WOW TCG Canceled- This Time For Real

Well I'm pissed off.

I just got an email from my buddy that the WOW TCG has been canceled after Reign of Fire ends production. I am VERY. Very pissed off. I planned on holding raid games with buddies and to grow into the WOW TCG again. Unfortunately Blizzard decided to cancel its license with its own in house producer, Cryptozoic Entertainment and has cited it has no plans to bring the WOW TCG back.

I was just about finished with Ulduar too. I'm not happy about this. While Blizzard gave no reason, it is highly speculated that the new Hearthstone online CCG is to blame. Would I play it if it had raiding and I could raid with friends? probably. I'd think about it. But right now I am disappointed- and kind of pissed- but not very angry- about what Blizzard has done to a great TCG. I'd understand if they said it wasn't making money- but to abruptly take it away takes away a revenue source (me and other places) and leaves a sour taste in their mouths.

Like they care, right? I'm not trying to create drama- I'm pissed at what they did, but in time I'll get over it and just move onto something else.

Hiatus

It's been fun......

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Nah. I'm not giving up blogging. I've been here for 8 years- originally this blog was to highlight all of my model building stuff. I remember that gundam SEED kit and that small F14 kit back in the day- I had little knowledge of anything and a crap camera to boot. But I had a strong sense of enthusiasm. Over those years I've grown, evolved, rekindled old hobbies, got better at everything, and had a lot to say about many things- from video games to responding to BS to discovering the wonders of the airbrush.

Even if not a lot of people read this blog, it gives me a sense of fulfillment to share my work and thoughts with people that may find it interesting. We get a decent number of unique people looking at this blog- but it's fun to share with friends, too. 2 years ago I linked RobsGamingNetwork to Plamotaku! and began a video series on model building. I would like that to continue. In the pipeline I need to review the Real Grade Zaku II, then build the Perfect Grade MK II and have a face off review between it and its real grade cousin. The real grade MK-II, though not finished kicks ass.

There are dozens upon dozens of retro games to review- and the list is in the hundreds in terms of what we can look at.  I used www.random.org to select from a list of NES games and such. At one point it picked Gauntlet. I couldn't do a 2 minute drill on it and it wasn't a POS. Therefore it will deserve its own special. Darkman for the NES? it looked promising from the quality intro screen- but don't be fooled.

HobbylinkTV is having a plastic model building contest that runs until January 1, 2014. I think I might enter. The rules are that pics can't leave the forums on their site- so I will respectfully comply. I haven't picked what kit I'm going to do yet. Do I expect to win? nah but it would be cool. I want to enter the contest to have fun and see what others are building. HobbyLinkJapan has been a great source of affordable stuff from Japan. I've ordered three kits from them so far and they came quickly.

I am moving back to one of my home states. Starting from scratch. Until I get internet and things settled- I have to park everything in the hiatus spot until I am good to go again. You'll see Reign of Fire posts till August 28th- those are automated and not me. I apologize that I didn't get to finish the set. But at least you got a sneak peak at it. What are my plans for the future? find a job, have fun with friends- and continue what I am doing. I'm happy with what I do.

Till then.

Reign of Fire: Joru the Blinding Light

A 4/3 for a cost 3 is normally good. You can discard a card to take him out of play, and at the end of turn put him back into play. He'll be worth some real world cash- this is essentially a horde Adam Eternum- and it's a great card.

Reign of Fire: Dread Hound

Alright- let's get into cost 2 allies. Dreadhound is a card you could play when you have an ally low on health that you can get rid of. You don't have to- which is the beauty of the card. It will give you the flexibility of dealing with abilities in raids, something that is very handy during almost any standard raid and especially automated decks I run. I'd include the card in a priest, warlock and possibly a druid deck.

Reign of Fire: Spook

Spook is a great card for pvp. Not only do you deny a fresh card draw to your opponent for the cost of 1, you have an instant that can temporarily get rid of an ally. As per raid rule 101.3c, you cannot add or remove cards from a boss player's graveyards or decks. If you are playing PVP with a shadow priest, this is almost a staple- if not a staple, definitely for inclusion in a side deck.Though I question why this wasn't a dual ability for warlocks as well.

1/144 RG Gundam MK II Titans Color WIP Part 3

Reign of Fire: Terror Hound

This is an interesting card. When it comes into play you can switch the ATK and health values of an ally in play this turn. If there is a [0/X] card in play, kiss it goodbye with Terror Hound. You could also use its ability to benefit you, considering if you have a protector with [1/6] that doesn't have any kind of summoning sickness. Depending on the build, this is a great common card to include.

Reign of Fire: Soul Warding

Heh. This card. For a cost of 3, and the discipline talent requirement- you can make an ally almost indestructible. It can still be removed from the game- because the card would be put into the removed from game zone- but if you try to deal fatal damage to an ally or pop a cap into him, he won't go away because of Soul Warding. If you are running a big bomb ally or a friendly player is- Make this more of a pain in the ass for the boss player by playing this card- even for automated decks. If you combo this card with Saurfang the Younger, who re-readies after entering combat with an ally... oh dear god. Can you say ally board wipe for the boss?

