Altered Glossary

2.2.8 Faction

2.2.8.a A faction is one of the following: Axiom, Bravos, Lyra, Muna, Ordis, Yzmir.

2.2.8.b Some objects have no faction. They are called neutral.

2.2.8.c The faction of an object represented by a card is defined by its faction symbol and its background color.

• Axiom: , brown
• Bravos: , red
• Lyra: , pink
• Muna: , green
• Ordis: , blue
• Yzmir: , purple

2.2.8.d Tokens, reactions, and emblems have no faction.

Remark. The tokens printed by Equinox have a background color and a faction symbol. This is purely for aesthetic reasons and has no rules implications.

7.1.3 Faction symbol

7.1.3.a The symbol represents the Axiom faction.

7.1.3.b The symbol represents the Bravos faction.

7.1.3.c The symbol represents the Lyra faction.

7.1.3.d The symbol represents the Muna faction.

7.1.3.e The symbol represents the Ordis faction.

7.1.3.f The symbol represents the Yzmir faction.

1.1.4 Constructed play

1.1.4.a In constructed play, a player may use any card from their collection to build their deck.

1.1.4.b A constructed deck must include exactly 1 Hero.

1.1.4.c A constructed deck must include at least 39 other cards.

1.1.4.d A constructed deck can only include cards of the same faction as its Hero.

1.1.4.e A constructed deck can include at most 3 cards with the same name.

Remark. In Altered, contrary to many other collectible card games, cards with the same name may have different characteristics, rarity, and faction. A player in a constructed event should make clear which version of a card they play.

1.1.4.f A constructed deck can include at most 15 rare () cards.

1.1.4.g A constructed deck can include at most 3 unique () cards.

1.1.5 Limited play

1.1.5.a In limited play, players must build their deck from a restricted pool of cards provided to them for a specific event, plus any number of Mana Convergence.

1.1.5.b A limited deck can include at most 1 Hero.

1.1.5.c A limited deck must include at least 29 other cards.

1.1.5.d A limited deck can include cards from at most 3 factions; if that deck include a Hero, that Hero's faction counts as one of the three.

Remark. Limited decks have no restrictions in terms of name or rarity.

1.2.2 Objects

1.2.2.a Objects are the game pieces of Altered.

1.2.2.b Most things in a game of Altered are either objects, properties of objects or sets of objects.

1.2.2.c Objects have characteristics:

• Type (Character, Emblem, Hero, Permanent, Region, Spell)
• Sub-type
• Name
• Rarity (common , rare , unique )
• Version
• Hand Cost
• Reserve cost
• Faction (Axiom , Bravos , Lyra , Muna , Ordis , Yzmir )
• Statistics (one number for each of , , )
• Abilities
• Reserve limit (only for Heroes)
• Landmark limit (only for Heroes)
• Duration (only for Emblems)

1.2.2.d An object may lack some of these characteristics.

2.2.3 Name

2.2.3.a The name of an object is a series of words and symbols.

2.2.3.b An object has only one name, even if it contains several words.

2.2.3.c The name of an object is its English name, even if it is represented by a card printed in a different language.

Example. Fée Clochette is the French version of Tinker Bell. The name of an object represented by that card is Tinker Bell.

2.2.3.d The name of an object represented by a Permanent card is written in the middle of the card, below the rarity gem and above the type line.

2.2.3.e The name of an object represented by a non-Permanent card is written on the top of the card, below the rarity gem.

Remark. Cards with the same name may have different characteristics, if they have different raritys, different factions, or they are unique.

2.2.3.f The name of a token is defined by the effect that creates it. It is composed of the words written before its statistics.

Example. Ordis Cadets has the reaction " Create an Ordis Recruit 1/1/1 Soldier token in my Expedition". The name of the token created when this Reaction resolves is "Ordis Recruit".

2.2.3.g Emblems have no name.

2.2.5 Version

2.2.5.a The version of an object is a code of the form: LLL-NNN-L(-NNNN), where the L's are letters and the N's are numbers.

2.2.5.b The first three letter correspond to the set release. The list of sets and their code is: Beyond the Gates (BTG).

2.2.5.c The next three numbers are the number of the card in the set.

2.2.5.d The single letter is the rarity of the card, which can be C for commom (
), R for rare (), F for faction-shifted (), or U for unique ().

2.2.5.e Unique cards have four extra numbers.

2.2.5.f Each unique card has a different version number.

2.2.5.g In the Beyond the Gates set, different cards may share the same number if one comes from the Kickstarter release and the other one from the Retail release. They may be distinguished by a stylized A on the bottom left of the card.

