Happy birthday to Altered! The Altered Kickstarter delivered in late September and early October to most of its backers and so we are now a year later in the young TCG’s life. Therefore it’s time to celebrate Altered’s first birthday and to do that we at the Altered TCG Blog decided to go out and ask people’s thoughts on the first year in Altered and also their thoughts for the future. We asked the same seven questions to well-known members of the Altered Community and have combined their answers in this celebratory post!

This is a celebration for everyone in the Altered community, so it would be great to see your responses to this post as well!

I’ll start off with my (Gavken) answers to my own questions.

1. My most enjoyable experience was just talking with all the UK players enjoying UKGE. I used to play MtG some years ago and every tournament I went to, most of the players were (shall we say politely) ultra-focussed. All the Altered players I’ve met so far have been friendly, inclusive and want to have fun playing. I know that I landed playing the right game!
2. The card that suprised me was Bugfix. I thought when I saw it that it was a neat tool for Axiom. A strong addition to the Axiom toolset, but nothing too bad. Then the card managed to get itself on the banned list.
3. The Altered Roleplaying Game. Yoshi – get onto it yesterday, if not before!
4. The biggest accomplishment since launch is probably getting the marketplace and PoD up and running. I work in IT and I know just how many barriers there would have been to get this going. I know there were a load of people who were someone vocal in complaining about the time it was taking to get going, but honestly given the number of banks and country tax polices involved this was actually a brilliant achievement. I hope they will build further on the marketplace.
5. Although there have been some fantastic contributions over the past year (39 Cards), fabulous cosplays by some really talented cosplayers, great organisations skills by the AWOL team, my favourite is still Karifur Tokens Lady’s Stained Glass Booda artwork. It’s just that good.
6. I’m already writing for the Altered Blog, doing cosplays (I hope to have one finished for early next year), and doing my solo module for Altered (The Musubi Meeting) but in the next year I’d love to write some fan fiction around my character Captain Dylan. A rather gruff Bravos ship captain with a mysterious past.
7. My favourite art / character in the game is the Bravos Pathfinder (Sunniva). I just love her free spiritedness and little quirks like her backpack filled with lollipops. I’d love to be so carefree and be able to travel wherever I wanted.

Next we’ll move across the Atlantic to find out what community mod and US mega personality Cohlrabi thinks.

1. All of the conventions and WCQs, getting to meet and bully people in person is always a wonderful time. Everyone in the community is wonderful and even at a high level event each person was friendly and laughing during games.
2. I think in general it was really cool to see passive support abilities and how they just fit right into the game without needing a rules update. We always knew that boosts are removed when something goes from expedition to reserve… but they don’t lose them when it’s in reverse. Super cool
3. More videos on Youtube, even more collabs with creators on the official Youtube.
4. The market and POD in general has always been super impressive to me and a massive undertaking.
5. Any of the fan art. Tokens, drawings, crafts, we need even more!
6. More casting and traveling to other countries. Would love to one day head down South America to meet that community.
7. I am in the game didn’t you know? Grand Bwa is my true form.

Back to Europe now where we talk to Sebastian who helps out with a lot of the Nordics community.

1. Seeing the joy in players’ eyes when they discovered they learned the game in less than 10 minutes, and were already planning strategic moves on their turn.
2. Rare Akhlut, because of how combined with Basira, it was enough to make reserve obsolete for the opponent, and it was big enough to likely win you the expedition. Don’t know why but players always seemed surprised when they removed 1 Akhlut and I came back next turn with another
3. Definitely an Equinox-built auction system for uniques. That seems like the only reasonable way to sort through the “mess” of uniques.
4. Bringing Altered to existence, sustaining it & being so extremely close to the community that we can shape the way the game continues to evolve.
5. The BGA tournaments, which kept getting bigger and bigger. Especially the ones which give prizes for participating
6. The same as I am right now – managing our fantastic, growing community in the Nordics, with a special focus on Denmark.
7. Kaibara, which is also one of the mascots of the game. Powerful yet gentle. Or Snoozer Shroom, since I need to get more sleep

We flip back across the Atlantic now to go and talk with Starshine Simon who manages the online BGA AWOL tournaments for us all.

