The Warsaken community is home to individuals who transcend the role of mere players to become fervent advocates of the game. Among them is a USMC veteran, devoted husband, and father of four, whose foray into Warsaken started with a modest Kickstarter pledge and blossomed into a profound passion for the game. His narrative provides a window into the dynamic and inclusive universe of Warsaken, showcasing its distinctive capacity to unite people across generations and diverse gaming preferences.

Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into Warsaken?

I am a husband, and father of four, a USMC Vet, and have enjoyed the fellowship of gaming (card games, board games, tabletop etc.) and bringing families to the table for years. ever since I was a kid, I have loved getting to the table to play with friends and family and still do to this day. It is one my families favorite things to do.

My venture into Warsaken was via the Kickstarter for the physical box set. Naturally, not too long after backing the KS, I found myself invested into the NFT side of the house as well. And I must say, it’s difficult to hold back on scooping up pack after pack of NFT’s as the collector in me just can’t stop grabbing packs! But, it is a joy and the art and theme, the world of Warsaken is just great.

What was your first impression of the game?

First impression of the game was I was thoroughly impressed with the game. Reading through the lore a bit, reading through how the game came to be, and checking out the various videos and rules of the game resulted in an immediate backing of the KS and now I eagerly await the physical box delivery, but thankfully I can bide my time with the NFT side (including playing right now!).

What really connected me here though has to be to the story behind the game’s development. Bringing two worlds together, a father and son with their own likes and outlooks is just an awesome testimony to the heart behind the game. Reaching across a generation to connect and bring a father and son together, and in turn is bringing others together, is potent and not something to miss. Many game designers attempt to do this, but miss the heart, and instead focus on a game that is a means to sell something, which in turn, ends up collecting dust on the shelf. The heart behind this game continues to shine and the creator’s passion is evident.

Are the rules clear and easy to understand for new players? Do you have any suggestions for improvement?

Yes, the rules have been very helpful across the board on each game mode, and easy to follow (my youngest son of 8 follows along). I enjoy the effort put into multiple versions of rules as well. There are basic/quickstart rules for the versions as well as in depth rules breakdown for more advanced play.

Something that would be good to see would be the cabal rules and draft rules video similar to the videos pertaining to the other forms of play (standard and blitz). Written rules are great to have, and the rules themselves are straightforward and easy to follow; but for those who are visual learner’s (or just enjoy watching the game played to learn), videos are certainly helpful there. There is ongoing work by the Warsaken team on many fronts so I am confident the cabal & draft video rules/overview, will hit eventually.

Which game modes do you play the most (Physical Standard, Physical Draft, Physical Cabal, Physical Blitz, Digital Blitz)?

Currently my family and I play Standard with some prebuilt decks of physical cards we purchased (battle boxes from the Warsaken shop) and this is our current go to mode right now which we run multiple times a week.

I also run digital Blitz via the NFT side with my current collection of assets from the Warsaken universe.

We haven’t played any cabal just yet but it’s on the docket as well as getting some draft mode run here soon (which I am excited for), with some physical cards we have inbound.

What do you enjoy most about these game modes?

Blitz is exactly as it sounds. It is a straight BLITZ of fun and time, it goes fast. If you have 10 minutes and want to throw down on some Warsaken, blitz is your mode. Simple, straightforward without thinking about abilities, just match 3 of a kind and repeat until you take out your opponent. And the great thing about blitz (really every game mode technically) is it can swing in a single turn MASSIVELY. It can be an all out blowout, a neck and neck earned victory, or an absolute astonishing comeback. So one thing is certain, NEVER surrender because you can turn the tide of war in a single turn. Truly a great way to get into Warsaken and I would say is the first mode anyone should play due to its simplicity.

Standard is more akin to chess. You’ve got to plan out your moves ahead of time (due to timers involved), think about what move you need to make now to set you up for the following turns, consider which flow of cards is best AND be tactical in maneuvering your opponents play at the same time. You’ve got to think about end game, what your opponent is doing, what cards they may have, how do you best use your resources, do you attack now or hold off, etc. If you have some time and want a full on battle of wits, Standard is your mode of play.

Cabal is the solo man’s playfield. This is where Warsaken shows love to those who can’t get to the table or local game shops due to schedules etc. Similar to standard in a way, you want to work your way through the Cabal and eliminate enemy leaders/bosses. It is combatting an AI deck basically, and though I haven’t played Cabal myself, it’s good to see some love for the solo players here.

Draft (which is mainly a physical card mode) is next on my list and one that I am excited for. This is where the tournament fun goes down. Open some packs, draft a deck, and blam, off to the races with the deck you’ve built from those packs. These sort of modes in card games are always fun and provide a great replay-ability as you can always just “reseal” boxes and do it again with different cards or leaders each time. This mode follows a gameplay like Standard in play, but the draft aspect is really a great way to have good ole fashion fun and bragging rights between friends. Because you still play chess, but this time, with perhaps not the best cohesive deck of cards! For those who enjoy randomization, this is the mode of play for you.

