I would like to first say I just played the game and my playgroup thinks it is great.

First I would like to know how the blocks are set up? I know a new set is coming out and I would like to know what I need to buy to get into the game, and play in tournaments.

Also could someone point me in the direction to see all the keywords on cards. I cant find them on the rules online. I would like to know what Ranged and some other things do.

cerebralcortex said:

EDITED ANSWER - The Keyword Traits as they will function in Set 12 (Next set, coming 2nd week of April) are now discussed here:

http://new.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=462

This includes the new Keywords Combo, as well as Revisions to Ranged and Throw (Which now become Keyword Abilities where they were not previously.)

Also are there any fan sites for this game?

Sorry another question. Is this game still going strong as far as tournaments and players? I would hate to get into a game that is dying. Please be honest about it not just a fanboy.

Fan Sites - UFSCards.com ~ not as actively updated as it used to be.

- Teamcanadaonline.net ~ Currently running a writing contest where each published entry gets a prize.

- There is a french site, that I'm sure Ren or Hatman will smack me for not remembering the URL

- Any others that I've missed my apologies.

Tournament Scene:

Depends on where you are. UFS is regional, where certain areas are stronger then others. FFG has active plans to support UFS Org play, including continuing to offer the coolest prize in gaming. (Winner of the Worlds, and select national tournaments gets all copies of a tournament legal version of themselves that they can distribute as they see fit.)

At this point FFG has spent the last year transitioning the game from its former owners Sabertooth Games, and now gets to have it's first full year with the game under their logo, with plans that they are devising & implementing.

The new design team, and revised focus that was started with Set 11 is bringing back many players who at some point over the previous 10 sets had moved away from the game.

Giving a quick answer about the blocks, since I haven't done that yet:

UFS has two formats for tournament play:

Legacy - All cards from all sets are legal, unless it's on the banned card list.

Standard - Cards from the current "block" are legal. Effective April 8th, when Set 12 releases - only cards with the 4 pointed star will be legal for tournament play.

Cards with the 4 pointed star come from the following sets:

DS01 – Dark Stalkers

The following cards will be legal in the Block 3 Environment:
16 – A Moment Too Late
112 – Big Cyclone
113 – Big Gulp
34 - Buddhist Devotion
23 – Chaos Flare
61 – Cheerful
88 – Consumer of Planets
35 – Containing the Power
8 – Cute and Innocent
107 – Empire’s Ruin
62 – Free Will
70 – God of Metal
71 – Instant Success
32 - Katana O Rakurai
51 – Moment Slice
72 – Oral Dead
97 – Predator’s Instincts
33 – Press of Death
57 – Primitive Instinct
111 – Stone Mail
54 – The Beast Within

DS02 – Dark Stalkers ~ Realm of Midnight
SC06 – Soul Calibur ~ Flash of the Blades

SF06 – Street Fighter ~ Fight for the Future
The following cards will be legal in the Block 3 Environment: (They are printed with a 4 pointed star)
27 – Cannonball Jump
88 – Flash Kick
05 – Grappling Gloves
51 – Harness your Chi
14 – Headstrong
15 – Impressive Physique
34 – Killer Bee
72 – Kung Fu Master
90 – Reverse Spin Kick**
45 - Ryusei Raku**
11 – Slash Elbow
63 – Spiritual Center
18 – Undefeated
59 – Yoga Drill Kick
04 – You Can’t Escape

SF07 – Street Fighter ~ Domination
SF08 – Street Fighter ~ Deadly Ground
SF09 – Street Fighter ~ Warrior’s Dream

SNK03 – SNK ~ Cutting Edge
SNK04 – SNK ~ King of Fighters
SNK05 – SNK ~ Flames of Fame

The environment will be referred to as "Block 3" Because it will be the "3rd group" of cards.

Block 2 cards have a 3 pointed star to denote their legality.

actually i feel that the game is growing...while yes in some places its dieing in my hometown we still going pretty well we have about 7 or 8 players regularly

If your just starting a playgroup you might be interested in seeing if there are any other groups near where you live and see how the tourney scene is around there.....plus there are alot of regional event going on if you think your ready you could look up where those are as well

where exactly do you live?

Well it seems we get new players asking about the game every week so I think the game is growing also we have some huge promotion programs. Everything from the 3rd anniversery event to deck trade up promotion . Then for the hard core fans guys like antigoth has their own site for writers and gives players prizes for writing . Then myself Scott , papernaut and Mt_Do host the number podcast for UFS so the community is strong and your always welcome here.

Ohio. Near Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton.

cerebralcortex said:

You got 2 great play groups either UFS house home of some the greatest UFS players or Vermillian home of one of the best scouts.

cerebralcortex said:

What? Did someone misspell my mispelled screen name? Its VermilliAn not vermilion, thank you.

From columbus ohio. Stop by some friday around 6 (no later than 6:45 please) and we'll almost 90% or the time be there. Free tournaments, free prizes, usually pretty casual.

I am not the best scout. That would be dudes in Florida probably. Or Jama Hata. He went from non scout to designer and is now retaining players at a larger scale than any of us could hope to affect. That's pretty epic. I guess that's under the assumption that he's affecting them in a positive way though. So far it seems that assumption is sufficient.

vermillian said:

Thanks for the shout out to FL scouts .

Antigoth said:

Actually, Ren maintains that, I've nothing to do with it. And no we won't smack ya mostly because it's pretty much dead at the mo. We generally only use it to coordinate trips and all that jazz.

Homme Chapeau said:

Yes its pretty dead

I'm planning major changes and more non-ufs related sub-sections so this would gather more french gamers

vermillian said:

Is this at the Soldiery?

Yes it is. Sorry everyone bailed on me tonight. so me and another left to go play SFIV which then turned in to himhaving to go home.

I'm hanging out there tomorow at 6 until about 9. See you sometime! Feel free to email me (you should have my email).

So cards that have a 4 pointed star will be legal in the upcoming block? Just wanting to make sure before I start buying card to get into the game. Thanks.

JacksSpleen said:

Correct. Cards with the 4 pointed star will continue to be legal until set 16 is released in spring 2010.

Set 12 debuts cards with the 5 pointed star. They will be legal through set 20, when it's released in 2011.

All other cards, with either no watermark, or the 3 pointed start can be used in Legacy format events.