Everyone’s buzzing about Phantasmal Flames—especially the Special Illustration Rare (SIR) Charizard. With the set streeting November 14, 2025, pre-release comps for the SIR have already landed in the four-figure range—modern heat pricing like scarcity is already permanent. From a certain POV, I kinda get it—most collectors subjectively find these artworks amazing (me too!). However, objectively this doesn’t make sense once you stack supply and survivorship against older cards with tiny populations.

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Two quick reality checks:

• Van Gogh Pikachu (2023) & McDonald’s “Burger Pikachu” (Japan, 2025).
  Both still pull strong prices despite massive PSA 10 pops: 44,262 PSA 10s for Van Gogh Pikachu and 84,511 PSA 10s for Burgerchu. That’s hype/liquidity at work, not true scarcity.
• Moonbreon (modern) vs. OG Neo Umbreon (vintage).
  Umbreon VMAX (Alt Art) from Evolving Skies (2021) sits around ≈18,900 PSA 10s, while Umbreon #13 from Neo Discovery Unlimited (2001) has just 108 PSA 10s—making the vintage 10 roughly ~175× rarer. Yet Moonbreon’s PSA 10 still traces just behind the OG’s price. If we’re valuing scarcity + historical weight, that gap should be wider—not narrower.

(For ongoing realized-price comps and cross-era snapshots, consignors like ZandGemporium regularly post side-by-side results across slab types and eras.)

The Core Problem With Modern Pricing (Right Now)

1) Reprints are real.

Hot sets can (and often do) get reprinted, which suddenly boosts supply. Prices that assume “this is the last wave” are fragile. If reprints are on the table, build that risk into what you’re willing to pay.

2) PSA 10 pops explode.

Modern looks scarce in the first few months because grading pipelines lag. As bulk subs come back, PSA 10 counts can jump by thousands. When supply jumps, prices usually drift down toward reality.

3) Hype > math.

Break streams make every chase feel like a blue-chip, but most boxes don’t “pay for themselves.” The “one card covers the case” idea assumes you’ll pull it and that it grades a 10. That’s a lot of ifs.

4) Too many “special” cards.

Modern sets have full arts, SIR/SAR, golds, stamps, and more. When everything is premium, very little is truly scarce. Heat gets spread thin across too many slots.

5) Easy 9s/10s (good for collectors, tough for value).

Print quality today is strong, so clean high grades are common. That means lots of identical 9s/10s competing for the same buyers. Without a top-tier character or iconic art, premiums compress over time.

6) Rotation and trend cycles.

Play-driven prices fade when cards rotate out of competitive formats. Meme-driven cards fade when the meme fades. If your thesis relies on either, expect a short shelf life.

7) “Future nostalgia” isn’t guaranteed.

People say “kids will pay up for this set in 15 years.” Maybe—but vintage has already crossed that bridge. Modern still has to prove it.

Why Vintage Still Looks Cheap (Outside the Obvious Zards)

1) Out of print, and shrinking supply over time.

WOTC/e-Series/EX/DP have been out of print for years, so no new supply is coming. Clean raw copies get scooped up, graded, or damaged as time passes. The pool of gradeable cards keeps shrinking—that’s the opposite curve of modern.

2) Condition rarity is real.

Old holos scratch, silver, off-center—true PSA 9/10s are legitimately scarce.

3) Cultural moat.

Base → Neo → e-Reader live in collective memory. You don’t have to “explain” them.

4) Underserved lanes remain.

e-Reader reverses, early Black Star promos, EX holos/Gold Stars, DP/Platinum, JP exclusives, oddball stamps—still mispriced relative to scarcity.

5) Survivorship and story.

Vintage has first appearances, era-defining art, and mechanics that marked milestones. Story is a value multiplier that lasts longer than “set of the month” hype. Collectors pay for history.

6) Softer downside.

No reprint overhang. Even in slow markets, clean vintage and sealed vintage have steady buyer bases.

“Some Modern Will Be Blue-Chips.” Agreed—Use This Filter

• S-tier characters: Charizard, Pikachu, Eeveelutions, Mew/Mewtwo, starters, key legendaries.
• S-tier artwork: A-list illustrators; composition that “reads” from 10 feet away.
• Low pop + low reprint risk: Late-wave/event promos, JP exclusives.
• Cross-category pull: Matters to players and collectors (or ties to anime/games).
• Time: Let the grading wave pass—buy after the cool-down, not at the first 10.

The Simple Value Matrix

Ask two questions for any card or sealed:

1. Can supply still grow? (reprints, grading backlog, warehouse finds)
2. Will demand persist? (iconic character, historic set, nostalgia)

• Modern chase: High supply growth / uncertain persistence → speculative; price accordingly.
• Vintage minor: Low supply growth / niche demand → sleeper; be patient.
• Vintage iconic: Low supply growth / strong persistence → core; buy quality.
• Modern JP/event promo: Low supply growth / decent persistence → selective buy; choose art/character carefully.

Danger Zones (Where Modern Wrecks Portfolios)

Mass-printed promos with exploding PSA 10 pops.

They look rare early, then the population chart goes vertical. Price memory lags—and late buyers get caught.

Beautiful art on B-tier characters.

Gorgeous card, thin demand. When hype fades, these drift hardest.

Stacks of modern sealed “for investment.”

You’re competing with thousands of identical closets. Add reprint risk and storage costs, and the math gets worse.

Buying before reprint rumors settle.

If reprints land, sealed and singles both feel it. Wait for clarity when possible.

Fair Counterpoints (Because Balance Matters)

• Mass-printed promos with exploding PSA 10 pops.
• Gorgeous but B-tier character alt arts.
• Towers of modern sealed “for investment.”
• Buying before reprint rumors settle.

Final Thoughts (and a Word on Sealed)

If you’re thinking “investment” first, sealed product is generally the safer bet—especially vintage or mid-era sealed. Sealed avoids the grading lottery (no surface scratches or centering surprises), carries display premium, and acts like a time capsule of an out-of-print era. Just watch for re-seals, store properly (heat/moisture kill value), and remember: modern sealed still carries reprint risk—vintage sealed does not.Bottom line: modern is priced on immediacy (hype, first 10s, streams), while vintage is priced on reality (finite supply, condition scarcity, cultural staying power). If you want joy and sane risk, bias toward vintage, take selective modern shots, and let time be your edge.

🔥Do you realize who you're dealing with?#LEGOTheLegendofZelda pic.twitter.com/NCl84ydZ3a

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) November 11, 2025

How we picked (quick)

• Display power (iconic moments/characters, looks great on a shelf)
• Collector signals (first-of-its-kind, adult-targeted “Icons” style, mechanical surprises)
• Value markers (retired/retiring status, aftermarket baselines from trackers)

1) The Legend of Zelda: Great Deku Tree 2-in-1 (77092)

Why it matters: The first full Zelda set—and a 2-in-1 that lets you build either the Ocarina of Time or Breath of the Wild version. That duality gives it unusually long legs for display rotation.

Key stats:2,500 pcs, $299.99 MSRP; includes multiple Links, Zelda, and Navi.  

2) Nintendo Entertainment System (71374)

Why it matters: The heavyweight nostalgia piece; the crank “scrolling” CRT is still magic. A fixture in adult collections.

Key stats:2,646 pcs; retired; New:~$256Used:~$181

3) Super Mario 64 “?” Block (71395)

Why it matters: Hidden micro-worlds (Peach’s Castle, Bob-omb Battlefield, Cool, Cool Mountain, Lethal Lava Land) make this the cleverest Mario-era showpiece.

Key stats:2,064 pcs; retired; New:~$191Used:~$160

4) The Mighty Bowser (71411)

Why it matters: The definitive big-boss display—poseable, imposing, and perfect as a counterpiece to a future Ganon.

Key stats:2,807 pcs; $269.99; backorder

5) Piranha Plant (71426)

Why it matters: An affordable “icon” that looks sick on a desk and appeals across age groups—a classic sleeper hold.

Key stats:540 pcs; $59.99 

6) Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi (71438)

Why it matters: A love letter to the SNES era with working cranks that animate Yoshi—great motion on display, plus strong nostalgia density.

Key stats: 1,215 pcs; $129.99; estimated to retire by mid 2026.  

7) The Bowser Express Train (71437)

Why it matters: A kinetic set with a cannon wagon and mini stations—fun to pose and it bridges play/display collectors.

Key stats:1,392 pcs; 2024 release; retiring-soon flag showing on trackers.  

8) Princess Peach’s Castle (71408)

Why it matters: A castle silhouette always anchors a Nintendo shelf; this one doubles as a hub for Mario interactive figures.

Key stats: 1,216 pcs; $109.99 - cheaper on eBay. New: ~$78 Used: ~$77

.  

9) Donkey Kong’s Tree House (71424)

Why it matters: DK’s first LEGO tree house with Cranky makes a tight vignette and pairs well with other DK expansions.

Key stats: 555 pcs; MSRP $59.99. New: ~$46 Used: ~$36

10) Diddy Kong’s Mine Cart Ride (71425)

Why it matters: Iconic mine-cart vibes + short run = steady aftermarket interest, especially sealed.

Key stats: $76.99; New: ~$64 Used: ~$54

Honorable mentions

• Animal Crossing: Nook’s Cranny & Rosie’s House (77050) — a cozy two-build set; not a value monster today but a great genre anchor if AC keeps expanding. 535 pcs.
• Mario Kart wave (2025) — more play than display, but it’ll spike cross-fandom interest when it lands; could feed demand for the “Icons”-style pieces above.  

Value & timing notes (what to watch)

• Zelda hype window. When LEGO fully reveals the Ocarina of Time set, expect renewed demand for 77092 Great Deku Tree and adjacent display anchors.
• Retirement radar. Price bumps often arrive 3–12 months post-retire (not guaranteed). If a set you like is flagged “retiring soon,” decide whether you want to lock retail now or gamble on a dip before the climb.
• Baselines, not promises. Tracker estimates are directional; real results hinge on condition (MISB vs. used), box/manuals, regional availability, and timing.

