Backround

     Solforge is an online card game created by Richard Garfield, known for creating Magic: The Gathering and designed by Magic: The Gathering Professional and lead designer of the World of Warcraft CCG, Brian Kibler of StoneBlade Games.

     Retaining the same flavor that made Magic: The Gathering a fun fantasy game, players are whisked away into a new world that seems very familiar and different all the same. The art is amazing for what is only an online card game.

How to Play
The game is simple to pick up but hard to master.

     You build a 30 card deck and each player starts off with 100 life. There is no form of payment for cards as in other games. Each player is instead allowed to play two cards a turn, except for the player who goes first. Spells and activated abilities can only be cast or used on your turn. Creatures cannot attack the first turn they come into play with the exception being cards with Aggressive.

     The game has several types of cards. Creatures, spells, power ups and each one has their own levels. So far the max level for cards seems to be capped at three. As you level up in the game, so do your cards. Everything becomes more powerful.

     You level up by playing cards. You have no max level but in the games I have played, no one has gotten past level 5. Not because you couldn’t but because of how the game was played out.

     s with most card games, SolForge is turn based. On your turn, you may decide to play a spell, creature, power up or discard a card and level it. You have five areas before you where you will place your creatures. Although you only have five spots you can play a creature to an occupied spot, replacing the creature currently there with a new one.

     Next step is to go into the battle phase. Any creatures able to do battle will do so and anything not blocked by an opponent’s creature or with the ability breakthrough, will deal damage to the opposing player.

     You end your turn and your opponent how has his turn. Game play goes back and forth like this until one player wins.

Technical Terms

Free spells or cards that do not count towards your limit, are usually only accessed at higher levels. Spells and activated abilities can only be cast or used on your turn, except for cards with come into play abilities.

Aggressive allows your creature to attack the turn it comes into play. Sometimes it has restrictions as, your opponent must have a creature opposite it, in order to gain the ability. This is noted on the cards by a red lightning bolt.

Attack is a creature’s power that will be dealt as damage to a creature.
Health is how much damage a creature can take before he dies.

Mobility is the number of spaces a creature can move across the board.
Regenerate is how much attack and health a damaged creature will get back.

Poison is a special type of damage done to a creature that doesn’t go away. It continues to damage the creature.

Breakthrough is a creature that will deal leftover damage to the opponent.

Defender is a creature that cannot attack but can block and protect your life points.

Armor gives your opponent a shield that will reduce damage done to your creature.

Uterra are a nature based faction within the game itself. Beefy creatures and healing are abundant here.

Alloyin are an army based faction. Robots and Soldiers and other techno goodies make up this faction.

Nekrium are the death based and underworld faction of the game. Necromancy is their specialty.

Tempys are aggressive and fire based faction. Burning things and attacking early are some of the attributes to make up this faction.

Levels are more powerful version of the cards or the players. So far, levels on cards are capped at three but players can level up to extended levels past three but the level resets to one after each game.

Common cards are easy to get as they show up most often with uncommon cards being the next most frequent followed by Rare, Heroic and Legendary.

Booster Packs add to your collection and come in one of three styles. Basic or a three card pack.

Event tickets get you into constructed tournaments or booster drafts.

Booster Draft is where you take three packs of cards and pick one card out of it. Each other player also does the same. The pack is passed and you pick a card from another pack. You do this until you have enough to build a 30 card deck.cards seems to be capped at three. As you level up in the game, so do your cards. Everything becomes more powerful.

The game has daily log in rewards of sliver, a single card or a booster pack. Sometimes two of those options combined. This will add to your collection. Within the game, if you win via online opponent or AI, you are also rewarded with sliver and or booster packs. These add to your online collection, giving you more options for deck building.

Sliver can buy you some things but sticking to a RPG type of theme, like World of Warcraft, you can buy gold to access even more. The gold comes in five tiers. With 30,000 gold for $99.99 being the most a player can buy.

Overall it isn’t a bad game. In fact, it is quite enjoyable. It’s quick to get into but the more you play, the more strategy you find within the game itself.

     I’m not a fan of the way it is Farmville-esque with the fact that you can play for free or unlock more by buying gold. It’s flavorful but seems rather silly. The gameplay itself seems rather solid but you’ll soon find yourself being outclassed by the people who bought access to more cards. The game could do with tier levels from Newbie to Expert from which allow players to hone their skills. Other than that, the game is a fun way to kill fifteen to thirty minutes of free time.

The game is available for free on steam or iPhone app.

Three and a half out of five stars.