Shows
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 23 — Creating the "Echoes of the Past" expansion with Harry Potter TCG Revival designers Sammy & Huamin (HPTCG)Rands is joined by two designers from the HPTCG Revival group and together they all explore what when into their most recent virtual expansion: "Echoes of the Past", based on the second half of the Prisoner of Azkaban novel._HARRY POTTER TCG REVIVAL____________________________________________The Harry Potter TCG database:https://accio.cards/Find the Harry Potter TCG Revival Group on social media:https://www.facebook.com/groups/harry...https://twitter.com/harrypottertcghttps://www.instagram.com/harrypotter...Join the Discord server:https://discord.com/invite/EKJSXBC2023-06-281h 45
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 22 — 30 Years of Magic: Misprint & Oddity Cards w/ Ryan W RooksTHIS EPISODE IS A PART OF TBPN's CELEBRATION OF 30 YEARS OF MAGIC: THE GATHERING (1993-2023)On this Rare Slot, Rands is joined by Magic: The Gathering historian, eclectic cardboard collector and trained pressman—Ryan W. Rooks—to discuss a variety of Magic: The Gathering cards that should not have ever existed. Thats right these cards were either made in error, or never intended to reach the public's hands.Furthermore, during the journey that Ryan takes us on we learn about some very intimate parts of the card printing process... and the mistakes that can get made...2023-05-231h 24
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 35 — Making the Sorcery: Contested Realms TCG with creator Erik OlofssonThis episode of Booster Pack Throwback we see the return of Erik Olofsson to the network.Since we first spoke 18 months ago, Erik and his team have been busy getting Sorcery: Contested Realm made. Erik tells about his experience managing his initial Kickstarter, finding printers and finalizing the card set for S:CR's Alpha edition.So whether or not you know Sorcery: Contested Realm, kickback and hear a tale about what it takes to make the dream of creating a trading card game a reality.Find out more about the Sorcery TCG via:2023-05-091h 31
Project ShowtimeRands Lincoln "Coachella of Board Games"Rands Lincoln is a true game aficionado. He is the host of The Booster Pack Network Podcast, a podcast dedicated to all things card games and gaming culture. Rands is a collector of Trading Card Games and even designs games himself. During this podcast, we talk about the beginning steps of game design and his top game recommendations for listeners. Hailing from Australia, we also go over Aussie terminology, slang, and the reason why I could never visit the land down under.
Twitter @CCGHistory @MTGHistory
@TBPNcontent
Podcast -The Booster Pack Network
2023-05-091h 31
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 21 — 30 Years of Magic: The first-ever TCG Tournament with finalist Rick Townsend (Gen Con 1993)THIS EPISODE IS A PART OF TBPN's CELEBRATION OF 30 YEARS OF MAGIC: THE GATHERING (1993-2023)On this Rare Slot, Rands is regaled with first-hand stories from the first-ever finalist of a public TCG tournament. That event was of course a Magic: The Gathering tournament, featuring the very first Alpha Magic cards. It was held at Gen Con 1993. _______Links from @MTGhistory related to this episode______Posts about Magic at Gen Con 1993—Picture and play-by-play of the last game:https://twitter.com/MTGHistory/status/1429453226533924867The "in-Universe" story about that last ga...2023-04-2555 min
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot - 20 - Top indie TCGs of 2023 with Card Game CryptOn this Rare Slot, Peter from Card Game Crypt on YouTube breaks down his top independent TCGs releasing in 2023. Take a listen & learn about some games you might be hearing about this year.Peter's Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx8twHnxHRs6bUUyUbatp7g Team APS:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaqlCjzSFmunjBOP4EmYpxg Game #5:https://www.elestrals.com/ Game #4:https://www.boundlesstcg.com/Game #3:https://www.primaltcg.com/ Game #2:https://www.playvaria.com/Game #1:https://runeslingers.com/ ...2023-03-211h 04
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 34 — Paul W. Brown: Precedence Entertainment's CCGs (Babylon 5 CCG, Wheel of Time, Tomb Raider TCG + more)On this episode of BOOSTER PACK THROWBACK, Rands chats with the CEO of the (former) Precedence Entertainment.Precedence was a major TCG publisher in the 1990s, releasing over 6 different games including Babylon 5 CCG, Tomb Raider CCG & the Wheel of Time TCG.Throughout this chat, Paul not only shares his business & game industry stories but also shares many of the tough lessons he learnt about game design, licensing and management from the many years he spent in the tabletop gaming space.Find Paul's current project, "Lunch Champions" webcomic —https://www.webtoons.com/en/ch...2023-03-141h 50
