I know I said expect new updates, and I have been working on new updates, but they just aren’t so apparent yet. I’ve been working for the past two weeks or so on a massive site redesign. As some of you may know, the site is currently based on a Wordpress theme, and I did this because quite frankly it was pretty easy to get up and running. I want to do something custom to help integrate some new features into the site, so that’s what’s going on.

I promise you’ll see some major changes very soon, and I apologize for lack of updates. I just got a bit too involved with the coding side of things.

After a brief time with no power (partly due to the power company’s own ineptitude — but I won’t get into that here), I’ve returned to write a brief post that I had meant to write a few days ago. The World of Warcraft TCG National Championships look to be nearly complete, and I’ve been trying to keep up with the news on that front. It looks as if in late November the World Championships will be held (in San Diego, no less) and I’m going to try to get down there if I can to cover some of the event.

Just as a personal note, I went to my local neighborhood gaming store this past weekend and picked up some of the new cards and I have to say I continue to be impressed with the quality of the art. I’m trying to put together a few games to try out some of the new stuff they added in the recent expansions, and I’ll write more about that later.

I’ve spent the last few days trying to catch up on things that I’ve missed, and so far so good. I just wanted to post something that caught my eye that I really liked — the Outlands playmat. I really wish I could find a higher resolution picture, but the thing is pretty amazing. Wonderful color and great art design. Definitely something I’m going to try to get with my admittedly sparse amount of UDE points.

I’m going to post another update a bit later, I just wanted to make note of something I thought was really cool.

Wow, it has been along time.

I know I wrote and said that I was hoping to get back into updating the site, but a long list of things got in the way. Between handling a situation that one hopes they would never have to deal with and taking some time to take stock of my life, I neglected updating this site and I apologize for that. I won’t bore you with the details of my life (after all, that’s not why you’re here), but I will say that I’m committed to continuing this webpage, even if people have stopped coming here due to lack of updates. This site started as a hobby, and I will continue it as such. I promise that this time it’s for real, and I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts, views, and impressions about this wonderful card game.

See you soon.

Well, I guess things got off to a start a bit later than I had intended last week, but here we are nonetheless! I was perusing UDE’s WoW website this morning and stumbled upon the next expansion set for the card game. Now, I know this isn’t exactly news to anyone who has been following the game, but since I’ve been “out of the loop” so to speak, it’s awesome to log on and see something like this.

I know close to nothing about the set, so it’ll be fun to read up on some of the more interesting stuff and I’ll be back later to include a few thoughts.

Hey folks, I’m back! It’s been a rough few months, and many personal reasons kept me from keeping this site up to date. I was, in fact, in a variety of States and seeing a large amount of family. The crisis, so to speak, has past and the future is looking bright again so I decided to fall back into my daily routine of site creating and news delivery. I hope there’s still a possibility of jump starting this site again, and breathing new life back into it. I hope everyones holidays went well, and that you and everyone you care about is safe and happy. Things might start off bumpy here for a few days, but I hope to have everything running smoothly by the end of the week.

It’s good to be back.

My cards have been delivered! From UDE, in any event. The friendly DHL postal service sent me an e-mail reporting that my cards are awaiting me when I stop by for lunch. I am very excited, and after work I plan to head up and pickup my booster box and (most likely) another box if available. Then, my friends, deck creation begins. I have given a lot of thought to the type of deck I want to create, and other then my much sought after Paladin deck I’d like to create a Warlock and Warrior deck. I am completely fascinated with Warlocks, and I have a special place in my heart for Warriors. They try oh-so-hard to be good little tanks! Just like the little engine that could, they get knocked down, but they always get right back up. You’d be amazed how many Warriors I hear cursing Blizzard for their broken arm!

I’m going to post a bit about my cards when I get them later today. I’ve gotten gear up with a killer deck for this Friday. I won’t be revealing my deck quite yet, but hopefully it’ll be worthy of at least a few wins.

A new article over at UDE’s official World of Warcraft TCG site has always materialized this morning. This one is titled “The Lazy Peon’s Perspective“, and goes into detail about the Lazy Peon playstyle. This is one of my favorite game types, actually, because the only cards you can use are commons and uncommons! How cool is that? Due to the World Of Warcraft TCG’s massive amount of, dare I say, good common and uncommon cards, this makes for a very interesting type of play. A bit from the article:

What is the Lazy Peon format, you ask? (Did you just talk to your monitor?) In this format you can only use commons and uncommons, so Richie McBigdollars will have to save his binder of rares for another event. What could you win from playing such a format? Jeff Donais outlined that all formats will receive a lot of support from UDE Organized Play. While he said, “Our primary directive for the WoW TCG is simple: keep it fun,” there is prize incentive to keep that fun competitive. This year at Gen Con So Cal, winning could qualify you for the BlizzCon Invitational. The winner of that qualifier will also have an image of his or her character used in artwork for an upcoming card. Imagine your amazement when you’re at the next tournament and patrons ask for your signature on your card! Perhaps you and Leeroy Jenkins can trade.

Your own card? Pure awesome. Certainly a tournament worthy of attending.

Stay tuned for more later today, and remember to check back Saturday!

Over the weekend, I stopped by the friendly local gaming store in Lake Forest, California to see if they had any World of Warcraft cards in. After a quick inspection of the store, I was disappointed to see that none were out on the shelves yet. I questioned the guy at the front desk, and although he said they didn’t have the cards in yet, I saw him blink. That’s always a sure sign of a liar!

He mentioned that they should be available to buy on Wednesday, but I suspect maybe sooner. I ventured out to another store in Costa Mesa, California but I was met with the same response. Foiled and disappointed, I returned home. Alas, it was not meant to be. Hopefully the store I ordered my box of boosters will contact me with tracking information soon, but I can only hope.

