Matthew BaileyGame 62 of the “Now & Then Summer Marathon 2024” is “Lorcana: Gateway Set” played with Jack(9). For those of you wondering I am aiming for 65 or 66 (depending on if a delivery shows up on time).
Almost exactly one year ago, I discussed the then-recently released card game “Lorcana,” a Trading Card Game (TCG) launched through a partnership between Disney and Ravensburger. At the time, it was positioned to challenge the industry’s giants, “Pokémon” and “Magic: The Gathering.”
I haven’t covered “Lorcana” extensively since then, but it’s a game that both Jack and I have continued to play in the background. Now that the game has several sets available, as I start to wrap up this year’s marathon, I want to talk about two “Lorcana” products that could be worthwhile if you’re considering diving into the Disney rabbit hole.
The first is the “Lorcana Gateway Set.” This set is very similar to the “Pokémon Stadium Set,” serving essentially as an introduction to the game for new players. One thing I find particularly good about this set is that it includes a board, again similar to the “Pokémon” set, which makes playing the game much easier, especially for younger children. The board provides designated spaces to place everything, which is really helpful. I find it difficult to understand why such spaces are not more common in trading card games. For younger players and for people who approach trading cards from a board game perspective (like myself), it’s a welcome feature.
Inside the “Lorcana Gateway Set” are two starter decks, each with 30 cards, and four booster packs that allow you to enhance these decks and make them more complex as you progress. This is where the set truly shines. The decks are perfectly designed so that, in your first game, you only use basic mechanics to get used to the gameplay. After that initial game, you add some new cards to your deck, and the rulebook introduces you to a new mechanic that these cards bring to the table. As you continue playing, you gradually introduce more mechanics into your deck until you’re familiar with most of what the game has to offer. This is a fantastic way to ease players into a trading card game, and if you have children interested in playing “Lorcana,” this is definitely the way to go.
The set also includes some other nice features. The damage counters are of higher quality than in previous sets, and there are some fun little character standees that, while not necessary, add to the experience. As is typical with these types of sets, there are two deck pamphlets that provide simple strategies you can use with the different decks.
Ravensburger has already stated that they intend to keep the “Gateway Set” updated on a yearly basis to include new cards and mechanics. If you’re looking to get into “Lorcana,” this is definitely the way to do it.