Trackers to use (and what each is best for)

• LEGO Shop → “Retiring soon” / “Last Chance to Buy.” The only source that’s truly official for retirement signals. Check both the global “Last Chance” page and each set’s product page.
• Brickset. Clean database for retiring soon tags, historical release/retire dates, and quick theme scans. Great for verifying what LEGO Shop is signaling.
• BrickFanatics. Maintains retirement watchlists and yearly rundowns. Useful early heads-up; treat as provisional until LEGO Shop or Brickset corroborates.
• Jay’s Brick Blog. Community-minded retiring-soon roundups plus practical buying notes (double points, promos, GWP timing). Handy for timing cart adds.
• BrickEconomy. Easy read on current value, historic growth charts, and predicted retirement windows. Treat the forecasts as models, not facts.
• BrickLink Price Guide. The best hard comps: 6-month sold data vs. current listings, with new vs. used splits and regional filters.
• eBay → Advanced → “Sold items.” Retail reality check for what actually moved recently (roughly ~90 days by default).
• Keepa (Amazon). If a set is carried on Amazon, Keepa graphs price history and lets you set alerts for dips—useful for snagging deals pre-retire.

How to cross-check (fast workflow)

1. Confirm retirement status. Look for “Retiring soon”/“Last Chance to Buy” on LEGO Shop; verify on Brickset’s set page.
2. Set a price baseline. Pull BrickLink Price Guide (sold tab) for new/used comps; compare against BrickEconomy’s current value/growth.
3. Reality check the market. Run eBay → Sold items with the exact set number and condition (“new/sealed” vs “used/complete”).
4. Time your purchase. If the set appears on Amazon, drop a Keepa alert; otherwise, watch Jay’s Brick Blog/BrickFanatics for promos (VIP points, GWPs) to stack with a direct LEGO buy.

With a 2026 Ocarina of Time set looming, the Nintendo × LEGO pipeline isn’t slowing down—so collect with intent, not FOMO. Prioritize “firsts” and boss-level display pieces (they anchor shelves and usually age well), verify Retiring soon on LEGO Shop, baseline prices with BrickLink sold data, sanity-check eBay solds, and set Keepa alerts if Amazon carries the set. Buy what you actually want to look at every day—display power beats theoretical gains, always. If value matters, keep sets sealed, or at least save boxes/manuals and log your purchase dates. Most of all, have fun curating a tight Nintendo corner now so when Link finally squares up with Ganon, your shelf is ready for the headliner!

So you’ve finally learned the truth: the hero in the pointy green hat isn’t Zelda—that’s Link—and now you want to jump in. With 20+ games across decades, it’s not obvious where to start, and the whole “timeline” thing sounds intimidating. The good news? While some entries connect, you don’t need a strict order—there are multiple easy entry points. This guide breaks down the timeline at a glance and shows you where to start based on the vibe you want.

The super-short version

Zelda isn’t one straight story. It’s a set of legends about a hero (Link), a princess (Zelda), and a demon king (Ganon/Ganondorf) that repeat through history. One pivotal game (Ocarina of Time) creates three branches, later games remix details, and the newest entries keep things intentionally vague—which is why fans still debate how it all fits.

What “timeline” means in Zelda

Think of each game as a new legend about Hyrule, not Season 1 → Season 2. Some are direct sequels, many are stand-alone, and a few gently reboot ideas. Nintendo has published timelines before, but they also design for gameplay and vibe first, so continuity is flexible.

The split that started it all: 

Ocarina of Time

After Ocarina of Time, official materials describe three “what if?” branches:

• Adult Timeline: Link defeats Ganon and vanishes from that future.
  → The Wind Waker → Phantom Hourglass → Spirit Tracks (oceanic Hyrule, then a new continent).
• Child Timeline: Link returns to childhood, warns others, and Ganon is stopped earlier.
  → Majora’s Mask → Twilight Princess → Four Swords Adventures.
• Fallen Hero Timeline: What if the hero lost in Ocarina?
  → A Link to the Past → Link’s Awakening → Oracle of Ages/Seasons → A Link Between Worlds → Tri Force Heroes.

You don’t need to memorize this—just know Ocarina is the fork. It is also widely considered one of the greatest and most influential games of all time by many, so if you don’t know where to start…start there.

Why people still argue about it

• Myth over math: Zelda treats history like folklore. Dates are loose, motifs repeat (Master Sword, sages, Hyrule Castle).
• Retcons happen: Remakes/books tweak small details that ripple through fan charts.
• “Fun first” design: If a cool idea clashes with old lore, the cool idea usually wins.
• Many Links/Zeldas: Roles recur across eras; it’s usually new people with the same destinies.
• The wild cards:Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom sit “far in the future,” blending references from multiple eras without pinning to one branch.

A simple way to hold it in your head

• Origin:Skyward Sword (earliest legend; forging the Master Sword).
• The split:Ocarina of Time → three branches (Adult / Child / Fallen Hero).
• Far future:Breath of the Wild → Tears of the Kingdom (“long after” the old stories; placement purposefully broad).

That’s enough to follow conversations without a lore spreadsheet.

Where to start (pick your vibe)

• Modern open-world:Breath of the Wild → Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo Switch). Pure exploration, light on required timeline knowledge.
• Classic 3D adventure:Ocarina of Time (Switch Online) or The Wind Waker HD (Wii U). Dungeon puzzles, iconic items, tight pacing.
• Classic 2D feel:A Link to the Past (Switch Online) or Link’s Awakening (Switch remake). Top-down puzzles, short sessions, great for newcomers.
• Weird/character-driven:Majora’s Mask (Switch Online). Time-loop mystery with stronger story vibes—best after Ocarina, but still doable.

Quick FAQ

Is each game a sequel?

Only some. Clear sequel pairs: Majora’s Mask → from Ocarina (Child Timeline), Phantom Hourglass → from Wind Waker, and Tears → from Breath of the Wild.

Is it the same Link and Zelda every time?

Usually new incarnations of those roles. A few games continue the same characters, but most don’t.

Are spin-offs like Hyrule Warriors canon?

Treat them as alternate timelines/celebrations. Fun, not binding on the mainline story.

Why Nintendo leaves room on purpose

Zelda thrives as myth—recurring roles, new art styles, and fresh mechanics. A rigid, single chronology would restrict that creativity. By keeping the timeline suggestive, Nintendo can reinvent, and fans get a forever-discussion.

The takeaway

Zelda’s “timeline” is best seen as legends that rhyme, not a straight line. Know the Ocarina split, recognize that BOTW/TOTK live far ahead, and then just pick the game whose art style and vibe speak to you. There’s no wrong order—only new legends to discover.

The community’s been fixated on one detail: in Phantasmal Flames, the English Mega Charizard ex SIR places attack/rule text over Charmander’s face, while the Japanese print leaves the composition clean. Side-by-side posts and short videos have been circulating all week, and most collectors say the JP version simply reads better as art—sharper layout, nothing obscuring the trio. It’s a small difference that encapsulates a bigger point of this article: when you collect for art, Japanese prints often win on composition and finish.  

Here’s a list of reasons why JP is simply just better for collecting. But hey, that’s just like, my opinion man…

1) Print Quality & Centering (a.k.a. your binder looks cleaner)

Japanese cards are famously well-cut with tighter centering and fewer edge nicks straight out of the pack. That means more copies land in “binder mint” and gem grades without a grading lottery. When your page is nine little museum pieces instead of nine “almosts,” you feel it.

2) Textures, Foils, and Finishes Hit Harder

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fH8pajeL35c

Japan tends to debut (and sometimes keep) richer foil textures—especially on Illustration Rares/Special Illustration Rares. Holo patterns read crisply under light, and borders/inks feel dialed in. If your end goal is to stare at the art, JP print treatments usually pop more.

3) Earlier Releases = First Access to the Art

Most sets (and many special arts) launch in Japan first. That lets you collect the definitive version of an illustration months before it hits English. If you like being early—and avoiding the “everyone’s chasing it this week” effect—JP is the lane.

4) Exclusive Promos You’ll Never See in English

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZSlUpKeG0zE

Japan constantly drops store promos, lottery/campaign cards, city Pokémon Center releases, tournament stamps, magazine inserts, and collaboration cards that never get Western equivalents. These are flavorful, historically interesting, and often more limited than main-set chases.

5) Better “Art Curation” for Binders

JP sets often segment rarities and mini-series in ways that make cohesive binder pages—full evolution lines by one artist, story beats across consecutive numbers, or themed SAR runs. You spend less time Frankensteining pages and more time enjoying a clean visual narrative.

6) Stronger Cost-to-Art Ratio on Singles

Because Japan prints at high quality and gets product first, many JP singles cost less than their English counterparts for the same artwork—especially outside the top two or three chases. If you’re building an artist PC or character PC (hello Eeveelutions), JP stretches the budget.

7) Grading Outcomes Are Kinder (With a Caveat)

Thanks to QC, JP cards gem more often, so if you chase 10s for your personal collection, it’s less heartache. Caveat: popular modern JP cards can develop high PSA 10 pops, which caps premiums. Great for collectors; manage expectations if you’re flipping.

8) Sealed Experience Feels Premium

From crisp pack stock to tamper-evident boxes and clean box art, JP sealed often feels like a display piece even before you rip it. If you like having one box on a shelf next to your binder, JP looks the part.

9) Flavor of the Language

The kana/kanji, attack names, and typography give JP cards a distinct aesthetic identity. For a lot of us—especially art-first collectors—that “this came from Japan” vibe is part of the charm.

10) Variety Without Bloat

Japan does variety through promos and mini-releases, not just stuffing sets with ten kinds of rainbow/gold variants. That means you can chase “special” without feeling like everything is special.

When English Might Be Better (Fair Caveats)

• You play the game locally. English is what most Western tournaments/events use; JP isn’t legal in official ENG events.
• You want easy access and cheap shipping. Big-box stores, Target runs, and no import wait times.
• You’re banking on US liquidity. Some English slabs move faster domestically, especially for casual buyers who want English names they grew up with.
• Unique ENG products exist. Ultra-premium boxes, certain English-only promos, and retailer exclusives can be genuinely cool

FAQ (Quick Hits)

Can I use JP cards at my local tournament?

Generally no at official English events. Great for casual play/collecting; stick to English for sanctioned play.

Are JP cards more “valuable”?

Not automatically. They’re often better printed and better priced for the artwork you get, but value depends on character, art, rarity, and population—same rules as English.

What about fakes?

They exist in both languages. Buy from trusted sellers, check texture/weight/print clarity, and compare to a known real card when in doubt.

