Altered Glossary

2.2.1 Type

2.2.1.a A type is one of the following: Character, Emblem, Hero, Permanent, Region, Spell.

2.2.1.b Each object has a single type.

2.2.1.c The type of a card is written on the type line, just below the name of the card. It is the first word of the type line, before the dash.

2.2.1.d The type of a token is Character.

Remark. The tokens printed by Equinox have the word "Token" in their type line. This is for clarity and has no rules implications.

2.2.1.e The type of an object represented by an Adventure card or half a Tumult card is Region.

2.2.1.f The type of an object represented by a face-down card in the Mana zone is Mana Orb.

2.2.1.g The type of an emblem is Emblem.

Remark. The type Emblem does not appear on cards. It is reserved for temporary objects in Limbo created by reactions or effects whose impact on the game lasts longer than their own resolution.

2.2.1.h When a cost or an effect refers to "a [type]", it refers to an object in play with the appropriate type, unless it specifies a specific zone.

Example. Banishing Gate has the effect "Discard target Character or Permanent". When that Spell is played, its controller must choose a Character or Permanent in play. They cannot choose a Character or Permanent from another zone, such as the Reserve.

2.2.1.i When a cost or an effect checks whether a specific card or object is "a [type]", it checks whether that card or that object has the appropriate type, regardless of its location.

Example. Ada Lovelace has the reaction " You may put a card from your hand in Reserve. If it's a Permanent, draw a card". If a player choses to put a Permanent card in Reserve during the resolution of this reaction, they draw a card.

2.2.2 Subtypes

2.2.2.a Characters, Spells, Permanents, Regions, and Emblems may have sub-types.

2.2.2.b Heroes have no sub-types.

2.2.2.c An object may have any number of sub-types.

2.2.2.d The list of character sub-types is: Adventurer, Animal, Apprentice, Artist, Bureaucrat, Citizen, Companion, Deity, Dragon, Druid, Elemental, Engineer, Fairy, Leviathan, Mage, Messenger, Noble, Plant, Robot, Soldier, Scholar, Spirit, Titan, Trainer.

2.2.2.e The list of permanent sub-types is: Landmark.

2.2.2.f The list of region sub-types is: Forest (), Mountain (), Water ().

2.2.2.g The list of spell sub-types is: Boon, Conjuration, Disruption, Maneuver, Song.

2.2.2.h The list of emblem sub-types is: Reaction, Ongoing.

2.2.2.i The sub-types of a card are written on the type line, just below the name of the card. They are to the right of the dash; if there is more than one sub-type, they are separated by commas.

2.2.2.j The sub-types of a token are defined by the effect that creates it. They are written after the statistics of the token, separated by commas.

Example. Foundry Armorer has the reaction " Create a Brassbug 2/2/2 Robot token in target Expedition". The sub-type of the token created when this reaction resolves is "Robot".

2.2.2.k The sub-types of the hero region, companion region, and the arena are Forest (), Mountain (), and Water ().

Remark. Regions represented by face-down Tumult cards have no sub-types.

2.2.2.l The sub-types of regions represented face-up Tumult cards are described by symbols on the side of the regions.

2.2.2.m The sub-type of an emblem created as a reaction triggers is Reaction. The sub-type of an emblem created by an effect that lasts longer than its own resolution is Ongoing.

Example. Aloe Vera has the reaction "At Noonl Resupply". As the Noon phase begins, Aloe Vera's controller creates an Emblem-Reaction in Limbo with the text "Resupply". When that Reaction is played, its effect resolves, then it ceases to exist.

Example. Celebration Day has the effect "Expeditions can´t move forward this Day". When that effect resolves, an Emblem-Ongoing is created in Limbo with the passive ability "Expeditions can't move forward" and the duration "this Day".

2.2.2.n When a cost or an effect refers to "a sub-type", it refers to an object in play with the appropriate sub-type.

Example. Three Little Pigs has the reaction " If you control two or more Landmarks, I gain 1 boost". When that Reaction resolves, it only counts the Landmarks in the Landmark zone, not those in Reserve or in the Discard pile.

2.2.2.o When a cost or an effect checks whether a specific card or object is "a [sub-type]", it checks whether that card or that object has the appropriate sub-type, regardless of its location.

2.2.2.p Some effects have objects gain or lose types. These effects actually mean gaining or losing sub-types.

Example. The Kraken has the ability "All regions are and lose their other types". When the Kraken is in play, regions keep the type Region and lose the and sub-types.

7.1.2 Region types and statistics

7.1.2.a The symbol represents the Forest sub-type and statistic.