The official World of Warcraft TCG website has posted a new article today (part of their “WoW TCG Online” article series — a noble name, no doubt) titled “One Card At A Time: Parvink”, which is part of a new weekly series of articles coming from the brilliant staff at UDE. This week’s article features everyone’s favorite, lovely Gnomish Warrior, Parvink! The extended art version of Parvink, no less.

I must say, the extended art cards sure do look nice. Everything is so compact, and having the art take up most of the card is definitely a good thing when it looks this good! I’ll definitely be after the extended art cards, where ever I can get them. Here’s a quote from the article:

Extended Art cards have been a huge hit at Vs. System release events, and this card not only takes Extended Art to the next level, but it’s also one of the best cards you could receive. Aside from the fact that it’s a Gnome, which is clearly the coolest race in the WoW universe (I confess, my main character is a gnome warlock), it is a card that you will be grabbing time and time again as you scribble down decklists trying to come up with your next killer Alliance deck.

I’ll post again if I get my hands on some cards, or if when UDE posts a new article! Keep checking back! Also, remember to stop by on Saturday to check out my report from the Friday night Release Event in Vista, California where a number of UDE employees will be taking part in various tournaments! Should be fun!

We’re mere days away from the official launch of the TCG, and the air is crackling with anticipation. When I get my cards in, I’ll be constructing a killer deck, and will be taking place in a few of the different launch celebration events. I plan on heading down to Vista, CA to attempt to take on a few of the UDE guys who’ll be showing up at a gaming store in the area. Hopefully I can get some good pictures and good stories to share. I hope everyone is as excited about the game as I am!

I know a few people have already gotten their cards, but the rest of us must wait paitently for that faithful day next week when we, too, get our hands on some cards and can begin creating a killer deck to deal out maximum pain. It’s nearly here!

After the celebration event, stay tuned for articles and various other surprises. I also plan on attending Gen Con So Cal in November, so that’ll be fun to report too.

Okay, minus my horrible Sesame Street Count impersonation, today’s post is full of goody goodness! While my verbiage has definitely gone downhill, today there are no less then six previews featured! And you’ve probably seen them all last week! How fun is that? More fun then five card previews, I can tell you that much. With the impending release of the WoW TCG (it’s really coming up soon, folks!) I figure that I need to step up and start reporting some news, writing some articles, and generally doing something with my time. Family, friends, and significant others? All roadblocks to pure TCG obsession! I must kick these obstacles to the curb and embrace my inner fanaticism. It’s there, waiting in the shadows, biding its time!

Until that terrifying yet amazing day arrives, we’ll start with the first card: Deadly Poison. What’s the use of a poison if it’s not deadly? These questions plague me even to this day!

This is an excellent card. Not only is the cost a paultry one resource, but it also does some very nice damage each turn! And all that’s required is doing a bit of damage, which for a Rogue is cake. Carrot or chocoloate, your choice. All you have to do is sit back and let the poison take its course. Prime target for this poison is your opponent’s hero, then stacking four of those puppies on the hero and watch him take eight damage each turn! Then, in a matter of turns, he’s toast. Warm, buttery toast.

Next preview!

These are a fine piece of leathery leggings. This turns you into an ally killing machine. You cease to be yourself, and become some sort of destruction oreinted metal construct, with big claws and scary fangs. Or maybe that was something else. All I know is these legs is sweet, and yous want ‘em. ‘Specially if you’re a hunter. Rain down pain on your opponents, without any fear of retaliation. That’s sweet, right there.

Next up, we’ve got an amazing ally.

This card is definitely one peoples will like, I mean really, really like. You play down Chromie on your sxith turn. You protect her like nobodies business until your next turn. You then exhaust her and remove her from the game to take another turn. Magically, you get to play more resources and do more attacks. Twice in a row. She also has a nice amount of health to make sure she sticks around for awhile, but you’ve really got to look out for her. She may be a big dragon in reality, but right now she’s just a cute little gnome. Aww.

Chromie is definitely a card I’ll be all abouts when the set is released. Next card up is Ressurection.

Pretty simple (yet very good!) ability. You play it down to bring back a dead ally that you have enough resources to play. So, pretty much, you can play down a nine resource ally for four resources if you have nine resources in play. That’s a very good ability, and can really help you out later in the game (or early too). The number of possibilities are very nice, and this card will definitely be one Priests will love.

Next preview is a Shaman ability!

I think UDE has an unnatural obsession with cows. The majority of all cards (whether or not they’re Shaman or Druid related) have a Tauren somewhere in the picture. I find this to be unhealthy, and I’m just putting it out there. Guys, there’s more to life then just the bovine. It is a magnificent creature, no doubt, but c’mon. You guys will break this addiction, I know you will, and you’ll come out stronger because of it. Just so you know, I’m rooting for you.

Anyway, cows aside, this is a very good card. You can pay one resource to ready your hero and its weapon again, which opens up a great number of possibilities. You don’t have to ready your hero just to attack. You can ready him for countless reasons, all of which are excellent. Plus, this is a two resource cost, ongoing ability. Pretty amazing!

Last card preview: Herod’s Shoulder.

I won’t mention the cow obsession again (see above), but I will say that I’m slightly disappointed that the art isn’t of Herod himself. Don’t get me wrong, this is some good art, but I would have liked to have seen a picture of Herod. Just a personal preference, I guess. This is a great piece of mail, though. Three resources to get any weapon you want from your deck, and you can exhaust it to prevent one damage. Plus, it’s usable by a whole slew (yes, I said slew) of classes! Definitely a piece of armor to consider adding to your deck.

That’s it for this week! Expect lots more next week as we get closer to the release date!