History VideoGame / EternalCardGame

* WildWest: The general aesthetic of Stonescar, a mining town on the frontier.

* ForcedTutorial: The game opens into a starting fight. You have to complete one part of the campaign to unlock a deck.

* HeroicSecondWind: The first time a unit with Revenge dies, it's shuffled back into its owner's deck and gains the Destiny skill, which means it'll be instantly returned to play when drawn. Certain Revenge units gain a bonus on the second pass, such as [[https://eternalwarcry.com/cards/details/1002-9/watchwing-conscript Watchwing Conscript]].

''[[http://www.direwolfdigital.com/eternal/ Eternal]]'' is a TradingCardGame created by Denver, CO-based Dire Wolf Digital. The game touts itself as a middle ground between ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' and online [=CCGs=] like ''VideoGame/{{Hearthstone|HeroesOfWarcraft}}'', and its stable of designers includes several prominent ''Magic'' pros. Unsurprisingly, it shares most of its features with ''Magic'': players must play "Sigils" to increase their {{mana}} {{cap}}; players may only have four of any card (besides Basic Sigils) in their decks; units are "Exhausted" after attacking or blocking; the defending player can block attacking units with their own; players can play "Fast Spells" at certain points during any turn; there are [[FactionCalculus five factions]] that can be combined in any way you please. However, it also shares ''Hearthstone''[='s=] [=PvE=] elements, slick visual aesthetic, premium "foil" cards, and ability to convert useless cards into [[GreenRocks shiftstone]] and then into actually-useful cards of your choosing. Finally, it has a few traits completely unique to itself, such as the fact that units' stat changes or abilities gained are persistent across zones; if you give a unit +1/+1, it will retain that bonus in the graveyard ("Void") and retain that bonus if taken out again, although many bonuses are explicitly temporary.

The game has multiple modes, including a single-player campaign, a Gauntlet mode against AI opponents, Casual and Ranked matches against other players, a Puzzle mode that tests your knowledge of the game, and single-player and multi-player draft modes. It also has surprisingly deep world-building, following the adventures of the five Scions as they maneuver for political and military advantage against an explosive six-guns-with-sorcery setting.

* BigScrewedUpFamily: None of the Scions seem to particularly ''like'' each other, with most of them being indifferent or tolerant at best. The only exception seems to be Eilyn towards her daughter Vara, and even ''that'' is [[RebelliousPrincess one-sided]]. Notably, ''everyone'' hates Rolant.

* EvilTwin: Kaleb has the [[https://eternalwarcry.com/cards/details/3-270/failed-reflection Failed Reflection]], an alternate clone of Caiphus that was[[GoMadFromTheIsolation mad with isolation]].

* KnightTemplar: Inquisitor Makto.

* SuccessionCrisis: Following Caiphus' death.

* ForestRanger: The elves of the Lethrai clan; given that the forest in question is [[TheLostWoods the Direwood]], they're not exactly a friendly lot.

* SingleUseShield: "Aegis" gives one that protects a Unit (or player) against a single spell. It does ''not'' work on damage.

* SplashDamageAbuse: Averted, unlike many other card games. Units with Aegis are protected even from effects that hit the entire board.

* ColorCodedItemTiers: Common (grey), Uncommon (green), Rare (blue), Legendary (orange), Promo (purple). Promo cards have the same value as Rare cards, but are earned by playing the game during a certain time frame, then afterwards can only be obtained via crafting.

* {{Cap}}: There are two of them related to the number of spells you can play per turn. "Power" is the amount of {{mana}} you can spend each turn. In general, it only goes up by one every turn, as you can only play one Sigil (what ''Magic'' would call a Land) per turn. "Influence" controls what ''colors'' of spells you can play. There are one- and two-color Sigils, the latter of which typically come into play "Depleted" unless you meet certain other conditions. If you play a Depleted Sigil, then your Power cap will go up but the ''available'' Power will not change. (Another way of thinking of it would be that a Depleted Sigil costs 1 mana to play.)
** This system results in a number of convolutions over the "tap a land for mana" system from ''Magic''. First off, you don't use up Sigils every turn; they're just a pass-fail check. If your hand is filled with (say) 1-mana red spells and you ''finally'' get a red Sigil, you can then dump ''all'' those red 1-drops in one turn, because all they require is that you have ''one'' red Sigil on the board. Additionally, the two-color Sigils add two Influence but only one Power, so they don't enable two-mana spells. Finally, there are some really interesting mana costs in the game, such as [[https://eternalwarcry.com/cards/details/1-64/sand-warrior Sand Warrior]], which doesn't cost ''any'' mana, but cannot be played (for free) unless you already control three yellow Sigils.

* ThanatosGambit: Units with Entomb have special effects when they die, encouraging you to let them die, sacrifice them yourself, or bring them back into play so their Entomb effect can trigger again.

* DungeonPunk: Eternal's setting is this, sporting fantasy elements in an unpleasant, noir setting.

* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: ''Every'' Scion is a powerful warrior, each specializing in one of the five Factions.