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 19 — Assad Quraishi on the recent change in the TCG industry (Genesis: Battle of Champions)On this Rare Slot Rands & Assad go deep on the recent history and changes in the TCG industry. Please share this conversation if you found value in it.Find Genesis; Battle of Champions—https://www.genesisbattleofchampions.comAssad's previous @TBPN podcast:https://youtu.be/bUsvm-HY7SgGenesis: BoC on Twitter:https://twitter.com/genesisboc_____________________________________________Audio version of this podcast:https://pod.link/1553640008Find Rands:https://www.facebook.com/CCGhistoryhttps://twitter.com/CCGHistoryHive—RandsTCGEmail—ra...2023-02-141h 26
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 33 — Brian Lewis: The first lawyer for Magic: The Gathering & TCGsThis episode of BOOSTER PACK THROWBACK stands out as one of the most unique episodes yet.Joining Rands today is Brian Lewis, and unlike nearly all the previous guests, Brian doesn't create games—rather he helps protect them by using the law.As the first in-house lawyer hired by Wizards of the Coast, Brian shares his experiences working to help Magic become the gaming juggernaut that it is today. The conversation ranges on everything from the TCG Patent, gambling, counterfeiting, satanism & so much more.Learn more about Gen Con:https://www.gencon.co...2023-01-241h 34
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 18 — BONUS: Pilot episode for a new TCG News podcastThis time we have a special bonus, end-of-year episode. You are going to get a little look behind the curtain here at The Booster Pack Network.What we have here is a pilot episode record from a new podcast we are developing. The idea is simple: Rands is joined by a trio of TCG experts each specializing in one of the "Big 3" TCGs—Magic, Pokemon & Yu-Gi-Oh.Please let us know what you think & share your feedback about the show's format. Also, feel free to drop any suggestions for what else you'd like to see out of...2022-12-271h 54
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 32 — Creating the world of Legend of the Five Rings & 7th Sea with John WickOn this "BOOSTER PACK THROWBACK", Rands is lucky enough to be joined by *the* John Wick.John was the person behind the story for the original L5R CCG, as well as the creator of the 7th Sea setting (which also had its own CCG).Famously, the L5R's story tournament system allowed players to craft the story in those games though competitive play. John speaks to the challenges & advantages of that story structure.John also explains what when into crafting those much loved & intricate worlds. As well he touches on some the...2022-12-201h 52
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 16 — Managing an indie TCG with STERLING from D-SpiritsOn this episode of the Rare Slot podcast, Rands is joined by previous guest & D-Spirits creator, STERLING.Since the last time they chatted STERLING has been busy managing and expanding the D-Spirits card game & brand. He catches Rands up on the challenges & successes he has faced since becoming a pioneer in this new era of crowdfunded, indie TCGs.He also discuss his brand new Kickstarter campaign that brings D-Spirits into a whole new medium._______________________________________________Find D-Spirits:BRAND NEW KICKSTARTER— https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dspirits/d-spirits-beta-and-alpha-video-game-tcg-expansion-setWebsite — http...2022-11-2955 min
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 31 — Matt Forbeck: His work on Trading Card Games[[ We apologies for the audio quality of this episode. This technical difficulty is limited to this episode only — TBPN ]]On this "BOOSTER PACK THROWBACK", Rands is visited by a man of many talents! As a writer, an editor, an art director, a game designer & even president of a publishing company; Matt Forbeck has done so much in gaming—both analogue & digital.As someone who was coming up in the tabletop gaming industry in the 1990s, it was inevitable that Matt's career would intersect with a number of collectible games.From being shown Magic prio...2022-11-151h 35
The Booster Pack NetworkTCG Design Theory — 02 — The Eras of TCG History with Rands LincolnOn this episode of TCG Design Theory, Jay talks to fellow TBPN collaborator Rands Lincoln about the different historical periods so far in collectible trading card game history.Trading card games are a notoriously difficult product to produce successfully. With that in mind, an essential lesson for any TCG designer is the history of the genre.If you are willing to learning from the mistakes of the games & designers which came before, you may be able to avoid some of the less-obvious challenges that creating a TCG entails.Find & follow Rands:2022-11-081h 37
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 16 — Ben Riggs: What happened to RPGs when TCGs arrived[[ Formally titled The Booster Pack: Rare Slot ]]On this first standalone Rare Slot episode, Rands sits down with gaming historian & author Ben Riggs.Ben shares his perspective on how TCGs changed the tabletop hobby landscape after their arrival in 1993. Specifically we discuss what happened to the then-most popular genre of gaming—Roleplaying Games—as collectible games began to take hold of the industry.We also discuss how Wizards of the Coast, the first-ever publisher of TCGs, became the heir to the biggest legacy brand in hobby roleplaying—Dungeons & Dragons.Follow Ben via:2022-10-251h 08