1. Traveling the U.S. to go to different conventions and make some lifelong friendships (including with many people in here!)
2. The Hunger. Having a strong/rewarding board wipe in a game like this where cards leave play every turn can be tough to make work, and I think what they ended up with is a great version of that kind of card.
3. Official tournament software for Shop Accounts. This would be a huge addition to keep things even more “in-house” which seems to be the end goal for the game.
4. A tie between the Market/PoD and creating a World Championships in under a year. Both of them are incredible accomplishments, and even though they aren’t fully finished yet I think they’re something to be proud of.
5. Overall community contribution – probably the inside joke that Cohl is extremely tall. Don’t tell anyone I told you this but he’s just average-tall and not basketball player tall. Personal community contribution? Hosting the first and biggest online tournament circuit and community.
6. If we’re talking about my specific strengths, I would like to continue to assist with high-stakes events in partnership with Equinox, like the BGA WCQ tournaments that my organization hosted. If we’re talking outside my wheelhouse, I think I could make solid content for the game even though I haven’t taken those steps for any other hobbies before.
7. Chiron. He serves as a mentor, and I feel that’s what a lot of my skillset is equipped for.

Well stay in the US for now where notable Youtuber and player Ellio sets his mind to answering my questions.

1. Honestly just my local Thursday weeklys. It feels good to be playing a paper TCG again.
2. Does this include Sky? Nuit made my jaw drop.
3. I’d like to see more hero treatments. Everything gets alt arts inherently; but our heroes feel the most neglected.
4. I’m super impressed with how every set arrives to BGA on-time and with as few bugs as it has.
5. The BGA tournament scene – everyone involved has done a great job and it has kept the game alive for me.
6. Making high quality videos!
7. The creepy ghost on unique The Little Match Girl

A Guy Trying, the custodian of the spreadsheet that helps everyone in Altered see all the revealed cards as well as making Youtubes and providing commentary on tournaments also dropped by to give his veiws.

1. Probably meeting people at conventions/WCQs, just getting to interact with the community more.
2. To be honest, Magical Training. I picked the card as my S1 Adventure Pass card because I loved the art, but everyone was talking about Teamwork Training at the time. I just wanted Magical Training to be worth it in at least 1 deck, and it might shock you to find out that it was.
3. Being able to bundle a group order for POD.
4. Having a World tournament in their first year. Does this mean I think the system was perfect? No. But I still think it’s an incredible thing to put together for a game without an existing IP behind it.
5. The BGA tournament scene. I will shout from the rooftops that I believe one of the biggest things keeping this game going are the community driven online tournaments. That and 39cards.
6. Anything really. I just really enjoy the game and want to see it grow. I’ve enjoyed making videos, but I’ve also loved the collaborative process of things like commentary, production, and group videos.
7. I’m gonna say Magpeng Hoarder, mainly because I like the design and I can loosely equate collecting spoilers to what the character does in a half-assed justification for why I can be a design I like.

Chile, one of the genius’ behind the podcast A Hero’s Guide to Asgartha and expert on the Altered lore dropped by also.

1. Getting to meet so many of the fans of the game at Dallas for the first US Qualifier. It was a unique experience to see people congregate from all over the US to attend our first ever national event! I got to meet some legends of the game and forged numerous friendships too.
2. Axiom Rare Hooked. I thought it would be useful but never this dominant.
3. Chase cards would have been great from the get go. Alternate arts, extended arts, signed or numbered cards. Something to attract the investor to the game, in order to greater support the player base.
4. Getting a Worlds event set up in year 1 of production. This is a huge achievement, in spite of all the challenges it’s faced in getting distribution and POD up and running.
5. Online tournaments on BGA, especially those conducted by AWOL and AQZ, providing prizing and adventure pass.
6. Be a voice for Altered’s lore in English and even Spanish. I’ve started doing this with my A Hero’s Guide to Asgartha podcast but would love to do it officially for Equinox going forward as my leave behind to the game and the community.
7. Definitely within Ordis, as a historian-philosopher chronicling the tales and times of Asgartha for generations to come… with a goal to one day be considered among the greats akin to the greats such as Herodotus, Socrates and Edward Gibbons.

Coming back to Europe we have a talented artist in Marek Gnomeschool who has done some fabulous altered Altered artworks.