7.1.2.b The symbol s represents the Mountain sub-type and statistic.

7.1.2.c The symbol represents the Water sub-type and statistic.

Archetype

An "Archetype" in a TCG refers to a type of deck that follows a specific game plan or given strategy. For example, an aggro archetype focuses on quick attack and aggression, while a control archetype seeks to slow down the game and neutralize threats before taking control of the match. Archetypes are distinguished by the cards they use, their dominant strategies and how they interact with other archetypes in the metagame.

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.

1.2.4 Abilities

1.2.4.a Each line in the textbox of an object is a separate ability.

1.2.4.b Some abilitys are represented by keywords. Several keywords, representing different abilitys, may appear the same line.

1.2.4.c There are four types of abilitys:

• Quick actions are written "Cost: Effect". Players may play any number of quick actions in their turn before playing a card or passing.
• Reactions are written "Trigger - Effect" or "Effect after trigger". When an event matches the trigger, the Effect resolves.
• Passive abilitys are written as statements. Passive abilitys may modify rules, events, or the characteristics of objects.
• Effects are written as changes to the game state. When an effect resolves, these changes are applied.

1.2.4.d Abilitys only work when the object is in play (i.e. in the Expedition zone, the Hero zone, or the Landmark zone) unless it specifies that it works in another zone. Furthermore:

• Support abilitys () only work in Reserve;
• Abilitys of Emblems only work in Limbo;
• Abilitys of an object that say that it can be played from a specific zone work in that zone.
• Abilitys of an object that change the way it may be played, including its cost, work in any zone from which that object can be played.

1.3.2 Day progress

1.3.2.a Each day is divided in five phases.

1.3.2.b In the Morning phase, the opponent of the first player becomes the first player (Succeed), players ready their Characters, Permanents, and Mana Orbs (Prepare), draw two cards (Draw) and may put one card from their Hand in their Mana zone.

1.3.2.c In the Noon phase, nothing happens unless one or more reactions trigger "At Noon".

1.3.2.d In the Afternoon phase, starting with the first player, players alternate taking turns until both have passed; during their turn, a player may play any number of quick actions and then either play a card or pass; once a player has passed, they cannot take more turns this day.

1.3.2.e In the Dusk phase, players sum up the statistics of all the characters in each of their expeditions. An expedition moves forward if one of its statistics is:

• one of its Region's types;
• (strictly) greater than the opposing expedition's corresponding statistic;
• (strictly) greater than zero.

1.3.2.f During the Night Phase

• Rest: All Characters in Expeditions are sent to the Reserve. Characters with the Fleeting status are discarded instead of going to the Reserve. The Anchored and Asleep statuses are removed from Characters during this phase.
• Cleanup: Players must discard excess cards from their Reserve and Landmark Zone, keeping only two cards in each of these zones.

1.3.3 Ending the game

1.3.3.a The game continues until one player's hero expedition and companion expedition meet or cross each other.

1.3.3.b At that point, count the distance between each expedition and its starting Region. If the total distance of one player's expeditions is greater than its opponent's, that player wins the game.

1.3.3.c Otherwise, tiebreakers start: all regions in the Adventure are immediately replaced by the Arena (on the back of the Companion card).

1.3.3.d During tiebreakers, all Expeditions are in the Arena, and the statistics of all Characters are summed up during Dusk.

1.3.3.e If one player wins on more Region types than their opponent, that player wins the game.

1.3.3.f Tiebreakers may last for several days.

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.

2.2.9 Statistics

2.2.9.a Statistics are numbers.

2.2.9.b There are three statistics: Forest (), Mountain (), and Water ().

2.2.9.c Only Characters have statistics.

2.2.9.d The statistics of a Character card are represented on the left of the card, with on top and in green, in the middle and in orange, and on the bottom and in blue.

2.2.9.e The statistics of a token are defined by the effect that creates it. They are written between the name and the sub-types of the token, separated by forward slashes, with the statistic first, the statistic second, and the statistic third.

Example. Kojo & Booda has the reaction "At Noon, if you are the first player-Create a Booda 2/2/2 Companion token in your companion Expedition". The statistics of this token are 2, 2, and 2.

2.5.1 Boost coounters

2.5.1.a Boost counters, also called +1/+1/+1 counters are a specific type of counters.

2.5.1.b If a Character has boost counters, each of them adds 1 to each of its statistics.

3.2.1 Adventure

3.2.1.a The Adventure is a shared, visible zone.

Remark. The Adventure is a visible zone which contains face-down cards. Players may not look at the face of face-down cards in the Adventure.