2.2.11 Reserve limit

2.2.11.a The reserve limit is a number.

2.2.11.b Only Heroes have a reserve limit.

2.2.11.c The reserve limit of a Hero is represented by a number of rectangles on a line below the illustration and above the ability box, to the left of that Hero's faction symbol.

Remark. If a player does not have a Hero, the default reserve limit is 2 (see Rule 4.2.5.d )

2.2.12 Landmark limit

2.2.12.a The landmark limit is a number.

2.2.12.b Only Heroes have a landmark limit.

2.2.12.c The landmark limit of a Hero is represented by a number of rectangles on a line below the illustration and above the ability box, to the right of that Hero's faction symbol.

Remark. If a player does not have a Hero, the default landmark limit is 2 (see Rule 4.2.5.d )

Booster Draft (Game Mode)

Booster Draft is played 1 vs 1, and the recommended number of players is 8. Each player receives 4 Altered boosters. Players open their first booster, remove the Token/Foil card, choose one card and pass the rest of the booster to the person on their left. The process is repeated until all cards are selected. The same steps are followed for the other boosters, alternating passing directions (left-right-left-right). Decks must contain at least 30 cards following the deck construction rules.

Deck construction:
Decks built from the Booster Draft must follow these guidelines:

• A deck must contain a minimum of 30 cards.
• Token cards do not count towards the deck minimum. If you have Token cards to accompany your deck, they start outside your deck.
• You can play cards from up to three different factions.
• A deck may include one Hero card. If so, it counts towards the 30-card minimum.
• Your Hero must belong to one of the factions in your deck.
• You can choose not to play a Hero card.
• There is no restriction on the number of cards with the same name you can play in your deck.
• There is no restriction on the number of rare or unique cards you can play in your deck.

Structure: Best of one game
Number of rounds: 3
Time for drafting and deck construction: 40 minutes
Round time: 30 minutes
Number of players: 8

Should I play a Hero card in my deck?
It is not mandatory to play a Hero card in limited formats like Booster Draft, but it is often preferable to play one in one of the factions of your deck rather than not playing one at all.

Can I change my deck between games?
Players can freely modify their deck using their pool of drafted cards between games when playing in limited formats.

When should I scan my cards and add them to my digital collection?
After the draft phase, during deck construction, unless otherwise indicated by the draft organizer.

What happens if I don't have enough cards for a 30-card deck, and I don't have enough Mana Convergence tokens?
Check with the tournament organizer if they have additional tokens. If you are unable to find any, use other tokens as substitutes.

Multiplayer 2v2 (Game Mode)

Multiplayer mode is a fun and more social way to play Altered, where you can play with more than 2 players. It is a constructed format, which means you need to build a deck in advance and bring it to the game.

Multiplayer mode can be played in several ways:

In 2v2, you and your teammate face another team, and the team whose Hero and Companion meet first wins the game.
Free for All, you face all other players, but you can only race with two of them: the player on your right and the player on your left.

You win when you are the first to make your Hero and Companion meet.
Deck building rules in multiplayer mode
Multiplayer decks in Altered follow the standard deck building rules. Players can play with any Hero of their choice, which means that two players can choose the same Hero.

• A deck must contain a minimum of 39 non-Hero cards plus exactly 1 Hero card.
• Token cards do not count towards the deck minimum. If you have Token cards, they start outside your deck.
• All cards in your deck must belong to the same faction as your Hero card.
• You can have a maximum of 3 copies of a card with the same name, regardless of its rarity.
• You can have a maximum of 15 Rare cards in your deck.
  You can have a maximum of 3 Unique cards in your deck.

2v2
The 2v2 mode is a four-player mode, with two teams of two players.

Setting up an Altered multiplayer game in 2v2

• Form two teams, with players from the same team sitting opposite each other.
• Then randomly determine the first player.
• Place two Hero Region cards facing each other. Do the same with the Companion Region cards.
• Take two sets of Tumult cards. Form three piles, each containing two identical Tumult cards, then shuffle the three piles.
• Take the first pile: place one card next to the Hero card, and the other next to the other Hero card. Do the same with the second pile next to the Companion cards. Place the last two cards in the center, side by side.

You can now start the first day. Players take turns clockwise until everyone has passed.
Each player faces a different opponent for each of their Expeditions.
When a player reaches one of the central Tumult cards, turn both cards face up. Place the second card in the opposite direction to the first, so that the two unique region types are on each side.
The Expedition markers continue to move towards each other, following the indicated path.

