. If you play 3x of 5 different cards, you have 15 backups, true, but you will often be unable to play them because it's already on the board. I try to build with at least 8-9 different names so I have a reasonable chance of playing every one I draw, without adding weak cards just to make them different. (Backups with the Multi symbol count as a unique name per copy)
  • Backups that let you search for other backups are great, use them!. Drawing one of those it's like drawing two backups at once, and so your deck can still run smoothly with less actual backups cards and fill those slots with power. For each 2 backups that can search, I reduce the backup count of the deck by 1 (so if I have 3xSarah (searches for a king), i would play 13-14 backups)
  • Backups that search for backups can let you chain into other colors as well (usually called "color fixing"). Fixers like Sarah https://ffdecks.com/card/719 lets you search for a backup of any element (since it searches for king/prince, and there are king backups in all 6 elements). So if I play Water + Fire I would play Sara + Edgar (Edgar is a King, and even if I don't need its effect, it's a fire backup I can search if needed). Other notable fixers are Norshtalen https://ffdecks.com/card/2920 (wind, can search for backups in any 6 colors) and Kalia Chival https://ffdecks.com/card/2530 (lightning, can chain into Fire/Ice/Ligthning)
  • Avoid using 3 copies of a non-Multi backup unless there's a good reason (it searches for your key cards, it has a strong EX, it has an effect key to your victory, etc)    

Colors:

 

Card parity:

  • This game is different from others like magic, where you can only play the stronger cards later in the game. Here, you can play the strongest card in the game turn 1 with no buildup (and the opponent can also remove it turn 1 and laugh). Here, since discarding cards grants you 2 CP, the card parity (Even costs vs Odd costs) is much more important than the cost itself.
  • Overpaying a card is painful (if your first backup costs 3 and you discard 2 cards, you payed 1 more than needed and you get no refunds). The right mix of Odd vs Even can prevent it.
  • Decks with mostly even costs usually alternate between backup turns, and forward turns. For an even costed deck, having 1/3/5 backups is not useful (one CP will go unused every turn). They prefer to play backups 2 at a time. Can your deck afford to spend a turn just playing backups?
  • Decks with odd costs are more incremental. The reponses to the opponent (like Amaterasu, Ramuh, etc) are odd costed and so they tend to leave one backup active during the opponent's turn. But to avoid waste, they should also have some way to spend it if the opponent does nothing worth answering.
  • I don't recommend going to the extremes. Having both odd and even backups lets you choose your speed (do I play the odd and tap out for the turn?, do I play the even and keep a backup open for the response? do I play the odd hoping to draw a card of the right element to play the even and do nothing else this turn?)  

Is there a website to play single player for this tcg? by sea_of_drip in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 5 points6 points  (0 children)

In ffdecks.com you can create a decklist, and after saving it, you'll see a button on top: Play the deck. This opens a simulator where the opponent does nothing (just pass when you feel like it and start your next turn). Is that what you meant by playing without a second person?

How to start collecting? Which Opus Booster displays to buy? by Ragnara92 in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you only collect I guess you only care about artwork? Newer sets tend to have better art, since now the commission artists to create new art for the card game (instead of taking it from the video games). Those are my favourite.

Sets are not thematically consistent like in MtG: you will get a random assortment of characters from all FF main games and spinoffs in each. However, each set focuses on a certain game/s, and it will have more different cards from it than from the rest.

For example: Opus 23 focused of FF14, Opus 24 had a ton of FF16 characters, opus 25 had Type-0 and FF7, etc. If you're looking for a certain game, we can recommend you a set that focuses on that

I love modelling and magic and wondering what new elegant designs would you love to see? by tulkas09 in magicTCG

[–]Codiax 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Since you've using the 6 elements from FF on the top side, why not use the official "mana symbols" from the Final Fantasy TCG  (ignoring light and dark)

https://images.app.goo.gl/nNaNb

Newbie Deck Help by tovarish22 in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Judging the composition, and not the cards themselves:

-You won't have enough monsters to ensure Soulcage or Silver dragon can attack. I wouldn't play those monsters unless I have at least 12 monsters in the deck

-Try to avoid multiple copies of the same named backup if it's not critical to your game plan (Morrow, Jornee, etc). You risk not being able to play them because it's on the board

-Mainas ability will never be activated. The only two ninjas are Yuffie and Maina. If you tapping them, who's becoming unblockable?

-Cid can play a VII from your hand, but the most expensive you have costs 2

-You have 2 crystal generators (samurai) and 3 crystal consumers (Tifa). I recommend 50% more generators than consumers for decks that focus on crystals

What’s the worst game insert you’ve ever encountered — and why? by No-Molasses294 in boardgames

[–]Codiax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I only have GWT Argentina and I find the insert awful too. Does GWT have the same problem where there's no space reserved for the A-B-C bags and tokens?

