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[[File:Trading_card_set.jpg|thumb|The Harry Potter Trading Card Game box set]]
 
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{{Out of universe}}
Created by Wizards of the Coast in August of [[2001]], the '''[[Harry Potter]] Trading Card Game''' is a strategy game and collectible card game based in the magical world created by [[JK Rowling]]. Similar to the popular [[wikipedia:Magic: The Gathering|Magic: The Gathering]], the Harry Potter Trading Card Game invites players to customize their own 60 card decks in an attempt to become a master dueler. While the cards have since gone out of print, they remain a fun and easy way for fans to immerse themselves in the Harry Potter world.
 
 
[[File:Harry Potter Trading Card Game.JPG|thumb|297x297px]]
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The '''''Harry Potter Trading Card Game''''', (colloquially "'''''HPTCG'''''") is a strategy and collectible card game based in the magical world of the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' novels by [[J. K. Rowling]]. Created by Wizards of the Coast in [[August]] of [[2000s|2001]], the game was designed to compete with the ''[[wikipedia:Yu-Gi-Oh!|Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'', ''[[wikipedia:Pokemon|Pokémon]]'' and ''[[wikipedia:Magic: The Gathering|Magic: The Gathering]]'' card games. <ref>{{cite web|last=Paul |first=Noel C. |title=Yu-Gi-Oh! |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0318/p18s02-hfks.html |publisher=''Christian Science Monitor'' |date=2003-03-18 |accessdate=2007-11-13}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|last=MacPherson |first=Karen |title=Toy Fair is serious business |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/headlines/20000219toyfair3.asp |publisher=''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'' |date=2000-02-19 |accessdate=2007-11-13}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|last=Bouc |first=František |title=Looking for a bit of magic |url=http://www.praguepost.com/P03/2006/Art/0504/busi1.php |publisher=''Prague Post'' |date=2006-05-03 |accessdate=2007-11-13}}</ref> It was released to coincide with the release of the [[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|first film]] in the series. <ref>{{cite web|last=Lyman |first=Rick |title=The Toy War for Holiday Movies Is a Battle Among 3 Heavyweights |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940CE3D91238F931A25752C1A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 |publisher=''New York Times'' |date=2001-11-12 |accessdate=2007-11-13}}</ref> The game was praised for the way it immersed children in the ''Harry Potter'' universe. <ref>{{cite web|last=Waco |first=Mike |title=Toys and Movies:A Happy Hollywood Union |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,123204,00.html |publisher=''Fox News'' |date=2004-06-21 |accessdate=2007-11-13}}</ref> At one point the game was the second best selling toy in the United States; <ref>{{cite web|last=LaSalle |first=Mike |title=''HARRY'' GRABS GOLD RING |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/12/20/DD108054.DTL |publisher=''San Francisco Chronicle'' |date=2001-12-20 |accessdate=2007-11-13}}</ref> however, the game is now out of print.
   
==Brief history==
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==Gameplay==
  +
The game is for two players, each with 60-card decks (with the addition of a starting Character; see below). The aim is to force the opposite player to run out of cards from their deck first. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/wotc/anatomy.html |title=Anatomy of Card |accessdate=2008-05-21}}</ref> When cards do "damage" to a player, cards from the deck are placed into the discard pile. Each player begins with a hand of seven cards, and draws a card before each of their turns.
   
 
===Types of cards===
On August 7, 2001 the first set of 116 cards (now called the base set) was introduced. Around November of 2001 the [[Quidditch]] Cup expansion of 80 cards, which introduces the quidditch types to the game, was released. This was followed by [[Diagon Alley]] in March [[2002]], then Adventure at [[Hogwarts]] on June 14, 2002, at 80 cards each. The last expansion, Chamber of Secrets, at 140 cards, came out on October 7, 2002. From its conception in 2001, through 2003, the Harry Potter Trading Card Game (HPTCG) was popular among many people and age ranges and several gaming leagues were formed. Wizards of the Coast has announced they will no longer make HPTCG cards, but many fans remain hopeful that there will be more expansions in the future.
 