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 30 — Peter Adkison: Founding Wizards of the Coast & Publishing Magic The Gathering and Pokemon TCG[[ Formally titled The Booster Pack Podcast ]]On this very first episode of the newly retitled "BOOSTER PACK THROWBACK", Rands chats to one of the most influential figures in tabletop gaming—Peter Adkison!Peter founded Wizards of the Coast & suggested that Magic: The Gathering designer Richard Garfield try creating a simple, portable card game. This one suggestion changed not only the course of his life but the lives of millions of others.Kick back & join Peter and Rands for this enlightening discussion about one of the most revolutionary games ever: Magic: The Gathering. Then, li...2022-10-181h 41
The Booster Pack NetworkTCG Design Theory — 01 — Gabe Barrett & the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Game DesignersOn this debut episode of TCG Design Theory, host Jay Dotson kicks off the series with a chat to game designer, content creator & community builder Gabe Barrett.Gabe is the host of the BOARD GAME DESIGN LAB podcast & has launched several successful board games of his very own. Here he discusses his 7 tips for becoming an accomplished & prolific game designer. These universal principles can be applied to every genre of gaming but are essential to a successful creator's career.Find Gabe viahttps://boardgamedesignlab.com/orvia his Facebook community:...2022-10-111h 07
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot —15 — Introducing the TCG DESIGN THEORY podcast w/ Jay Dotson[[ Originally released as "TBP: Rare Slot" — a Bonus Episode of the former "The Booster Pack Podcast" ]][[ To find TCG DESIGN THEORY, sub to this podcast feed — Episode #1 goes live Oct 11, 2022 ]]Some big changes are coming to The Booster Pack podcast.In this episode Rands introduces the start of theses changes & then chats with the host of a brand-new trading card game design podcast, titled TCG Design Theory.Join Rands & his friend Jay to discover all about the next evolution of this podcast & what exciting new content they have in store for...2022-10-0437 min
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 29 — Middle Earth CCG with designer Coleman Charlton[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]We once again follow history's path back to the golden age of collectible trading card games. Our adventure finds us exploring the origins of the Middle Earth CCG by Iron Crown Enterprises.The sagely wizard that is guiding us this time is none other than tabletop gaming veteran S. Coleman Charlton. Coleman shares his personal stories of bring the world of Tolkien to the tabletop throughout his long career & tells us about his design philosophy that led to creating the...2022-09-211h 01
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 14 — Introducing "Igniting The Spark" (a Magic: The Gathering documentary)[[ Originally released as "TBP: Rare Slot" — a Bonus Episode of the former "The Booster Pack Podcast" ]]We've got something special on this RARE SLOT!Rands chats to the producers of a brand-new documentary that covers the history & community of Magic: The Gathering.This film, titled Igniting The Spark, features over 50 interviews with people who have impacted or been impacted by the most iconic & influential CCG of all time: MAGIC!Join us for this fun & exclusive chat with the filmmakers of this amazing new feature length movie.[[The last few mi...2022-09-071h 17
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 28 — Decipher's STAR WARS CCG with designer Tom Braunlich[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]Today we are joined for our second episode with collectible game pioneer Tom Braunlich.Tom, along with his design partner Rollie Tesh, designed 2 of the biggest CCGs of the 1990s: Decipher's Star Trek & Star Wars CCGs.This episode Tom chats to Rands about how he went from the Star Trek CCG design period straight into working on the Star Wars CCG. He also shares how important it was to him that he capture the cinematic feel of Star...2022-08-241h 19
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 27 — Decipher's STAR TREK CCG with designer Tom Braunlich[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]Today we are joined for our first of two episodes with collectible game pioneer Tom Braunlich.Tom, along with his design partner Rollie Tesh, designed 2 of the biggest CCGs in the 1990s: Decipher's Star Trek & Star Wars CCGs.This episode Tom chats to Rands about how he came to be involved with gaming professionally & eventually shares how his pre-existing relationship with Decipher lead to the creation of the Star Trek CCG.Be sure to subscribe wherever...2022-08-101h 05