3.2.1.b During regular play, the Adventure contains eight regions in a row: the hero region on one side, six regions represented by three Tumult cards, and the companion region on the other side.

3.2.1.c During tiebreakers, all regions are replaced by a single region called the Arena.

Remark. At the beginning of the game, the three Tumult cards are face-down. The six objects they represent have the type Region due to Rule 2.2.1.e and no other characteristics.

3.2.9 Mana zone

3.2.9.a The Mana zone is a private, visible zone.

Remark. The Mana zone is a visible zone which contains face-down cards. Players may not look at the face of face-down cards in other players' Mana zone.

3.2.9.b When a player puts a card in the Mana zone, it enters the Mana zone face-down and Exhausted unless specified otherwise.

Remark. If that card was in a hidden zone prior to the move, that card is not revealed as it changes zones.

3.2.9.c Objects in the Mana zone have the type Mana Orbs.

3.2.9.d Players can look at the cards in their Mana zone at any time.

3.2.9.e Players can exhaust a Mana Orb to ready another Exhausted Mana Orb at any time.

3.2.9.f A mana cost can be paid by exhausting [X] Mana Orbs.

4.2.4 Dusk

4.2.4.a There is one daily effect during dusk.

4.2.4.b Progress Determine the statistics of each expedition by summing the statistics of each character in that expedition. If an expedition has a greater positive statistic in a region type of its region than the corresponding statistic of its opposing expedition, it moves forward.

4.2.4.c A tie is not sufficient to advance.

4.2.4.d A statistic of 0 is not sufficient to advance, even if the opposing expedition's statistic is negative.

4.2.4.e An expedition advances only once, even if they win in more than one statistic.

4.2.4.f All successful expeditions move forward simultaneously.

4.2.4.g An expedition "fails to move forward" if it does not move forward during progress, unless tiebreakers have started.

Remark. An expedition never "fails to move forward" outside of Progress. An expedition that moved forward during a day can still "fail to move forward" if it does not move forward during Progress.

4.2.4.h An expedition "moves forward due to [statistic]" if the three following conditions are true:

• it moves forwards;
• it was in a [statistic] region;
• it had a greater [statistic] than all opposing expeditions.

Remark. An expedition may move forward due to more than one statistic at the same time.

4.3 Ending the game

4.3.a If a single player's expeditions meet on the same region, they win. This is an additive event modifier.

4.3.b If a single player's expeditions cross each other, they win. This is an additive event modifier.

4.3.c If both players' expeditions meet at the same time, or both players' expeditions cross each other at the same time, tiebreakers start.

4.3.d When tiebreakers start, turn the companion region card face-down and put all expedition markers on it. Discard all other regions.

4.3.e The new region is called the Arena.

4.3.f The Arena has the region types , , and .

4.3.g Once tiebreakers have started, expeditions cannot move forward or backward.

4.3.h The Progress daily effect of Dusk is modified as follows:
1. Each player determine a single set of statistics by adding up the statistics of each characters in both of their expeditions.
2. Compare each statistic individually.
3. If a player wins on more statistics than their opponent, they win. Otherwise, the game continues.

Remark. Tiebreakers may last for several days.

7.3.3 Create

7.3.3.a To create a token is to put a new character token in the Expedition zone.

7.3.3.b Costs and effects that create tokens use the following template: "create a [name] [x/y/z] [sub-types] token with [abilitys] in [expedition]".

Example. Open the Gates (common) has the effect "Create two Ordis Recruit 1/1/1 Soldier token in each of your Expeditions". When Open the Games resolves, four tokens are created. They all have the name "Ordis Recruit", the type "Character", the sub-type "Soldier", all three statistics equal to 1, and no abilitys.

Aggro

An "Aggro" deck is a type of archetype that aims to inflict maximum damage to the opponent as quickly as possible, often by playing many small creatures or direct damage spells from the early turns. Aggro decks often sacrifice durability and long-term control to maximize immediate pressure on the opponent, hoping to defeat them before they can establish an effective defense or strategy.

Clarification of the phases of a day

Morning Phase

• First Player Marker Transfer: If it's not the first day, the First Player Marker is passed to the other player.
• Straightening of Mana Orbs and Exhausted Cards: Players straighten all Mana Orbs and all exhausted cards on the board.
• Card Drawing: Each player draws two cards from their deck.
• Placement of Cards in Mana Zone: Starting with the player who has the First Player Marker, each player can choose to place a card from their hand in their Mana Zone, face down. This card becomes a Mana Orb.

Noon Phase

• Activation of "At Noon" Abilities: All effects or abilities of cards with an "At Noon" trigger are activated. The player with the First Player Marker activates and resolves their abilities first, followed by their opponent.