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There are eight different types of cards in the ''Harry Potter Trading Card Game''. <ref name="HPTCG">{{cite web|url=http://www.pojo.com/harrypotter/ccg/ccgrules.shtml |title=Harry Potter TCG Rules |accessdate=2008-05-14 |publisher=Pojo's Gaming Site}}</ref>
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*'''Lessons''' are the basic units of the game. Each provides 1 "Power", which is needed to play other cards. The number of Lessons in play determines the player's capabilities to play cards with different costs. There are five different Lesson cards, each of which has a different symbol and colour that is used to identify it on other cards. <ref name="HPTCG"/>
  +
*'''Spells''' are cards that are played directly into the discard pile and have a given effect. They have a printed Power cost; there are Spells for each Lesson type. <ref name="HPTCG"/>
  +
*'''Creatures''' stay on the table when played. All Creatures have a printed Power cost, and require Care of Magical Creatures Lessons to play. They have a Health number that determines how much damage they can take, and a "Damage each turn" number that dictates the amount of damage done to the opposing player each turn. Not all Creatures do damage; some have special abilities. <ref name="HPTCG"/>
  +
*'''Characters''' do not have a printed Power cost or Lesson type and thus do not require Lessons to play, although they do require two Actions. Characters stay on the table and have special abilities that can be used by the player; some also provide Power. Each player must have a starting Character to represent them: the starting Character begins the game on the table and cannot be discarded from play. Only Characters with the "Witch" or "Wizard" keyword designation can be used as starting Characters. <ref name="HPTCG"/>[[File:Trading_card_set.jpg|thumb|The Harry Potter Trading Card Game box set]]
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*'''Adventures''', like Characters, do not require Lessons to play, and require two Actions. They have an Effect on the opposing player; a "To Solve" condition that must be accomplished for the opposing player to remove the Adventure; and a Reward, which the opposing player receives when they have solved the Adventure. Each player can have only one Adventure in play at a time. <ref name="HPTCG"/>
  +
*'''Items''' stay on the table when played. They have a printed Power cost and can be of any Lesson type. Some have effects that can be used, while others provide extra Power. <ref name="HPTCG"/>
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*[[File:Yur.jpg|thumb|254px|The back of the Trading Cards]]'''Matches''' were introduced in the Quidditch Cup expansion. They all have a printed Power cost of one, requiring Quidditch Power. They have a condition "To Win", and a "Prize" for the first player to fulfill that condition. Only one Match is allowed in play at one time. <ref name="HPTCG"/>
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*'''Locations''' were introduced in the Diagon Alley expansion. They have a printed Power cost and can be of any Lesson type. Locations have the same effect on both players. There can be only one Location in play at any one time; playing a Location removes any previous Locations from play. <ref name="HPTCG"/>
   
==How to play==
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===Lesson types===
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There are five Lesson types in the game, each applying to different cards. There is no limit on the Lesson cards in a player's deck: a player may have as many different types as they prefer. <ref name="HPTCG"/>
  +
*{{CMCCardType}} '''[[Care of Magical Creatures (Trading Card)|Care of Magical Creatures]]''' is mostly used for Creature cards, although there are also a small number of Spells, Items and Locations requiring this Lesson. Care of Magical Creatures focus mainly on dealing damage.
  +
*{{CharmsCardType}} '''[[Charms (Trading Card)|Charms]]''' can be used for Spells, Items and Locations. Charms specialises in low but versatile damage and some other effects, such as locating cards from a player's deck.
  +
*{{PotionsCardType}} '''[[Potions (Trading Card)|Potions]]''' can be used for Spells, Items and Locations. Potions cards are often very powerful and require comparatively low Power costs, although they usually require a sacrifice of a certain number of Lessons.
  +
*{{QuidditchCardType}} '''[[Quidditch (Trading Card)|Quidditch]]''' can be used for Spells, Items, Locations and Matches. This Lesson type was introduced in the ''Quidditch Cup'' expansion, and specialises in cards that have two effects at once.
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*{{TransfigurationCardType}} '''[[Transfiguration (Trading Card)|Transfiguration]]''' can be used for Spells, Items and Locations. These cards specialise in the removal of Creatures, Lessons and other cards from play.
   
