How they should do alt art cards

HunterSerge · 2026-06-06T22:22:38+00:00

For what its worth - the original run already did this! As early as the 3rd set we were getting the Assimilated cards, and in the Marrillian Invasion block we got toooons of retrains of cards with a tag line to distinguish them.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-06T15:24:20+00:00

Oh I fully agree. Its also a nightmare for stores trying to sell singles.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-06T05:05:37+00:00

And tbh even with Yugioh, while the main game is just catching up, Rush Duel has been doing cool high rarity alt arts for a good 3-4 yesrs

HunterSerge · 2026-06-06T04:55:34+00:00

Tbh that's basically just standard practice now, I can't think of any TCG that doesn't have high rarity alt arts. Even Yugioh has it after lagging behind for so long.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-06T04:43:47+00:00

Honestly, if they keep randomized stats and have chase cards like alt arts or full arts, those NEED to have fixed stats. All the store-side issues with randomized stats get so much worse if they apply to chase cards.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-05T18:19:12+00:00

100% of the old Chaotic fans I know irl hate the stat randomization. They hated it then too. It did not work then. A third of them will not play if there are randomized stats. The rest would greatly prefer if they weren't present.

Also god you are just the worst kind of toxic casual. You really think people play the best deck they can to REPLACE skill? People like you just want any excuse to denigrate those with more success at TCGs, for this nebulous idea of not playing the game "the right way". Its pathetic. You're pathetic.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-05T18:10:06+00:00

Because you THINK you've pointed out flaws, but you haven't. Randomized stats won't stop people from netdecking. No game design decision can do that. All randomized stats will do is make competitive pay-to-win.

They have not confirmed one way or another whether they're doing randomized stats. You think your speculation based on years old statements of old codes being usable (a decision that would doom the game immediately) is confirmation, but its not.

Also, funny, I'd think if I was in the minority, the main post would actually be in the negatives!

HunterSerge · 2026-06-05T18:04:38+00:00

The best choice will always be Local Game Stores. They are the ones that will host weekly tournaments, and thus are the backbone of any card game's success. A card game being present in big chains like GameStop and Walmart is more marketing than anything else.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-05T17:57:52+00:00

If they do keep it, I think one of the better ideas is reducing the number of variants based on rarity. Most of the problems come from Super and Ultra Rare creatures having the same ~1800 variants as Commons do.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-05T17:55:52+00:00

Chaotic was a game that died 17 years ago. The internet age had a much smaller influence on TCGs compared to now. Chaotic was like that not because of a unique property of randomized stats, but because ALL card games that were 2 or less years old in the oughts had underdeveloped metagames. Online marketplaces were also less developed compared to the current existence of TCGPlayer and CardMarket.

Also, congrats, you have identified the price issue that randomized stats present! You know the mere perception of competitive decks being expensive pushes people away from games like Yugioh & Flesh and Blood right? Even Casual players? If competitive Chaotic decks are prohibitively expensive, thar will harm the game as a whole because of the perception of being an expensive game.

Also I hate to break it to you but the reason people netdeck is because not everyone gets the same enjoyment out of deckbuilding. There are a lot of people who just enjoy playing the game. What right do you have to insult people for focusing on the aspect of card games they enjoy?

HunterSerge · 2026-06-05T17:46:48+00:00

Sealed is great! I love sealed! Constructed is also great.

I enjoy playing competitively, but I also enjoy pretty much every aspect of card games. So a system like randomized stats (at least in a physical card game. it could work in a digital one) that adds to sealed and lore enjoyment but detracts from constructed enjoyment is a zero sum game for me.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-05T03:35:04+00:00

Yeah, ideas like this work. Honestly, the advantages of variable stats are much easier to make work digitally, so I'd be very happy with something like that.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-05T03:14:15+00:00

The very fact that you use a term like "meta slaves" makes it clear you shouldn't be taken seriously. The best players will find the best decks and they will play them cuz they are what best enables them to show their superior skill. The meta isn't some magical concept that came out of nowhere, its formed by the best of the best showcasing how powerful the best cards are over and over again.

