Meet the Community #18 : Narine & Kapuchon

Kapuchon:
I discovered the game in late December - early January through an ad on a social network. I found the art direction beautiful, but I didn't linger on it much. One day, the local LGS organized an Altered demo session. Unfortunately, I was stuck at home due to an injury and missed the event (I still talk about it today as my biggest disappointment of 2024). To console myself, I watched a video by Val & PL featuring Charles. I discovered the innovative concept of winning by progressing through biomes rather than fighting, the Common and Rare cards that are mostly the same, and then the Holy Grail: the Unique cards. As soon as I recovered, I rushed to the LGS to try it out, and I immediately liked it. Everything about it appealed to me: the decision-making on which card to use as mana, planning your turn in advance, the Reserve, the turn-based gameplay, and the fact that you can't win the game in a convoluted way out of nowhere. In my opinion, everything is in place to make it a great TCG, and I hope to experience this adventure.

Narine:
In January, Kapuchon told me about a new TCG on Kickstarter by a guy who made Seasons and Dice Forge. I come from the board game world, so Régis Bonnessée is a name that carries weight, and the two games mentioned are among my favorites. A few weeks later, he suggested I try it out. I tried four different factions and won all my games; I was hooked! What I love about Altered is the quick games, the turn-based system that keeps players engaged, and that each card makes me want to dive deeper into the lore.

Kapuchon:
At first, I invited friends to try Altered at my place, in my living room, borrowing demo decks from the LGS. This is where I got Narine on board with Altered. This exercise made me realize how much I enjoyed introducing players to this new TCG. I proposed to organize initiation sessions, demos, and free play at the local LGS every other Wednesday through my association. We held these sessions from February during the Kickstarter until July when the first boosters arrived. During these sessions, we were able to introduce many newcomers to the magical world of Altered TCG. I realized that the game quickly appeals to both new and experienced TCG players. I decided to open an Altered branch in our Rouen association, and new members join us every week. I still organize sessions every other Wednesday, but now in a constructed format, and we will also have a slot on Saturday afternoons. Our goal is to offer two OPs per week to the community in collaboration with our LGS and a local game store. Incidentally, I am also quite active on the Discord server under the nickname Kapuchon - Booda Plush Plz (I am eagerly awaiting this goodie).

Narine:
I haven't done much for the community; I've only recently joined the Discord, but I am a librarian, and we already organized an introductory tournament at the library, which allows us to reach more casual players who aren't necessarily familiar with TCGs. (PS, please give him a Booda plush)

Kapuchon:
After testing the six demo decks, I was drawn to Bravos and Axiom. The story of Nevenka and the art direction also attracted me a lot. As I played more, I developed a strong affinity for Bravos. At FLIP, I discovered Auraq, and even though Auraq sometimes doesn't want us, we always end up going back. I find that Lyra has this "we always want to return" appeal. So, I would say Bravos, with a leaning toward Lyra. As for my favorite card, I'm torn between Kaibara and Hua Mulan because Auraq revealing Kaibara is sooo satisfying, and Hua Mulan provides a lot of card advantage, which I really enjoy in TCGs.

Narine:
With the starter decks, I immediately liked Axiom and its mechanics with permanents. But I've played Auraq a lot recently, and the crush is there, so it's hard to choose between Axiom and Lyra. For my favorite card, it's also hard to choose between a rare Hive and the spell Apotheosis of the Spirit... But visually, I find Yzmir's cards truly magnificent!

Kapuchon:
I eagerly await the Booda plush. As for the rest, I trust Equinox to manage their game well.

Narine:
This is my first TCG, and I feel like I have so much more to discover. I've tried the sealed format, and it was great fun; I can't wait to try drafting too. I'm excited to see the lore explored to its fullest potential; I find the mix of characters really fascinating. But mostly, I'm thrilled to see my BFF Kapuchon having so much fun playing the game or organizing Altered events in Rouen!

Yes.