Well, it seems that FFG has now its own Digital studio, Fantasy Flight Interactive .

And as a matter of fact, the same day that they’re introduced, they announce that they’re adapting The Lord of the Rings LCG as a Digital Game and for the look of it, it’s already pretty advanced. In fact, there will be a closed beta this December.

For now, we know it will be a campaign-focused single player game, free-to-play, but (of course) with the option of buying packs with real money. As LotR LCG tabletop is a cooperative game where the enemy is a randomized deck, the single player option seems a natural fit.

But the interesting part for us is:

Is this the first step into adapting multiple LCGs from tabletop to digital? Do you think we will see a L5R LCG Digital Game? And will you prefer it to be also a single-player campaign, or competitive multiplayer? Also, will you be able to add the packs you have bought so you have more options in game, or will also feature micro transaction, maybe even with exclusive cards?

Ideally, I'd want a way to buy the expansion in physical format, scan a code inside the pack, and also unlock the expansion within the game. I'm certainly not a fan of paying for the same product twice, so if they tried to get me to pay separately for both the physical and digital versions of the same expansion I'm almost certainly not going to bother getting into the digital version.

FFG will never develop a game if it's only to give it for free without any monetization. Developing a video game cost money so it's normal that they should charge for it.

If they were going to release the game now ,the ideal compromise would be a 40€ pay to play game with everything in it (core set + imperial cycle) and then a code system that allow you to scan any future expansion so then it creates extra incentive for people to buy the physical copy , so the 2 games would work in synergy. And for people who don't play the paper game at all, let them buy any future expansion in digital at half price (something like 7€ per expansion).

Also my will to spend money on such a game will highly depend on the quality (the pictures from the LotR look very promising) and also if there is tournament support with ladder and stuff or if it is just for testing. Obviously tournament support would make the game way more attractive to me but they need to make sure the paper version stay the main focus which is not an easy balance to find. Magic is a very good example , Wizard was so afraid of making Magic online popular that they made it **** and expensive ^^.

57 minutes ago, Tabris2k said:

L5R: LCG Digital Game soon?

Define soon .

57 minutes ago, Tabris2k said:

Is this the first step into adapting multiple LCGs from tabletop to digital? Do you think we will see a L5R LCG Digital Game? And will you prefer it to be also a single-player campaign, or competitive multiplayer? Also, will you be able to add the packs you have bought so you have more options in game, or will also feature micro transaction, maybe even with exclusive cards?

Unless the new studio has several teams, I doubt it anytime soon. If ever. Arkham Horror The Card Game adaptation/tweak would have more chances because the whole solo/coop. And being Arkham Horror.

L5R digital would depend on waht they do with it. Straight port? Variant somehow? Unrelated to LCG development?

Also, note that Lord of the Rings The Card Game is quite old so there was certain incentive to milk the IP in another way. So Netrunner could be there too at some point?

Since I don't know any other players in Auburn yet, a digital version of this game would be nice for me. As other people have said, though, it would be annoying to have to pay for the same expansion twice. $15 for a normal clan pack of sixty cards I get--there's printing and shipping costs and all that, plus I have the cards physically now so if the game ever (Kami forbid) stops production, I can still play. But $15 for sixty digital cards, which will become useless if the online game ever stops and the servers go down? I'm not too sure about that...

If the price point was significantly lower for the digital expansions than the physical ones, though, I don't think it would be too bad. I mean, it's not like they have to pay printers and shippers to get the digital cards to you.

I guess Arkham would be next, and maybe, Star Wars in its original co-op mode.

3 hours ago, Tabris2k said:

Well, it seems that FFG has now its own Digital studio, Fantasy Flight Interactive .

And as a matter of fact, the same day that they’re introduced, they announce that they’re adapting The Lord of the Rings LCG as a Digital Game and for the look of it, it’s already pretty advanced. In fact, there will be a closed beta this December.

Fantasy Flight Interactive was announced a month ago but the LotR project is the first one they've announced.

EDIT: October 25, in fact. https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2017/10/25/fantasy-flight-interactive/

10 minutes ago, Kakita Shiro said:

Fantasy Flight Interactive was announced a month ago but the LotR project is the first one they've announced.

EDIT: October 25, in fact. https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2017/10/25/fantasy-flight-interactive/

In the FF Interactive Page, all three news (including Announcing FFI) appear with 12/9/17 date, so I just assumed...