Final Thoughts (and a quick word on sealed)

TL;DR: If you’re collecting for art, condition, and variety—not tournament play—Japanese (JP) wins on print quality, centering, exclusive promos, and earlier access to the best artwork. English (ENG) still has advantages (availability, local play, some unique products), but for pure collecting joy-per-dollar, JP is hard to beat.

English still wins for local play and convenience, but for pure collecting, JP gives you more “wow” per dollar.

Thinking like an investor? Sealed is generally the safer bet long term—especially out-of-print or special releases—because it avoids the grading lottery and acts like a time capsule. 

Bottom line: if your plan is “build a beautiful collection that still makes sense years from now,” leaning Japanese is a very strong strategy.

Stick around to the end of the list, we’ve got some tips n’ tricks for hosts so your sessions can go smoothly.

Part 1: After-Dinner Bangers (Teach in ~5 Minutes)

1) Wavelength (2–12 players, 30 min)

Teach in one line: Give a clue so your team slides a dial to where the hidden target sits between two opposites (e.g., “hot ↔ cold”).

Why it works: Big laughs, low pressure, great for mixed ages.

2) Telestrations (4–8, 30–45 min)

Teach: Draw a prompt, pass it, then guess what you’re seeing—telephone but with doodles.

Why: Hilarious even if you “can’t draw.” Actually, because you can’t draw.

3) Monikers / Time’s Up: Title Recall (4–12, 30–45 min)

Teach: Describe a name without saying it → one-word clue → charades; same cards, escalating chaos.

Why: Easy teach, guaranteed “inside joke” energy by round three.

4) Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza (2–8, 10–20 min)

Teach: Flip cards and slap when words match—plus a few silly gesture cards.

Why: Lightning fast and kid-friendly; resets attention instantly.

5) Skull (3–6, 20–30 min)

Teach: Bluff with coasters; bid how many flowers you can flip without hitting a skull.

Why: Feels stylish and tense without needing strategy charts.

6) Anomia (3–6, 20–30 min)

Teach: Symbols match? Shout a word from your opponent’s category first.

Why: Quick, noisy, and surprisingly clever.

7) 6 nimmt! / Take 5 (2–10, 20–30 min)

Teach: Play number cards simultaneously; avoid taking rows with penalty points.

Why: Pure “I get it!” moments after the first round.

8) Spot It! (2–8, 10–15 min)

Teach: Any two cards share exactly one symbol—be the first to call it.

Why: Perfect for kids, grandparents, and brain-warmups.

9) Sushi Go! (2–5, 20 min)

Teach: Draft a card, pass your hand—collect sets for points (maki, puddings, sashimi).

Why: Colorful, quick, and teaches “drafting” painlessly.

10) Werewords (4–10, 10 min)

Teach: 20 Questions meets hidden roles; guess the secret word while a werewolf tries to derail you.

Why: App runs the game, rounds are ultra short, drama stays light.

Part 2: Cozy Co-Ops (Everyone on the Same Team)

1) Just One (3–7, 20 min)

Teach: Give one-word clues, but duplicates cancel—help the guesser without matching others.

Why: Zero conflict, tons of “we did it!” moments. Ideal starter co-op.

2) Forbidden Island (2–4, 30 min)

Teach: The island sinks while you collect artifacts and escape. Share cards, move smart.

Why: Easier than Pandemic, still tense and cinematic.

3) Horrified (1–5, 45–60 min)

Teach: Team up to stop classic movie monsters, each with a simple puzzle.

Why: Adjustable difficulty; theme is fun, not scary.

4) Pandemic: Hot Zone – North America (2–4, 30 min)

Teach: Streamlined Pandemic—treat outbreaks, share cards, cure diseases.

Why: Shorter, cleaner, perfect “first real co-op.”

5) Mysterium (2–7, 45–60 min)

Teach: One player is a silent ghost giving surreal image clues; the rest decode them.

Why: Gorgeous table presence and great for creative players.

6) 5-Minute Dungeon / 5-Minute Marvel (2–5, 5–25 min)

Teach: Play cards fast to beat monster icons before the timer runs out.

Why: Real-time chaos that resets quickly for rematches.

7) The Crew: Mission Deep Sea (3–5, 20–30 min)

Teach: A co-op trick-taking “mission log” with simple contracts; limited table talk.

Why: Scales from super simple to thinky, hand by hand.

8) Castle Panic (1–6, 45 min)

Teach: Swap cards, hit monsters before they reach your walls.

Why: Friendly, cartoony tower defense that kids can pilot with help.

How to Run the Night (So It Actually Happens)

• Start with one party game to loosen everyone up, then pivot to a co-op if the table wants a shared win.
• Cap teach time at five minutes. If you’re still explaining, swap games. It’s Thanksgiving, not a seminar.
• Seat shyer players next to veterans. Pairing helps with quick tips without stopping the flow.
• Use a “first-to-two rounds” rule for party games so you can rotate in new people easily.

Quick Picks by Group Size

• Big crowd (7–12): Wavelength, Monikers/Time’s Up, Just One, Werewords
• Family mix (kids + adults): Telestrations, Spot It!, Sushi Go!, Castle Panic, Forbidden Island
• Small crew (2–4): Skull, 6 nimmt!, Pandemic: Hot Zone, The Crew, 5-Minute Dungeon

Final Note for New Hosts

If you want to buy one thing that covers almost any group, grab Just One (co-op, minimal rules) and Wavelength(conversation, humor). They live in that sweet spot where your gamer friends stay engaged and your “I don’t play games” uncle still has fun. Everything else on this list is gravy—perfect for leftovers night.

Everyone’s buzzing about Phantasmal Flames—especially the Special Illustration Rare (SIR) Charizard. With the set streeting November 14, 2025, pre-release comps for the SIR have already landed in the four-figure range—modern heat pricing like scarcity is already permanent. From a certain POV, I kinda get it—most collectors subjectively find these artworks amazing (me too!). However, objectively this doesn’t make sense once you stack supply and survivorship against older cards with tiny populations.

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Two quick reality checks:

• Van Gogh Pikachu (2023) & McDonald’s “Burger Pikachu” (Japan, 2025).
  Both still pull strong prices despite massive PSA 10 pops: 44,262 PSA 10s for Van Gogh Pikachu and 84,511 PSA 10s for Burgerchu. That’s hype/liquidity at work, not true scarcity.
• Moonbreon (modern) vs. OG Neo Umbreon (vintage).
  Umbreon VMAX (Alt Art) from Evolving Skies (2021) sits around ≈18,900 PSA 10s, while Umbreon #13 from Neo Discovery Unlimited (2001) has just 108 PSA 10s—making the vintage 10 roughly ~175× rarer. Yet Moonbreon’s PSA 10 still traces just behind the OG’s price. If we’re valuing scarcity + historical weight, that gap should be wider—not narrower.

(For ongoing realized-price comps and cross-era snapshots, consignors like ZandGemporium regularly post side-by-side results across slab types and eras.)

The Core Problem With Modern Pricing (Right Now)

1) Reprints are real.

Hot sets can (and often do) get reprinted, which suddenly boosts supply. Prices that assume “this is the last wave” are fragile. If reprints are on the table, build that risk into what you’re willing to pay.

2) PSA 10 pops explode.

Modern looks scarce in the first few months because grading pipelines lag. As bulk subs come back, PSA 10 counts can jump by thousands. When supply jumps, prices usually drift down toward reality.

3) Hype > math.

Break streams make every chase feel like a blue-chip, but most boxes don’t “pay for themselves.” The “one card covers the case” idea assumes you’ll pull it and that it grades a 10. That’s a lot of ifs.

4) Too many “special” cards.

Modern sets have full arts, SIR/SAR, golds, stamps, and more. When everything is premium, very little is truly scarce. Heat gets spread thin across too many slots.

5) Easy 9s/10s (good for collectors, tough for value).

Print quality today is strong, so clean high grades are common. That means lots of identical 9s/10s competing for the same buyers. Without a top-tier character or iconic art, premiums compress over time.

6) Rotation and trend cycles.

Play-driven prices fade when cards rotate out of competitive formats. Meme-driven cards fade when the meme fades. If your thesis relies on either, expect a short shelf life.

7) “Future nostalgia” isn’t guaranteed.

People say “kids will pay up for this set in 15 years.” Maybe—but vintage has already crossed that bridge. Modern still has to prove it.

Why Vintage Still Looks Cheap (Outside the Obvious Zards)

1) Out of print, and shrinking supply over time.

WOTC/e-Series/EX/DP have been out of print for years, so no new supply is coming. Clean raw copies get scooped up, graded, or damaged as time passes. The pool of gradeable cards keeps shrinking—that’s the opposite curve of modern.

2) Condition rarity is real.

Old holos scratch, silver, off-center—true PSA 9/10s are legitimately scarce.

3) Cultural moat.

Base → Neo → e-Reader live in collective memory. You don’t have to “explain” them.

4) Underserved lanes remain.

e-Reader reverses, early Black Star promos, EX holos/Gold Stars, DP/Platinum, JP exclusives, oddball stamps—still mispriced relative to scarcity.

5) Survivorship and story.

Vintage has first appearances, era-defining art, and mechanics that marked milestones. Story is a value multiplier that lasts longer than “set of the month” hype. Collectors pay for history.

6) Softer downside.

No reprint overhang. Even in slow markets, clean vintage and sealed vintage have steady buyer bases.

“Some Modern Will Be Blue-Chips.” Agreed—Use This Filter

• S-tier characters: Charizard, Pikachu, Eeveelutions, Mew/Mewtwo, starters, key legendaries.
• S-tier artwork: A-list illustrators; composition that “reads” from 10 feet away.
• Low pop + low reprint risk: Late-wave/event promos, JP exclusives.
• Cross-category pull: Matters to players and collectors (or ties to anime/games).
• Time: Let the grading wave pass—buy after the cool-down, not at the first 10.

The Simple Value Matrix

Ask two questions for any card or sealed:

1. Can supply still grow? (reprints, grading backlog, warehouse finds)
2. Will demand persist? (iconic character, historic set, nostalgia)

• Modern chase: High supply growth / uncertain persistence → speculative; price accordingly.
• Vintage minor: Low supply growth / niche demand → sleeper; be patient.
• Vintage iconic: Low supply growth / strong persistence → core; buy quality.
• Modern JP/event promo: Low supply growth / decent persistence → selective buy; choose art/character carefully.

Danger Zones (Where Modern Wrecks Portfolios)

Mass-printed promos with exploding PSA 10 pops.