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===Keywords===
'''The Play Mat:''' For anyone who has purchased the Harry Potter Trading Card Game Starter Set, they will find a handy "play mat," which is literally a map that players can use to guide them through a match. While it is suggested to anyone learning the HPTCG to use it, the rules from the "play mat" are transcribed here:
 
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Some cards have keywords in addition to their card type. These keywords allow other cards to refer to a specific type of card. The "Wizard" or "Witch" designation on Character cards is an example of a keyword, as is the "Healing" designation on some other cards. Other common keywords include designations representing each of the four [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] houses: [[Gryffindor]], [[Ravenclaw]], [[Hufflepuff]], and [[Slytherin]].
   
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Some cards (including all Characters) have the keyword "Unique", which indicates that only one of them can be in play at a time (for either player). <ref>{{cite web|url=http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/wotc/diagonalley_rules.html |title=Diagon Alley Rules |accessdate=2008-05-21}}</ref> The only exception is if both players have the same starting Character.
"'''''Start Here!'''''
 
   
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==History==
''You and your opponent are wizards duelling at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]].''
 
  +
===Card sets===
  +
The expansions are represented by a symbol on each card. The first set of cards, now commonly called the [[Harry Potter Trading Card Base Set|base set]], was introduced in August 2001. Since the 116-card [[Harry Potter Trading Card Base Set|base set]] was first released, four expansion sets have been introduced to vary play and expand card availability. The first three expansions, which each consist of 80 cards plus 30 Foil or Hologram Portrait Premium rares, include ''[[Quidditch Cup]]'' (November 2001), ''[[Diagon Alley]]'' (March 2002), and ''[[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Adventures at Hogwarts]]'' (June 2002). Notable differences in these expansions include the addition of the ''Quidditch'' lesson type and ''Match'' cards introduced in the ''Quidditch Cup'' expansion, <ref>{{cite web|url=http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/wotc/qc_rules.html |title=Quidditch Cup Rules Card |accessdate=2008-05-21}}</ref> location cards introduced in the ''Diagon Alley'' expansion, <ref>{{cite web|url=http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/wotc/contest/dafaq.html |title=Diagon Alley Rules FAQ |accessdate=2008-05-21}}</ref> and a larger pool of adventure cards in the ''Adventures at Hogwarts'' expansion. The fourth and final expansion released was ''[[Chamber of Secrets]]'', which has 140 cards plus 55 Foil or Hologram Portrait Premium rares (October 2002). This last expansion features cards based on the ''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets|Chamber of Secrets]]'' book, where all previous cards were based on the ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone|Philosopher's Stone]]'' book.
   
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From its conception in 2001, through 2003, the ''Harry Potter Trading Card Game'' was popular among many people and age ranges and several gaming leagues were formed. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pojo.com/harrypotter/ccg/apprentice/league.shtml |title=Harry Potter League |accessdate=2008-05-14}}</ref> After releasing the last expansion set in 2003, Wizards of the Coast decided not to continue making ''HPTCG'' cards, though no explanation was given to the public for this decision.
''Many spells and [[magical creatures]] you play will 'damage' your opponent, which means your opponent has to discard cards from his or her deck.''
 
   
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===Card value===
''You win the game when your opponent's deck runs out of cards.''
 
  +
Each card has its own specific value, the most valuable being "rare" and the least being "common". The value of a card is shown by a symbol at the bottom right of the card, followed by the expansion set symbol and set number. A circle means that the card is common, and therefore not very valuable; a diamond means the card is uncommon, so the card has a bit of value; and a star means the card is rare, and is more valuable.
   