Sorry for my mistake, it will never happen again *commits seppuku*

3 hours ago, Barbacuo said:

I guess Arkham would be next, and maybe, Star Wars in its original co-op mode.

I think they said something about maybe doing something with the Star Wars Destiny property as well, but I don't have a source so maybe I am just a Bayushi Liar.

I would happily throw my money to well polished digital game which uses codes to scan physical product and integrates them online. Also digital league, matchmaking, co-op partner finding and tournament system, sounds great.

This looks too hearthstoney and cartoon like to me and hope there will be different interfaces available, but this is a great move and hope FFG will do it right. cant wait to try it.

I would also like to see a Digital version of L5R:LCG. But as others have said, I would not like to have to pay twice. A rebate, if we can prove that we bought the physical cards, would be welcome.

Maybe that's why they put that "Proof of purchase" tile in the Core set. For the expansion sets, I don't know, maybe cutting and sending the barcode?

And, I think, developing the game is easier than stated. Someone has developed on his own a digital version of the old5r CCG (Sun & Moon, for those who don't know it) and it is working very well. New base sets and extensions were introduced on the software immediately after their release, with the original artwork. It was possible to play in various format, including the Open format.

It is very different game than normal LOTR lcg. Much simpler, with one time use boost cards etc...

So... maybe not L5R digital soon...

Interesting to see how it goes, but there is no chance that you get free digital cards, because they have to make profit with the digital version. Not so easy task to do. Easier in competative environment, where you buy better cards to beat you opponent and the opponent has to do the same, or he will get whipped out by other players that buy those extra boost.

In coop, there is not that competition so it is interesting to see how they make the money!

I'm fine with digital but I hope its success doesn't overshadow the physical aspect of it. I suppose this is coming from a former World of Warcraft TCG player, which is now Hearthstone. Not a fair comparison, as they canned the physical game before the release of Hearthstone but it seems like a small risk that paid off completely for Blizzard, and then some.

3 hours ago, Hannibal_pjv said:

In coop, there is not that competition so it is interesting to see how they make the money!

Subscription based, maybe, with montly payments? That way you could have the best of both worlds; you scan your physical product you have already paid for and and you get to play online. However, as there are no codes in place right now, I doubt you could do that for L5R... no way to control who owns what. :/

12 minutes ago, Mon no Oni said:

Subscription based, maybe, with montly payments? That way you could have the best of both worlds; you scan your physical product you have already paid for and and you get to play online. However, as there are no codes in place right now, I doubt you could do that for L5R... no way to control who owns what. :/

For Pete’s sake, stop giving them ideas.

Frankly, I don’t think they’ll just make a port from the physical game to digital. There are several issues with that.

First, they have to compete with all the free alternatives, which means take legal actions against the OCTGN plugin, the TTS Mod, Jigoku Online... which can be easy at first, maybe just a Cease and Desist order, but then you can be sure less legal alternatives will rise.

Second, it predates the physical market. That’s not good for a company that makes most of its money from tabletop products. Even with the actual digital alternatives, people still buy the cards. But if you make a ranked, competitive digital version, you could lose potential clients.

What I think we can see is a different product, although similar in play style. Maybe simplified rules, or different win conditions, or a smaller card pool. Probably single player, against the AI. They can even make events and story choices based on that. Nothing too influential, but imagine something as:

Battle of Unnamed Village. Crane and Lion face each other in a dispute for some territories. You log in with your account, choose a side, and face the other army with a preconstructed deck. Every wins counts towards determining who won. Then it gets referenced in some fiction. Or other story price, as getting to decide if certain magistrate approves or refuses a petition from some clan. Maybe doing like a sort of small quest, having to win a serie of games with different conditions each. You know, small things, but enough to keep you playing, and buying some packs now and then.

So, a side product of the real LCG, that also would serve as a gate for new people to get hooked to the LCG.

42 minutes ago, Mon no Oni said:

Subscription based, maybe, with montly payments? That way you could have the best of both worlds; you scan your physical product you have already paid for and and you get to play online. However, as there are no codes in place right now, I doubt you could do that for L5R... no way to control who owns what. :/

Every product comes with a “proof of purchase” code, I think.

On 12/10/2017 at 7:37 AM, Dovla said:

I would happily throw my money to well polished digital game which uses codes to scan physical product and integrates them online. Also digital league, matchmaking, co-op partner finding and tournament system, sounds great.