Reign of Fire: Jaina, Apprentice of Antonidas

There are a lot of jaina allies out there, and this one adds to the pool. At the start of your turn you can put a ater elemental ally into play- and she interacts with daelin. If he is on the field opponents will pay one more to play cards. Nasty. Make one of the two of them indestructible and the boss may have a real thorn in their side.

Reign of Fire: Runetotem Guardian

For a straight up protector on turn 1, Runetotem Guardian is great. If you need a cost 1 protector during a raid, this is the card to play if you are Horde. I am highly considering grabbing a couple of these for my collection.

Reign of Fire: Splintered Thought

Splintered Thought... well first off, this card is completely useless for raiding. As per raid rule 101.3c, you cannot add or remove cards from a boss player's graveyards or decks. For PVP, this could be an interesting card- pay 5, mill the opponent 5 and then play an ally revealed this way with 5 or less into play under your control. I like it. It combines milling and mind control- a fundamental play strategy for shadow priests. This is almost required for a shadow priest deck in PVP (won't count as revealing a card for Warp), but it is completely useless in raids.

Reign of Fire: Huntress

I dig the card art and that posterior. She is a [3/2] and when she deals combat damage to a defender, she can throw in an additional one damage to a hero or ally. This can be handy to combo with warriors or rogues who need to fire off abilities to allies dealt damage. It's a solid ally, but might not last long without shadowmeld. Plan accordingly. I might pass on this card, but in certain situations it may become handy for you.

Reign of Fire: Orc Raider

Orc Raider.... a cost 1 [2/1] that has a pay 1, exhaust target hero or ally. I was about to dismiss this card because I thought it was an exhaust power. It isn't. This could be handy for either a warrior or rogue deck where you pay a few resources to keep exhausting cards, which in classic may allow you to deal additional damage. I can see this card getting very annoying in raids requiring a pilot. There is a card from the badge of justice program that let's you exhaust and pay 1 to keep an ally invincible- but I wish the playgroup luck in getting that card. This card could get cheap in a raid very quickly- especially if the decks are built to keep this guy alive as long as possible. Hell, have a priest, paladin or druid beef him up. I'd rather see it in play. It does have 1 health, so his surviveability is suspect at best.

Reign of Fire: Shadows from Beyond

I remember my shadow priest. That was a fun time playing one. Looks like we get a non talent, portal card that deals 3 damage to a target ally, and if fatal damage is dealt- a card is discarded by the owner. Nice- except that this card is useless in a raid like Ulduar or one of my automated decks. For older decks this will work out very nicely- especially in black temple or molten core where the allies are "moderately" weaker around 3-4 health. For PVP, this card would be good for a shadow priest. The cost of the card gives you damage in addition to the discard.

Reign of Fire: Hateful Darkweaver

More demons! Darkweaver only affects Night Elves. Unless you are playing against a bunch of night elves, I would skip this card.

Reign of Fire: Hungry Ghoul

Oh. a cost 1 [3/3]. What's the catch? You have to remove two cards in a graveyard from the game in order to attack. Late game this can come in handy, but for a 1 drop early on I'd forget it. This would be handy against rogues, mages and warlocks who burn through their decks with draw power like no tomorrow. I'd consider this card in a few decks, definitely. If anything, maybe side deck it.

Reign of Fire: Power Word: Bravery

At first glance some might scoff at this card. However- this is a GREAT raid card for the cost. Power Word: Bravery increases the health of all friendly allies by 2x, allowing for more surviveability and damage output. There is no talent requirement either- I would be hard pressed NOT to make this a priest deck staple.

Reign of Fire: Abomination

Now we get into the heavier meat that is the ally set. No pun intended. Abomination is a [2/5] and a protector. You can remove a CARD in a graveyard from the game to heal 2 damage from Abomination, at the start of your turn. Nice card- for a cost 4 I would consider putting this in a deck. However- if you are considering replacing card "Z" with abomination, weight what you are losing versus what you are getting.

Reign of Fire: Haro Setting-Sun-

More cows- Haro Setting-Sun utilizes tribe, and the effect brings an opposing ally to -1 health for the turn. This could come in handy for weaker allies that already have damage. As for running it- I would not run it if I could find better cards available. A decent card, but it comes down to a question of priority. 

Reign of Fire: Felguard Basher

For some reason, when I think of Felguards I think of demonic protectors. For cost 1 you get a [1/2] with ferocity. It has a bit of health to stick around, and as a turn one drop I'd highly consider playing it. Side deck it at least.