  +
There are also cards of more value than "rare" cards: foils and holofoils. "Foil premium" cards are partially "shiny", having thunderbolts and stars as theme for the "additional covering". These are normally rare cards, but common and uncommon foils do exist. "Holo-portraits premium", (colloquially "holofoil") are the most rare and the most valuable of all types of cards. These cards are only available for "character" cards, which have the portrait of the character on them (origin of name). They are similar to foils, except that the picture of the character has a holographic quality that gives the impression of "popping out".
'''''Before You Play:'''''
 
   
  +
Given the variety of card values, single cards have a price range of $0.05 to $15.00. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pojo.com/harrypotter/ccg/HPpriceguide/chamber-of-secrets.shtml |title=Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets Price Guide |accessdate=2008-07-23}}</ref>
''- Pick which deck you want.''
 
   
  +
===Card availability===
''- Put your [[Wizard]] or [[Witch]] card in the 'Wizard/Witch' spot.''
 
  +
The cards from this game are sold in three ways: booster packs, starter decks, and theme decks. Booster packs were released for every set. Each pack contains eleven cards, which includes one rare card, two uncommon cards, six common cards, and two Lessons. If a premium card was included in a base set booster pack, it replaced the rare card. In the expansions, a premium card replaced one of the common cards.
   
  +
Starter decks were made with the Base set, ''Diagon Alley'' set, and the ''Chamber of Secrets'' set. Each included two introductory decks of 40 cards, a playmat, additional instructions and two premium cards. Theme decks, a special kind of starter pack, were released to the public with the ''Chamber of Secrets'' set. These decks are the [[Percy Weasley]] Potions deck and the [[Fred and George Weasley|Twin]] Trouble deck. Included in each was a full 60-card deck, playable right out of the box. The packaging for two additional theme decks ([[Hannah Abbott]]'s Spellcaster and [[Dean Thomas]]' Restrike) was made for a toy fair in 2001, but the products were never produced. <ref>{{cite web|title=WOTC Harry Potter Chat Report |url=http://www.pojo.com/harrypotter/ccg/Features/022002wotchpchat.htm |date=2002-02-20 |accessdate=2008-02-19 |publisher=Pojo's Gaming Site}}</ref>
''- Shuffle your deck and put it in the 'Deck' spot.''
 
   
  +
===Lawsuit===
''- Draw 7 cards for your starting hand.''
 
  +
In 2002, Wizards of the Coast filed a lawsuit against former vice president of operations Charles Federline, alleging that he cost the company more than $93,000 by undermining the bidding process for the print work for the cards. <ref>{{cite web|last=Cook |first=John |title=Wizards of the Coast suit alleges ex-officer aided bidder on ''Potter'' game |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/business/73860_wcoast08.shtml?rand=23389.13 |publisher=''Seattle Post-Intelligencer Reporter |date=2002-06-08 |accessdate=2007-11-13}}</ref>
   
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==References==
''- Decide who goes first.''"
 
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{{Reflist|2}}
----
 
   
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{{Harrypotter}}
 
 
[[es:Harry Potter Trading Card Game]]
Your goal is to damage your opponent's deck to reduce it to zero cards before they can reduce your deck to zero cards. The "play mat" goes over the steps of your turn and what you do. Just a note on the aforementioned steps, when it says, "pick which deck you want," this refers to one of two decks that come in the starter pack (A charms/creature and a transfiguration/creature). However, once you make your own decks, you can pick whatever deck you want.
 
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[[fr:Harry Potter Trading Card Game]]
 
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[[it:Harry Potter Trading Card Game]]
 
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[[pl:Harry Potter: Gra Karciana]]
"'''''Steps of Your Turn'''''
 
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[[ru:Гарри Поттер: Коллекционная карточная игра]]
 
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[[Category:Harry Potter Trading Card Game]]
'''Step 1.''' ''Draw a card from your deck and put it into your hand.
 
Do this first every turn!''
 
 
'''Step 2.''' ''Damage your opponent with your Creatures that are already on the table. (Don't worry about this on your first turn -- you won't have any Creatures on the table yet.)''
 
 
'''Step 3.''' ''You have 2 Actions.''
 