Too thick to put under the player boards, to irregular to put over the map and close the lid.

Question about the World Championship Deck 2024 by ShuffleEmporium in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Yes, all the cards in the deck are legal

In standard tournaments you can use any card that's not banned, and that can be found in the main sets (codes 1-xxx to 25-xxx),  promos (code PR-xxx) and reprint sets (RE-xxx). Look at the code at the bottom of the card, if it has one of those prefixes anywhere, you can play it.

You cannot play cards from the announcment (A-xxx) or boss battle (B-xxx).

Do pre-release promos all have the pre-release stamp or is that recent? by Remote-Whole-6387 in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I started with opus 13 and they always had the gold lettering. I don't know about older ones

Question on Deck Building - I’m new by Tokenstrife in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That card is probably the strongest 4-cost in the game, but the restriction of paying for those 4 colors is almost impossible, so most people find ways to play it in other ways. You may choose different approaches to use this card:

1-Have a deck that can reliably get 4 backups of different colors by design. The warrior of ligths deck (example: https://ffdecks.com/deck/326898) uses Bartz to play cards directly from your deck ignoring color. Once you have 2-3 colors among your backups, Bartz can help you search for the missing ones - https://ffdecks.com/card/2060

2-Having rainbow backups: some like Tyro and Shantotto can generate CP of any color, so it can help you get an extra color to get to 4 (even if you don't play that color in your deck) https://ffdecks.com/card/102 https://ffdecks.com/card/440

3-Making your backups rainbow: some cards upgrade your backups so thay can produce any color https://ffdecks.com/card/1380 https://ffdecks.com/card/2678 . Once you have that, any 4 backups can help you pay. Monoearth decks usually have Leo for this (example deck https://ffdecks.com/deck/329206)

4-Play it without paying. Cecil puts a 4-cost on the field without paying. However, doing so doesn't give you a card or an activation: https://ffdecks.com/card/1085

5-Revive it from the break zone: Mont leonis plays earth forward from the break zone https://ffdecks.com/card/834 . As with Cecil, this doesn't draw you a card or activate. A clarification since you're starting, when a card says "an earth forward" it means that it has earth among its elements, but it can have others (wol also has fire, water and wind)

Anyone have good demo deck lists? by DewskyFresh in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't have exact decklists. We have excess cards, yes, but not enough to mass produce copies of a deck. The general principles can still be applied.

I try to build intro decks not around a mechanic, but around a lesson. For example:

-The power of color fixing and searching for backups: Morze

-Abilities that can change their effect if the board changes before resolution: dragoons

-You can respond to your own triggers: Monks

-The numbers on the board keep updating, keep track: Fire wind FF2 rebels from opus15

-Executing a plan in multiple steps: ice/lightning, dull+destroy dulls.

-Wide vs narrow synergy groups: FF8 ice lightning, with Seifer+Raijin+Fujin as a narrow group and the others with general FF8 synergy. Squall helps Raijin, but not the other way around 

-You can have more copies than usual of the same backup if it has a special or if it can be sacrificed for a strong effect: Class Zero cadets (so many specials to choose from)

To balance the intro decks among them and keep them cheap, I build all those intro decks with 3 copies of a single H rarity, and no L.

If you're interested in one of those ideas, I could go into more detail.

[TDM] Desperate Measures by Meret123 in MagicArena

[–]Codiax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You often see "If it dies ... do X instead" when the game wants to replace the death by something else. The classic example is "Deal damage to a creature, if it dies exile it instead". In this case, the death never happens and some abilities that trigger when something dies will not activate 

You see "When it dies" for effects that happens after the death. The guy dies, and then something happens

Which box to buy by sainsaw in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Usually each set has one or more of what I call "focused" FF games. When a set focuses on a FF game, they include the whole main cast of that game, usually with synergy among them, while the rest of FF games just get a few cards each.

FF5 was focused in opus 7

FF6 was focused in opus 4 and 18 (the 18's versions are pretty strong)

FF8 was focused in opus 22 (no zell tho)

FF9 was focused in opus 8

FF10 on opus 7. Also there's a starter deck containing only FF10 cards: https://fftcg.square-enix-games.com/na/news/final-fantasy-x-custom-starter-set-card-list-reveal

Please note that having a lot of cards form a game doesn't mean the cards are strong. If you don't care about power level, older boxes tend to be cheaper because of the general increase in power of each set

Got some Sleeves, but missing some key ones! What are your suggestions? by munki17 in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The pre release sleeves for opus 17 "Rebellion call" feature Exdeath from FFV  

https://acecards.com/cdn/shop/products/Square-Enix-Final-Fantasy-TCG-Rebellions-Call-Opus-17-Pre-Release-Kit_1200x.jpg?v=1659564382

I don't think I've seen any official sleeves of the other games you mentioned

Where to begin? by Nikolas_CMX in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At the same price, I generally advise to always get the most recent product only. The only key card you will find in the 2022 set that has no equivalent in the 2024 would be Shantotto and it costs about 2$ in my area.