The Booster Pack NetworkTBP: SINGLES #3 — Going to GenCon? [ARCHIVED][NOTE: [[THIS EPISODE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR A 2022 GENCON TRIP. It is now kept in this feed only for archival purposes]] ] In this very short, glasses-free Singles episode, shameless Rands brags about an upcoming trip to GenCon. Will you be there too?Also, share your past GenCon stories with me!EMAIL — theboosterpack@ccghistory.comFind @CCG History on socials:https://www.facebook.com/CCGhistoryhttps://twitter.com/CCGHistoryThis show is also available as video:https://youtu.be/quSX6QLvvhoFull TBP series pl...2022-07-3106 min
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 26 — OVERPOWER & Star Trek: TOS CCG with Stephen Domzalski[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]On this episode Rands talks to Stephen Domzalski, the former Manager of Game Development for the Fleer Trading Card Company. During the first CCG craze of the mid-1990s, Fleer eagerly jumped into the game publishing world with the launch of 2 collectible games based on huge franchises—Marvel & Star Trek.The Marvel game would become the Overpower CCG, which eventually expanded to incorporate DC characters. Meanwhile their Star Trek CCG would only involve characters from the original 1966 series & be in th...2022-07-271h 36
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 13 — TCGs & Environmental Sustainability with Andrew Navaro ( Earthborne Rangers creator / former-FFG Head-of-Studio)[[ Originally released as "TBP: Rare Slot" — a Bonus Episode of the former "The Booster Pack Podcast" ]]On this RARE SLOT episode of The Booster Pack podcast, Rands is joined by a veteran of hobby card game creation—Andrew Navaro.For over 15 years Andrew worked with Fantasy Flight Games to produce several hobby card games inc. Android: Netrunner, Call of Cthulhu CCG/LCG, Game of Thrones CCG/LCG & many more.However, at the start of 2020, Andrew founded Earthborne Games to design, produce & publish a card game of his very own: Earthborne Rangers. Not on...2022-07-131h 50
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 25 — Steven E. Schend on the Blood Wars CCG, TSR, WotC & more[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]On this episode Rands is joined by lauded Dungeons & Dragon's author & worldbuilder Steven E. Schend. Steven's time in collectible trading card games was short but impactful—he designed the Blood Wars CCG in 1995 at TSR.However, Steven's history with tabletop gaming runs a lot deeper! He & Rands discuss his long history with D&D & how he went from editing RPG books to creating his own CCG.Steven also tells a very unique story about one of the most in...2022-06-291h 33
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 12 — John Jackson Miller & SCRYE magazine ( Author of Star Wars & Star Trek novels )[[ Originally released as "TBP: Rare Slot" — a Bonus Episode of the former "The Booster Pack Podcast" ]][[[The Booster Pack's interview with SCRYE magazine founder JM White can be found elsewhere on this podcast feed or via YouTube: https://youtu.be/1P0OvkUrFVo]]]On this bonus episode of The Booster Pack podcast, celebrated author John Jackson Miller walks us back through the pages of history to share his story as Directorial Editor of the world's most popular collectible card game magazine—SCRYE.He also tells us about all the work & effort that went into crea...2022-06-151h 19
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 24 — Matt Hyra on VS System, Magic: The Gathering & much more![[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]On this episode of The Booster Pack, Rands talks to tabletop game designer Matt Hyra.Matt's stories with collectible games actually start even before the very first one—Magic: The Gathering—is released. Since those days he has worked on several CCGs, including the much-loved VS System TCG—and was even responsible for a special start-of-game-rule that many collectible trading card games still use to this day. Matt is also known for dozens of other games designs, so join ju...2022-06-011h 50
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 11 — PvE in TCGs with Brett Schofield ( Designer of The Librarians Adventure Card Game )[[ Originally released as "TBP: Rare Slot" — a Bonus Episode of the former "The Booster Pack Podcast" ]]On this episode of the Rare Slot, Rands discusses the history & future of cooperative (or solo) modes in collectible trading card games with game designer Brett Schofield.These modes (often called "Player vs Environment" or "PvE" modes) are something that have been quite a rarity in the world of collectible trading card games to date.Brett offers a brief history of these types of collectible games & also offers his perspective on why PvE could become an important el...2022-05-181h 23