They look rare early, then the population chart goes vertical. Price memory lags—and late buyers get caught.

Beautiful art on B-tier characters.

Gorgeous card, thin demand. When hype fades, these drift hardest.

Stacks of modern sealed “for investment.”

You’re competing with thousands of identical closets. Add reprint risk and storage costs, and the math gets worse.

Buying before reprint rumors settle.

If reprints land, sealed and singles both feel it. Wait for clarity when possible.

Fair Counterpoints (Because Balance Matters)

• Mass-printed promos with exploding PSA 10 pops.
• Gorgeous but B-tier character alt arts.
• Towers of modern sealed “for investment.”
• Buying before reprint rumors settle.

Final Thoughts (and a Word on Sealed)

If you’re thinking “investment” first, sealed product is generally the safer bet—especially vintage or mid-era sealed. Sealed avoids the grading lottery (no surface scratches or centering surprises), carries display premium, and acts like a time capsule of an out-of-print era. Just watch for re-seals, store properly (heat/moisture kill value), and remember: modern sealed still carries reprint risk—vintage sealed does not.Bottom line: modern is priced on immediacy (hype, first 10s, streams), while vintage is priced on reality (finite supply, condition scarcity, cultural staying power). If you want joy and sane risk, bias toward vintage, take selective modern shots, and let time be your edge.

Plenty of illustrators have hundreds of entries going back to the ’90s/early 2000s. A famous example is Tomokazu Komiya—primitive, kid-like, super distinctive (and not always loved back in the day). Another personal favorite I actively chase: Yuka Morii.

Yuka Morii is the Pokémon TCG’s clay sculptor. Instead of drawing, she hand-sculpts Pokémon in polymer clay, builds tiny sets (pebbles, leaves, teacups), and photographs them. The results feel warm, tactile, and instantly recognizable—little creatures living in our world, not just posing. She’s been illustrating since the early 2000s and has contributed hundreds of cards across eras. Morii’s work reads like mini dioramas: cozy, playful, and low-key hilarious once you notice the props.

Recent spotlight

Over the last few years, Morii’s actual clay models have been displayed at events and mini-exhibitions—first in 2021(From Hands to Life), then again with From Hands to Life 2 in 2023. Most recently, her clay sculpts appeared in February in an exhibit at the 2025 Pokémon Europe International Championships in London (please—bring these to San Francisco next year). Once you see the real sculpts up close, the cards hit even harder.

The Top 5 Yuka Morii Items to Collect

There are 200+ Morii cards, and many are commons—so building a page isn’t too hard. If you want your Morii collection to stand out a bit more, start with these five lanes. And if you’re aiming to 100% it, check out aCheerfulPanic’s master list on Elite Fourum.

1) Reverse Holos, Set-Stamped Variants, & Exclusive Promos

Morii’s clay scenes pop as reverse holos, and some e-Reader reverses are sneaky pricey. Example: Skyridge Pikachu 84/144 (Reverse) often trades ~$150–$200 raw. More common Morii reverses live ~$5–$30 depending on set/condition. Event/set-stamped versions and league/store promos add scarcity without a grail budget—expect ~$15–$100+depending on era and stamp.

Quick tip: Confirm the exact reverse pattern and any stamp in seller photos. e-Reader reverses have set-specific foiling, and prices swing with centering/scratches.

2) Morii’s VS Series Artworks (2001, JP-only)

A tidy, display-ready lane: Morii illustrated Bruno’s team in Pokémon Card VS—headlined by Bruno’s Steelix (084/141) Holo. Raw NM copies commonly sit ~$80–$200. Graded comps vary: PSA 9 ~ $60–$145, PSA 10 ~ $225–$415 (timing/pop swings apply).

Why it’s good: The set never released in English, it’s a tight checklist you can actually finish, and a 9-pocket page looks *chef’s kiss*.

3) Yuka Morii Picture Books (her first Pokémon works, 1998)

Before the TCG, Morii made two Pokémon picture books: Pokémon Tales “Let’s Make Pizza, Machop!” and “Horsea Likes the Sea”—early snapshots of the clay-diorama style that would define her cards. These are perfect “origin story” pieces for a Morii shelf.  Singles for that series show up around $40–$100 per book (title/condition dependent), while full-set or multi-volume lots in Japan can climb much higher.

Why it’s good: These read like the pre-TCG storyboard for her look—perfect shelf mates for a Morii binder page.

4) Asobikata Volume 2 (1998) + tied promos

A late-’90s “how-to play” book that Morii collectors shout out a lot—great bridge between her broader design work and the TCG aesthetic. You’ll also see Asobikata Vol. 2 promos (e.g., Diglett #50 / Dugtrio #51). Raw promos often sell ~$12–$25; graded results vary (PSA 9 ~ $50–$85, PSA 10 typically low-hundreds).

Why it’s good: Affordable, historically neat, and you can pair the book with the promo for a tight mini-display.

5) CoroCoro Jumbo “Pokémon Plaza” (1998) — first Morii art in TCG style

Inserted in the Oct 1998 issue of CoroCoro Comic (released mid-Sept), this oversized Jumbo is widely cited as Morii’s first TCG-format appearance. Pricing is all over the place with condition/grade: raw copies often ~$50–$80, mid-grade PSA 5 around $300 asks, and higher-grade asks can push $800+ (PSA 8). (I grabbed mine on eBay for under $30 back in 2021—timing is everything.)

Why it’s good: It’s the “year one” anchor—historic, big format, and instantly readable as Morii.

Quick buying tips

• Ask for clear photos (front, corners, edges). Reverse holos scratch easily; centering is noticeable on Morii’s borders.
• Build themed pages (one evolution line, one generation, or “outdoor scenes”). Cohesive > random.
• Use saved searches for “Yuka Morii” (and モリイユカ) plus “promo,” “reverse,” or “stamped.”
• Protect displays: side-loading sleeves, low-glare binder pages; jumbos in top-loader frames.

Why collectors stick with Morii

Her cards feel handmade—because they are. In a hobby chasing hyper-rares and max shine, Morii is about tiny moments and real texture. That’s why people start with one card, then suddenly they’ve got a Yuka Morii page… then a whole binder.

My plan: I’m going for a master set of one of each artwork in the highest rarity I can find (reverse/stamped where possible), then upgrading condition or rarity over time.

If you want a collection non-collectors instantly “get,” this is the lane. Start with the five buckets above and watch your Morii shelf come to life.

1) Jenny Nicholson — The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotel (YouTube)

Yes, this video is 4 hours long (I suggest speeding up the video or watching it in parts). It’s also probably the most well-known and comprehensive video about the project. A feature-length, first-hand breakdown from booking to finale. Jenny documents check-in at the “spaceport,” the tight staterooms, Datapad missions, bridge and lightsaber training, the Gaya dinner show, and the Batuu excursion.

She gives huge credit to the cast and the clever live-game design, then makes a detailed case for why the value didn’t land (small rooms, rigid pacing, upsells vs. expectations). If you watch one video to understand both the magic and the backlash, make it this.

2) Ordinary Adventures — Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser One Year Later

A bit shorter than the first video and more of a clear, upbeat vlog-style walkthrough from creators who sailed more than once, focused on how the show and logistics evolved after opening. You’ll see arrival flow, atrium/bridge activities, mission timing, and food/drink highlights (including captain’s table).

It shows the intended rhythm—how a typical guest moves from story beat to story beat—and how easy it is to feel FOMO trying to do everything in 48 hours. Great visual context without a four-hour runtime.

3) Meko Valentino — 14 Must Do’s at the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

@mekovalentino

14 Must Do’s At The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Hotel! #galacticstarcruiser #starwarshotel #disneycreator #starwarsgalacticcruiserhotel #disneyhotels #starwarsgalacticstarcruiser #hosted by @Disney Parks

♬ Star Wars: Main Title - Charles Gerhardt

A fast, guest-shot checklist reel that compresses the whole two-night voyage into ~90 seconds. You get quick cuts of Datapad scanning, bridge training, the lightsaber dojo, engineering room puzzles, the Crown of Corellia dining room, a stop at the Sub-Light Lounge, the Batuu transport, and finale beats. Note: it’s a hosted creator trip, so the footage is polished and very “best-of” by design.

4) DFBGuide - Why the Galactic Starcruiser Is Closing

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KNJe8EME5Ko

A tight, captioned post-mortem that lays out the big three reasons the Star Wars hotel ended so quickly—premium pricing, a niche, role-play–heavy format, and limited demand beyond superfans—over a quick B-roll of the experience. In under a minute it connects the dots between the 2017–2019 hype cycle, the Spring 2022 launch, and the closure announcement, making it an easy “here’s the gist” clip if you’re not into long video essays. It’s the vibe-and-facts snapshot that pairs well with the deep-dive videos above.

6) The Tim Tracker — Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Boys Trip! Day 1

A family-style, day-one vlog of the Halcyon, shot as a “Daddy & Buddy” trip with his young son. It’s personable and linear, so you see how a real family actually moves through the first afternoon/evening. Most coverage focuses on adult superfans; this gives you the parent + kid use case. It’s also a good “is this workable with children?” 

Bottom line

The initial announcement of the Galactic Starcruiser sold a dream that Star Wars superfans forever yearned for, but long quiet stretches and marketing mishaps dulled momentum. The actual show delivered a strong live story for a small audience—priced beyond most fans. These five POVs capture the cast magic, the time/space constraints, and why the Halcyon’s voyage was brief.

Below is a quick buyer’s guide to this year’s IP collabs only—what each release is, the top chase card, and what it’s selling for right now.

FINAL FANTASY (June 13, 2025)

Img from price charting

• Collector Booster (12-pack) displays ~$1,200–$1,300.
• Top chase: The Traveling Chocobo — Gold Serialized /77 (Borderless)
  Recent sales: roughly $40,000–$78,000 depending on copy/grade.
• Why it’s leading: True scarcity (77 copies), massive FF fanbase, and lots of premium variants keep demand high. Even some of the non-serialized versions are fetching thousands.

Marvel’s Spider-Man (September 26, 2025)

Imgs from pricecharting and tcgplayer

• Collector Booster displays ~$470–$600 as the post-release market stabilizes.
• Top chase: The Soul Stone — Cosmic Foil / Borderless variant
  Recent sales: commonly five figures for the marquee premium versions; standard prints sit far lower.
• Takeaway: One ultra-chase can spike headlines, but sealed EV has cooled compared to FF.

