A New Player's Take on FFTCG

If you play FFTCG, you had a first game. Maybe FFTCG is not your first card game, but for some it is. FFTCG is likely not your first experience with the Final Fantasy franchise, but for some it is!

We caught up with our buddy Stephen Ashworth, a regular in the Tidewater scene who is newer to competitive card games, and mostly new to Final Fantasy as well. He shared some thoughts about what it's like to be playing competitively and discovering some of the Final Fantasy video games for the first time.

"What other kinds of games do you play?"

I got into tabletop through board games, playing Scythe heavily with my family and friend. I’ve dabbled in the dead Netrunner TCG with my brother after a huge interest in cyberpunk. I developed my competitive spirit playing Counter-Strike: GO, putting in nearly 1500 hours, playing in an amateur league, and watching professional play non-stop for 2 years. Lastly, I adore the Souls games and have played every entry in the series.

"Was there something defining about FFTCG that hooked you?"

The lack of a standard rotation was a huge selling point but what hooked me was how simple the game was on the surface. The simple but strong synergy in the starter decks hooked me and the amount of depth of constructed play sucked me in and kept me coming back. It’s the perfect game to get into TCGs as a newcomer.

"What Final Fantasy games have you played?"

I played a translated version of Final Fantasy I and the GBA port of I and II. It was an archaic experience filled with constant random encounters. I’m playing through VI right now and it is absolutely wonderful. Playing the TCG has pushed me into the games which is backwards compared to most people I play with.

"what aspect of FFTCG is most special to you?"

I adore the tension of competing and gradually placing higher and getting more damage than before on good players. I love getting lost for hours deck building and doing research.

Travelling to and playing in my first regional event in Charlotte was the most fun I’ve had playing a game in a long time. But my favorite feeling has been developing a rapport with the Tidewater guys. When I listen to FFTCG podcasts and people talk about barely getting four or five people at their store, I feel fortunate that we always have 10-12 good guys show up at store tournaments.

"what would you recommend to someone just starting out?"

One should practice, read, and ask a lot of questions. All I do is ask questions and bounce ideas off of people who are way better than I am. Everyone has been super helpful, especially when I first started out. I’ve gone from getting 7-0’d constantly to finishing at .500 or above. The abundance of podcasts and YouTube content has also expanded my knowledge of the game. The future looks very bright and I’m glad to be a part of it.

"What do you think is the future for FFTCG"

As far as the Tidewater area goes, more people are getting involved and there’s plenty of product. We have a great relationship with the stores around here and the guys from Richmond. Last week a bunch of young Friday Night Magic players bought starter decks and pushed our player count in the store to 20 for the first time. I think the game has nowhere to go but up.