The Booster Pack NetworkTBP: SINGLES #2 — The FUTURE of licensed TCG / CCGs?Some snake or something once said "...And Now For Something Completely Different".Well, on today's show things are a bit different. On this super-sized "Singles" episode, Rands discusses a brief history of collectible trading card games based on other media properties & why the future of them might be vastly different from the past.If this is your first "Singles" episode, it is just Rands talking on the topic—no guests or co-hosts; just Rands, a mic & some probably fallible opinions.If you like this kind of show, please subscribe & let us know to he...2022-05-0448 min
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 23 — Josh Lytle ( Magi-Nation Duel / The Spoils TCG )[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]Magi-Nation Duel & The Spoils TCG—you'd be hard pressed to find two Trading Card Games more different.One is a kid-friendly Pokemon-esque franchise with relatively simple gameplay. The other presents a hard-hitting world of mature humor & was one of the most competitively-focused TCGs ever.While they seem like they don't have much in common on the surface, in fact, they were actually crafted by the same group of people.On this episode we are join by a...2022-04-201h 32
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 10 — What is a hTCG / the hTCG community? (with Zack from Chaos Galaxy TCG)[[ Originally released as "TBP: Rare Slot" — a Bonus Episode of the former "The Booster Pack Podcast" ]]Underground comics, fanzines & garage bands. All these critically acclaimed art forms are created by passionate people who simply love the medium in which they work. Many of the worlds best artists started in these raw, unregulated, domestically developed mediums.Enter hTCGs, or "homemade Trading Card Games". These are the same kind of concept for the Collectible Trading Card Game genre (TCG / CCG). Today, we are joined by Zack from Chaos Galaxy TCG. Zack is a central figure in...2022-04-0656 min
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 22 — Paul Peterson: WotC's Deckmaster & beyond! ( VtES / Netrunner / Battletech / Harry Potter TCG + many more )[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]This time Rands is joined by one of the most prolific collectible trading card game designers of all time—Paul Peterson.Paul tells us how he rose from Customer Service at Wizards of the Coast to become their go-to "TCG guy" during that company's most active period in the TCG space. All tallied, Paul has worked on more than a dozen collectible games throughout his career & we try to hit as many as we can during this ch...2022-03-231h 32
The Booster Pack NetworkTBP: SINGLES #1 — FREE GIVEAWAY: win *hand-painted, original* TCG / CCG Artwork! (+ new episode format)***ENTRIES ONLY VALID WITH US POSTAGE ADDRESS— ENDS MARCH 23rd 2022, 12am***[[[ Important: For a valid entry, ALL participants must be Subscribed to this show either here on this podcast directory or on YouTube ]]]"Wave Serpent Yniere" card on Category One Games:https://www.categoryonegames.com/catalog/battle_for_pandora_prime/wave_serpent_yniere/1581841How to reach out for submissions:Comment on this Youtube video: https://youtu.be/6nulUIf2P50orSend an e-mail to: theboosterpack@ccghistory.comorDM or tag @CCGHistory on Twitter or Facebook:fa...2022-03-1309 min
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 21 — Guardians & Dark Age CCG with their designer Luke Peterschmidt[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]Alright, you betta buckle up for this one. You've been warned.On this episode, we got ourselves one of the most prolific CCG designers ever! That is Luke Peterschmidt! If you didn't already know the name, you won't soon forget it because he is one of the most influential tabletop game designers of his generation.Today, we only scratch the surface of the collectible games he had an impact on throughout his near-3 decade career as a game...2022-03-091h 33
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 20 — Introducing "D-Spirits" with STERLING[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]This time on The Booster Pack we focus on the future, rather than the past.Rands sits down with Sterling—an Atlanta animator turned trading card game creator—about his brand new TCG called "D-Spirits".D-Spirits captures the charm and nostalgia of monster taming IPs such as Pokémon, Digimon & Monster Rancher and mixes it with elements of modern pop culture. The game's characters are refreshingly bright, optimistic & diverse.Sterling starts by sharing his personal history with...2022-02-231h 30
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 09 — Top 5 "Dead" CCGs (featuring DEAD DECKS)[[ Originally released as "TBP: Rare Slot" — a Bonus Episode of the former "The Booster Pack Podcast" ]]On this bonus episode of The Booster Pack, Rands is joined by Richard & Harry from the YouTube channel "DEAD DECKS" to talk about their Top 5 personal favorite dead collectible / trading card games.What is a "dead" TCG / CCG ?Simply, it is any out-of-print collectible game. One that is no longer supported by its publisher with new product releases or game support.Find "DEAD DECKS" online:YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/c/deaddecks/2022-02-091h 22