So... Pokemon?

I think it's worth repeating that the game they announced for digital is NOT the Lord of the Rings LCG; it's a game based on the Lord of the Rings LCG. It plays in 20 minutes and is much more streamlined than the LCG, so this definitely a Hearthstone-ey type game. If they did L5R, I doubt much of the game would really remain the same, L5R is very complex and far too difficult to implement in this way.

I wouldn’t mind a game based on the rpg. Something akin to baulder’s gate or whatever rpg type is in their realm of possibilities.

i would hate a digital card game that is multiplayer. The game is fun because you are playing with someone for close to an hour in person. I would hate that experience in a digital form. The trolling would be strong.

On ‎12‎/‎9‎/‎2017 at 3:40 PM, thorrk said:

FFG will never develop a game if it's only to give it for free without any monetization. Developing a video game cost money so it's normal that they should charge for it.

If they were going to release the game now ,the ideal compromise would be a 40€ pay to play game with everything in it (core set + imperial cycle) and then a code system that allow you to scan any future expansion so then it creates extra incentive for people to buy the physical copy , so the 2 games would work in synergy. And for people who don't play the paper game at all, let them buy any future expansion in digital at half price (something like 7€ per expansion).

Also my will to spend money on such a game will highly depend on the quality (the pictures from the LotR look very promising) and also if there is tournament support with ladder and stuff or if it is just for testing. Obviously tournament support would make the game way more attractive to me but they need to make sure the paper version stay the main focus which is not an easy balance to find. Magic is a very good example , Wizard was so afraid of making Magic online popular that they made it **** and expensive ^^.

I have to think if the expansions started giving you access to digital content too, then the price would increase a little. People who enjoyed playing both physical and digital may feel like they're getting a bit of a deal, but people who just want the physical cards will feel a bit miffed.

Personally, I think the "similar but not the same" approach they're using for LotR may be of use here. That way, you hopefully have significant overlap in appeal, but without just having the same product twice in different media. Maybe a digital game could be a way to do a "multiple clans battle the Shadowlands" campaign?

Yes this is actually quite different from LOTR LCG. So it's inspired by the source LCG. You know what? I'm okay with that because what works in a digital card game doesn't always working in a physical card game and vice versa. So I think they should definitely play to their strengths rather than be constricted by the source. I suspect with this product they are trying to attract a different crowd (one that likes online card games like Hearthstone etc), and then hoping to also grab some of us along the way. It is I think a good thing even for the physical games because this will increase awareness of those physical LCGs by reaching audiences they never would have originally.

I'm curious how this digital game actually works as a "Living" card game. Are the boosters you buy or unlock not random and do they get released on a schedule to mimic the actual LCGs? I recognize that they are repurposing the Valor card trait as a one time use effect (which I assume you can pay for or play to unlock) so clearly this is that sort of experience. I guess considering LOTR LCG is either solo or co-op it's not really that big an issue that their is literally a "pay to win" button.

22 hours ago, Tabris2k said:

Every product comes with a “proof of purchase” code, I think.

It does, but not the kind of code that would be useful for this, a unique code you can't duplicate, or everybody will have for free in miutes. This has been done in comic books; you got the book and you could scan the code and download an e-copy to your digital library. Than canceled the code.

If they want to make a carbon-copy online version, they could start putting redeemable codes in the packs, and just grant everything before the new codes as freebies with the 'base game.' They'd have to commit to it soon though, and I don't think we've seen any solid indication of that so far.

I don't think that jigoku.online is a barrier to making this product, though. If you make a quality client that's officially supported, I think people will use the official client if it's better, even if it costs money. MtGO is still a thing, despite having cockatrice/octgn competition.

5 hours ago, AradonTemplar said:

If they want to make a carbon-copy online version, they could start putting redeemable codes in the packs, and just grant everything before the new codes as freebies with the 'base game.' They'd have to commit to it soon though, and I don't think we've seen any solid indication of that so far.

I don't think that jigoku.online is a barrier to making this product, though. If you make a quality client that's officially supported, I think people will use the official client if it's better, even if it costs money. MtGO is still a thing, despite having cockatrice/octgn competition.

Mtgo is a thing because it supports limited formats, allows card trading (so you can theoretically make money on this) and supports tournaments with prizes. It's not any better than octgn in terms of gameplay IMO. It's also full of bugs