As we have said many times, pre-constructed deck games or hand management games* are what pulled us into this hobby and it is what we get all excited about when a new pre-constructed constructed deck game comes out. So, needless to say, we were really looking forward to doing this episode because it is in our wheelhouse. We take a look at Vs. System 2PCG by Upper Deck and Ashes: Rise of the Phoenixborn by Plaid Hat Games. Even though Vs is based on the older 2004 system, it has been brought up to 2009 standards, but not 2015 standards. Meanwhile, Ashes is going to set the constructed card game community on fire with its game play, mechanics, and art. Hopefully as they expand it, they don’t break it.

Marty and I also throw in a quick overview of Mage Wars Academy since all three of these card games are coming out this year. There will be a more indepth review of this
game in a later episode. Enjoy the show and hope you got your entries in for the Dice Tower Contest which closes on 8/25/2016.
[table]
Segment, Time
Fields of Arle,6:00
Stilchen,8:00
Mysterium, 10:10
Tony Rant, 12:15
Vs. System 2PCG, 14:45
Portal Games Announcement, 36:31
Ashes: Rise of the Phoenixborn, 37:30
Mage Wars Academy, 01:03:00
[/table]
*Hand management games are games with cards in them that reward players for playing the cards in certain sequences or groups. The optimal sequence/grouping may vary, depending on board position, cards held and cards played by opponents. Managing your hand means gaining the most value out of available cards under given circumstances. Cards often have multiple uses in the game, further obfuscating an “optimal” sequence. (Source: BGG)

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