Kluya's Haven

Fantasy Behind the Card #14

Tonight we are going to cover the 2cp Earth Forward known as Serafie, from World of Final Fantasy.  Her ability / ex burst, is that when she enters the field, each player can select a forward from their break zone and add it to their hand.  This ability is much like her duty in World of Final Fantasy, where she manages the various Mirages (your monsters/characters) and allows you to swap them in for different kinds or to edit your team.  

Fantasy Behind the Card #13

Today’s card is the 4cp Earth Forward known as Kimahri.  His special ability is Ronso Rage, which allows him to use an opponent’s forwards ability that is in play.  No matter what their cost is to play their ability, Kimahri only has to pay an additional Kimahri card and 2 earth cp.

This is much like his character in Final Fantasy X, in that he can adapt to using abilities that monsters inflict the party with.  Much like “Blue Magic” that is throughout the Final Fantasy universe, it allows the Blue Mage (Kimahri in this case) to be very flexible in combat by adapting to many different situations that may arise.  In the TCG, this allows Kimahri to be able to Jecht Shot in some games, Omnislash in others, or even Red XIII’s Cosmo Memory, which Kimahri would be able to use at a significantly reduced cost.

Fantasy Behind the Card #12

Today’s card is the Sage from Final Fantasy 4, Tellah!  He is a backup, that when dulled, will be placed into the break zone, but inflicts 9,000 damage to an enemy forward.  This ability relates to his dramatic battle with Golbez in Final Fantasy 4, when he seeks out revenge for Anna’s death.  While his normal elemental magic against Golbez fails to make an impact, Tellah uses the last of his energy and life force to unleash Meteor, temporarily defeating Golbez.  This costs Tellah his life =(

1:22 in the video to get right to the scene.  Video credit goes to YTUser  Hawelo92

Fantasy Behind the Card # 11

Today we have a unique type of card, one of the Four Fiends (From Final Fantasy IV) that makes his debut in the upcoming Final Fantasy Opus II.  His name is Scarmiglione, and is the Earth Elemental fiend.  For 2 earth cp, he has quite the interesting ability for a forward.  You can use this card in the attack and main phase of BOTH players, much like the “Flash” ability that some may be familiar with in Magic the Gathering.  This can create some unique opportunities, especially with other earth cards like Golem or Kefka.

This card’s lore comes straight out of Final Fantasy IV. When Scarmiglione is first defeated on Cecil’s quest to become a Paladin at  Mount Ordeals, Cecil and the party cross a bridge to find a tomb.  But before having a chance to enter, the party is ambushed by a mutilated Scarmiglione.  When this 2nd battle occurs, your party is considered ambushed and you are found at a disadvantage (Your frontline and backline are reversed).  This ambush is very similar to how the card plays out with his “back-attack” ability.  **Card above was from the FFXIV Fan Fest Germany opening, tried my best to be accurate =) **

Fantasy Behind the Card # 10

Hey look, we made it to #10.  Our 10th card is the fan favorite  villianous Ancient from FF7 known as Sephiroth.  He enters the field as a dark crystal character at a whopping 8CP.  Armed with First Strike, when Sephiroth enters the field, he may break 1 backup in play.  

It should be no surprise that not only is Sephiroth powerful at 8k, but he comes with first strike.  Known to be the most powerful SOLDIER that has ever been in the ranks of Shinra, his skill and speed are legendary.  Armed with Masamune which he has honed, it would be no surprise that he gets the jump on his opponents in combat.

Now, if this is a spoiler -- well, sorry but it’s time to get from under that rock.  but incoming spoiler! 

 Sephiroth is very well known for his assassination of Aeris, the other ancient that (is a backup in this TCG) but also plays a support role in the game FF7.  His ability in the TCG mirrors this perfectly.  Jump video to 0:42 if you are in a rush =)

Fantasy Behind the Card # 8

Fantasy Behind the Card # 7

Tonight’s card is the Earth Backup, known as  Kefka Palazzo from Final Fantasy VI.  At 4CP, he has the ability to dull, choose a forward that you control, and then enhance it’s power by 5000 until the end of the turn, where it will meet it’s doom and go to the break zone.

Fantasy Behind the Card # 6

Today’s card is of Orran, the Astrologer from Final Fantasy Tactics.  For S, 3 Ice CP and dulling, he can dull all the forward that the opponent currently controls.  This ability is called Celestial Stasis, which comes straight from Final Fantasy Tactics, in which you are saving Orran from a band of thieves and bandits and he activates at will.  

In both the card game and video game, this is an aoe ability that disables enemy targets.  In the TCG, it dulls them, so that under normal conditions they may not block or be considered active.  In Final Fantasy Tactics, the enemies have a chance to be immobilized, disabled, and stopped.

** In the english version of FFT, the ability originally was called Galaxy Stop.  There were many typos or translation changes in the original version of FFT, much like many of the other Final Fantasy games (as well as the 1st wave of the TCG as well)

Fantasy Behind the Card # 5

Since I was busy over the past few days and did not post, I figured I would post a bonus card today.  This post is covering The Emperor, a card that is stubborn and revolves around a gimmick where, after defeated, he may return to play to hinder the opponents progress once again.  

Fantasy Behind the Card # 4

Today, the card is Dark Knight 1-054C.  For 2 Ice CP, it can deal 1000 damage to all the Forwards the opponent controls.  This area of effect damage is much like the “Dark Wave” ability that Cecil and other Dark Knight’s can utilize in the Final Fantasy series, as shown below.  Much like in the video games, the Dark Knight has to sacrifice resources in order to inflict aoe damage (HP in the video games, CP in the card game)

Fantasy Behind the Card # 3

Today’s card is the (3) cost Delita.  When he enters the field, you must break a character you control.  This seems very relevant to Delita’s character in Final Fantasy Tactics, considering that as a character, he will take advantage of any thing or any person to advance his pursuit in an Ivalice free of class and “preordained” consequences.  Throughout the game, Delita dispatches anyone who threatens to either betray or hinder his progress in this goal, whether it be spy, lord, friend, or foe.

Fantasy Behind the Card # 2

Today’s card is the 5 cost backup Yuna.  When she enters the field, she returns an opponents forward to their hand.  This is much like how in Final Fantasy X, she would be required per her duty as as Summoner to visit various villages in Spira (the field), and ward off threats such as Sin, typically making the threat fall back or retreat.  

Fantasy Behind the Card #1

Well, it’s been about 400 years, but I wanted to get back on here and start typing more articles and get back to covering my hobbies.  Quite recently however, I did get my own youtube channel going (Banner art provided by Kayla Kelley)  Right now the videos are focusing on 2 games that I put most of my gaming time into, Overwatch (Closed Beta at the moment), and Final Fantasy XIV.  For FFXIV, I am doing an overview of the minions that you can collect in various ways, and hope to do mounts after that.  Overwatch will focus more on replays and fun moments that occur in matches.

Come check it out, subscribe, let me know what you think, and I look forward to putting up videos on a regular basis

A brand new Dissidia title coming to arcades was just announced at JAEPO 2015! It's a new 3 vs 3 battle system rather than the 1 on 1 combat we had with the prior entries. As of now, the only newcomer appears to be Y'shtola from Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

Please take note of the new graphics engine implemented =)  You may watch the teaser here, enjoy!