The Secret's Out - The Otherworlds TCG
Otherworlds TCG is the exciting new trading card game by Vindicated Entertainment, set in the Otherworlds universe, or what we call the “Vindiverse.”
Casters of powerful magic clash against both man and machine. Forces of light and dark battle, as mercenaries in between look to make a living, and have some fun while they're at it.
Regardless of your reasoning for being interested in Otherworlds, we’re happy to have you here.
Now, before we dive into the game, let’s introduce the lead game designer.
Vincent was raised on TCGs and JRPGs by his awesome nerd father.
His first TCG was Pokemon, which he learned when he was seven. He later played Yu-Gi-Oh!, competing in many tournaments with his dad.
His father even paid a pro to coach him as a kid, so he could compete in regional tournaments for Magic: The Gathering.
Vincent made top 8 in every regional event he attended. Even making it to 2nd place in one, and 4th in two others. All between the ages of 11-13.
Later, Vincent became more of a casual player and a collector, as he pursued Vindicated Entertainment, where he designed and published dozens of tabletop games and expansions.
From the time Vincent was a kid, he’s designed cards. Now, with 30 years experience and still a young heart, Vincent seeks to bring something new and needed to the tabletop space.
It’s easy to look at the landscape and see that the tabletop industry can feel crowded.
There’s lots of competition.
Pair this with the early 2000s, where it was known as the “wild west of card games” and many of those games imploded on themselves.
However, Vincent believes this is a different time, a time “forged in iron.” An era where independent creators are thriving more and more. People are more excited about TCGs now that ever before and we’re here for it!
There’s a lot of moving elements in a TCG. Whether it be casual play, competitive, collectability, or the game stores, and the communities they foster.
Otherworlds TCG will have a “physical first” focus, including the love for local game stores. We’ll work to make sure there’s real incentives created to help foster healthy communities at the game store and get people to keep coming back as the store is excited about running Otherworlds TCG events.
This combined with the integrity we’ve built with Vindicated over the last ten years will help us welcome new members with trust, while also allowing us to be more transparent and flexible as an indie developer.
Vincent having played dozens of TCGs and making dozens himself, you’ll notice some familiarities with Otherworlds TCG, that should make the onboarding process familiar.
Every rule has been methodically considered, tested, analyzed, and researched, making it a deliberate choice for the betterment of the game.
While these mechanics have been well thought out and tested over various TCGs created over the years, for Otherworlds TCG, we still have lots of testing to do.
With that being said, we feel confident in our direction, and would like to show a tease of what you can expect!
Deeply Synergistic: Cards that resonate with expected and even unexpected cards, giving you awesome payoffs to clutch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Thriving Creativity: Deep lore and interesting deck building strategies will play a key component in Otherworlds, so you can play the game in a way unique to you.
Engaging Strategy: Vincent’s JRPG background shines here, giving players many strategies to consider when defeating their opponents in Otherworlds.
Brain Friendly: Cards are designed to be comprehensive, easy to read, and understand; lowering memory tax, so you can focus playing the game.
Astral
The living force of energy imbedded into the universe. Astral comes in many forms. In Otherworlds TCG, Astral is represented by six distinct elements.
Dark - Destruction, corruption, power, despair
Earth - Stability, strength, presence, tradition
Fire - Energy, force, movement, passion
Light - Creation, purity, order, kinship
Water - Flow, change, adaptability, progression
Wind - Growth, expansion, freedom, relaxation
Each of these elements will be represented differently in the game, with unique takes on their card designs to make each element feel unique when played.
Players will have the chance to command any combination of elements in the game, but be careful, because the more you command, the harder it’ll be to control!
Three Main Cards Types
There are three card types in Otherworlds, with each of them having a couple sub-categories.
Units
The characters that take place in your battles as the story evolves. There’s also Legend units, which represent the most renowned units. Only one Legend of the same name can be in play under your control at the same time. You’ll also be able to choose a Legend as your Leader for your deck, which will form a unique strategy for deck building.
Spells
Uses “Astral” of different elements to cast. Spells can only be played on your turn (at a “slow” speed). However, Quick Spells can be played at a “fast speed” allowing them to play any time, during any player’s turn.
Relics
Cards that stay in play, granting lasting effects. Some Relics represent rare artifacts, while others can represent standard equipment from swords to laser guns.
What The Future Holds
We have a lot of art, game design, and even loose plans for not only the initial set but future sets, and what new things they’d bring to the table.
At Vindicated, we’re wrapping up Heartseeker, we have our physical launches of Otherworlds and Legendaria. Death Note inspired TTRPG, Deathsend. A new Black Paper Moon release in the Fall. And lets not forget a manga and comic!
Vincent is a machine, especially when it comes to card games. It’s his bread and butter. The plan is to map the progress over the rest of the year with the TCG and make sure the gameplay isn’t just solid, but exceptional for players.
This process will be a journey, with multiple steps forward until its eventual release.