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 19 — X-Files & Scooby-Doo with co-designer Brian Woodward[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]On this episode of The Booster Pack, we jump in the Mystery Machine & take a ride back to the late 1990s & early 2000s with former Journeyman Press Assistant Manager Brian Woodward.On this adventure, Brian shares his stories from playtesting the X-Files CCG to co-designing the short-lived Scooby-Doo Expandable Card Game (don't worry, it is a really just a CCG/TCG). It is fascinating to finally solve some of the behind the scenes mysteries of that company & those games.2022-01-261h 10
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 18 — Vampire: The Eternal Struggle with L. Scott Johnson (Lead Designer 2000-2010)[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]On this episode, Rands is joined by L Scott Johnson... or LSJ as he is known to "Vampire: The Eternal Struggle" players around the world.LSJ is an instrumental figure in the history of VtES & here we explore his journey from a self-proclaimed “rulemonger” on early USENET groups to ambassador of the game to becoming its lead designer when the CCG was printed by White Wolf Publishing.So retire to your crypt, draw...2022-01-121h 09
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 17 — MARVEL OverPower designers: Theo & Michael Stern[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]On this episode, Rands is joined by Theo & Michael Stern—the initial design team behind Fleer’s OverPower CCG. These brothers share the story of how they went from avid game lovers & comic book fans to being the designers for the first-ever collectible game to feature world-famous comic characters like Spider-Man, Captain America & eventually, even Batman and Spawn!This episode covers everything from Theo & Michael’s RPG origins, to the challenges with the cor...2021-12-291h 29
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 08 — Jed MacKay ( Writer of the "MAGIC: THE GATHERING" comic book )[[ Originally released as "TBP: Rare Slot" — a Bonus Episode of the former "The Booster Pack Podcast" ]]On this *bonus episode* of The Booster Pack podcast Rands chats to comic book writer Jed MacKay!Wait, what!? Comic book writer, you ask.Yes, comic book writer. You see, Jed was a CCG player of yesteryear & is currently the writer of Boom! Studio's Magic: The Gathering comic book (along with a number of acclaimed titles at Marvel Comics!).Jed & Rands discuss how he found his way into writing a comic book for a collectible ca...2021-12-1554 min
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 16 — Assad Quraishi : The history & philosophy behind GENESIS Battle of Champions + KICKSTARTER launch[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]Today on The Booster Pack we have a KICKSTARTER launch interview with CCG creator & publisher Assad Quraishi. Assad's company—Haunted Castle Gaming—makes Genesis: Battle of Champions.We talk though the first 4 years of the Genesis CCG, the philosophy behind the game & its future.This episode drops at the same time as the KICKSTARTER for the latest Genesis: Battle of Champions expansion: Origins. Find it linked elsewhere in this description & check it out.GENESIS: Battle of Cham...2021-12-011h 47
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 15 — James Ernest ( XXXEnophile CCG / Button Men / Pirates of the Spanish Main / Magic: The Gathering )[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]On this episode of The Booster Pack Rands is joined by games industry maverick James Ernest to discuss the handful of eclectic collectible games he designed throughout his career thus far.We cover everything from his early work for Wizards of the Coast, him making the first adult-only CCG & even his experience creating a game for the reality show American Idol!So sit back, settle in & listen to us juggle stories, jokes...2021-11-171h 40
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 07 — Harry Potter TCG Revival's latest virtual expansion PRISONER OF AZKABANThis week the lead designer of the Prisoner of Azkaban virtual expansion (POA) for the Harry Potter TCG Revival group is our guest on The Booster Pack bonus show: the Rare Slot!In this episode Rands & HPTCGR’s Sammy DiSalvo discuss the high quality of work being put into the fan-revival for the Harry Potter Trading Card Game & also chat about their opinions on the very philosophy of TCG/CCG design.Even if you are not a Harry Potter fan but are interested in CCG/TCGs in general, this is...2021-11-031h 31