''[[http://www.direwolfdigital.com/eternal/ Eternal]]'' is a digital CollectibleCardGame created by Dire Wolf Digital. The game touts itself as a middle ground between ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' and online [=CCGs=] like ''VideoGame/{{Hearthstone|HeroesOfWarcraft}}''. It shares most of its features with ''Magic'': players must play "Sigils" to increase their {{mana}} {{cap}}; players may only have four of any card (besides Basic Sigils) in their decks; units are "Exhausted" after attacking or blocking; the defending player can block attacking units with their own; players can play "Fast Spells" at certain points during any turn; there are [[FactionCalculus five factions]] that can be combined in any way you please. However, it also shares ''Hearthstone''[='s=] [=PvE=] elements, slick visual aesthetic, premium "foil" cards, and ability to convert useless cards into [[GreenRocks shiftstone]] and then into actually-useful cards of your choosing. Finally, it has a few traits completely unique to itself, such as the fact that units' stat changes or abilities gained are persistent across zones; if you give a unit +1/+1, it will retain that bonus in the graveyard ("Void") and retain that bonus if taken out again, although many bonuses are explicitly temporary.

* BreakableWeapons: all "relic weapons," which are deployed on your avatar (IE ''Hearthstone''[='s=] weapons), add Armor, and shatter when you have taken more-than-that damage.

** '''Primal''': card drawing, {{Flight}}, direct damage, lots of spells, AntiMagic. Weak, mana-inefficient creatures, and difficulty dealing with opposing fatties.

''[[http://www.direwolfdigital.com/eternal/ Eternal]]'' is a digital CollectibleCardGame created by Dire Wolf Digital. The game touts itself as a middle ground between ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' and online [=CCGs=] like ''VideoGame/{{Hearthstone|HeroesOfWarcraft}}''. It shares most of its features with ''Magic'': players must play "Sigils" to increase their {{mana}} {{cap}}; players may only have four of any card (besides Basic Sigils) in their decks; units are "Exhausted" after attacking or blocking; the defending player can block attacking units with their own; players can play "Fast Spells" at certain points during any turn; there are [[FactionCalculus five factions]] that can be combined in any way you please. However, it also shares ''Hearthstone''[='s=] [=PvE=] elements, slick visual aesthetic, premium "foil" cards, and ability to convert useless cards into [[GreenRocks shiftstone]] and then into actually-useful cards of your choosing. Finally, it has a few traits completely unique to itself, such as the fact that units' stat changes are persistent across zones; if you give a unit +3/+3, it will retain that bonus in the graveyard ("Void") and retain that bonus if taken out again.

''[[http://www.direwolfdigital.com/eternal/ Eternal]]'' is a digital CollectibleCardGame created by Dire Wolf Digital. The game touts itself as a middle ground between ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' and online [=CCGs=] like ''VideoGame/{{Hearthstone|HeroesOfWarcraft}}''. It shares most of its features with ''Magic'': players must play "Sigils" to increase their {{mana}} {{cap}}; players may only have four of any card (besides Basic Sigils) in their decks; units are "Exhausted" after attacking or blocking; the defending player can block attacking units with their own; players can play "Fast Spells" at certain points during any turn; there are [[FactionCalculus five factions]] that can be combined in any way you please. However, it also shares ''Hearthstone''[='s=] [=PvE=] elements, slick visual aesthetic, premium "foil" cards, and ability to convert useless cards into [[GreenRocks shiftstone]] and then into actually-useful cards of your choosing. Finally, it has a few traits completely unique to itself, such as the fact that units' stat changes are persistent across zones; if you give a unit +3/+3, it will retain that bonus in the graveyard ("Void") and retain that bonus if taken out again. It also doesn't have a Stack, so if you give that unit +3/+3 and then your opponent transforms it into a 1/1 Frog or something, the effects take place in that order and your +3/+3 spell is wasted.

** '''Shadow''': strong removal, units that grant bonuses once they hit the opponent, LifeDrain, BackFromTheDead, etc. Very specialized counterplay, meaning it can be high and dry if it doesn't draw exactly what it needs.

* ZeroEffortBoss: the final level of "Dead Reckoning" involves the PlayerCharacter ''dealing'' a PlotlineDeath to someone else. As a result, said victim is trapped at 1 HP and 0 Power; you take your turn first and [[DevelopersForesight are not allowed to pass it]]; and you are given more than one way of dealing lethal damage. There is no in-game way to be defeated, though you may of course choose to Concede or Retry.

''[[http://www.direwolfdigital.com/eternal/ Eternal]]'' is a digital CollectibleCardGame created by Dire Wolf Digital. The game touts itself as a middle ground between ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' and online [=CCGs=] like ''VideoGame/{{Hearthstone|HeroesOfWarcraft}}''. It shares most of its features with ''Magic'': players must play "Sigils" to increase their {{mana}} {{cap}}; players may only have four of any card (besides Basic Sigils) in their decks; units are "Exhausted" after attacking or blocking; the defending player can block attacking units with their own; players can play "Fast Spells" at certain points during any turn; there are [[FactionCalculus five factions]] that can be combined in any way you please. However, it also shares ''Hearthstone''[='s=] [=PvE=] elements, slick visual aesthetic, premium "foil" cards, and ability to convert useless cards into [[GreenRocks shiftstone]] and then into actually-useful cards of your choosing. Finally, it has a few traits completely unique to itself, such as the fact that units' stat changes are persistent across zones; if you give a unit +3/+3, it will retain that bonus in the graveyard ("Void") and retain that bonus if taken out again.

