Zulu's Board Game Cafe
Newsletter

Hello my fellow wizards, witches, and all who lie betwixt! Ginger here, Zulu's Event Coordinator for Riftbound, taking advantage of the May newsletter to tell you all about this exciting new card game that's been really hot at our Event Center!

For the uninitiated: Riftbound is a TCG depicting the world of Runeterra, the setting for the hit Netflix series Arcane as well as the video game and eSport League of Legends, and starring dozens of beloved and iconic characters, from Jinx to Teemo to Kai'Sa. Similar to the One Piece TCG, Riftbound is a "leader-based" game where you choose a "Legend" card to build around, each tied to two of the six colors or "domains" in the game. Your domain determines which cards can be included in your deck.

For every Legend you can build around, you also have at least two options for your "Chosen Champion" unit, at least one for each of your two domains. Your chosen champion begins the game outside your deck, playable any time you can pay its casting cost.

In addition, every Legend has a corresponding "signature" card, usually a spell, but sometimes a unit or gear card. These exist within your 40-card main deck, playable at up to three copies each like any other card in your deck.

But how do I win, though?

The main difference between Riftbound and many of its contemporaries is that, instead of fighting your opponent(s) to reduce their life total, the win condition is to score points by winning combat on Battlefields. Players choose three different battlefields to bring with any given deck, selecting one at random at the start of a "best-of-1" game, or one at a time in each round of a best-of-3. These are often the most impactful cards in any game of Riftbound, affecting every player's strategy and decision-making before the first turn of the game. Some have "global effects" just by existing, others only have effects when units are present or engaged in combat there.

Having a points system over a "life total" system means that whether you're playing with two, three, or four players, everyone stays in the game until one person claims that final victory point.

Modes of Play

Riftbound was designed from the ground up with multiplayer as a focus; the "victory points" system is a key ingredient to its success in flexibly supporting a variable number of players without a need for different deckbuilding rules.

At Zulu's, we've seen a flourishing community growing for our 1v1 competitive scene, as well as huge turnouts for our multiplayer events. For our weekly Nexus Nights that take place at our Event Center on Tuesdays, we try to vary the format from one week to the next. We typically default to a healthy amount of 1v1 Best-of-3 nights to give the competitive crowd a chance to practice for bigger events. More recently, we've designated the second Tuesday of every month as "Two-v-Tuesday," and are seeking to add more multiplayer events to our calendar going forward.

How do I get started?

In order to address the temporary lack of product availability since Riftbound launched last November, I've taken it upon myself to curate a "bulk library" of all non-rare cards in the game thus far. We've been very fortunate to have received many generous donations from our community members, some of whom have also been a huge help in organizing them by color, type, and set over many hours of sorting. As a result of these efforts, we've been able to successfully help dozens of players that have come by on Nexus Nights or during our new player events, and hook them up with the building blocks of whichever deck they're most excited about, free of charge.

I also make time and space every Nexus Night to help teach Riftbound to new players that come in, using demo decks I've built from the bulk library. These have been some of my favorite moments interacting with our community thus far.

What's Next for Nexus Nights?

Early May also marks the release of Riftbound's third set: Unleashed. Like Spiritforged before it, this set brings 12 new Legends including fan favorites like Vi, Jhin, Vex, and my lunar warrior queen Diana.

Unleashed also features the debut of the XP mechanic, meant to evoke the feeling of "leveling up" from the League of Legends video game. Some cards care about accumulating XP to reach certain level thresholds, others have you spending it as a resource.

When you love TCGs, whether to play or to collect, buying and selling cards is a big part of the game. You can do a lot through your friendly local game store and in your own gaming community, but the next level is diving into the world of card shows. If you haven't taken the plunge yet, here are some tips and tricks to help your first card show go smoothly!

What can one expect when attending a local card show in Washington State?

There is a big difference between a big card show and a small card show. A big show is one where people from out of state are regularly coming to vend because it is worth the trip to attend, and include shows like Front Row Card Show, Card Party, Collecticon, and even PAX and ECCC. Smaller shows host more local vendors. These tend to be shows that are happening in the area once every three months or even more regularly. The overall vibe of these shows is very different, so if you are looking for something out of the show in particular, knowing the difference will be key.