1. Definitely meeting all the different people and communities in person. But also engaging with them online.
2. The Hunger. It went from “I wish it was playable” to “this might be banned” one day. Personally, I love that we have it.
3. Online limited play.
4. This is a very basic answer, but: the sets that came out. How they structured the sets and bit by bit expanded mechanisms carefully and managed to bring out support for various heroes… I think is impressing how consistent the design quality of altered is. And on top, these sets felt great to play in limited too!
5. All the streams and casts of both, big official events and community run events.
6. I mean… fanart definitely.
7. Something like Saskia or Persephone or Will-o’-the-Wisp. Like nature themed with a bit of trickery.

The Kelon Guy, You tuber, commentator and host extraudinaire dropped in from Switzerland with his thoughts.

1. Making my first youtube video on tournament recaps, getting Discord DM’ed about it by a player featured on said video, and starting one of the best Altered teams right then and there (AQZ!).
2. Hathor (Lyra C or Yzmir R). I didn’t think much of this card when picking up the game, and have been blown away by how incredibly impactful it can be!
3. As I worry the game’s chances of success have been stifled by this in my country – worldwide POD/Market access.
4. I feel that the Game Design and Art teams have been consistently excellent despite other struggles – maintaining Altered’s identity while releasing ever more exciting cards has been impressive to see.
5. As I think BGA tournaments have gotten a good few mentions by now – I’ll bring up the various custom art creations that have been made for the game, including things like tokens made by various talented members of the community (a few of which are here in Musubi!). Beautiful stuff – and I love initiatives that give players even more feeling of identity if they sit down at a table to play.
6. I’d like to continue to give honest feedback regarding the competitive scene for the game. I believe in Altered’s gameplay strongly for a competitive audience and really want to ensure that I’ve passed along any takes I feel are critical to the competitive health of the game, to keep players interested and feeling like the game is fair and fun.
7. Kadigiran Mage-Dancer. With some Training or a Helping Hand I’m strong. Otherwise, I’m just a dude.

My favourite Altered TCG alt token-maker, Karifur dropped by in between making some fantastic artworks.

1. It’s a tie between GenCon and Pax East. I don’t know if anything will ever top the experience I had at GenCon 2024, meeting so many fans and members of the team, getting to draft the game for the first time, and the enthusiasm from everyone we met there. However, Pax East was also a magical and unforgettable experience. Perhaps these experiences can never be duplicated but I can’t wait to try again at the next convention I’m able to attend. In the meantime, I am very happy to keep adding to my collection of online friends.
2. Waru & Mack. When I first saw that hero card I said “why would anyone ever choose that hero?” And then the competitive players cracked it wide open and suddenly everyone was playing Waru. This is why I am not a strong constructed player, frankly – I often overlook the value in strong constructed cards. I certainly didn’t look at this card and think “that card will completely break the meta”
3. Support for online limited and multiplayer formats, but I completely understand why it hasn’t been accomplished yet. There are definitely other features which should be a higher priority than this.
4. I think organizing a Worlds Championship qualifier in the first year of the game is absolutely huge! I really didn’t expect them to roll out anything like this until next year, and I am absolutely bursting with jealousy for all the people who get to be in Paris to experience that event this year.
5. There are so many amazing contributions that I would like to praise, but I think I need to call out the fan art above all, since that is obviously where my heart lies. I get so much joy from seeing the amazing contributions from other artists in the community, and seeing them receive the praise they deserve for their contributions.
6. I would love to get into more content creation in the following year but honestly at this point I still have so many things on my to-do list, I don’t have time to do more than I already am.
7. I have always said if I were a character in this game, I would have to be in Lyra or Muna, and I would obviously have to create a token. Currently there is only one card that comes close enough, and it even almost has my name on it… Obviously I’m talking about Kauri & Puff. To be honest, I don’t really think I actually have that kind of “hero” potential in my real life but it’s something to work towards, no? Maybe one day an ordinary character card will come out that fits me a little better but for now I am more than happy to take this one and run with it.

Qwetzz, one of the founders of the Spaghetti Alt team in Italy dropped by to give his views.