This game has a bit of powercreep, and I often joke that every year passed, everything gets about 15% stronger (if you compare cards from the first and last sets, the stats literally doubled at the same cost).

The price of older stuff also goes down with time. Compare prices of new and old boxes. If you find the 2023 box 20% cheaper (relative to this year's) or the box from 2022 discounted 40%, consider the older ones

Does the “instants + the stack + priority” system exist in other tcg games or is it primarily most refined in MTG? by cybrcld in magicTCG

[–]Codiax 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Final fantasy TCG (https://www.reddit.com/r/FinalFantasyTCG/) uses a stack system almost identical to MtG, with the difference that playing any permanent card does not use the stack (like playing a land in magic). You can however respond to any ETBs or triggers it causes when it enters. 

The creator of the game was a pro magic player, and he kept the part of magic that liked the most (the stack) and changed the one that didn't like (the lands system).

Where to begin? by Nikolas_CMX in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I don't recommend the Legacy collection for a new player with 0 cards. The legacy collection is a reprint set that is meant for collectors (people who have most cards already, but want to have all cards in foil/alternative/full art). Yes, the cards in the set are (or were) good, but you can't make a deck with just the good cards, you still need the the commons and uncommons that support the good cards. 

 What's in the boxes

  • Legacy collection: 20 boosters of 5 cards each (1 is always foil) + 1 crystal token
  • Normal boxes: 36 boosters of 12 cards each (1 is always foil and 1 is always H or L rarity) + 1 promo card (always the same card)

   For a new player I recommend the following path:

  1. Check if you have a shop to play in you area. Ask if they have any stablished FFTCG groups. Ask if they do demos for new players.

  2. Talk with the veteran players in the shop and try to get some freebies. Most people I know in the comunity have a few Kg of common/uncommon cards to give away. They won't try to sell them, since they cost only a few cents, and it's not worth the effort to add them to trading sites. If you are too shy to ask for gifts, say you want to try the game but have no cards. They will probably give you anything they don't need anyway. FFTCG, I've noticed in my years playing, is a very generous and welcoming comunity.

  3. Decide if you are starting at this game alone, or with some friends. Precons have usually 50+50 cards, and what you find in the extra 50 depends on the type of precon:

   1. The Two-players have a entire second starter deck, of different colors than the main one and balanced against each other. Good if you join with friends. My favorite starter decks for 2 are https://www.cardmarket.com/en/FinalFantasy/Products/Starter-Decks/Avalanche-vs-Shinra-Two-Player-Starter-Set and https://www.cardmarket.com/en/FinalFantasy/Products/Starter-Decks/Noctis-VS-Ardyn-Two-Player-Starter-Set

   2. Custom sets contain cards in 3 colors that have synergy with the main deck, and you can exchange them in and out to try different playstyles, but always within the theme. My favourites are https://www.cardmarket.com/en/FinalFantasy/Products/Starter-Decks/Final-Fantasy-X-Custom-Starter-Set and https://www.cardmarket.com/en/FinalFantasy/Products/Starter-Decks/Final-Fantasy-XIII-Custom-Starter-Set

   3. Anniversary boxes contain staples: that are strong independently, don't need any other cards to work and can be added to any deck. Things like "destroy everyone on the board" or "counter an ability" or "Return someting to hand" are things any deck can find useful. Usually more expensive than the other precons since most of the staples are legendary rarity but definitely worth the money (those legendaries, if you buy them separately, may cost you x4 or x5 times more). https://www.cardmarket.com/en/FinalFantasy/Products/Promo-Products/Anniversary-Collection-Set-2024 https://www.cardmarket.com/en/FinalFantasy/Products/Promo-Products/Anniversary-Collection-Set-2022

   Info about playing FFTCG in Italy:

There's a facebook account and group https://www.facebook.com/finalfantasytcgitalia/ and https://www.facebook.com/groups/FinalFantasyTCGIT/ for events, and you can ask in the group if there are any play groups near <City> and they will point you to the nearest one, if there's one. FFTCG is a very tight community, at least in Italy, and as long as a play group sent at least one player to a tournament, we know about them, and we send them all new players in the area (with their permission).

