Stratics: When Through The Dark Portal is released will we see the Heroes of Azeroth sets removed from store shelves?
DB – Heroes of Azeroth is a base set for the WOW TCG and has many staple cards with recognizable in-game spells and characters. We want this product to be available to new players that begin playing the WOW TCG anytime within the first year. Also, for certain types of tournaments, Heroes of Azeroth booster packs will be used in addition to Through the Dark Portal booster packs.
As such, we have printed what we feel is an appropriate amount of product to remain on retail shelves well beyond the release of Through the Dark Portal.
Stratics:At the sneak preview events for The Dark Portal on March 31st and April 1st will players be able to acquire starters and boosters?
DB– Yes, in limited quantities. Anyone that enters these Sneak Preview tournaments will be given some booster packs which they will use to construct their deck. There will be extra booster packs awarded to top finishers for these tournaments. Additionally, special prizes will be available which may include promo cards, deck tins, play mats and t-shirts (prizes still being finalized). If you can’t make it to a Sneak Preview tournament, be sure to look for Release Celebration tournaments on April 14-15 for more chances to win exclusive prizes.
Stratics:Will there be a sneak preview event for Molten Core raid deck as well?
DB– No, Sneak Previews in general are only done for booster/starter launches.
Stratics:For the Onyxia Raid deck, will you make ever make the hero cards smaller or just large ones? This also applies to the upcoming Molton Core Raid deck which will be released in 2007.
DB– Yes, we do plan on printing all three copies of the Onyxia hero card in normal card size. They will likely be available through the UDE Points Store. The same will probably be true for Molten Core Raid Deck.
Stratics:When Heroes of Azeroth hit store shelves it sold out pretty quick. Will there be more sets of Through The Dark Portal made available at release time than there were for Heroes of Azeroth?
DB– In short, yes. When we printed Heroes of Azeroth the first time, it was based on pre-orders and estimated demand. As you noted, it sold out very quickly. We were super excited about this, and immediately went back on press and got more Heroes of Azeroth on store shelves by early December. For Through the Dark Portal, we will print what we feel is an appropriate amount, based on pre-orders and our knowledge of the market. Now that retailers and distributors have seen the customer’s response to WOW TCG, the supply should become more in line with the demand.
Stratics:Are there plans to release pre-constructed decks for game play?
DB– Every starter decks come with a 33-card preconstructed deck. While this is not a big enough deck to take to a sanctioned tournament, it provides players with a basis for building a solid deck. In the Heroes of Azeroth starters, there were nine different pre-constructed decks (one for each of the classes). There will be nine NEW pre-constructed decks in the Through the Dark Portal starters.
Stratics:Are there plans to release clothing featuring artwork from the cards?
DB– We will not be doing a full line of clothing, but we will create t-shirts with card art that will be used as prizes through our Organized Play programs.
Stratics:Do you know of any new items that will be added for in-game rewards?
DB– Yes, lots. :)
Stratics:Any chance we will see codes made available as loot in World of Warcraft that can be exchanged for card products?
DB– Hmm… interesting. There are no plans for anything like this right now.
Stratics:What's your favorite card and why?
DB– Rise to the Challenge – While this is not the most competitive of cards, it is definitely very flavorful and fun. In the MMO, there is such satisfaction when you level up. I feel that this card does a fantastic job of bringing that feeling to the TCG. It takes a LONG time to pull it off, but when you do, the rewards are great!