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 06 — The Kickstarter CCG era & the future of TCG/CCG market with BRONSON[[ Originally released as "TBP: Rare Slot" — a Bonus Episode of the former "The Booster Pack Podcast" ]]This week we deviate from talking about the past & instead discuss the future. In this episode Rands is joined by Flesh & Blood content creator Bronson to chat about the significant shift in the way people perceive the TCG/CCG secondary market, how its changed over the past few years & where it might be heading. Are TCGs in an investment bubble or are the high-dollar values & 5-figure sold listing of some new TCG products a new normal for the...2021-10-201h 02
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 05 — The origin of SCRYE with founder J Morgyn White (the first-ever CCG / TCG magazine)[[ Originally released as "TBP: Rare Slot" — a Bonus Episode of the former "The Booster Pack Podcast" ]]In this episode, J Morgyn White—the founder of SCRYE magazine—joins Rands to discuss the origin story of the very first dedicated COLLECTIBLE TRADING CARD GAME magazine.Over this fascinating discussion, we hear the previously untold stories of how & *why* SCYRE magazine was published.Not only do we chat about SCYRE's history but also Magic: The Gathering history, how the role of women in tabletop gaming has changed over the past three decades & much more.If...2021-10-061h 00
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 14 — Sorcery: Contested Realm [ERIK OLOFSSON, Path of Exile's Creative Director, introduces his new TCG][[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]There is something special about our episode this week because we are talking about history in the making!In his first-ever interview about his new Trading Card Game, PoE Creative Director Erik Olofsson, talks about his new game— SORCERY: CONTESTED REALMErik shares his progress from being inspired by the old school Magic community to crafting a gorgeous-looking & unique tactical-style TCG.If you want to get into the community early & even help playtest this exciting new TC...2021-09-221h 18
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 04 — The untold story of the lost TRANSFORMERS CCG with Quan Williams[[ Originally released as "TBP: Rare Slot" — a Bonus Episode of the former "The Booster Pack Podcast" ]]On this very special bonus RARE SLOT episode we dig into depths of collectible game history to bring you a previously untold story about a CCG that was never published.Way back in the mid-1990s, college student Quan Williams created a fan-made collectible card game based on the TRANSFORMERS cartoon & toy line. After posting his ideas online, the project went viral! (...at least as viral as thing went back in 1996).Soon his ideas had caught the ey...2021-09-0857 min
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 13 — Shawn Carnes ( early Magic: The Gathering / Vampire: The Eternal Struggle / BattleTech CCG )[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]This week on The Booster Pack: Rands is joined by veteran MMO & CCG designer Shawn Carnes for our longest episode yet. Shawn shares his stories from his early gaming days all the way up to leaving Wizards of the Coast in 2000. Along the way he has stories about the CCGs they released while he was there. Those include Pokemon TCG, BattleTech CCG, Jyhad / Vampire: The Eternal Struggle &, of course, Magic: The Gathering.In this uninhibited interview Ra...2021-08-252h 11
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 12 — Mark MacKinnon ( Sailor Moon CCG )[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]This week we feature a listener-suggested game— the Sailor Moon CCG!Rands is joined by the president of Dyskami Publishing Mark MacKinnon to discuss his brief time away from designing RPGs, when he crafted the surprisingly unique Sailor Moon Collectible Card Game.We talk all about the origins of Mark's company that designed the game & how a game like this—one of the first CCGs to feature a female-lead cast—came to market.Mark shares his inspir...2021-08-1153 min
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 11 — Justin Gary Returns! ( VS System CCG / the new SOLFORGE FUSION / World of Warcraft Minis & TCG )[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]After barely scratching the surface in our previous episode, Justin Gary returns for another visit to The Booster Pack. This time we go deep on the CCG that started his game design career: VS System!If you were a player of original VS System or even simply curious about what goes into designing a trading card game, this episode has a ton of behind-the-scenes stories. We talk about VS's legendary R&D team, their ever-changing design philosophy & even a really...2021-07-281h 52
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 10 — Jim Ward [aka James M Ward] ( Spellfire / Dragon Ball Z CCG )In this episode we step back to the dawn of fantasy hobby gaming history with original TSR game designer Jim Ward (sometime credited as James M. Ward)Jim shares his origin story—working with Gary Gygax on the earliest Dungeons & Dragons products—before we move onto discussing the second-ever CCG to be released: TSR's Spellfire!Jim shares his Spellfire stories, some fascinating & others just plain fruity (you'll have to listen). We then move onto Jim's other hit collectible card game design: the original DRAGON BALL Z CCG!!!All said, Jim shares his interesting pers...2021-07-141h 28
