Because I asked for it: My top 5 CCG's

Last post I hinted that this was coming. Some internet users might be confused, pondering things like "What in the world is a CCG?" Maybe this confuses you, or doesn't even interest you at all. Oh well, you'll live. There are plenty of pages on the internet to surf.

CCG is an abbreviation for Collectible Card Game. The different games have their own custom made cards, which you accumulate by spending money. You sort through those cards and put together a "deck" of cards that you think will speed you to victory according to the game's victory conditions. Then you play against someone else who has done the same thing.

It's a hobby. One you can put a lot of resources into. There are seemingly hundreds of different CCG's out there. Sometimes it seems like there's one for everything. Most come and go but the great ones are still around rocking to this day. I'm going to give you my top 5. I will try to explain the premise of each game and why I like it, and I will try to do so in an understandable manner. So, without further ado, here goes!

#5 - Star Wars CCG

Basic Premise: It's the light side versus the dark side. You build a deck for each side and play the opposite one. All kinds of neat characters and locations are available to use in this game. Released in 1995, the game went out of print in 2001. However it still has a very active community that has released "virtual cards" to keep the game evolving and changing.

Why I like it: The mechanics of how you play this game are unique, no other game is like it. It's very strategic, almost resembling chess. It has a very deep strategical layer to it. I only played it in high school and early college, and I'm not involved at all with that "virtual card" community, but I think it's cool that people who are passionate about this game have kept it going for so long. Lastly, and you'll notice a pattern here in the games I like, playing the game is like taking part of an interactive story.

#4 - Battletech CCG

Basic Premise: You play one of 10 factions in the Battletech Universe vying for power. In this futuristic world battles are conducted with "Mechs," which are best described as 30 foot tall walking tanks armed for mass destruction.

Why I like it: The game is very similar to the very first CCG ever made, Magic: The Gathering. However, when that came out my parents were far too conservative to let me try it out. So when this nearly identical game came out but was about technology and not magic I jumped all over it. It's a very fast paced and tactical game. It is also out of print and commercially didn't take off too well. That didn't stop my cousin and I from having some great times with it though.

#3 - Legend of the Five Rings

Basic Premise: In an imaginary land very similar to feudal China, 12 clans vie for power and support of the Emperor of the land. The game can be played with 2-12 players theoretically. There are 4 different ways to win when playing, and each clan tends to specialize in certain strategies to win in specific ways. First released in 1995, this game is still quite active to this day, although it can be hard to find.

Why I like it: Liking might be an understatement, I absolutely love this game. First off, the game plays out like an interactive story. The company that created the game holds huge tournaments, and the results of the tournaments actually dictates what happens next in the massive story-line of the game. Just last year for example a new Emperor was crowned from one of the houses. The cards that come out in future sets will reflect that. I don't have time to be involved with any of that, but what a cool concept.

What I also like about this game is it has been cheap. As I said earlier, CCG's are a hobby, and you can put quite a chunk of cash into them if you're not careful. More money spent means more cards to choose from in your decks, which is generally a good thing. What I like about this game is outside of my initial purchase I haven't had to spend anything else to have a blast playing it. It is a very intriguing game and I have played it several times with 3 players. It has always been fun for all involved.

#2 Middle Earth CCG

Basic Premise: You play one of the 5 wizards in Middle Earth. You're preparing a plan to oppose Sauron and to that end you travel the lands seeking resources to aid you as you come up with your plan. Different resources included famous characters, weapons, artifacts and entire factions and are all worth various points. In the end, at the "Council Meeting" the wizards present their plans and whoever has the most points will be the victor. Alternatively, you could find the One Ring and destroy it at Mount Doom to win. The game was for 2-5 players. Later expansions would change this up, allowing you to play as the Ring Wraiths, a fallen wizard trying to redeem himself, or even the Balrog as he tries to emerge as a credible threat to the entire world.

Why I like it: There are two science fictions you'll find I'm fairly passionate about if you are lucky enough to get me going on them: Lord of the Rings and Star Trek. As a young lad when I discovered card games for both I could barely contain my excitement as I dove into them. Middle-Earth was an incredible game in the fact that it lets you tell your own story as you adventure through Middle Earth trying to find "resources" as you figure out how to stop the Dark Lord. On your opponent's turn you essentially play as Sauron, playing "hazards" to try and stop the Wizards in their various scheming. I had many fun games against my dad, and even my sister collected cards. It was a unique game and there is nothing like it on the market anywhere. It wasn't very successful, only in production for 3 years. However, that didn't stop me from enjoying this gem of an under-appreciated game with friends and family.

#1 - Star Trek CCG 1st Edition

Basic Premise: Space, the final Frontier! Play one of several factions available from the Star Trek universe. Games play out like episodes of the show. You score points by completing missions, but must solve "dilemmas" (ie problems) before you can get on with the mission. First released in 1994, I stopped buying cards for it in 1999, which was about halfway through its production run. A Second Edition was released in 2002 with an attempt to revamp and simplify the game, but after seeing what they changed I never game it a first or a second thought.

Why I like it: This was my introduction into CCG's. As a young 7th grade student my dad and I, huge trekkies, became aware of it and jumped into it fully. We never looked back. We've played countless games against each other, which adds up to hours and hours of fun. Back in the day we played giant 5 player games with friends from church which were truly remarkable all things considered. The best thing we liked about the game was that combat, while in the game, was not the center focus by any means. The focus of the game was on your strategy of doing the missions and scoring points. My dad and I still break it out and play it "sealed deck style" every couple of months. The lawyer side of my dad and I will emerge every now and then and the "discussions" we would have about the interpretation of rules is as fondly remembered as the game play. In fact even in writing this my dad and I are chuckling about said discussions. This card game has brought us 15 years of fun, with many more in the future.

Honorable Mentions: These are good games that didn't make the cut for my top 5, but they still deserve a mention.

Magic: The Gathering. The very first CCG to be produced, and arguably the best in many minds. It is still alive and kicking today, and that alone is a testament to how great it is, considering 4 of my top 5 are no longer in production. Its timeless mechanics make for fast-paced tactical fun, and as far as I know it's the only game that can win you prizes like college scholarships.

Overpower CCG: Containing Marvel and DC Superheroes, this is an enjoyable game with fun "bluff" mechanics in the style of poker. Had a very short run, very hard to find these days.

Pokemon CCG: In my younger days I played this game before it became a huge child sensation. It is very simplistic; the easiest game to learn. I got my sister to play this with me when we were younger and it was one of the neat things that brought us together amidst the constant squabbling you'd find among young siblings. It's still around, and it is also the only game to come close to Magic as far as sales go. It may have outsold Magic for awhile, but I'm not sure.

There you have it. My top 5 CCG's. Why share this? These various games were a fun part of my life. They brought me closer to my family and friends. It is always fun to find something in life that you enjoy, it is even better to find things that you enjoy with other people. Gaming has always been a fun hobby of mine, but it has never been limited to just video games. The bottom line of it is I have always enjoyed it with other people. It's always more fun that way.