** Units such as [[https://eternalwarcry.com/cards/details/1-149/order-of-the-spire Order of the Spire]] or [[https://eternalwarcry.com/cards/details/1-156/hero-of-the-people Hero of the People]] start out small, but can become large threats if allowed to grow.

* SaveScumming: the third campaign, "Dead Reckoning," ends up involving this trope. You play against an AI opponent with a pre-determined deck... while playing ''as'' a specific character, with a pre-determined deck. You, the player, cannot control the contents of your deck or even its Power curve; you can only h

''[[http://www.direwolfdigital.com/eternal/ Eternal]]'' is a digital CollectibleCardGame created by Dire Wolf Digital. The game touts itself as a middle ground between ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' and online [=CCGs=] like ''VideoGame/{{Hearthstone|HeroesOfWarcraft}}'', combining ''Magic'''s complexity and deckbuilding (complete with [[ColorCodedMagic five-color]] FactionCalculus) with a user-friendly interface and several mechanics that take full advantage of the game's digital format. The game has multiple modes, including a single-player campaign, a Gauntlet mode against AI opponents, Casual and Ranked matches against other players, a Puzzle mode that tests your knowledge of the game, and single-player and multi-player draft modes. It also has surprisingly deep world-building, following the adventures of the five Scions as they maneuver for political and military advantage against an explosive six-guns-with-sorcery setting.

* GameBreaker: [[https://eternalwarcry.com/cards/details/2-143/piercing-grief Piercing Grief]], at first, looks like a pretty bad unit: it's 3/1 for 2, and it has Charge... which is good, because it [[WeAreAsMayflies dies at the end of your turn]]. However, it also has Lifesteal... ''and'' Revenge, which makes it come BackFromTheDead, for free, once. At that point, it starts looking more like a spell: "You gain 3 life. Your opponent takes 3 damage. Your opponent may redirect this damage to a creature." And you can play this eight times, while your opponent can't do anything but [[AntiMagic counterspell]] it or sacrifice creatures to block it. The card advantage alone is absurd, before we contemplate the ''24 Health'' you gain from it. Add a [[https://eternalwarcry.com/cards/details/1-516/xenan-cultist Xenan Cultist]] or two to the mix and things get ''really'' hairy.

* SerialNumbersFiledOff: A number of Unit abilities are identical to those from ''Magic'', just with different names: Charge is Haste (as it is in ''Hearthstone''), Deadly is Deathtouch, Lifesteal is Lifelink, Overwhelm is Trample, Empower is Landfall, Exhaust is "tap" (but without the tilting, which is how the game avoids Creator/WizardsOfTheCoast's patent lawyers), Ambush is (functionally) Flash, and the Strangers are Slivers.

* ThatOneBoss: Jekk, the FinalBoss of the "Jekk's Bounty" campaign. He starts the match equipped with [[RevolversAreJustBetter Jekk's Revolver]], a 2/6 weapon. Combined with the units he's playing, which you're desperately blocking, and which he's afterwards shooting with his revolver, this basically guarantees that you won't have a board for a while. So now it's Turn 5 and you've finally destroyed his gun... only for him to play a "Silence and Stun Every Unit My Opponent Controls" spell, for free, once it breaks. Oh, and the weapon has Warcry, so he's guaranteed to have an absolute minimum of 4 Strength on the table, and probably a lot more. This boss is so annoying that people have published decks designed solely to beat him.

* DevelopmentGag: [[https://eternalwarcry.com/cards/details/1001-16/nictotraxian Nictotraxian]] first appeared in one of Dire Wolf's other projects, ''Clank!'', which takes place in the same setting. The objective of the game is to loot treasure from [[DragonHoard her hoard]] without getting caught. Nicto's voice line in ''Eternal'':
-->'''Nictotraxian:''' Clank, clank, thief. I can hear you...

* EvilTwin: Kaleb has the [https://eternalwarcry.com/cards/details/3-270/failed-reflection Failed Reflection]], an alternate clone of Caiphus that went mad with isolation.

* GameBreaker: [[https://eternalwarcry.com/cards/details/2-143/piercing-grief Piercing Grief]], at first, looks like a pretty bad unit: it's 3/1 for 2, and it has Charge... which is good, because it [[WeAreAsMayflies dies at the end of your turn]]. However, it also has Lifesteal... ''and'' Revenge, which makes it come BackFromTheDead, for free, once. At that point, it starts looking more like a spell: "You gain 3 life. Your opponent takes 3 damage. Your opponent may redirect this damage to a creature." And you can play this eight times, while your opponent can't do anything but [[AntiMagic counterspell]] it or sacrifice creatures to block it. The card advantage alone is absurd, before we contemplate the ''24 Health'' you gain from it.