Icecrown Previews - Something Something Something Complete
August 31, 2010
Welcome back, true believers, to the first Icecrown preview! Let me start off by saying formally that everyone here at Cryptozoic Entertainment is overwhelmed by the response and loyalty from our players. Thank you for sticking with us, and we know you’ll enjoy the great things we have planned for the future of the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game!
Speaking of great things, let’s get to some Icecrown love. As you probably know, Icecrown is the third set in the Wrath of the Lich King block. The third and final set in a block has quite a bit of structure inherently. It finishes up cycles, it fills in gaps, and it continues themes; but, it also needs to have an identity of its own.
CLASS MATTERS
“Class matters” is probably the most prominent theme of the block. Each set featured a few classes. This concludes in Icecrown with Mage, Hunter, and Shaman.
Scourgewar had a dual-class abilities shared between Death Knight and each of the other nine classes respectively. Wrath Gate followed that up by caring about the number of a class or classes you controlled. Each dual-class ability in Icecrown wants you to play the biggest ally of a certain class or classes.
While those cards ask for a specific class or two, others aren’t as picky and will bend to your needs.
The perfect quest for any class deck, A Hero’s Burden is cheap and digs deep, like a promiscuous volleyball player.
Keep in mind that the theme of “class matters” is not just limited to actual class cards. Each class has a main role in the MMO. Three keywords, two new (Assault and Mend) and one tried and true (Protector) are meant to simulate the main roles of WoW characters: DPS, healing and tanking. So, we made a card like this!
DAMAGE TYPE
Scourgewar had shadow damage, Wrath Gate had holy damage and Icecrown has…you guessed it: melee damage! What else would a crown do? What’s that, Koringar? Oh, my bad. I mean, ahem, frost damage!
References to frost damage and frost cards are sprinkled throughout Icecrown, but Icecrown is the final set in the block, so it needs to tie together damage type themes as well.
Not only does it have the best name (and at one point in development, it turned opposing cards into Slobberknockers), but it is super versatile. Not only reactive to any opposing damage type strategies, it’s proactive as well, providing oomph for six different damage type decks.
GRAVEYARD
The darkness and decay of the grave have permeated this block for two sets. Death Rattle is a keyword introduced in the block, and Icecrown finishes our look at Death Rattle, on equipment.
And even the mounts in the set want in on the graveyard action! (And who wouldn’t?)
As you know by now, Icecrown needs to do more than simply finish up mechanical cycles. It needs to promote certain strategies and put a bow on the gift from us to you-- The Wrath of the Lich King block!
Just a re-shuffle quest, huh? Well, take note. This quest reshuffles target player’s deck for the first time in our game (No, Humpherys, Preparing for War doesn’t count). This allows you to focus on your graveyard shenanigans while disrupting any similar opposing strategy.
REPUTATION
Scourgewar introduced the Nerubians, those web-slinging, click-making, wall-crawling enemies of the Scourge, and Wrath Gate followed up with even more devoted enemies of the Lich King, the Argent Crusade. Well, here Icecrown "fills in the gaps."
But surely, there is someone else who will stand (or fly) up to the might of Icecrown Citadel?
Thassarian has no fear of Scourge allies (although he is flying above them), as he can weaken any enemy at will. And when combined with his airship, the Skybreaker, he can certainly hate on Scourge heroes as well.
What’s that, you say? Scourge heroes?
The best way for Icecrown to forge its own identity is to give it something totally new (like Demon Heroes in the Hunt for Illidan). And what is more unique and flavorful than Scourge heroes and allies? Not exactly a reputation, they play just like it (you can’t include Reputation cards in Scourge decks) and a couple of them actually tie together every major theme from the block; damage type, class, the graveyard and reputation.
You’ll hear about these and other Scourge heroes (and allies) in the coming days.
I hope you enjoyed this look inside the design and development of Icecrown, due in stores September 14th. Stay tuned over the next couple of weeks for more Icecrown previews, including tomorrow when Jim Fleckenstein plays Arthas and leads you to the Scourge! In the good way, not in the "you are Cryptozoic's undead servant way." Unless you want to be. We might have a program for that.
- Ben Cichoski
- WoW TCG Head Designer
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