Reign of Fire: Lightlance

Lightlance is an interesting card that I would include if I couldn't find an equipment or ally that was a one drop and worth playing. There is an upcoming equipment card to be revealed (or may have already been revealed) that gives your hero spellshield. In addition to that card, for priests this card is great as a turn 1 DPS card. Even if it isn't on turn 1, you get 1 damage per cost, and in the case of being undamaged- 5 damage per 1 cost, something that is utterly awesome. I can see this card fetching a heavier price, but noting unmanageable even for the player on a budget. I like this card and would include it for a raid, especially if I can get this thing early on.

Reign of Fire: Fel Imp

Alright... ye dirty little imp. This is a cost 1 [2/1] that keeps coming back if you want it to. I don't know if I'd run this card. That's just me.

Reign of Fire: Warsong Deadblade

I don't think I've ever seen a cost 3 with a [5/2]. The question is surviveability. This card could really benefit from a druid, paladin or priest pump. If you can have it survive a turn, which the chances of that happening in a raid are predispositioned to be "yes", he can start whipping out some damage. I'd rather see it in play first before including it, but if you or a friendly player pump allies- put him in.

Reign of Fire: Scheming Watcher

Getting back on the cost 2 ally train today we have a common 2 [2/2]. When he enters play, you can draw two. If you do, you can put two cards on top of your deck from your hand in any order. Essentially you’ll know what’s coming up, and if you have something bad in your hand you can draw for two and inhibit yourself for two turns, or you can take the two cards you drew and put them on top of your deck in any order. An interesting card- if you want a different cost 2 ally, this one will do.

Reign of Fire: Legacy of the Horde

This card is PURE OP. In a raid situation I can see this card lasting about 1-3 turns before it gets destroyed. In that time, if you amass an army on our side of the field you can deal some serious damage with this card, especially in a raid like my homemade Ulduar. The crux of this card, in addition to the double damage is that it prevents damage up to a certain degree. This would seem perfect for a paladin, though it was granted to priests and shamans. I would probably play this card in any ally heavy build for a priest or shaman, though I expect the rarity of this card (epic) and its power to make the monetary of this cost pretty high- possibly above $20 a card for tournaments.

Reign of Fire: Vilegut

Oooooh neat. Another Death Knight pet. He is [3/3] and a protector. It has "this ally has +1/+1 for each ally in opposing graveyards". I would almost include this card as a staple. In Ulduar there is a minion graveyard- so this card can still be powered up there. Get this card- even for the sake of having a play set for your DK.

Reign of Fire: Winterhoof Frostheart

For the final cost 2 ally, we have frozen beef. He utilizes tribe, and when he or another tauren enters play under your control, an opposing ally has -1 ATK for the turn. Handy for mitigating damage. He's a [1/4], so consider that carefully when you put him in the deck.

Reign of Fire: Druid of the Talon

Well.... the flavor text was anti climatic. Druid of the Talon is an elusive 0/1 that if you exhaust it, a target hero or ally dealt damage this turn is dealt that much +1 more instead. This could come in handy for wiping trash in raids in the later game, but after that I don't see much use for the card. Perhaps I need to see it in
action first.

Reign of Fire: Zealotry

I love the card art for Zealotry. That gearset is one of my favorite gear sets in world of warcraft. This is a ret ability that gives your hero and your weapons Sentinel- allowing you to strike twice in the same combat if you can afford swinging twice. This ability is susceptible to destruction in many raids- but it's play cost makes it almost worth it- especially for core PVP and classic decks. If I had room- I would include this in an equipment ret pally build.

Reign of Fire: The Widow Deadsie

Heh. Grandma Deadsie was an alliance at one point. She is a [4/3] with unity. With it, prevent all damage dealt to her. Excellent card to run with unity in the mix. I can see the price of this card going up. Hell, I would run it with a deck having allies the majority of which human.

Reign of Fire: Stormwind Recruit

I can get behind this card only because it's an instant ally- though in a classic situation I'd much rather play Keward Rocksalt. [3/1] will get the job done, to be sure.

Reign of Fire: Valik, Timewalker Sharpshooter

Alright Valik, what can you do? I think I've been reading these cards wrong. If we take it from what the card actually says, he has to enter play and be revealed from the deck, meaning that somehow during his reveal from the deck he must come into play. When he does, a friendly ally has +2 atk this turn. I'd like to see this in practice before I make a judgement call on this card.

Reign of Fire: Doomguard Invader

This is an interesting card. For cost 1 you are getting a 4/3, but as an additional cost to play- you have to destroy an ally you control. You can combo this in classic and get some benefits, or you can choose a really cheap cost 1 ally and destroy it to bring out invader on turn 2 and be attacking for 4. A respectable card, even if it's held back a little bit. I'd consider running it in a deck, especially an ally heavy mage or warlock.

Reign of Fire: Bor Breakfist

Heh. I get the joke in this card. I also love bacon. This is a 1/1 ally that, if he survives long enough you can exhaust him to give a target orc ally ferocity this turn. Might be worth it- I'd have to see this in play before I pass judgement on it. That ferocity can get you some additional damage in, especially if you play this card in the early mid-game.

1/144 RG RX-178-2 Titans