A Look at Obsidian's Adventure Card Game

Thursday, April 16, 2015

I have the distinct pleasure to be part of the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game digital team at Obsidian Entertainment! We are progressing towards an initial release this year starting with the Rise of the Runelords Base Set.

As fans of the physical version of the game, we are having a lot of fun bringing it to life on iPads and Android tablets. In some cases, we highlight the game's hardcore RPG roots. I think character selection brings this to life.

When we played the card game, it was clear that most of the character powers were in some way analogous to class powers, feats and skills you'd find in the Core Rulebook. And in Kyra's case, her powers matched the domain powers Sarenrae gave her (Rebuke Death and Sun's Blessing).

For those of you studying this screenshot, the page also has toggles for pass-and-play and permanent death. Though I am sure that all of you play by the book and destroy characters when they die in the physical game and will continue that time honored tradition on the tablet, we are giving new players the option to play a more forgiving version of the game. That being said, there will likely be specific rewards or achievements for playing through the game as Selinker intended, but that's a topic for another day.

When we started working on the concept for this game, we knew that we had a lot of tools at our disposal to amplify the "adventure" part of the card game. To that end, we are including things like MAPS! I've always loved Pathfinder's beautifully rendered maps and we have a perfect opportunity to use them to help tell the story.

Most of the time, Location Cards are analogous to specific spots on a map, and we are trying to match the lore as closely as possible (the farmhouse pictured has since moved to the outskirts of town). When you go to Magnimar or Thistletop, you'll encounter new maps.

When you visit and explore one of these locations, enhanced versions of the location card art become the backdrop for your looting and fighting.

One handy technical flourishes can be seen at the top left corner. As you encounter cards, the numbers underneath the Card Types tick down.

Before, I sign out, I want to give big ups to the team members bringing this bad boy to life! Kevin, Andre, Lindsey, Stephanie and Kristian, y'all are making a great game!

Nathan Davis
Producer
Obsidian Entertainment

Previously, Harsk of Rise of the Runelords
Currently, Ranzak of Skull & Shackles

More Paizo Blog.
Tags: Licensed Products Obsidian Entertainment Pathfinder Adventure Card Game Rise of the Runelords
1 to 50 of 79 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | next > last >>

Looking good! Excited to see the final product.

Silver Crusade RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16

Seriously, that looks BEAUTIFUL! I can't wait to play it!


Definitely looks good and I am excited to play it on iPad!

Sovereign Court

Wow that looks beyond impressive. Can't wait to give it a play!

Contributor

This is looking great. Any word on a possible release timeframe?


Will this have pass-and-play only for multiplayer or will multiple devices be able to link up? I have lots of friends who play the ACG and have iPads....


donato wrote:
This is looking great. Any word on a possible release timeframe?

When will be able to play it?


19 people marked this as a favorite.

Steam PC release please!


This looks great.

Pathfinder ACG Developer

Looks awesome!


Beargram wrote:
Steam PC release please!

I feel the same on this. My iPad2 may be too old.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Have they stated which platforms they are working on releasing this for?

Scarab Sages

7 people marked this as a favorite.

Me three for Steam...and maybe a Humble Bundle.


OOOOO Shiney

Sovereign Court

I'm soooo excited for this. Now we just need a release date other than "2015."


Wow! This is certainly beyond what I expected.

I particularly liked the idea of the powers having their names, especially since we are not constrained by text unlike the actual character cards. It just flows off the tongue better when referring to them.

I, too, would be grateful four a Steam release.

Sovereign Court

DM_Kumo Gekkou wrote:
Have they stated which platforms they are working on releasing this for?

This is the closest we've seen so far.


Looks great! Makes me wish I had a tablet.

Few notes:
Waterfront says to subtract 1 from eadh die.
Dagger has old wording that allows to discard for any combat check instead of only yours.
Bandit indicates keeping the original before/after the encounter wording from RotR (instead of revision to before/after you act).

Adventure Card Game Designer

I've been seeing bits of this as the guys have developed it, and it's truly amazeballs.


I hope they're also being careful in following any errata found. At least patching a digital game is easy enough

Adventure Card Game Designer

There's an errata file that Brian keeps updated on his desktop that will be entered into the Obsidian database when the time is right.

Grand Lodge

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Hi can't wait will the app be free or will there be micro tranceactoin for each adventure

Sczarni

I love PACG and have everything out now but if they turn this into a micro transaction nightmare like every other app game, i believe it would ruin it for a lot of people to include me.

Sovereign Court

It's not, it's a direct copy of the physical game, just with a hell of a lot better look to it!!!! The only in app purchases would be the adventure decks and, if they ever choose to add them, class decks (or at least those characters).

Dark Archive

I want this now please!


Nathan Davis wrote:
As you encounter cards, the numbers underneath the Card Types tick down.

That is interesting. Will there be an "unknown" category too? I made a worksheet that did pretty much the same thing and I quickly realized there were times when you wouldn't know some of the cards. The most common example is when a villain escapes, but you would also have it when henchmen are barriers or during scenarios like Here Comes the Flood. I realize, of course, that the image shown is by no means final, but you've definitely got me curious.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

It would also be cool to be able to toggle off that feature to create a "Hard mode" experience. If you do not remember what is supposed to be left in the deck, you might not always make the best card choices.


I've been watching this closely since I spied it at GenCon last year. I will be buying it the minute it's out. All hail Obsidian (and Paizo.. obviously..)


Do we have any idea of the sort of price-point we're talking about for this?


I love the card game and will be happy to plop down some cash to pick this one up- particularly for solo play! My buddy and I are just about to start The Hook Mountain Massacre, and I'd love to start the adventure path again with some new characters! Bring it on...