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 03 — Legend of the Burning Sands Remastered: the story behind the new fan-created set[[ Originally released as "TBP: Rare Slot" — a Bonus Episode of the former "The Booster Pack Podcast" ]]For this mini-episode we talk to Chris Malec, the person behind the brand new remastering of the Legend of the Burning Sands CCG.Chris tells about the origins of this fan-project and explains the effort that went into updating & streamlining a 20 year old collectible card game.More than a simple card frame update, the LBS—Remastered fan set offers a reworded set of rules, easier to read card text & more clearly defined card icons....2021-07-0748 min
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 09 — Mike Fitzgerald ( Wyvern CCG / WCW Nitro / WWE Raw Deal / X-Men TCG / Pokemon TCG )[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]This episode we chat to legendary card game designer Mike Fitzgerald!Mike is the brains behind some of the most recognizable hobby card games in the market today including Mystery Rummy, Diamonds & the deck-builder Baseball Highlight 2045.Before all those however, he was the man behind one of the earliest collectible card games to follow Magic: The Gathering's release, WYVERN. We discuss that games design & development, then talk about his other CCG projects.Mike also shares his...2021-06-231h 48
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 02 — Decipher's lost CCGs & MTGs first format (Outtakes from BPT with Chuck Kallenbach)[[ Originally released as "TBP: Rare Slot" — a Bonus Episode of the former "The Booster Pack Podcast" ]]Our mini-episodes are going to be titled the "The Booster Pack: RARE SLOT"... you know that place in The Booster Pack everyone is searching for!These episodes will be a departure from our normal interview episodes. While the normal episodes are history-based, these mini-episodes are topic based. They will usually feature a guest & they will provide a place where this show can explore wider & more current topics.For this mini-ep, we have taken an excerpt fro...2021-06-0912 min
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 07 — Chuck Kallenbach [Part 1] ( Star Wars CCG / Star Trek CCG / Lord of the Rings TCG / Young Jedi TCG )[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]In this episode, Rands is joined by one of the most accomplished collectible game designers of all time: Chuck Kallenbach.Since their introduction in 1993, Chuck has never stopped being involved with Collectible / Trading Card Games. His over his career, he has designed thousands of cards for over 25 games (both digital & physical). He is even the recipient of 2 Origin Awards for Best TCG Design.In this first instalment of our interview Chuck shares his experiences working on some of...2021-05-261h 20
The Booster Pack NetworkRare Slot — 01 — Retailer talks the 2020-21 Market Surge in the CCG / TCG Market (Outtakes from BPT with Brian Winter)[[ Originally released as "TBP: Rare Slot" — a Bonus Episode of the former "The Booster Pack Podcast" ]]Welcome to the first-ever mini-episode of The Booster Pack.Our mini-episodes are going to be titled the "The Booster Pack: RARE SLOT"... you know that place in The Booster Pack everyone is searching for!These episodes will be a departure from our normal interview episode. While the normal episodes are history-based, these mini-episodes are topic based. They will usually feature a guest & they will provide a place where this show can explore wider & more current top...2021-05-1828 min
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 02 — Justin Gary (MTG, VS System, SolForge, Ascension)[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]Welcome to The Booster Pack — a show that covers TCG / CCG games & their history.Our very second episode we talk to the CEO of Stoneblade Entertainment, Justin Gary.Justin got started in the games industry as a professional player on the Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour. After several trophies & giant checks, he moved onto game design at Upper Deck Entertainment where he helped to create games like the VS System (Marvel/DC) & the World of Warcraft Trading Card Ga...2021-03-1557 min
The Booster Pack NetworkBooster Pack Throwback — 01 — John Zinser talks Legend of the Five Rings[[ Originally released as "The Booster Pack". This show has since been retitled "Booster Pack Throwback" ]]Welcome to The Booster Pack — a show that covers TCG / CCG games & their history.Our very first episode we talk to the CEO of AEG, John Zinser.AEG is a huge tabletop company that published boxed board games but they got their start in game publishing with Collectible Card Games. Throughout their time publishing Trading Card Games they published titles such as Doomtown, Warlord: Saga of the Storm, 7th Sea CCG & Legend of the Five Rings ( L5R )2021-02-131h 08