 
''You can use an Action to:''
 
 
''- Play a Lesson card; or''
 
 
''- Play a Creature card (you'll need enough Lesson cards on the table -- see 'Types of Cards' on p. 12); or''
 
 
''- Play a Spell card (you'll need enough Lesson cards on the table --
 
see 'Types of Cards' on p. 12); or''
 
 
''- Draw an extra card.''
 
 
''You may do the same Action twice instead of doing two different Actions.''"
 
 
''You can use two Actions to:''
 
 
''- Play a Character card; or''
 
 
''- Play an Adventure card.''
 
 
 
The page numbers refer to pages in the Harry Potter Trading Card Game Rule Book. However, the playmat is quite adequate in getting you started.
 
 
==Types of cards==
 
 
There are seven types of cards in the Harry Potter Trading Card Game. Some information is directly from the "play mat."
 
 
1. Character Cards
 
 
2. Lesson Cards
 
 
3. Creature Cards
 
 
4. Spell Cards
 
 
5. Adventure Cards
 
 
6. Item Cards
 
 
7. Location Cards
 
 
 
'''1. Character Cards'''
 
 
Your starting Wizard/Witch card is your Hogwarts personality. It does not count towards the 60 card limit in your deck, and remains in play throughout the entire game. Many character cards have special abilities that can be used in the place of actions. For example, one character card may say, "During your turn, you may use this card to draw two lessons every action." Other Character cards have abilities that may only be used once, so you must use it wisely! Character cards may also be placed in your deck. You do not need any lesson cards in play to play character cards, but it requires 2 actions to play a card of this type.
 
 
 
'''2. Lesson Cards'''
 
 
''Lessons give you the power you need to play other cards. When you play a Lesson card you use one action and all you need to do is take it from your hand and put it on the table. Lessons stay on the table ('in play') after you play them. ''
 
 
Unlike other strategic card games, you can use the same lesson twice for playing your actions. For example, if you have one lesson card in play, and two cards in your hand that both take one lesson card to play, you may use your single lesson card for both actions.
 
 
There are five lesson varieties: [[Hogwarts subjects#Care of Magical Creatures|Care of Magical Creatures]], [[Hogwarts subjects#Charms|Charms]], [[Hogwarts subjects#Potions|Potions]], [[Hogwarts subjects#Transfiguration|Transfiguration]] and [[Quidditch]]. Each card variety has special abilities that are innate to its type. For example, potions cards will invlove healing and poisoning spells, while charms cards will utilize spell cards that do direct damage.
 
 
It's important as a HPTCG player to find what works best for you. While there is not any particular variety which works exceedingly well against any other, part of the strategy of this game is the meticulous calcution of what card combinations will do the most damage to your opponent, while keeping you alive. Transfiguration, for example, has a number of cards that can remove creatures from the game, but playing just transfigurations alone against say, a Potions, Charms and Creatures deck may not work well. Find what works best for you, and don't be afraid to experiment a few times! The best deck you'll ever make will look nothing like your first deck!
 
 
 
'''3. Creature Cards'''
 
 
"''Creatures damage your opponent's deck -- not other Creatures. They stay on the table ('in play') after you play them.''
 
 
''Power needed: You must have this many Lessons already on the table to play this card. At least one of your Lessons in play must match the Lesson symbol.''
 
 
''For example, Surly Hound has a cost of 3 Lesson cards. To play it, you'd need 3 Lessons on the table, and at least 1 of them would have to be a Care of Magical Creatures Lesson card.''
 
 
''Health: If your opponent's spell card does this much damage or more
 
to your Creature, discard it." Note that the damage done to your creatures does not 'heal' at the end of the turn.''
 
 
"''Damage each turn: Your opponent discards this many cards from his or her deck on step 2 of your turn (so your Creature doesn't do damage on the turn that you play it).''"
 
 
Creature cards can be a powerful resource in this game. It is especially recommended to new players to include creatures in their decks until they learn to play other cards effectively. Since there is no limit to the number of creatures you can have in play, even 10 "one damage each turn" creatures can be quite damaging.
 
 
 
'''4. Spell Cards'''
 
 
"''To play a Spell card, show it to your opponent, do what it says and put it in your discard pile. Spell cards don't stay on the table like the other cards do.''
 