Can you describe a memorable moment you had while playing Warsaken?

My most memorable moment of Warsaken would have to be a recent blitz mode I had. I was just not getting the rolls nor the cards I needed for a quick victory. My territories were being knocked out, and my opponent pulled a WMD match to compromise my leader. I was at least able to take out two territories through the game, but I was a bit concerned with my opponent having 2 sets of weather matches on the board (just needing one more of each to get the bonus turn for them), and a force card with 2 as well just needing the final match to win the game by taking out my leader.

I was rolling terribly the whole game; but in one turn, I rolled a 6, got a full 3 card weather match (gaining me an additional turn), and an additional 3 card weather match (gaining an additional turn again). My first additional turn brought me a roll of 3, allowing me to throw down a 3 card WMD match taking out the two remaining territories, then on the second additional turn, I rolled a 1 and with that final 1, I played my 3rd force match on a set of 2 that were sitting there forever allowing to eliminate my opponent’s compromised leader.

What an awesome way to close out a game and just goes to show how everything can be flipped on its head in a single turn.

How does Warsaken make you feel while playing, especially during intense matches?

It is quite exciting because you never know how a game can go. You can be thinking it’s all over only to turn it all around and pull out a win. It can be frustrating at times (but this is with any game really), but at other times an absolute blast, and thankfully it is more the latter than the former. I am always laughing anyway when I run games, because it is the joy of the game and bringing families together that is what matters. And yes, bragging rights are a top trophy within any good family discourse.

Do you find enjoyment in the game even when you lose? If so, what makes it enjoyable?

Absolutely. Especially when the opponent pulls off an absolute Chad king move of a play. You can’t help but applaud and take the L. I come back to this game win or lose, time and time again. My kids enjoy this just as much as I do, and we always have a blast playing against each other. Especially in some 4 player modes! Woo, that right there is 5D chess lol.

What are your thoughts on the Standard system of resource management and the game’s timer mechanics?

Resource management is easy to track and not an issue at all. Many card games can’t get this right and Warsaken does. The system just works beautifully, and each card tells you all you need to know. The timers are a must, and great piece of the gameplay. The timer mechanic is a strength of this game because there are cards within the game that manipulate timers which can come very, very handy in play.

Again, think chess here. Yeah, that’s a big hitter, but it will be two full turns before he shows up. Can you afford that? Does your opponent have a means to alter that timer? Can you survive before he comes out? (Speaking from experience here when I took a gamble, and it didn’t pan out for me). The timers also keep a flow to the game that is manageable without having to take a bunch of tokens out.

I liken Warsaken to Legend of the Five Rings card game but improved upon and streamlined. It has a similar approach on taking territories before attacking a leader, use of resource management for costs of cards, etc. However, where Warsaken shines is its ability of flow of the game and unique card abilities without burdening the player with a swath of things to remember like shady tactics counters for honor/dishonor, alliance deals/agreements, blessings and element claims and so on. LotFR was fun, but Warsaken is its own unique beast that does it better. Samurai theme is cool (I own both LotFR and Warsaken btw), but I pull Warsaken out just about every time. I go to play LotFR and can’t help but think, “I could be playing Warsaken.” All love to LotFR, but it’s Warsaken for me.

How do you approach compromising state and strategic decisions in the game?

This is a tough one to say as a definitive approach as each game has to be approached with an open concept of knowing your deck’s strengths and weaknesses as it pertains to the opponent’s deck (mainly in Standard here given card abilities). But, in general I try to drive my opponent to lose morale more so than take out territories if I can swing it. Get my cards to manipulate morale, bump timers, but throw up some blockers so my own territories don’t get taken out.

I also like sneaky, stealthy play that circumvents my opponent (unless they too have stealth) but anyway you can bypass blockers with abilities is very frustrating to deal with.

Keep your opponent on their toes and guessing what your plan is and think though when you NEED to play cards and when you “can” play cards. Don’t just think about the immediate threat before you, think beyond. What cards can you play to get what you need to claim victory?

This is easier said than done, but I take each play as an opportunity to evaluate the board. Is this a safe play that can buy me some time or resources? Can I keep pressure on my opponent? Do I hold off on attack or go all out here? Do I need to risk the biscuit here on a two timer to swing the weight my way or take a safer course but sacrifice potential power?

And at the end of the day, just have fun. It’s a card game to enjoy with friends and family. Don’t overthink it, don’t stress about it, laugh a lot, smile big, and brag humbly. Have fun, play your cards and know there’s always next time.

How would you describe your pack opening experience?

