A Guide to the Tomb Raider Collectible Card Game – Rules, Strategy & Card Instructions
Introduction
When I first heard about the Tomb Raider Collectible Card Game (Tomb Raider CCG), I was intrigued by the idea of diving into a game that combines strategy with the adventurous world of Lara Croft. This game was released back in 1999, riding on the popularity of the Tomb Raider video game series.
It’s a game where players take on the role of Lara Croft or other characters from the series, exploring dangerous locations and overcoming obstacles to find priceless artifacts.
The Tomb Raider CCG is not just about luck; it’s about making smart decisions and building a strong deck to outwit your opponents. Unfortunately, the game is no longer in print, which means that new cards are not being produced. However, there’s still a dedicated community of players and collectors, and you can find cards on the secondary market if you want to get into the game.
The game was designed by Mike Elliott and Tyler Bielman, who aimed to create a card game that aimed at the heart of the Tomb Raider universe. The game was published by Precedence Entertainment and had several expansions, adding new cards and mechanics to keep the game fresh and exciting. Now, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how to play and win at the Tomb Raider CCG.
Quick Tip for Tomb Raider Collectible Card Game
Always keep an eye on your resources. Managing your assets well can make the difference between winning and losing.
Rules for playing Tomb Raider Collectible Card Game
The Tomb Raider CCG is played with a deck of cards that represent locations, actions, raids, and gear. Each player starts with a character card that has a set amount of health points (HP). The goal is to navigate through the location deck to find the artifact card before your opponent does, all while maintaining your HP and managing your resources.
Each turn consists of several phases: the Draw phase, the Movement phase, the Discovery phase, and the Combat phase. In the Draw phase, you draw cards to replenish your hand. During the Movement phase, you move your character through the location deck, revealing new challenges and opportunities. The Discovery phase allows you to use action cards to overcome obstacles or gain advantages. Finally, the Combat phase is where you can encounter enemies and must use your gear and action cards to defeat them.
There are also special rules for using gear cards, which provide you with equipment that can help you in various situations, and raid cards, which represent particularly tough challenges that can yield great rewards. Understanding the timing and strategic use of these cards is key to mastering the game.
Card Types for Tomb Raider Collectible Card Game
In the Tomb Raider CCG, there are several types of cards:
- Location Cards: These make up the path you must navigate to find the artifact.
- Action Cards: Used to interact with locations, overcome obstacles, or affect other players.
- Raid Cards: Represent difficult challenges with potentially high rewards.
- Gear Cards: Provide equipment that can help you in various situations.
- Artifact Cards: The main objective of the game, which players race to find.
When setting up your deck, you can choose from starter sets that are themed around different Tomb Raider adventures. These sets come with a pre-arranged selection of cards to get you started, but as you get more experienced, you’ll want to customize your deck with cards that match your playstyle.
How to Play Tomb Raider Collectible Card Game and Game Mechanics
The key game mechanics of the Tomb Raider CCG revolve around deck management, resource allocation, and strategic movement. To set up the game, each player needs a deck of location cards, which they shuffle and place in a stack. They also have a hand of action, gear, and raid cards.
Gameplay involves players taking turns to move through their location decks, facing whatever challenges come up. You’ll need to decide when to use your action and gear cards, as well as when to engage in combat with raid cards. The end of the game is reached when a player finds the artifact card in their location deck and successfully claims it.
How to Win at Tomb Raider Collectible Card Game
Winning at the Tomb Raider CCG requires a mix of strategy, foresight, and sometimes a bit of luck. As a beginner, focus on learning the different card types and how they interact with each other. As you become more comfortable with the game, start thinking about intermediate strategies, such as card counting and predicting your opponent’s moves.
Advanced players will often have a deep understanding of the meta-game, which includes knowing the most powerful card combinations and the common strategies used by other players. They’ll also be adept at resource management, ensuring they have the right cards at the right time to overcome obstacles and combat challenges.
Best Strategies for playing Tomb Raider Collectible Card Game
Some of the best strategies in the Tomb Raider CCG involve deck building and anticipating your opponent’s moves. You’ll want to build a deck that has a good balance of location, action, gear, and raid cards. It’s also important to have a strategy for how you’ll navigate through your location deck to find the artifact.
Sneaky tactics can include bluffing about the strength of your hand to deter opponents from attacking you or strategically using action cards to set up powerful combos. Always be aware of the state of play and be ready to adapt your strategy as the game unfolds.
Deck Building and Best Cards in Tomb Raider Collectible Card Game
Deck building is a crucial part of the Tomb Raider CCG. You’ll want to choose cards that complement each other and fit your playstyle. Some players prefer a more aggressive approach, focusing on combat and raids, while others might focus on exploration and avoiding combat.
Best Cards in Tomb Raider Collectible Card Game
While the “best” cards can be subjective and depend on your strategy, there are some cards that are generally considered powerful:
- Dual Pistols: A gear card that gives you a combat advantage.
- Secret Move: An action card that can surprise your opponent and turn the tide of a challenge.
- Hidden Passage: A location card that can help you skip over dangerous areas.
- Medipack: A gear card that can heal you and keep you in the game longer.
- Ancient Artifact: The artifact card that is the ultimate goal of the game.
Scenarios
Common scenarios in the Tomb Raider CCG include being low on health, facing a tough raid card, or being close to finding the artifact. In these situations, it’s important to stay calm and think strategically. Use your gear and action cards wisely to overcome challenges and keep an eye on your opponent’s moves to anticipate their strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions about playing Tomb Raider Collectible Card Game
Here are some common questions and answers:
Q: How many cards can I have in my hand? A: You can have up to five cards in your hand at any time.
Q: Can I skip a location card? A: Yes, if you have an action card like Hidden Passage that allows you to do so.
Q: What happens if I run out of health points? A: You lose the game if your health points reach zero.
Q: Can I play action cards on my opponent’s turn? A: It depends on the card. Some action cards can be played as reactions on your opponent’s turn.
Q: How do I win the game? A: You win by finding and claiming the artifact card in your location deck.
Additional Tips and Tricks
When playing the Tomb Raider CCG, always be aware of your deck composition and the ratio of different card types. It’s also helpful to learn from each game, whether you win or lose, by analyzing which strategies worked and which didn’t. Practice makes perfect, so the more you play, the better you’ll get at anticipating challenges and making smart decisions.
External Links
For more information on the Tomb Raider Collectible Card Game, check out these resources:
Eve Brownlee was a gamer before gaming communities on the internet were a thing. Eve grew up playing traditional, standard deck card games like Rummy and Bezique, taking an interest in the classics Backgammon and Chess. Parlor card games like Bridge continue to keep Eve active in the community. After a long career, primarily in horticulture for USDA in Maryland, Eve now travels and writes on The Pineapple (pineapples.info) and contributes to Quora/Pinterest topics. Contact Eve via email.