1. Definitely the community aspect. While it may have helped that I started playing at the same time as everyone else, I’ve managed to meet and get to know many people both online and in real life, and the time spent with them has always been fantastic. WCQ Milan was the cherry on top, but all these major events have been amazing and I’ve had tremendous fun every time. Then thanks to this game I’ve created my first competitive team: the Spaghetti Alt and also I’ve done my first ever Livestream on twitch. Those will be core memory for me.,
2. Spindle Harvester. This is a card that, in all its versions, has had an incredible impact across every deck that uses it. It’s common in Festival builds, rare in Tejia for the card advantage, and appears in both rare and unique forms in Afanas.,
3. I’d say a more appealing competitive scene and prizes with a potential support towards the online initiatives but also I felt like there was not that much presence across all channels to promote the game itself,
4. Keeping everything together despite criticism and problems. It’s not an easy task while keeping the game amazing to play and alive and also by staying close to the players through Discord and decision-making processes.,
5. Definitely the online tournaments and related streaming. This is probably one of the things that helped the game’s growth the most.,
6. As always, I’m trying to reach as many people as possible through both casual and competitive tournaments, as well as community-centered activities.,
7. I would say Ogun, first of all because I’m an engineer, and also because I’m typically the support player. I usually try to help everyone improve and get better. It doesn’t matter if you’re a small 1-drop with low stats or a powerful creature with already great stats.

We had back to France now to find out what Pollux-Troy thinks.

1. For me, it was the first draft event Maverick organized with some players where I live. It took place in a board game bar, and I discovered a really cool and friendly Altered community.
2. The Ouroboros Trickster, because it was the first card of the game I discovered on the internet.
3. I don’t really know. I’m the kind of player who takes what a game (video game, board game, or card game) offers and enjoys the experience. If anything, I’d say alternate arts for heroes depending on sets or seasons.
4. For me, Equinox is still looking for the best way to distribute and develop the game, and they’re on the right track. In my opinion, they have managed to bring a breath of fresh air to the TCG world.
   On a personal note: what they achieved for me is helping me come out of my shell after several years of isolation for various reasons. Thanks to Altered, for over a year now, I’ve had a social life again that I truly enjoy, and I’m really grateful for that. I won’t go into details, but it was important for me to say it and realize it.
5. Hard to say, everyone contributes in their own way, but if I had to choose, I’d say 39Cards by Taum.
6. For the coming year, I will continue developing my tools. I also plan to create a small regional league.
7. I would be a jack-of-all-trades, a tinkerer who doesn’t stand out too much but is always available to help and offer support.

From The Netherlands we have our favourite Hatter, the Bravos Hatter that is who is also sharing his thoughts for us.

1. The interaction with the community. So many lovely people are playing this game. People are very approachable and nice. Each month I get to know more people!
2. Akhlut, I never thought after season 1 that a 4-cost card could be so great. Bonus card: The Hunger, same reason after season 2. How could an 8-cost card be a savior of the game!?
3. I would love to have more incentive to buy boxes after collecting a complete set. There are not much chase cards to go after. Also not all cards should have an online version. As people just sell their online copy and keep the physical one.
4. The Marketplace and POD services: It’s really great to buy cards online and be able to print them.
5. There are too many to list, but I really love things like 39cards, ajordat etc, where we can have a look at meta lists and stuff!
6. I’ll try to get more into the meta with updated deck lists/guides and reports.
7. Phileas Fogg. He got my hatter and my coat already!

The creator of 39cards.com, Taum, dropped by for the celebration.

1. Traveling to PAX Unplugged and meeting a lot of people I had only chatted with on virtually. Simon, Cohlrabi, Lokinox, Justin among others, plus making new friends along the way. This was my first PAX and besides Altered, getting to see a huge board game convention and trying a few new games was great.
2. Treyst, seemed like one of the more niche heroes at first but ended up dominating BTG after the Robin Hood errata, and is still a top contender in WFM.
3. Getting 3rd party tools support for decks/collections. This would unlock a lot of exciting possibilities.
4. Marketplace and POD, it’s a complete game changer for how to approach a trading card game.
5. The AWOL. Simon and Cohl have set a high bar for organizing online competitive play and it was nice to see other teams follow suit. Also shoutout to Blue for setting up the weekly broadcasts and covering the major events.
6. Building more tools for tournament organizers, both online and in-person.
7. I would be a Magpeng Hoarder — first because I am a hoarder in card games, second because penguins are adorable, and embody teamwork and cooperation as a species.

Lots of love out there it seems for the Magpeng Hoarder. We here at the Blog look forward to another excellent year of Altered cards, story and gameplay – bring it on!