Big Shows

The big shows are where the action is at. The general atmosphere of big shows is thrilling. People have travelled here from across the country to sell and trade their belongings and they are expecting good things. The smell of opportunity is in the air from day one and since most of these larger shows are multi-day, people are prepared to grind. I tend to be much more energetic and excited when at larger shows.

If you are someone who is looking to buy/sell heavy hitters, these are the shows to attend. You can almost guarantee that at these shows there are many 5- and 6-figure deals going down. Need an old sealed box of Pokemon or a specific high-end card? This is the place. Looking to create relationships on a storefront level? Most booths at these larger events are coming from card stores themselves and they are also looking to make connections.

If you are looking to sell larger ticket items, I would recommend bringing them to one of these bigger shows because the vendors here are gonna be the ones interested in higher end items and they will generally be able to cash you out. But there are a lot of moving pieces and if you are new to the game, whether you are a vendor or an attendee, you can easily get overwhelmed. So how do you make the most of this awesome experience? Here are a few tips:

First, trust your knowledge and don't give in to sales tactics. Remember that most of the vendors are natural salesmen and the good ones will make you want to spend your money. Just make sure you understand exactly what you are getting yourself into before you are handing people your money.

Second, take a lap of the show before you commit to buying anything. I would always recommend doing this at any show, big or small. Getting an idea of what vendors have to offer before buying can help you find better deals and better items most of the time. Taking a lap of the whole show before going in on deals will help you understand what you want out of the show now that you have seen everything. Ask vendors if you can take pictures of cards you are interested in and come back to them later. It is very rare that a card will go missing during your initial lap, so unless the item is super hot or you know that the vendor is pricing it for a steal, take the time to take a lap and take everything in.

Making business connections? If a vendor is juggling multiple things, it can be more difficult to bargain and chat with them, so taking a lap and coming back later will give you time to make sure that you make an impression with a representative.

Third, remember that it is okay to walk away from a deal if you're not comfortable. At these shows it can feel like there is a lot of urgency. While it may seem like there would be plenty of time at a two-day show to wheel and deal, as a vendor or attendee you will tend to notice the day flying by. If you are new to the scene, I would keep in mind that you don't have to rush a deal unless you are seriously interested in it. It can be somewhat hypocritical for me to say, as I fall prey to it, but do not give into FOMO (fear of missing out). Make sure you feel comfortable and that you are getting a good deal before going through with any buying or selling.

And fourth, know when to go! If you are looking for the best deals at these shows, you can usually get them during VIP hours in the very beginning or late on the last day of the show when everyone is trying to pack up. In my experience, some vendors are willing to leave money on the table to make a sale on an item they don't want to bring back home.

Small Shows

Smaller shows offer a more local and chill experience. They are much more convenient, affordable, and generally closer by than big shows, and you can usually purchase tickets at the front door. Due to the accessibility of these smaller shows, you can approach them much more casually and you don't feel like you need to stay the whole time to "get your money's worth." Small shows are perfect for those deeply ingrained into the hobby who want more exposure, and for those who are brand new looking to take their first dive into the scene.

So how do you make the most of your small show experience?

First, take a lap but be ready to move fast. Taking a lap is still a good strategy at these shows, but if you see a good deal, don't skip it because at these smaller shows the best deals are found quickly.

Second, be ready to strike a deal. At smaller shows, most people are gonna be more willing to wheel and deal as most vendors at these are gonna be independent, rather than stores. Since most of these shows are shorter and tend to only be one day, vendors and attendees have to move fast from the get go.

Third, look for the unusual stuff. Smaller shows are much less consistent than larger shows in terms of what is gonna be out on peoples tables. You can find some real weird and interesting stuff. I would come to these kinds of shows if you are truly into the hobby and you love the idea of finding diamonds in the rough.

Fourth, leave big-budget dreams at the door. If you are looking for lower ticket items, this is the show for you. As a seller, if you have items that are reaching the four digit range, some of the vendors here will not even be able to cash you out. But it doesn't hurt to check: there is always the chance of you coming across the right buyer at the right time.

Have Fun Out There

Big and small shows both have advantages and are going to suit different buyers and sellers. You can find incredible deals at small shows, but the odds aren't in your favor because there is so much less product than at the big shows. I would not expect to find the deal of a lifetime every time you go to a smaller show, but anything can happen when you're out hunting for it.

I hope this helps you to feel confident when you head to your first card show. With patience and a little knowledge, you are definitely going to have a great experience exploring and finding incredible deals on the cards you've been hunting for.