 
''Power needed: You must have this many Lessons already on the table to use this card. Only one of your Lessons has to match the symbol.''
 
 
''What the card does: This is what happens when you play the card. Some cards do damage to your opponent (which makes your opponent discard that many cards from his or her deck) or to one Creature that's on the table.''"
 
 
Spell cards come in a wide variety. Everything from rendering your opponent obsolete their next turn, dealing heavy damage, or healing yourself, they are certainly the most versatile cards in the game. But remember you can only have up to four of any non-lesson card in your deck!
 
 
 
'''5. Adventure Cards'''
 
 
"''Adventure cards are a new kind of card you can play to give your opponent a challenge to overcome. You don't need any Lessons on the table to play Adventure cards, but you do have to use 2 Actions to play them instead of 1. Each player can have only one Adventure on the table ('in play') at a time, so if you already have an Adventure in play, you cannot play another one. An Adventure card has three parts:''
 
 
''Effect: This is what the Adventure does as long as it's in play.''
 
 
''To Solve: This is what your opponent needs to do to solve the Adventure. She can do this any time during her turn after she's drawn her first card, but she has to solve the Adventure all at once -- not one piece at a time (unless the card specifically says otherwise).''
 
 
''Opponent's Reward: If your opponent solves the Adventure, she's the school hero! The Adventure card will say what her reward is. Then you put the Adventure card in your discard pile.''"
 
 
 
'''6. Item Cards'''
 
 
"''Item cards are a new kind of card that are a lot like Creatures: you need to have a certain amount of Power to play them, and then once you play them they stay on the table (unless some card tells you to discard them). Some Items (Wands and Cauldrons) give you extra Power -- just like Lessons, but even better. Other Items have all sorts of different effects.''"
 
 
The explanation for the Adventure and Item card types were taken from the "Advanced Rules" Booklet, and are not included amongst the card types in the Basic Starter Set.
 
 
 
'''7. Location Cards'''
 
 
Location Cards may be played by either player if they have the appropriate amount and type of lesson power to play them. A player uses one action to play this card type. When any Location card is played, all other location cards in play are discarded. Location cards were not included in the base set, so they are not mentioned in the original "Advanced Rules" Booklet.
 
 
==List of Card Sets (in order of release)==
 
 
1. Base Set - Harry Potter Trading Card Game (116 cards)
 
 
2. Expansion - Quidditch Cup (80 cards)
 
 
3. Expansion - Diagon Alley (80 cards)
 
 
4. Expansion - Adventures at Hogwarts (80 cards)
 
 
5. Expansion - Chamber of Secrets (140 cards)
 
[[Category:Media (real-world)]]
 

Revision as of 20:40, 12 April 2016

Harry Potter Trading Card Game

The Harry Potter Trading Card Game, (colloquially "HPTCG") is a strategy and collectible card game based in the magical world of the Harry Potter novels by J. K. Rowling. Created by Wizards of the Coast in August of 2001, the game was designed to compete with the Yu-Gi-Oh!, Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering card games. [1] [2] [3] It was released to coincide with the release of the first film in the series. [4] The game was praised for the way it immersed children in the Harry Potter universe. [5] At one point the game was the second best selling toy in the United States; [6] however, the game is now out of print.

Gameplay

The game is for two players, each with 60-card decks (with the addition of a starting Character; see below). The aim is to force the opposite player to run out of cards from their deck first. [7] When cards do "damage" to a player, cards from the deck are placed into the discard pile. Each player begins with a hand of seven cards, and draws a card before each of their turns.