Secret Lair x SpongeBob SquarePants (March 24, 2025 — Spring Superdrop)

• Three themed drops (Legends of Bikini Bottom, Internet Sensation, Lands Under the Sea).
• Top chase (bonus card): Smothering Tithe — Rainbow Foil
  Recent price: about $400–$450.
• Great display collab; value concentrates in the bonus.

Secret Lair x Sonic the Hedgehog (July 14, 2025 — Summer Superdrop; WPN non-foil variant in August)

• Multiple Sonic drops with a surprise bonus chase.
• Top chase (bonus card): Chaos Emerald — Lotus Petal reskin
  Recent price: roughly $200–$260 per bonus card, variant-dependent.
• Flavor-first; the bonus is the play.

Secret Lair x Hatsune Miku: Winter Diva (Winter Superdrop 2025)

Img from tcgplayer

• The winter entry in the Miku series (EN/JP variants).
• Top chase (bonus card): Encore Electromancer (Snapcaster Mage) — Rainbow Foil
  Recent price: for English variants about $1,500 (rainbow foil); non-foil near $1,200.
• Fandom-forward with one standout bonus.

What These Prices Mean (and how to buy smart)

• Modern baselines matter. Most Collector Booster boxes live around $200–$550 once the dust settles; Final Fantasy at ~$1.2k is a clear outlier among modern releases.
• Singles vs. sealed EV. If you’re hunting one grail (e.g., Gold /77 Chocobo, Cosmic Foil Soul Stone), buying the single reduces variance versus ripping high-priced sealed. Secret Lair value is often in the bonus card.
• Expect movement. Collab products can restock (especially Secret Lair), and hype cycles fade. If you’re collecting, set target prices and be patient; if you’re investing, focus on true scarcity (serialized/premium foils) over base prints.

Magic’s no stranger to crossovers, and 2025 shows they’re only dialing it up. FINAL FANTASY pushed modern sealed into four figures, Spider-Man added another pop-culture on-ramp, and the pipeline keeps humming with Avatar: The Last Airbender on deck plus the TMNT collaboration freshly revealed at NYCC. Translation: the chase isn’t ending—it’s evolving. If you’re collecting for value, keep your sights on true scarcity (serialized/premium treatments) and Secret Lair bonus cards; if you’re collecting for love, pick the IP that hits your nostalgia nerve and build around it. Either way, expect more headlines, more mash-ups, and more chances to snag a grail before the next drop lands.

A few months ago at Pokémon World Championships in Anaheim, The Pokémon Company finally weighed in on how to pronounce a certain Gen 3 Legendary’s name. Judging by decade-old forum threads, a lot of us were on the “wrong” side. And look—I still think they’re wrong. I’m team “Ray-KWAH-zuh,” partly because its design reads like a nod to feathered serpent mythology (Quetzalcoatl vibes). But I digress.

Most recently, I saw an IG reel about Ditto that low-key blew my mind—because I’d never stopped to think about it. That sent me down the rabbit hole and inspired this list: 15 fun Pokémon facts you may or may not know (perfect for trivia night). I saved the Ditto one for last.

1) Mew was a last-minute stowaway.

Game Freak snuck Mew into unused bytes at the end of Red/Green’s code as a dev prank. That tiny add helped fuel ’90s playground myths and the first big trading frenzy

(sprite from Pokémon Green version - Japan)

2) Rhydon was designed first.

Those statues in early Kanto gyms aren’t random—Rhydon was the earliest sprite in the pipeline, so it shows up everywhere.

3) “Splash” is a mistranslation.

The Japanese move name means “Hop,” which is why non-Water mons (like Spoink) can “Splash” without, y’know, water.

4) Hitmonlee/Hitmonchan honor different fighters by region.

EN names nod Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. In Japan they’re named after kickboxer Tadashi Sawamura and boxer Hiroyuki Ebihara.

5) Shiny Pokémon started as a visibility trick.

Gen II tied shininess to internal values and added sparkles/alt palettes—partly so traded mons stood out on Game Boy Color. The Red Gyarados made sure everyone met at least one.

6) The Pokédex order has logic.

It groups evolutions and loosely mirrors an early Kanto route flow/internal indexing. Not power level—journey structure.

7) Poliwag’s swirl is real biology.

Real tadpoles are semi-transparent; that belly spiral is basically visible intestines—lifted straight from nature.

8) Shedinja is a “bonus” evolution with 1 HP.

Evolve Nincada with a spare party slot and a Poké Ball—Shedinja just appears. It has 1 HP and Wonder Guard, blocking most attacks. Rules gremlin, certified.

9) The link cable was the original inspiration.

Satoshi Tajiri imagined creatures crawling through the cable between friends—trading and battling grew from that mental image.

10) Raichu almost had a final form.

Developers cut a second evolution called Gorochu (horns, fangs) late in Gen I/II’s concepting. The idea lives on in fan lore and prototypes.

11) MissingNo. did more than crash games.

Encountering MissingNo. could duplicate the 6th bag item (hi, 99 Master Balls) and scramble your Hall of Fame. Iconic glitch, legendary chaos.

12) Gen I’s type chart was weird under the hood.

Ghost-type attacks did 0 damage to Psychic (implementation bug), and Bite was Normal-type until Gen II. Also, Speed affected crit rates—fast mons crit more.

13) Many Gen I cries are shared.

The sound library was tiny, so several species use the same cry pitched or stretched differently. Once you hear it, you can’t unhear it.

14) The Porygon episode pause was real.

“Electric Soldier Porygon” (1997) caused photosensitive reactions and pulled the anime off air in Japan for months. The sequence used Pikachu’s attack—Porygon unfairly took the blame.

15) Duplica’s Ditto had a famous flaw.The “derpy Ditto face” you see on official merch and tons of fan art comes from Duplica’s Ditto in the Kanto anime—hers kept Ditto’s beady eyes and smile when transforming. That quirk isn’t universal. By canon, a normal Ditto can copy a Pokémo

What’s new:PSA will begin accepting video game and home-media submissions as WATA fully rebrands into PSA. Items received after October 15, 2025 will be encapsulated in PSA holders with PSA labels; the full cutover lands October 20, 2025. Perfect PSA 10 A++ pieces get a gold label.  

What PSA will grade (at launch)

PSA lists support for sealed, CIB, and loose games, plus standard-size discs (DVD/Blu-ray/4K) and CDs/soundtracks. PSA notes a full accepted-items list and states that some non-standard/oddball sizes will roll in later.  

Labels, holders, and that new gold

• PSA holders + labels go on anything received after Oct 15 (so your shelf can match cards, comics, and games).  
• Gold label is automatic for PSA 10 A++ and applies to reholdered WATA 10s as well; no extra fee.  

Reholders & early promos

PSA is offering 20% off reholders to celebrate the launch, useful if you want to swap a WATA slab to the new PSA label for consistency.  

Why this matters

If you collect across categories, PSA’s move puts cards, comics, games, and home media under one label system—cleaner shelves, simpler submissions, and one census ecosystem going forward. (Some odd-size legacy items are temporarily unsupported while PSA finalizes case options.)  

PSA now joins CGC Video Games and VGA in grading games; collectors effectively have three major grading lanes, with PSA’s value prop being “one brand for everything on your shelf.”  

Key dates

• October 15, 2025: Submissions received after this date get PSA holders/labels.  
• October 20, 2025:Official PSA launch for video-game/media grading (WATA brand retires).  

PSA vs. CGC vs. VGA for Video Games

While VGA (Video Game Authority) has been grading video games since 2008, WATA (founded 2018) is widely credited with popularizing the category—thanks to its clear 1–10 box grade plus seal rating and mainstream visibility. Since WATA and PSA have shared the same parent (Collectors Universe) since 2021, this 2025 rebrand is really a consolidation under PSA. For collectors who want a simpler workflow and uniform shelves, that means one account, one submission flow, and matching PSA labels across games and trading cards. CGC already offers a similar “one-roof” setup after launching CGC Video Games in 2021 (alongside its long-running comics/cards divisions).

Not sure where to send your next submission? Here’s the quick guide:

PSA (now grading games/media)

• Pros: Biggest cross-hobby brand (cards/comics), huge buyer pool, fresh slabs/labels, WATA consolidation boosts visibility.
• Cons: Newer to games; population data and odd-size support are still maturing.
• Liquidity: Broadest mainstream demand; strong prospects on eBay/major auction houses as the census fills in.
• Choose PSA if: You want max audience and shelf consistency with your PSA cards/comics, or plan to resell widely.

CGC Video Games

• Pros: Trusted grading name from comics; sturdy, clean slabs; competitive fees/turnarounds.
• Cons: Resale can lag PSA in some categories; buyers may be more niche vs. PSA’s cross-category crowd.
• Liquidity: Solid—especially with CGC-loyal collectors—but not always top of market for quick flips.
• Choose CGC if: You’re already in the CGC ecosystem and value balanced costs, presentation, and steady resale.

VGA (Video Game Authority)

• Pros: Longest track record in game grading; museum-style acrylic cases; strong cachet for vintage/retro sealed.
• Cons: Bulkier cases; smaller mainstream footprint; sales can take longer outside game-focused channels.
• Liquidity: Excellent with hardcore retro buyers and specialty auctions; slower on broad marketplaces.
• Choose VGA if: You’re targeting serious retro collectors (NES/SNES/Genesis era) and display-first presentation.

Quick take

If you’re building a personal collection, pick the slab you love looking at and the ecosystem you’ll use most. If resale/liquidity is the priority, PSA likely gives you the widest buyer pool today, with CGC and VGA both strong in their lanes (CGC for balanced modern appeal; VGA for vintage purists).

Demand’s already pushed Issue #1 through multiple reprints with fresh variant art, and later issues brought heat of their own. Here are five variants that stand out—for the concept, the art, and the way they pop on a wall or in a slab.

1) DC × Sonic #1 — Second Printing Variant (Sonic as The Flash)

Why it slaps: The “role swap” concept distilled: Sonic suited as The Flash in a clean, poster-ready image. It kicked off the reprint wave and became the visual shorthand for the whole collab. Second print hit at the end of April with that new cover.  

2) DC × Sonic #1 — Third Printing Variant (Shadow as Batman)

Why it slaps: Shadow filling the cowl just works, and the composition screams “grail image” for Shadow fans. This reprint variant followed quickly after the Flash one as #1 kept selling through.  

