Meet the Community #14 : Aran

News

  • Community

  • June 23rd, 2024

Reading time

5 minutes

Tell us your story with "Altered". How did you discover the game and why did it appeal to you?

In January 2024, I set a goal to get back into TCGs after a hiatus of about 10 years. So, I started researching the current market. As a big board game fan, when I found out Régis was working on a TCG, I wanted to learn more. I discovered Altered three days before the Kickstarter began and was immediately captivated by Equinox's proposal.

The innovative gameplay with its two expeditions, alternating turns between players over a day, the endgame objective that doesn't seek to eliminate the opponent, and the surprises brought by the unique cards all quickly won me over.

Additionally, the digital collection and print-on-demand are fantastic opportunities for players to share the game with friends and family while maintaining a reasonable and accessible economic environment.

Finally, I find the artistic direction magnificent. Bravo to all the artists!

What have you done in the community?

At the end of the Kickstarter campaign, I wanted to build a project around the game. Having been part of a competitive TCG team in my earlier gaming days, I know how enriching that can be. I realized there wasn't yet an existing Altered player team, so I decided to create one by contacting my former gaming partner, LaoShiMahan.

We quickly agreed on the name "Exalts"! I then invited a few players I had met on the official Discord to join us in starting this venture, and I created the team's Discord.

To rally a community around the Exalts and add some fun while waiting for the game's release, we launched a monthly league: the "Exalts League" or EX League, which runs for the first three weeks of the month and concludes with a tournament to determine the top 8 players of the regular season in the fourth week. The league is open to everyone, with no entry limits, and players can join at any time during the season. We are now in Season 4 and will conclude this first iteration by celebrating the Kickstarter delivery with a final championship in July featuring the top 2 players from each season.

As a fan of competitive TCG content and esports in general, I also wanted to offer competitive match broadcasts with visible player hands, a first for Altered.

Therefore, I am responsible for organizing the end-of-season tournaments and broadcasting them on our Twitch channel. With the support of Keyuko and our dedicated commentators/streamers, we strive to create memorable Altered evenings on the channel.

I also manage our YouTube channel where you can find matches from previous seasons and other events.

On a more personal note, I try out various tools developed by the community around the game and provide feedback. I hunt for bugs and, whenever I have some time, I delve into bug reports on BGA. And when I still find a bit of time, I participate in a few tournaments!

What is your favorite card and faction? Why?

My favorite faction is and will remain Muna. Having been born and lived for 20 years on a small island in the middle of the Pacific, nature, plants, and animals are constant marvels to me. As a symbol during my first IRL encounter with Altered, I randomly drew a beautiful Teija and Nauraa promo card from Mr. Lokinox's hand.

My favorite card is probably "Spindle Harvester" , especially rare. Not only do I admire the art of this card, but it initially appears weak and can become incredibly powerful under the right conditions with a good starting hand.

I also have a soft spot for Achille, not only because of its beautiful artwork but also because it's the name of my soon-to-be 3-year-old son, with whom I can't wait to share some bonding moments around Altered. A quick message to Equinox for future sets: my daughter, born during the Kickstarter campaign, is named Diane. Perhaps a little goddess of the hunt in Muna in the future?

What are you looking forward to in the future of the game?

I look forward to seeing new meta ideas emerge in the first few months following the release of the core set and upcoming expansions.

I can't wait to uncover new unique cards to perfect my decks.

I'm also eager to meet more Exalts members in person and continue building projects with them and the community.

Finally, I'm excited to watch the Exalts participate in international Altered tournaments, where they can shine!