This has been quite fun on the digital side, and I have opened up a few nice cards for the collection I hold. That said, there are sometimes where you get a little disheartened at what you pull which can sometimes bring a sigh to your lips. That, however, is the same across ANY collector card game with randomized packs so it’s not something unique nor a negative to Warsaken, it’s the name of the game with any TCG. You know going into it that there are chances of highly rare cards and plenty of less rare to be pulled. It’s the thrill of pulling those nice cards though that spurs you on to the next pack and the next and with each, growing your collection.

The physical side is going to be the same, yet with physical cards rather than digital. One difference with the digital over the physical is that my collection is always on me with the digital. I can trade, upgrade and sell anytime, anywhere. Can’t quite do the same per se on the physical side, although you can trade and sell. I am looking forward to draft games using this method of play though. That is always fun.

What do you think about the Loot token as a loyalty reward system?

This is a fantastic system. Plenty of ways to earn loot and your loot pool grows as your collection grows, allowing you to secure larger collections, which in turn grows your loot!

Loot is mainly a driver towards a specific type of pack, which would be “loot packs” rather than boosters which are USD or WAX. However, loot stacks up and there are numerous folks in the Warsaken community sharing loot, as well as events going on to earn loot. So, it’s a good way to keep people engaged and involved without having to drop a bunch of cash which is a big plus. Card games tend require high investment to make them worthwhile, so at least with loot, you can build slowly without a big hit to the pocketbook.

How has the Warsaken community impacted your gaming experience?

This community has been awesome. Generous and welcoming folks looking to help new folks get in quick and partake of the joy of Warsaken.

There are constant events, discussions, and ways to earn in this community and that is rare to find. While I do not invest into crypto, the NFT game has been quite enjoyable playing with folks from around the world with my computer or tablet from my couch!

Have you made any lasting connections or friendships through the game?

Nothing yet, just got into the digital side about a month or two ago, but the game has brought me and my kids together time and time again to play, and what better thing can a game do than that?

How do you feel about the lore and backstory of Warsaken? Does it enhance your gameplay experience?

This is where Warsaken has done a great job building the draw or interest for folks. You have your own likes and dislikes, connections to characters and events in the lore. And the lore continues to grow!

Being able to connect or see a character and why the card plays the way they do, is a great immersion experience which is always a fantastic piece to add weight to a game. You want to know more of the intrigue, the sabotage, betrayals and alliances as the world grows.

The named characters actually mean something. It’s not just some random dude with a cool face tattoo. They are all part of this world that is Warsaken, and you can just imagine their part in the unfolding events within. Corporal Mark Rockwell for example, is not only a great card to have in your deck (his abilities and atk/def are great), but the art is also just cool looking. You can see him just doing some G14 classified stuff with a mischievous grin under that mask and calling it a day. Good times.

What do you think makes Warsaken stand out from other trading card games?

I’ve said this before, but it takes what many card games try to do and does it better. Looks at what LotFR does and improves it with pizazz and a flare of its own. It’s simple, yet complex. Engaging yet easy to play. Customizable to no end with replay after replay. The artwork is great, the lore is unique, the management and mechanics are streamlined, and the multiple way of play makes this a powerhouse of a card game to collect and play.

Warsaken is just flat out fun to play. And there’s no way around it. It comes to the table, throws down a smack down of fun and then packs up nice and neat. Your cards go with you digitally or packs nicely physically.

What would you say to someone who is considering starting to play Warsaken?

Just get into the mix. You won’t regret it. Play a round of Blitz and you’ll want more. If you like the physical card form, pick up some boosters, and do a draft game. Or before even committing to any money being thrown down at all, just check out the discord, watch the videos on the Warsaken site, check out the fun on YouTube and see for yourself what this game does so well. It brings folks and families together and anything that does that is unbeatable.

You can even go in with some friends and buy some packs, or you and a buddy can pick up a battle box or two and you can each have decks for play. There are multiple ways to play, whichever mode or form is your fancy. You don’t care for stacks of cards or binders? Ok, go digital, play anywhere any time with your whole collection (not to mention cool gear you can get digitally for card sleeves, game mats, dice etc) right at your fingertips. You prefer physical cards? Done. It’s universal in many ways and that is a strength of Warsaken for sure.

Wrap up

Through the eyes of a dedicated player, we see how Warsaken is more than just a game—it’s a bridge that connects people, ignites passions, and fosters a sense of community. This veteran’s journey from Kickstarter backer to ardent fan underscores the game’s unique appeal and its power to bring families and friends together.

Whether through the strategic depth of its gameplay or the rich tapestry of its lore, Warsaken continues to captivate and inspire. Join the growing community, dive into the world of Warsaken, and experience firsthand the camaraderie and excitement that make this game truly special.