3) DC × Sonic #1 — Fourth Printing Variant (Knuckles as Superman)

Why it slaps: Knuckles in the S-shield ties the whole Justice League swap theme together. It also gives you an easy three-cover mini-set (Flash/Sonic, Batman/Shadow, Superman/Knux) that displays perfectly. This one from Golden Apple Comics is signed by Knuckle’s voice actor along with his iconic quote.

4) DC × Sonic #2 — Cover B Card-Stock Variant by Ejikure

Why it slaps: Ejikure’s slick, saturated style delivers “event” energy. It’s the cleanest-looking cover of issue #2’s batch and the one most shops spotlighted on release day.  

5) DC × Sonic #3 — Cover B Card-Stock Variant by Serg Acuña

Why it slaps: Big crossover poster vibes—Batman & Shadow paired with Flash & Sonic in a kinetic, circular layout that just pops on a wall or in a slab.  

Honorable mentions

• #4 — Cover B Variant by Daniele Di Nicuolo: Sharp, animated linework; Sonic & Supes presence in Green Hill Zone makes it an easy fan pick.  
• #5 — Cover B Variant by Lucas Meyer: Finale energy & heroic palette

Why is the NYCC moment important?

Quick timeline (pre-NYCC):

• Oct 2024: Early apparel (Shadow-as-Batman) hits, priming the look ahead of the comic.  
• Mar 19, 2025: DC × Sonic the Hedgehog #1 launches (5-issue mini by Ian Flynn & Adam Bryce Thomas)
• Apr–Jun 2025: Reprints/variants push #1 into 2nd/3rd/4th prints (Flash/Shadow/Knuckles covers), fueling cover-chase momentum.  
• Jun 27, 2025: JAKKS Pacific opens toy preorders (Target online) for a Fall 2025 rollout—figures/vehicles tied to the mash-ups.

Beyond the cosplay: NYCC also showcased new merch (that DC × Sonic Batmobile with Shadow as Batman)—a sign the collaboration is bigger than a one-and-done mini and is continuing to deliver, with momentum rolling into 2026. That keeps variant interest (and reprint demand) alive even after the series wrapped.

Grading isn’t just about flexing a number. It’s how collectors preserve their cards, verify authenticity, and establish real-world value. A graded card isn’t just protected—it’s liquid. You can sell or trade it anywhere with confidence.

Here’s everything you need to know about grading—how it works, how to choose the right company, and how it can protect and even increase the value of your collection.

What Is Card Grading, Exactly?

Card grading is when a professional company evaluates the condition, authenticity, and quality of your card on a standardized 1–10 scale. Once graded, the card is sealed in a hard plastic case—often called a slab—for protection and verification.

Why It Matters

• Protection: Prevents scratches, bends, and surface wear.
• Authentication: Confirms the card isn’t fake or altered.
• Value: A graded card can be worth several times more than its raw equivalent.

Example: A raw Pokémon Charizard EX worth $75 could sell for $300+ in a PSA 10 case.

The result is something that can be displayed, insured, and traded without debate.

The Major Grading Companies

Not all graders carry equal weight. Here are the four main players you’ll encounter:

PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator)

• The most recognized name for sports and Pokémon cards.
• Uses a 1–10 scale, with “Gem Mint 10” being the standard of perfection.
• Holds the highest resale value across all markets.
• Longer turnaround times and higher fees for high-value cards.

BGS (Beckett Grading Services)

• Known for detailed subgrades (centering, corners, edges, surface).
• “Black Label 10s” are among the rarest and most valuable slabs in the hobby.
• Popular for premium TCGs like Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering.

CGC (Certified Guaranty Company)

• Originally a comic grader, now a strong player in the card market.
• Transparent grading process and sleek, blue-accented cases.
• Often cheaper and faster than PSA, great for mid-tier collectors.

SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corporation)

• Clean, black-label aesthetic; strong following in sports collecting.
• Consistent grading standards but slightly lower resale values.

TAG (Technical Authentication & Grading)

• New kid with a computer-assisted process and high-res imaging to reduce human error.
• Tons of data. Provides centering metrics, surface maps, and photo reports
• Slabs are often described as more fragile than the others. Handle and ship with care.
• The market still favors PSA; TAG can be harder to move. Best for personal collections.

When (and When Not) to Grade

Grading can cost anywhere from $15 to $150+ per card, depending on value and speed, so strategy matters.

✅ Grade It If:

• The card is rare, vintage, or in top condition.
• You plan to sell, trade, or insure it.
• It’s part of a key set or collection (like Base Set Pokémon, rookie cards, etc.).

🚫 Skip It If:

• The card is modern and low-value.
• It’s heavily played, creased, or water-damaged.
• Grading fees exceed the potential value bump.

Pro Tip: Always check recent eBay sold listings. Other useful apps with scanning abilities are Alt and Collectr, but I’d always recommend comparing this against eBay comps, since the apps are not always up-to-date.

How Graders Score Your Card

Every company focuses on four key attributes:

1. Centering – Is the image perfectly aligned within the borders?
2. Corners – Are they crisp, sharp, and free of whitening?
3. Edges – Smooth and clean without chipping.
4. Surface – Free from scratches, dents, and print lines.

Even tiny flaws—a print dot or a hint of edge whitening—can drop a grade from 10 to 9. And even if a card looks perfect, off-center borders outside a grader’s tolerance will block a Gem Mint. To check centering, use simple card-centering rulers (easy Amazon find) or snap a photo with a centering app to get quick measurements before you submit.

How to Submit Cards for Grading

1. Inspect under bright light. Use a microfiber cloth to remove dust.
2. Sleeve and protect. Penny sleeve → semi-rigid card holder (like Card Saver I).
3. Avoid top loaders. They can shift or bend during shipping.
4. Use official online forms. Declare value and choose a service tier.
5. Package securely. Bubble wrap, cardboard support, and tracking.
6. Photograph your cards. Always document your shipment for peace of mind.

Pro Tip: Bundle submissions with friends or local collectors to save on shipping and grading fees.

Protecting Your Cards Before and After Grading

Even before you send them off, treat your cards like collectibles, not toys:

• Use acid-free sleeves and binders (Ultra Pro, VaultX, etc.).
• Store slabs upright in cool, dry conditions.
• Avoid sunlight and humidity. UV can fade ink and cloud plastic.
• Display smart. Acrylic cases or LED shelf lighting help show off cards safely.

If you’re traveling or vending at markets, graded card cases and slab stands add protection and presentation value.

Profit Tips for Graded Card Investors

• Follow population reports. The fewer 10s exist, the higher the premium.
• Time your sales. Big set anniversaries and product releases drive demand.
• Re-grade cracked slabs if the card looks undergraded (risky but can pay off).
• Track costs. Know your total investment before setting a price.
• Network. Local shows and online collector groups are great for private sales.

Grading isn’t just about money—it’s about adding permanence and trust to your collection.

Final Thoughts

Grading takes time, patience, and a bit of faith, but it can transform your binder of nostalgia into a verified portfolio. Whether you’re preserving your childhood favorites or flipping high-end hits, a well-graded card is part art, part asset.

At the end of the day, grading isn’t just about the number on the label—it’s about respecting the hobby. Protect your collection, learn the process, and you’ll not only safeguard your cards—you’ll elevate their story.

What is Labubu?

Labubu is a “creepy-cute” character by artist Kasing Lung, part of his The Monsters universe. Early pieces lived in limited art-toy runs; the mainstream breakout came when Pop Mart—China’s blind-box powerhouse—scaled production and distribution globally. Pop Mart also helped professionalize blind boxes as a retail model, capped by its 2020 Hong Kong IPO.

Why it blew up (2019–2025)

Blind boxes are built for repeat buys: you don’t know which variant you pulled until you open it, so you keep chasing “the one.” You can buy a case (usually one of each standard figure), but—like sports/Pokémon packs—there are “chase/secret” variants that aren’t guaranteed and command premiums on the secondary market. Labubu rode that mechanic—plus aggressive short-form video—to the moon.

At the same time, Labubu became fashion’s favorite bag charm—spotted on luxury totes and backpacks from celebs like Lisa (BLACKPINK), Rihanna, and Dua Lipa—slotting right into the micro-accessory wave (bag/phone/shoe charms everywhere). Fashion press and TV segments covered the charm craze, which pushed Labubu way beyond toy circles. Editors also called bag charms a top maximalist trend in 2024–2025, which explains how a plush keychain turned into a status add-on.

Context: Blind-box culture didn’t start with Labubu

Before Labubu’s moment, Sonny Angel (Dreams Inc.) and Smiski built massive communities with the same surprise-unboxing psychology—especially on TikTok. Sonny Angel went viral through 2023–2024; Smiski (the glow-in-the-dark little guys) kept pace and widened the audience. Pop Mart scaled designer toys to a global blind-box business, but the cultural groundwork—cute, collectible, a little weird—was already laid by these Japanese lines.

Peak mania

By 2025, Labubu wasn’t just selling—it was drawing 5 a.m. lines for store openings and landing long-form coverage about how Hong Kong’s indie toy scene birthed a global hit. Even some K-pop idols who flexed Labubu on luxury bags started calling it “a passing trend,” a tidy sign that hype had crested.

And then, the slide

Hype cycles end. Feeds once flooded with “Labubu restock” posts are now mixing in donation-bin anecdotes. A viral clip from a thrift worker claimed they were “flooded” with Labubus—so many they couldn’t move them. Is that every region? No. But it’s consistent with a cool-off after overproduction and copy-cat waves.

Labubu ≈ Beanie Babies (my opinion)

Here’s the parallel I’ve been making:

• Scarcity: blind boxes, “secrets,” and surprise drops echo Beanie retirements/rarities.  
• Celebrity fuel: charms on luxury bags in 2025 functioned like ’90s talk-show visibility—only faster, algorithmic, and global.  
• Comedown pattern: as novelty fades and supply catches up. Thrift-store sightings are the smoke signal.  

And if you want a more modern comp: Funko Pop—mass licensing, huge SKU counts, and hype that can outpace long-term demand.

How Labubu fits next to Smiski & Sonny Angel

• Sonny Angel: A steady “cute collectible” lane. Occasional shortages, but the fandom’s stable.
• Smiski: Strong identity (glow + everyday vignettes) and constant series refreshes; more low-key than Labubu’s celeb-fashion push.
• Labubu: The most fashion-forward of the three—great for going viral, but more exposed to trend whiplash as style cycles move on.  