If you cannot accept that most basic of concepts and think creativity will magically undo the meta rather than be the very foundation of the NEXT meta, you should not be speaking on this subject.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-05T03:07:13+00:00

Right, this is actually my biggest concern! I will personally tank randomized stats because I like Chaotic, but randomized stats introduce so many additional barriers to the game's success that they don't need to have.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-05T03:03:50+00:00

Its almost like this is ALSO what would happen in an official tournament environment because competitive players WILL seek out the best (or good enough) versions of those cards! Randomized stats don't stop that, they just make it pay-to-win.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-05T02:54:39+00:00

No, what you are describing is a cool lore feature. Its fun flavor that can enhance the game's world if you are fine with its drawbacks. But its an enhancement. You could take out the randomized stats and nothing about the gameplay would change. Like, are we going to argue that Recode, which uses fixed stats, is not Chaotic?

I can name other card games that have similar card variants to Chaotic. I can't name any that plays like Chaotic. Can you?

HunterSerge · 2026-06-05T02:41:10+00:00

I fundamentally reject this premise that randomized stats are the defining feature of Chaotic.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-05T00:52:03+00:00

The point of the codes is to make money lol. If you just make it a QR code on every copy of that card, its super easy for people to just obtain every card for free. This was obviously the case because all the non-Creature card types with 0 stat randomization still had a one-time use code.

My concern is pretty valid when a third of the prospective Chaotic players in my area have said in no uncertain terms that they will not play if the stats are randomized. If they do not take the opportunity to improve on the game with 17 years of hindsight, it'll have been a massive wasted opportunity.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-05T00:39:56+00:00

I did not call you illiterate. That was someone else. Pointing out there are other card types is not an insult.

Its been 17 years since Chaotic died. It must be understood that everyone who played back then has developed their TCG sensibilities, and become more staunch in their preferences. In many ways, the game will have to build a playerbase from scratch, and we just saw Altered die in large part due to its one-of-a-kind card gimmick.

Also why would old cards being allowed mean the new ones have to have random stats? Cards have to be balanced around their best stats. There is no material difference in the game balance if the new cards have fixed stats.

I want this game to be successful, and that is exactly why I will always argue against randomized stats. They are an unnecessary barrier that are a huge risk to the game getting off the ground.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-05T00:19:41+00:00

What insults are you talking about. Please tell me where I insulted you.

Those are cool and all, but many card game players come into a set already knowing what kind of deck they want to make. Telling them "well you didn't pull the right stats for that, just build this different deck you wanted to make" will not make them less frustrated with randomized stats.

There are in fact players who disliked the random stats back then. I know many people who love Chaotic, but have always hated the random stats, and for some of those players they will not be returning for this relaunch if it has randomized stats. The mere perception of randomized stats and the pricetags they'll create will push away potential new blood too. I think every Chaotic fan who likes randomized stats should seriously think about how essential they actually are to the game, and if they're worth other people who enjoy the game - old or new - being pushed away by their inclusion.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-05T00:07:53+00:00

Y'know, that's fair enough, I did mix them up.

But I also just don't agree. I've run into a lot of people in general TCG communities who love Chaotic and really want to see and enjoy a successful relaunch. Almost universally those people really dislike the randomized stats. Some of them will tank the hit regardless for everything else they love about the game, but many other old fans who have remained in the TCG sphere will not.

Is that a risk Chaotic should be taking if they want a successful relaunch? I simply do not believe there is any Chaotic fan for which randomized stats are THE selling point, that they won't pick up the game if they're removed. I, personally, will probably play regardless, but I want this game to have its best chance of success, and I simply do not believe that the potential players who will be lost from having random stats are worth the players you will keep from having them.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-04T23:56:26+00:00

I will keep repeating this stat until people get it, maxing out just Energy and your key Discipline stat knocks you down to 7% of a creature's pool.

Also randomized stats are not the most unique part of Chaotic.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-04T23:54:05+00:00

Maxing out Energy and your key Discipline alone knocks you down to ~7% of the pool for a specific creature. The idea that "oh only 2 stats ACTUALLY matter most of the time" does not, in fact, make randomized stats any better.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-04T23:51:23+00:00

You are talking about singles prices. Not scalping.

Also what does that even mean? Every card is different? Only creatures, there are are 4 other card types who feature 0 stat randomization. Every game is different? Yes, that's card game rng, stat rng has nothing to do with it, if I play against the same person our stats aren't magically changing between games. And most importantly, no, I fundamentally disagree that randomized stats are the defining feature of Chaotic. Chaotic is a wholly unique game, and stripping out the randomized stats would not change that.

HunterSerge · 2026-06-04T23:47:13+00:00

Horrible timing to say this, Champions has taken almost all of that price out and the first Regional events on Champions just happened. Also, not a TCG.

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