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Sony Denver has been making online trading card games since long before they became Sony Denver. Their recently launched Stargate Trading Card Game Online is a favorite of all I know who have tried it (including myself). The Pirates Constructible Card Game Online continues to grow and amaze; four expansions after launch it still goes strong and startles people when they learn it is actually a 3D game! Tonight, Scott Martins, Director of Development for SOE Denver introduced the audience at Fan Faire 2007 to what has been a long time in coming in the next step in online trading card games - Legends of Norrath: Oathbound.

Legends of Norrath is unique to online TCGs in a number of ways but first and foremost it can be played within the MMOGs, Everquest and Everquest II as well as stand alone. This is a wholly unique experience and had Sony Denver been content to simply stop there it could have been considered an achievement. But the amount of thought and care put into making this a unique product for existing Everquest fans as well as extending the reach to new players is quite astounding.

1. The game can be played across servers.
2. The game can be played across games - EQ to EQII to stand alone.
3. Some cards can be turned in for unique loot items - even rare items - within the game.
4. The loot tables of both EQ and EQII have been altered to drop the cards as loot.
5. Every player of EQ and EQII will receive a starter deck.

It would be far too easy to take the cynical path and consider this a simple marketing plan by Sony to extend the life of their flagship games. Cynical would be the wrong attitude to take; it's quite brilliant, and anything but simple. Why a similar mechanic of its kind hasn't been developed before now baffles me. But taking the “Sony cynicism” out of the picture for a moment, it is important to keep in mind Sony Denver, nee Worlds Apart, are the creators of Stargate, Lord of the Rings and Star Trek Online Trading Card Games.

These guys know how to take an IP and turn into a fun card game. Don't believe me? Try one - they're free to try.

I'm an admitted non-trading card game player. I hate collecting the cards; I hate building the decks; I hate carrying them to events; I hate the culture. What I have learned by playing previous games from this development house is that they know how to build cards that have the identity of the IP.

Jack O'Neill stats and abilities make sense. Gandalf's restrictions are understandable. The Enterprise plays on the board in a way that feels right. I have watched beta testers who know nothing of the IP become interested and people who love the IP become card players. It's a grand experience.

Legends of Norrath shows the same care of design. Oathbound is the first of three sets to be released that follows a storyline regarding a secret war between order and chaos. There's a single player campaign of 15 scenarios you play against the AI which earn you new cards to fill out your deck. (Solo play?)

Lord Nagafen: A Well-Known EverQuest Personality

You base your play around a central avatar or character who is one of four archetypes: fighter, priest, mage or scout. The archetypes represent a range of classes from both EQ and EQII and include shadow light and neutral cards. You'll find familiar classes like Paladins and Shadowknights and some hybrids of multiple classes. The items used to support your character will be items from the game with attendant stats and actions that make them very familiar.

Playing is a matter of strategy and determining which direction you wish to choose to win. You can reduce your opponents health through attrition either by direct attack with your avatar or support characters (if you choose to play a more traditionally support class avatar); or you can win by being the first to complete four quests. Finding the strategy that works best according to the cards available to you, your archetype choice and your own personal style will be the long term game. (Sound familiar yet?)

An EverQuest II Loot Card

Some cards you can turn in immediately for loot in game. We watched as Producer Clint Worley in EQ invited Producer Scott Hartsman in EQII to a match. They chose the deck they wanted to use and began play immediately. Clint then showed us the Card Collector screen where the beauty of the cards truly comes through. Over 50 artists including many from the development teams of both games contributed to the wholly original art for the cards. After, Scott turned in a card for a gorgeous flowing cape. It took about 90 seconds for him to receive it.

As it isn't yet live in game, we were unable to see any cards actually drop from monsters but can expect them to start dropping in early September. With 375 cards to collect, none to ever buy if you so wish (your started deck is free, they drop as loot and you can trade them) it becomes a fantastic past time when you're spawn camping, hanging out in town or want to play with a friend who never had the specs to move up to EQII.

And hey, there's got to be some way to get all those *cough* other online (and paper) card game players to check out this game and with a readymade audience of a few hundred thousand to play with it will be easy to finally convince your neighbor to give it a try. Once they see the beauty of the art, the richness of the lore, the variety of the characters and the sheer fun, you'll be one step closer to a new guild mate. And hey, playing with friends is still what it's all about.