Bottom line

Labubu’s story is designer-toy culture at internet speed: indie roots, blind-box rocket fuel, a celebrity bag-charm moment—and an inevitable cooldown. Blind boxes aren’t going anywhere—Smiski and Sonny Angel prove the format has durable fans—but the character on top rotates. One thing’s for sure: be wary of mass-production cycles. If you love it, buy it. If you’re chasing value, prioritize truly limited or early

Before it was a flex on collector shelves, the Panasonic Q was a swing at living-room convergence. In 2001, Nintendo partnered with Panasonic (Matsushita)—the company that built the GameCube’s optical drives—to produce a premium, Japan-only hybrid: a front-loading stainless-steel DVD deck fused with a full GameCube inside. Announced in October 2001 and released December 14, 2001, the Q arrived with backlit controls, blue LEDs, and that signature GameCube handle—an A/V showpiece aimed squarely at the PS2 era’s “your console should also play movies” moment. Low sales, a split-brain design (DVD and GC modes barely talked to each other), and its Japan-only status meant the Q was discontinued by 2003, but that short run is exactly why it reads like a time-capsule artifact today: a stylish what-if where Nintendo truly doubled as your DVD player.

What exactly is the Panasonic Q?

• Model: Panasonic SL-GC10 (“Panasonic Q”)
• Release: December 2001 (Japan-only)
• What it plays: Standard GameCube game discs plus DVD-Video (and VCD/CD audio; some units read MP3 CDs)
• Why it exists: Panasonic manufactured the GameCube’s optical drives; the Q was their premium “combo” deck for the Japanese market.

Functionally, it’s a real GameCube married to a Panasonic DVD player in one chassis. Nintendo never brought DVD playback to the retail Cube, so the Q filled that gap—at least in Japan.

Region quirks (read this before you buy)

• Out of the box the Q only plays Japanese (NTSC-J) GameCube discs and Region 2 DVDs. Some examples are hardware-switched or BIOS-modded for region flexibility—ask how it’s been done.
• DVD playback is best with the Panasonic Q remote; certain functions are awkward without it. (Factor the remote into pricing a “complete” set.)
• Optical audio on the Q is for DVD playback only, not for GameCube game audio.

Video & accessory compatibility

Most GameCube accessories work as expected, with two key exceptions:

• Game Boy Player: The Q’s underside is different, so it needs the Q-specific Game Boy Player base. The standard GB Player won’t mount cleanly. Q-branded bases are scarcer and add a premium.
• Cables: You’ll use Nintendo’s multi-out for game video and Panasonic’s A/V for DVD. Enthusiasts often pair the Q with high-quality component/D-terminal solutions for the sharpest 480i/480p their setup allows.

How much does a Panasonic Q cost in 2025?

Recent sales show a wide spread based on condition and completeness:

• Loose / region-switched, “tested” units: $700–$1,100
• Clean, boxed, tested sets (remote/manuals present): $1,300–$1,600+

TL;DR: If you see a boxed, working Q with remote and paperwork under $1,300, that’s hot. If it’s fully serviced and immaculate, $1,600+ is normal in today’s market.

What makes it collectible?

• Design & display value: That stainless/clear face with blue LEDs looks nothing like a stock GameCube. It’s a centerpiece.
• Japan-only release: Imports add scarcity and logistics cost; the Q was niche even in its home market.
• “What if” factor: It represents the alternate timeline where GameCube launched with DVD playback and A/V flair.
• Variant ecosystem: The Q-specific Game Boy Player, remote, box, and paperwork all stack collectibility—complete sets command the biggest premium.

Buyer’s checklist (save this)

1. Confirm region behavior. Is it stock JP/Region 2 only, or hardware-switch/BIOS-mod for US games/DVDs? Ask for proof (photos/video).
2. Test both halves. Have the seller show GameCube gameplayandDVD playback (tray, menus, audio).
3. Remote included? DVD functions are limited without it; originals add value.
4. Drive health. Listen for grinding; confirm it reads multiple discs (games & DVDs).
5. Faceplate condition. The brushed panel and acrylic scuff easily—cosmetic flaws tank display appeal.
6. Game Boy Player (Q model) present? If yes, price goes up—those bases are scarce.
7. Documentation & box. Inserts, manuals, foam—packing ephemera moves a set from “nice” to “museum.”

Common pitfalls

• “Works great… for games.” That might mean the DVD side is flaky. Make sellers demonstrate both functions.
• Vague “region-free” claims. Clarify whether it’s a freeloader disc, soft mod, or true hardware/BIOS mod.
• Assuming digital audio for games. The optical out is DVD-only.

Why collectors chase it (beyond the flex)

Because it’s weird and wonderful. The Q isn’t just a rare colorway—it’s a materially different object with its own accessory ecosystem and a genuine “premium A/V” identity from the era. When people talk about the rarest or most desirable console variants, the Q is always in the conversation.

Final thoughts

If you collect GameCube—or you’re building a “greatest hits of hardware history” shelf—the Panasonic Q is that piece everyone points at. It’s not the cheapest way to play Sunshine or watch a DVD, but that’s the point. It’s the vibe: a slice of 2001 optimism where your game console and your living-room hi-fi were the same beautiful box.

If a clean, boxed unit with the remote pops under $1,400, don’t overthink it—that’s a buy. And if you’re holding a mint one today? Enjoy the glow. You’ve got a grail.

If you’re not about dealing with double A batteries or chasing old worm-light accessories just to play Pokémon, you’ll be happy to know you can upgrade your old Game Boy Advance with an IPS backlit screen and USB-C power. Better yet: now, some fans are doing that kind of magic to the recently released LEGO Game Boy set itself.

The Modding Scene: Breathing Life into the Brick

While the official LEGO Game Boy is purely decorative, modders didn’t waste time showing what could be done. Here are the coolest mods so far:

• Natalie the Nerd (Australia):
  She built a custom circuit board using original Game Boy chips (not an emulator), meaning you can drop in real Game Boy cartridges and have them run on actual hardware. Her board is smaller than a Game Boy cartridge itself, and she squeezed in what she calls “the smallest screen kit” available. Modifications also include a USB-C power input. You can read about her thought process and build progress on her blog, she plans to release the design publicly once it’s finalized. You will be able to purchase mod kits for around ~$80 USD and there will be a version for those who prefer not to solder. 
• Sebastian Staacks (aka “There Oughta Be”)
  Another modder took a different route: adding a small LCD display module inside the LEGO casing, using an RP2350-Zero microcontroller for emulation of Game Boy (and potentially Game Boy Color) games. It’s not “real chips + real cartridges,” but the modding work shows how folks are pushing LEGO’s display window into actual functionality.

What Makes This Mod So Cool

These mods aren’t just about showing off or technical flex. They tap into several satisfying aspects of collector & fan culture:

1. Authenticity + Craftsmanship
   Using real Game Boy hardware (original chips, cartridge slots) makes it more than a novelty. It honours the original design while upgrading the experience.
2. Bridging Display & Interaction
   LEGO nailed the visual nostalgia: buttons that click, Game Pak that slides in, etc. But modding adds function—screen, power, real gameplay—not just form.
3. Open-Source & Sharing Culture
   Modders like Natalie are promising to share schematics, PCB layouts, 3D models, etc. That means this isn’t just one-off; it’s something others can replicate if they have the skill.
4. Nostalgia + Innovation
   This builds on fans’ love for the original hardware but upgrades the flaws (weak lighting, no color screen, power issues). It’s about retaining what people loved, minus some of the annoyances.
5. Collectible Potential
   The LEGO set is cool on its own, but a modded version with working internals becomes something unique. Limited production of mods + fan demand = things that could appreciate or become prized in display collections.

Final Thoughts

The LEGO Game Boy set is a display piece by design—but what modders like Natalie the Nerd and Sebastian Staacks are doing is turning nostalgia into functionality. It’s exciting to see fans reimagine what a “model kit” can be when you mix LEGO’s aesthetic with authentic gaming hardware.

If you’re new to the hobby, don’t worry—we’ve all been there. Here are five of the biggest mistakes new Pokémon collectors make (and, more importantly, how you can avoid them).

1. Chasing Every Set at Once

How to Avoid It: Focus on a theme that excites you—like original 151 Pokémon or a specific type (Eeveelutions, Legendaries, Dragon/Fairy). A focused collection gives you direction and makes your cards feel more meaningful. I personally have had a lot of fun collecting Yuka Morii’s clay Pokémon. 

2. Ignoring Card Condition

Condition matters. A Charizard with heavy scratches or whitening will always be worth far less than the same card in mint shape. Many beginners overpay for damaged cards because they just want the character.

How to Avoid It: Learn the grading terms: Near Mint (NM), Lightly Played (LP), Moderately Played (MP), and so on. When buying online, always ask for photos of corners, edges, and holo surfaces. Even if you don’t plan to grade cards, condition matters for both value and long-term enjoyment.

3. Thinking Modern = Guaranteed Investment

Modern sets like Scarlet & Violet 151 or Shining Fates are fun to open, but they’re printed in massive numbers. Sealed product and singles from these sets often drop in value over time once the hype dies down. New collectors sometimes expect every new pack to be a lottery ticket.

How to Avoid It: Collect for fun and nostalgia, not profit. If you’re investing, focus on historically strong categories: vintage WotC cards, popular Pokémon like Charizard, Pikachu, Eeveelutions, and chase cards with low pull rates.

4. Not Protecting Your Cards Properly

Nothing hurts more than pulling a big hit… and then scratching it because you tossed it in a shoebox. Many new collectors underestimate how fragile cards are.

How to Avoid It: Invest in penny sleeves, top loaders, or binders with side-loading, acid-free pages. Avoid 3-ring binders. Store cards away from direct sunlight and humidity. A little protection goes a long way, especially for rare pulls. Nowadays you can get binders for your top-loaded cards. 

5. Falling for Scams and Fakes

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/n45hJ-p4tvw

The bigger the hobby, the more scammers show up. From fake booster boxes on sketchy websites to counterfeit singles on eBay, new collectors can easily get burned.

How to Avoid It: Stick to trusted sellers, marketplaces like TCGPlayer, or local game shops. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Do your due diligence and learn how to spot fake Pokémon cards. A quick YouTube search will yield many results demonstrating the many ways to authenticate a card.