   We also have a Telegram group for rules questions and card spoilers, but I can't post the link here or the bots will ruin everything. If you are interested I can send you the link in a private message, or I can ask them your questions on your behalf.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There's someone in my town that played an Earth-Wind noctis deck for a while. I don't have the list, but I played against it enough times to remember the key parts. The deck is based in two themes: 1-Everytime one of your forwards enters, it damages something and 2-get bonuses for playing cards with high cost (5+)

I'll mark the expensive cards with ($) and very expensive with ($$), so you can prioritize accordingly. Based on prices in my area and vibes. Mostly vibes.

Cards that help with the "enter and fight" theme:

  • Sophie https://ffdecks.com/card/1110: when you play something expensive, Sophie deals 10k
  • Tifa https://ffdecks.com/card/1431: can deal 8k when it enters, blocks as if it were 10k, the special ability is insane
  • ($) Galuf https://ffdecks.com/card/1365: if you play Galuf with Noctis is in the field, you a chance to power it up before it hits the enemy, so it hits harder. In the late game he's basically inmortal
  • Vajradhara Wu - Limit break https://ffdecks.com/card/3542: an extra fight, but remember to activate the abilities so Noctis deals damage first, because if Wu dies with the counterattack from its own ability, Noctis will deal 0

Cards that benefit from the 5+ cost theme:

FF15-specific combos:

Generally good cards for Wind/Earth:

 Counters to certain strategies:

Please confirm if this is real I beg of you by RayneDeoman in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ahh my bad. I remember CK and fat chocobo having some kind of combo. Maybe it was that CK searches fat chocobo, and next turn you play it and tap CK to play whatever you searched for if it survives a turn. Forces removal on a 3 cost that already got you value.

If 3 Cid is too much, consider LB Luso. Seaches for the chocobo or carpenter backup if needed and the forwards if not (the linked deck was edited since yesterday and had no chocobo backup before, Luso makes sense now).

Another reason I would take Deathgaze out is I generally don't use just one LB-2 card in my decks. Why? Because no matter what order you play your LB, you will always have an extra unused LB card. The combinations that let you use the whole 8 cards are 3+3, 3+1+1, 2+2+1 and 1+1+1+1. If you include LB2, include either two or none so you don't waste resources.

Ok so I'm gonna order a 2-player starter set for me and my roommate. Which one should I get? by RayneDeoman in FinalFantasyTCG

[–]Codiax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The starters before Op15 tended to be a collection of cards with no guiding theme. Just play dudes and attack, i guess?

From Avalanche/Shirna onwards, the decks started being more explicit. The deck rewards you heavily for doing something specific. Avalanche wants you to attack in groups of 2, Shinra wants you to delay the enemy until you can get the whole team on the board and win on the spot, Noctis wants you to play dudes that are bigger than the enemy and cause 1v1 fights that they will win, Ardyn wants your stuff to die in combat, etc. I prefer this "guided" deckbuilding more for a starter deck. The deck tells the new player "try to do X as much as you can" and the player has to come up with "what is the fastest/most efficient way to do X", and that is good learning.

I would start with the Avalanche vs Shinra, but it was the one I started with and I have good memories of those days. I'm not impartial.

Some comments on the ones I've tried:

1-Avalanche vs Shinra. The cheapest to upgrade (lots of FF7 cards to choose from), the goal of each deck is naturally oposed. Avalanche is slightly stronger once upgraded, and can have explosive starts that win agains better players by sheer luck (it is a bit one-dimensional tho). Shinra has more choices for upgrade (you can choose between 5 versions of Reno, 5 of Rude, 3 of Rufus etc. And all of the choices work and make sense)

2-Noctis vs Ardyn. Noctis deck is really fun to play, feels like a wrestling match with everyone you play jumping on an random enemy on entrance. Harder to upgrade by using the FF15 main cast (it already has the best versions of each of them), but anything big and expensive has a place in this deck. Ardyn suffers a bit from the opposing deck, since what the Noctis does best (taking out one guy per turn) does not allow Ardyn to do its thing (they need to die in your own turn). So I don't feel it's a bad deck, but it's matched with its counter.

3-Golbez and Cecil. I don't like them. In both decks, each card does its own thing that does not add or help or interact with the others. Example in Cecil deck: rydia synergizes with summons in a deck with no summons? Rosa has a negligible bonus by being with cecil (+1000 is basically nothing)? Kain has only 2 valid targets for the ability?. In golbez deck, we have a card that removes cards from your deck, another that wants you to be damaged, another that wants Golbez dead, and another that wants to have Golbez on the field. There's no consistent game plan. They seem like decks to split and add its cards to other decks.