Types of cards

There are eight different types of cards in the Harry Potter Trading Card Game. [8]

  • Lessons are the basic units of the game. Each provides 1 "Power", which is needed to play other cards. The number of Lessons in play determines the player's capabilities to play cards with different costs. There are five different Lesson cards, each of which has a different symbol and colour that is used to identify it on other cards. [8]
  • Spells are cards that are played directly into the discard pile and have a given effect. They have a printed Power cost; there are Spells for each Lesson type. [8]
  • Creatures stay on the table when played. All Creatures have a printed Power cost, and require Care of Magical Creatures Lessons to play. They have a Health number that determines how much damage they can take, and a "Damage each turn" number that dictates the amount of damage done to the opposing player each turn. Not all Creatures do damage; some have special abilities. [8]
  • Characters do not have a printed Power cost or Lesson type and thus do not require Lessons to play, although they do require two Actions. Characters stay on the table and have special abilities that can be used by the player; some also provide Power. Each player must have a starting Character to represent them: the starting Character begins the game on the table and cannot be discarded from play. Only Characters with the "Witch" or "Wizard" keyword designation can be used as starting Characters. [8]
    Trading card set

    The Harry Potter Trading Card Game box set

  • Adventures, like Characters, do not require Lessons to play, and require two Actions. They have an Effect on the opposing player; a "To Solve" condition that must be accomplished for the opposing player to remove the Adventure; and a Reward, which the opposing player receives when they have solved the Adventure. Each player can have only one Adventure in play at a time. [8]
  • Items stay on the table when played. They have a printed Power cost and can be of any Lesson type. Some have effects that can be used, while others provide extra Power. [8]
  • Yur

    The back of the Trading Cards

    Matches were introduced in the Quidditch Cup expansion. They all have a printed Power cost of one, requiring Quidditch Power. They have a condition "To Win", and a "Prize" for the first player to fulfill that condition. Only one Match is allowed in play at one time. [8]
  • Locations were introduced in the Diagon Alley expansion. They have a printed Power cost and can be of any Lesson type. Locations have the same effect on both players. There can be only one Location in play at any one time; playing a Location removes any previous Locations from play. [8]

Lesson types

There are five Lesson types in the game, each applying to different cards. There is no limit on the Lesson cards in a player's deck: a player may have as many different types as they prefer. [8]

  • Care of Magical Creatures Care of Magical Creatures is mostly used for Creature cards, although there are also a small number of Spells, Items and Locations requiring this Lesson. Care of Magical Creatures focus mainly on dealing damage.
  • Charms Charms can be used for Spells, Items and Locations. Charms specialises in low but versatile damage and some other effects, such as locating cards from a player's deck.
  • Potions Potions can be used for Spells, Items and Locations. Potions cards are often very powerful and require comparatively low Power costs, although they usually require a sacrifice of a certain number of Lessons.
  • Quidditch Quidditch can be used for Spells, Items, Locations and Matches. This Lesson type was introduced in the Quidditch Cup expansion, and specialises in cards that have two effects at once.
  • Transfiguration Transfiguration can be used for Spells, Items and Locations. These cards specialise in the removal of Creatures, Lessons and other cards from play.

Keywords

Some cards have keywords in addition to their card type. These keywords allow other cards to refer to a specific type of card. The "Wizard" or "Witch" designation on Character cards is an example of a keyword, as is the "Healing" designation on some other cards. Other common keywords include designations representing each of the four Hogwarts houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin.

Some cards (including all Characters) have the keyword "Unique", which indicates that only one of them can be in play at a time (for either player). [9] The only exception is if both players have the same starting Character.

History

Card sets

The expansions are represented by a symbol on each card. The first set of cards, now commonly called the base set, was introduced in August 2001. Since the 116-card base set was first released, four expansion sets have been introduced to vary play and expand card availability. The first three expansions, which each consist of 80 cards plus 30 Foil or Hologram Portrait Premium rares, include Quidditch Cup (November 2001), Diagon Alley (March 2002), and Adventures at Hogwarts (June 2002). Notable differences in these expansions include the addition of the Quidditch lesson type and Match cards introduced in the Quidditch Cup expansion, [10] location cards introduced in the Diagon Alley expansion, [11] and a larger pool of adventure cards in the Adventures at Hogwarts expansion. The fourth and final expansion released was Chamber of Secrets, which has 140 cards plus 55 Foil or Hologram Portrait Premium rares (October 2002). This last expansion features cards based on the Chamber of Secrets book, where all previous cards were based on the Philosopher's Stone book.