Victory conditions
The first player whose Hero and Companion Expeditions meet in the same Region wins the game for their team.
If two players from different teams fulfill the victory conditions at the same time, first check if one of the players has advanced further than necessary. If so, their team wins the game; otherwise, play a tiebreaker day in the Arena.
If three players fulfill the victory conditions, the two allied players win the game.
If all four players fulfill the victory conditions and one team has at least one additional advance over the other, that team wins the game; otherwise, play a tiebreaker day in the Arena.

Tiebreaker
Play an additional day with the following rule modification: during Dusk, each team totals the statistics of its Characters for each type of Region in the Arena (Forest, Mountain and Water). The team that beats its opponent in the most region types wins the game.
In case of an additional tie, play a new tiebreaker day until a team is declared the winner.

First player effects
Effects that activate if you are the first player (Akesha & Taru, Kojo & Booda, Lindiwe & Maw) activate if one of the team members has the first player token.

Interactions with your teammate
It is forbidden to show your hand of cards to your teammate.
Communication between players (and its limits) may vary depending on the context. A tournament may prohibit any form of communication, while another table may allow any information as long as it is transparent and understandable by both teams. Some may still allow coded messages. Players should ensure agreement at the beginning of the game.
It is not possible to directly play a card in your teammate's Expedition or Landmark Zone. However, some effects or abilities may allow creating tokens, for example.

Clarifications
When a card mentions "targeted expedition" or "targeted character", this can refer to any allied or enemy Expedition or Character.

When a card mentions "in your Expedition" or a Character "you control", this only applies to your side of the board, not your teammate's.

When a card mentions "targeted opponent", choose one of your opponents.

When a card mentions "your opponent", it refers to each of your opponents.

You can only sacrifice cards you control, not those controlled by your teammate.

Standard (Game Mode)

The Standard format is a game mode in which players build a deck in advance and bring it to the game. Players choose their favorite Hero or faction and build a deck following the strategies they like best. Standard is the classic Altered experience, recommended for new players and tournaments. This format requires players to bring their own deck to any event.

Standard format is played 1 vs 1. A Standard event can accommodate any number of players. Both players must have a deck that respects the deck construction rules specific to this format.

Standard decks in Altered must follow these guidelines:

• A deck must contain a minimum of 39 non-Hero cards plus exactly 1 Hero card. (Token cards do not count towards the deck minimum. If you have Token cards to use with your deck, they start outside your deck.)
• All cards in your deck must belong to the same faction as your Hero card.
• You can have a maximum of 3 copies of a card with the same name, regardless of its rarity.
• You can have a maximum of 15 Rare cards in your deck.
• You can have a maximum of 3 Unique cards in your deck.

Recommendations for Standard tournament structure:
Structure: Best of three
Round time: 50 minutes
Number of rounds: 3
Advantages: More competition-oriented, fewer rounds in total/more time in play.

Structure: Best of one
Round time: 30 minutes
Number of rounds: 4

Sealed Format (Game Mode)
Sealed Decks are played 1 vs 1 but can accommodate any number of players. Each player receives 7 Altered boosters. Players must build their decks using only the cards contained in these boosters. Sealed decks must contain at least 30 cards. After deck construction, players compete in a series of Swiss rounds.

Decks built for the Sealed format must follow these guidelines:

• A deck must contain a minimum of 30 cards.
• Token cards do not count towards the deck minimum. If you have Token cards to accompany your deck, they start outside your deck.
• You can play cards from up to three different factions.
• A deck may include one Hero card. If so, it counts towards the 30-card minimum.
• Your Hero must belong to one of the factions in your deck.
• You can choose not to play a Hero card.
• There is no restriction on the number of cards with the same name you can play in your deck.
• There is no restriction on the number of rare or unique cards you can play in your deck.

Recommendations for Sealed Deck Tournament Structure:

• Structure: Best of one game
• Number of rounds: 4
• Time for deck construction: 30 minutes
• Round time: 30 minutes
• Number of players: Any number

Should I play a Hero card in my deck?
It is not mandatory to play a Hero card in limited formats like Booster Draft or Sealed, but it is often preferable to play one in one of the factions of your deck rather than not playing one at all.

When should I scan my cards and add them to my digital collection?
During deck construction, at any time before playing against your first opponent, unless otherwise indicated by the event organizer.

Can I change my deck between games?
Players can freely modify their deck using their pool of opened cards between games when playing in limited formats.