Do I only need the Core set? I was thinking of buying it this week. Is it a sufficient start?

Yes. The core is all you need to start playing. You'll get all the factions, so just sort the factions out, combine a few and make a couple decks to teach a friend (future opponent) the game. Then check out the boards here to see if people play in your area.

Thanks for that information. I was wondering. Is this like Magic The Gathering? I stopped playing that because buying boosters all the time was ridiculous. Is this that kind of game where I'm going to have to buy boosters all the time?

Well, no, that's the whole point of the much-touted Living Card Game (LCG) concept... (as opposed to collectible card games) New cards are released in fixed sets (Asylum Packs), so that you know precisely what you buy. The core set obviously won't become any less playable just because new cards are released, though if you want to play other CoC players competitively, you will probably want to keep up with the Asylum Packs.

Now, let's be honest with the Key Master of Gozer. Let me just bust out my harp I've been strumming on this topic. The game functions with just the core set. If you do not buy three cores, nor three each of the 14 LCG AP until now, you may well enjoy playing. But if you know how to build a deck - which I assume you do based on your discussion of MTG - you will be sorely stunted with one lonely core. 400 legal cards, or so, now exist - per faction let's say 17 characters, 2 support, and 6 events. Works versus works for you is the distinction you need to make.

I'm just wanting to play with some of my friends and I might buy a few asylum packs. If I do play in tournaments and competitively would I have to go back and buy all the asylum packs or could I start with the most recent.

Also, Thanks Johnny Shoes for being honest and making me consider that fact.

KeymasterofGozer said:

Johnny gives a fair accessment of the game. From Yogguth Contract on, the packs will have three of all the cards. Before that, some of the cards came one per asylum pack. So, if you really want three of every card, to max a card you like in a deck you build, you'll need three of each set-like Johnny says.

With Living Card Game format, whats cool is from now on each asylum pack will have the three copies of each cards. If you buy a pack, and I buy a pack we get the same cards. Theres no random blind booster pack BS. So, its much easier on your wallet.

It really is the end of the transformation from CCG to all cards universally equal to all. I loved the classic booster box days, loved them - and the collecting of the rares. It was hard to get the deck you dreamed up. Those were the days. Alas that model is now rejected by most, and more importantly replaced smartly by FFG to survive. The eighteen asylum packs that bridge the CCG to LCG era, while not random, were inserted for collectibility. First you needed four of each. Then with the three card rule change you needed three packs. And now at last, collectibility is a matter of keeping up with releases...and buying two Expansions inserted at 2X.

Honestly While I love cardgames I just have gotten tired of blind boosters. It's just rediculouse to spend the ammount of money some people spend to get 1 card. I think I'll like this format (LCG) a little better.

bad spelling of ridiculous is bad......Fail for me

But it wasn't all frustration, Blasted Heaths, and Country Stores. The cost equation aside for a moment, one booster box made for an excellent supply for game play, and a nicely distributed, for the most part, selection of that set. The after market was diverse and fun. Those were the good old day. The CCG format at its best satisfied aspects of the game we still value, some we can afford less so to do.