From its conception in 2001, through 2003, the Harry Potter Trading Card Game was popular among many people and age ranges and several gaming leagues were formed. [12] After releasing the last expansion set in 2003, Wizards of the Coast decided not to continue making HPTCG cards, though no explanation was given to the public for this decision.

Card value

Each card has its own specific value, the most valuable being "rare" and the least being "common". The value of a card is shown by a symbol at the bottom right of the card, followed by the expansion set symbol and set number. A circle means that the card is common, and therefore not very valuable; a diamond means the card is uncommon, so the card has a bit of value; and a star means the card is rare, and is more valuable.

There are also cards of more value than "rare" cards: foils and holofoils. "Foil premium" cards are partially "shiny", having thunderbolts and stars as theme for the "additional covering". These are normally rare cards, but common and uncommon foils do exist. "Holo-portraits premium", (colloquially "holofoil") are the most rare and the most valuable of all types of cards. These cards are only available for "character" cards, which have the portrait of the character on them (origin of name). They are similar to foils, except that the picture of the character has a holographic quality that gives the impression of "popping out".

Given the variety of card values, single cards have a price range of $0.05 to $15.00. [13]

Card availability

The cards from this game are sold in three ways: booster packs, starter decks, and theme decks. Booster packs were released for every set. Each pack contains eleven cards, which includes one rare card, two uncommon cards, six common cards, and two Lessons. If a premium card was included in a base set booster pack, it replaced the rare card. In the expansions, a premium card replaced one of the common cards.

Starter decks were made with the Base set, Diagon Alley set, and the Chamber of Secrets set. Each included two introductory decks of 40 cards, a playmat, additional instructions and two premium cards. Theme decks, a special kind of starter pack, were released to the public with the Chamber of Secrets set. These decks are the Percy Weasley Potions deck and the Twin Trouble deck. Included in each was a full 60-card deck, playable right out of the box. The packaging for two additional theme decks (Hannah Abbott's Spellcaster and Dean Thomas' Restrike) was made for a toy fair in 2001, but the products were never produced. [14]

Lawsuit

In 2002, Wizards of the Coast filed a lawsuit against former vice president of operations Charles Federline, alleging that he cost the company more than $93,000 by undermining the bidding process for the print work for the cards. [15]

References

  1. Paul, Noel C. (2003-03-18). Yu-Gi-Oh!. Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved on 13 November 2007.
  2. MacPherson, Karen (2000-02-19). Toy Fair is serious business. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved on 13 November 2007.
  3. Bouc, František (2006-05-03). Looking for a bit of magic. Prague Post. Retrieved on 13 November 2007.
  4. Lyman, Rick (2001-11-12). The Toy War for Holiday Movies Is a Battle Among 3 Heavyweights. New York Times. Retrieved on 13 November 2007.
  5. Waco, Mike (2004-06-21). Toys and Movies:A Happy Hollywood Union. Fox News. Retrieved on 13 November 2007.
  6. LaSalle, Mike (2001-12-20). HARRY GRABS GOLD RING. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved on 13 November 2007.
  7. Anatomy of Card. Retrieved on 21 May 2008.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 Harry Potter TCG Rules. Pojo's Gaming Site. Retrieved on 14 May 2008.
  9. Diagon Alley Rules. Retrieved on 21 May 2008.
  10. Quidditch Cup Rules Card. Retrieved on 21 May 2008.
  11. Diagon Alley Rules FAQ. Retrieved on 21 May 2008.
  12. Harry Potter League. Retrieved on 14 May 2008.
  13. Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets Price Guide. Retrieved on 23 July 2008.
  14. WOTC Harry Potter Chat Report. Pojo's Gaming Site (2002-02-20). Retrieved on 19 February 2008.
  15. Cook, John (2002-06-08). Wizards of the Coast suit alleges ex-officer aided bidder on Potter game. Seattle Post-Intelligencer Reporter. Retrieved on 13 November 2007.
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