Quick question how will this be played with is it all solo or will it be with others, and if others will it be all one screen or via net?


If I can play this on my PC then take my money NOW ! :)

But if it's only for tablets, then I'm not interested.


Will we be able to mix sets up when there are more than 1 set?


Will there be Class Decks? Will we be able to use those characters in the adventure paths too?

Sovereign Court

Hoping this has multiplayer. That was the only disappointing thing about Sentinels of the Multiverse.


I'm really concerned with how this will be priced, especially with each addition. Would love a digital forum of the game, but not that interested in dropping more than $30 on the same Adventure Path/Hero decks.


Aazen wrote:
Hoping this has multiplayer. That was the only disappointing thing about Sentinels of the Multiverse.
Nathan Davis wrote:
For those of you studying this screenshot, the page also has toggles for pass-and-play and permanent death.

Looks like they are planning for multiplayer, though not necessarily multi-device. Pass-and-play doesn't mean there won't be an option for multiple devices though.


Hella. I look forward to being able to play it.


Hawkmoon269 wrote:
Aazen wrote:
Hoping this has multiplayer. That was the only disappointing thing about Sentinels of the Multiverse.
Nathan Davis wrote:
For those of you studying this screenshot, the page also has toggles for pass-and-play and permanent death.
Looks like they are planning for multiplayer, though not necessarily multi-device. Pass-and-play doesn't mean there won't be an option for multiple devices though.

Pass-and-play is fine with me. My wife and I do that often with Carcassonne when we're out drinking somewhere.


Talonhawke wrote:
Quick question how will this be played with is it all solo or will it be with others, and if others will it be all one screen or via net?

1. Just as the card game proper, it will be "with others" (meaning that you can solo with any valid number of characters, if you wish.)

2. Most games of this sort are via net. "Pass and play" is a one-screen optional feature in this game.


Wait... Pass and play .... This means too much of passing..
Just imagine a 4 player game where one player encounters a monster, two other players play a blessing to help him and the fourth player plays a ranged weapon... This means 4 times passing for 1 players turn...

I dont know. Hopefully there is a online multiplayer mode where i could start a campaign with Vic, Mike and Tanis :)
Otherwise I may be just pass :))))

Sovereign Court

1 person marked this as a favorite.

I doubt people are going to be passing for that MyFly. Most likely something like the following.

"Oh man, I found superbigbadswordofdoom. I could probably get it, but I want to be sure. Anyone able to help?"
"Yea I think I have a BiG you can use"

And the first person will pull up the other person's hand and use the BoG. Making the game not annoying to play I think is just going to take some common sense.

Paizo Employee Publisher, Chief Creative Officer

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Guys, the truth is that there isn't an answer yet for some of that stuff. I don't know what the planned price for the game will be, or when it will be released, etc. We're still early for those kinds of questions, alas. :)


Andrew L Klein wrote:

I doubt people are going to be passing for that MyFly. Most likely something like the following.

"Oh man, I found superbigbadswordofdoom. I could probably get it, but I want to be sure. Anyone able to help?"
"Yea I think I have a BiG you can use"

And the first person will pull up the other person's hand and use the BoG. Making the game not annoying to play I think is just going to take some common sense.

My wife and I always play open-hand.. but when I went to Gen Con last year I played in two of the S&S sessions and there were some people that preferred to play closed-hand. I guess so you aren't looking at other people's hands for ways to help yourself...

But, I agree, there's no need to PHYSICALLY pass if you just agree to help. I actually think it would work REALLY well with 2 players and get more iffy from there.

Just being able to have zero set-up time is going to be nice, but it will not replace the fun of using the physical cards, rolling real dice and using the minis for a token. :)


2 players is a maybe, but more is pass-no play.
Otherwise you could play it in the solo mode.


Just thought of something. Would it be possible to have an option to remove specific cards from the game if it somehow becomes necessary?

I ask because the group I tend to play with is... somewhat religious. While they can handwave most of the fantasy polytheism of the Pathfinder setting, the Blessing of Asmodeus (S&S A4) crosses the line a bit too far for them.


I am so very much looking forward to this. My favorite thing will be the zero prep time (I'm usually the one who is setting up and shuffling etc.)

I will also be very happy if they take advantage of the opportunity to add more back story for the adventures and scenarios. I have no experience with the RPG and I know there isn't much space on the cards ... please can we have more story? :)


Sandslice wrote:

Just thought of something. Would it be possible to have an option to remove specific cards from the game if it somehow becomes necessary?

I ask because the group I tend to play with is... somewhat religious. While they can handwave most of the fantasy polytheism of the Pathfinder setting, the Blessing of Asmodeus (S&S A4) crosses the line a bit too far for them.

What have they got against Mozart?


Troymk1 wrote:
Sandslice wrote:

Just thought of something. Would it be possible to have an option to remove specific cards from the game if it somehow becomes necessary?

I ask because the group I tend to play with is... somewhat religious. While they can handwave most of the fantasy polytheism of the Pathfinder setting, the Blessing of Asmodeus (S&S A4) crosses the line a bit too far for them.

What have they got against Mozart?

His pentagram holy symbol, for one.


Troymk1 wrote:
Sandslice wrote:

Just thought of something. Would it be possible to have an option to remove specific cards from the game if it somehow becomes necessary?

I ask because the group I tend to play with is... somewhat religious. While they can handwave most of the fantasy polytheism of the Pathfinder setting, the Blessing of Asmodeus (S&S A4) crosses the line a bit too far for them.

What have they got against Mozart?

The "s" between the "A" and the "m" makes quite a bit of difference.

1 to 50 of 79 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | next > last >>
Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder Adventure Card Game / General Discussion / Paizo Blog: A Look at Obsidian's Adventure Card Game All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.