Afternoon Phase

• Turn by Turn: Starting with the player who holds the First Player Marker, each player plays a card on their turn or chooses to pass.
• Quick Actions: Before playing a card, a player can perform as many quick actions as they wish, such as activating exhaustion or support abilities.
• Playing a Card: To play a card, the player must exhaust a number of Mana Orbs equivalent to its hand cost (if played from the hand) or its reserve cost (if played from the Reserve).
• Passing: A player can choose to pass their turn if they cannot or do not wish to play a card. Once a player has passed, they can no longer play cards for this phase.
• End of Phase: The Afternoon phase ends once both players have passed their turn.

Dusk Phase

• Activation of "At Dusk" Abilities: All effects or abilities of cards with an "At Dusk" trigger are activated and resolved before the advancement of Expeditions.
• Comparison of Statistics: Players compare the statistics of Characters in play for each region type (Forest, Mountain, Water).
• Advancement of Expeditions: If a player's statistics in a region are higher than their opponent's, their Expedition marker advances one space for that region. Each Expedition can only advance once per Dusk phase.
• Revelation of Tumult Cards: When an Expedition marker moves onto a face-down Tumult card, it is turned face up, and its effect is resolved.

Night Phase

• Rest: All Characters in Expeditions are sent to Reserve. Characters with the Fleeting status are discarded instead of going to Reserve. The Anchored and Asleep statuses are removed from Characters during this phase.
• Cleanup: Players must discard excess cards in their Reserve and Landmark zone to keep only two cards in each of these zones.

Control

A "Control" deck is a type of archetype that seeks to neutralize the opponent's threats while surviving until the late game, where it can play powerful cards to win the game. Control decks often use removal spells, counterspells, card draw, and other tools to manage the game until they can deploy their own winning strategy. The goal is to control the pace of the game, exhaust the opponent's resources, and eventually take over with powerful cards that become effective in the long term.

Deck Building

"Deck Building" is the art of creating a deck by choosing the cards to include based on the rules of the game and the strategy you wish to adopt. Good deck building takes into account the mana curve, synergy between cards, overall strategy (aggro, control, etc.), and win conditions. It's about choosing a balance between different cards to maximize your chances of success against various types of opponents.

Free for All

The Free for All mode is a four-player mode, where each player faces the others.

Setting up an Altered Multiplayer Free for All game
The setup for an Altered Multiplayer Free for All game is the same as for a Multiplayer 2v2 game, except that the placement of players around the table doesn't matter.

Victory conditions
The first player whose Hero and Companion Expeditions meet in the same Region wins the game.
If multiple players fulfill the victory conditions at the same time, first check if a player has advanced further than necessary. If so, that player wins the game. Otherwise, play a tiebreaker day in the Arena with only the players who have advanced the furthest.

Tiebreaker
Play an additional day with the following rule modifications:

• Players who didn't qualify for the tiebreaker leave the game. All other players keep their Hero and Companion Expeditions at their current position.
• From a rules perspective, Expeditions that were facing one of these players now face the other (you can then have a Companion Expedition facing a Hero Expedition).
• During Dusk, each player totals the statistics of their Characters for each type of Region in the Arena (Forest, Mountain and Water).
• For each of these regions, check if a player has a total higher than all others.
• The player who surpasses all others in the most region types wins the game.
• In case of an additional tie, play a new tiebreaker day with only the players having the best totals, until a player is declared the winner.

++Example
In this example, the fact that Bob and Camille did better than Alice in Forest and Mountain doesn't matter, because neither of them has the highest score in Mountain or Forest. Alice wins.++

First player effects
Effects that activate "if you are the first player" (Akesha & Taru, Kojo & Booda, Lindiwe & Maw) only activate if you have the first player token.

Interactions with other players
It is forbidden to show your hand of cards to another player.
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 all players, and others may still allow coded messages. Players should ensure agreement at the beginning of the game.

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

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

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

Midrange

A "Midrange" deck is a type of archetype that sits between the aggressiveness of aggro decks and the long-term strategy of control decks. Midrange decks seek to control the early phases of the game with efficient creatures or spells, before deploying larger threats as the game progresses. These decks are generally flexible and can adapt to different situations, sometimes adopting a more aggressive or more defensive role as needed.

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.

Vanilla

A "Vanilla" card is a card that has no special abilities or effect text. This type of card simply has basic characteristics such as strength and toughness (in the case of creatures), or a mana cost, but has no additional effect. These cards are often used as a reference or to simplify game mechanics.