Final Thoughts

Pokémon collecting should be fun, not stressful. The best collections aren’t built overnight. They’re built with patience, focus, and passion. By avoiding these five beginner mistakes, you’ll not only save yourself money and headaches, but also build a collection that feels meaningful and personal.

Whether you’re after that childhood Charizard or just love filling a binder with your favorite Pokémon, remember: it’s your collection. Collect what you love, protect it, and enjoy the ride.

You might be thinking “this console isn’t even that old.” But the GameCube actually turned 20 back in 2021, which firmly places it in the realm of retro. Feeling old yet?

The truth is, a lot of people haven’t caught up to the reality of retro game collecting. If you’ve been in the hobby a while, you already know the days of snagging cheap titles at thrift stores are mostly gone—especially after the pandemic, when so many new collectors jumped in.

The Nintendo GameCube may not have matched the PlayStation 2 in sales, but for many it’s one of the most beloved consoles of the early 2000s. Its compact design, quirky handle, and legendary library (Super Smash Bros. Melee, Metroid Prime, Resident Evil 4) make it a standout among collectors today.

And prices for rare games and hardware? They’ve surged in recent years, driven by the perfect storm of nostalgia and scarcity. Whether you’re brand-new to retro collecting or already deep in it, here’s a breakdown of the most valuable GameCube items to look out for—plus tips to start (or grow) your collection.

Why Collect GameCube?

• Nostalgia Factor: Many millennials grew up with GameCube, and demand is only growing.
• Scarcity: GameCube discs scratch easily, and complete-in-box copies are hard to find.
• Unique Hardware: From the Spice Orange console to the Game Boy Player, the GC has some of the most distinctive accessories of its era.

The Most Valuable GameCube Games

As an entry point, we’ll stick to the top 10 most expensive titles in their raw/ungraded form based on PriceCharting averages for complete-in-box (case, disc, and manual) sold listings. We can save the more niche variants or new and sealed (read: even more expensive) titles for another day. And trust me, there are A LOT more valuable and obvious titles missing from this list.

1. Disney Sports BasketBall

• Value (Complete in Box): ~$962
• Why It’s Valuable: Disney’s GameCube sports games were niche to begin with, but this one had an especially limited North American print run. It’s not a beloved game by any means, but scarcity and the weird novelty of Mickey Mouse dunking have made it a grail for completionists.

2. Cubivore: Survival of the Fittest

• Value (CIB): ~$436
• Why It’s Valuable: One of the strangest first-party releases ever, Cubivore was quietly published by Nintendo in the U.S. and sold poorly, giving it a tiny print run. Its surreal art style and unique gameplay earned it a cult following, and collectors prize it as one of the hardest “real” Nintendo titles to track down.

3. Gotcha Force

• Value (CIB): ~$429
• Why It’s Valuable: Another Capcom oddity, Gotcha Force looked like a kid’s toy-battle game but gained a hardcore cult following. It barely sold on release, leading to tiny print numbers. Years later, its reputation as a hidden gem drove collectors to chase after copies, and the low supply has kept prices high.

4. Go Go Hypergrind

• Value (CIB): ~$420
• Why It’s Valuable: An Atlus-published skateboarding game with character designs by the creators of Ren & Stimpy, this is one of the most bizarre crossovers of the early 2000s. Atlus always printed games in low numbers, and fans of both niche skateboarding titles and weird animation culture have driven demand way up.

5. NCAA College Basketball 2K3

• Value (CIB): ~$250
• Why It’s Valuable: Sports games usually aren’t collectible, but this is the rare exception. It’s the only NCAA basketball title released on the GameCube, and due to poor sales, Sega pulled it from shelves early. That short production run makes it one of the rarest sports games ever made for the system.

6.Phantasy Star Online Episode 1 & 2 Plus

• Value (CIB): ~$220
• Why It’s Valuable: While Sega’s Phantasy Star Online was popular on Dreamcast, this “Plus” version for GameCube was released late in the console’s life and included offline quests not found in the original. Many copies were played hard (MMO discs often are), so complete and clean copies are prized by RPG fans and Sega collectors alike.

7. Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness

• Value (CIB): ~$207
• Why It’s Valuable: Anything Pokémon has crossover appeal, but this spin-off is especially collectible because of its unique Shadow Lugia, which never appeared in another game. It was only moderately successful when new, so sealed or CIB copies are far less common than mainline Pokémon titles. Fans of both Pokémon and Nintendo exclusives keep its price rising.

8. Chibi-Robo!

• Value (CIB): ~$198
• Why It’s Valuable: This quirky platformer starred a tiny housecleaning robot and came out late in the GameCube’s life. Low distribution and its cult following make it highly sought after today. The franchise never took off the way Nintendo hoped, so this original entry stands as the definitive collectible.

9.Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

• Value (CIB): ~$182
• Why It’s Valuable: Fire Emblem has become one of Nintendo’s most beloved franchises, but back in the early 2000s, it was still relatively niche. That meant lower sales and fewer copies in circulation. With characters like Ike gaining fame later through Super Smash Bros., demand for this title skyrocketed, making it one of the crown jewels of GameCube collecting.

10. Disney Sports Football

• Value (CIB): ~$170
• Why It’s Valuable: Like Disney Sports Basketball, this game was largely ignored at launch. Poor sales meant low circulation, but completionists who want every U.S. GameCube release now drive its value. While not a must-play title, it’s a quirky piece of Disney and GameCube history that adds depth to any collection.

Valuable Consoles & Variants

1. Spice Orange GameCube

• Value: $100-$150 (“loose” with cables/controller, no box)
• Why It’s Valuable: While not especially rare in Japan, this colorway was never released in the U.S., which makes it a desirable import. The bold orange shell adds a pop of color to any collection. Pro tip: these can often be found cheaper through Japanese sellers or import sites.

2. Panasonic Q

• Value: ~$700-$1,500
• Why It’s Valuable: This console deserves its own article. Panasonic manufactured GameCube disc drives under the condition that they could also create their own version of the console. The result was a hybrid DVD player + GameCube sold only in Japan. Unique, stylish, and notoriously hard to find in working condition, even “for parts” units fetch strong prices.

3. Resident Evil 4 Chainsaw Controller Bundle

• Value: ~$300-$400
• Why It’s Valuable: Gimmicky but iconic, this is one of the strangest and most memorable controllers of the 2000s. The GameCube version is collectible in its own right, though Capcom/NubyTech went even further with the PS2 edition (limited to 50,000 units, each with a rip-cord and unique blood splatter). Either way, this bundle is a standout conversation piece.

Accessories Worth Collecting

1. Game Boy Player (with Startup Disc)

• Value: ~$180
• Why It’s Valuable: The Game Boy Player lets you play Game Boy, GBC, and GBA titles on your TV through the GameCube. The catch? It’s nearly worthless without the startup disc, which is often missing. Complete sets with the disc intact are far more valuable and highly sought after.

2. WaveBird Wireless Controller

• Value: ~$75
• Why It’s Valuable: Nintendo has always been ahead of the curve, whether people want to admit it or not. Not only is the OG GameCube controller one of the most iconic of all time, but it’s also widely supported and used among fans (especially the competitive Super Smash Bros scene). The Wavebird keeps the same form and function, but cut the cord, making it the first first-party wireless controller from a major console manufacturer.

Collector Tips for Starting a GameCube Collection

• Condition Matters: Always check discs for scratches—GameCube discs are smaller and more prone to damage.
• Go Complete in Box (CIB): Boxes, manuals, and inserts drastically increase value.
• Buy Now, Not Later: Prices for niche titles like Cubivore and Chibi-Robo! keep climbing.
• Hunt Locally: Garage sales, flea markets, and retro game shops often price below eBay.
• Authenticate Accessories: Make sure your WaveBird includes the receiver, and that the Game Boy Player comes with the startup disc.

Final Thoughts

The GameCube may have been overlooked in its day, but in 2025 it’s one of the hottest consoles to collect. From cult-classic games like Cubivore to rare hardware like the Panasonic Q, the system’s quirky design and unique library make it endlessly appealing.

Part of what makes the GameCube so collectible now is that it was actually a commercial failure. Many titles had smaller print runs, and when you factor in how many exclusives and cult classics were released, it’s easy to see why collectors are racing to reclaim their childhood favorites. It’s a perfect storm of nostalgia and scarcity—two forces that continue to drive demand. And as long as retro collecting stays popular, prices will only rise as the already limited supply keeps drying up.

For retro game collectors, the GameCube offers the perfect balance of nostalgia, challenge, and investment potential. Whether you’re chasing every variant or just picking up a few favorites, one thing’s certain: this little cube still packs a punch.

With all the hype around the Pokémon TCG right now, maybe you’ve been chasing that nostalgia hit and thought, “Why not? Let’s rip a pack.” But after tearing into a modern booster, you might find yourself thinking, “I don’t recognize any of these characters. What the hell is an Ogerpon?”

The game, and the franchise, has evolved dramatically, both mechanically and artistically. But if you only remember the OGs, I’ve got just the modern set for you.

The Scarlet & Violet: 151 expansion sent shockwaves through the Pokémon community when it dropped in September 2023. For the first time, the original 151 Pokémon (there are over 1,000 of them now, by the way) were reimagined in modern TCG style, complete with alternate art, secret rares, and nostalgia-packed pulls.

Collectors and investors alike rushed to booster boxes, and prices on chase cards spiked fast. Now, two years after its release, 151 remains a hot set. But which cards actually hold the most value today?

Here’s a closer look at the 10 most valuable cards (ungraded) in 151 right now (based on TCGPlayer), plus insights on what makes them worth collecting.

10. Charmeleon - 169/165 (Illustration Rare)

• Current Value: ~$35-50
• Why It’s Valuable: A beloved middle evolution with gorgeous illustration rare artwork. Collectors love the way this Charmeleon bridges the Charmander and Charizard artworks, making it a natural chase for evolution-line collectors.

9. Bulbusaur - 166/165 (Illustration Rare)

• Current Value: ~$45-50
• Why It’s Valuable: Starter Pokémon always hold value, and Bulbasaur’s IR card features vibrant art that captures the nostalgia of the first Grass-type partner. It’s an accessible entry-level collectible with steady demand.

8. Pikachu - 173/165 (Illustration Rare)

• Current Value: ~$45-65
• Why It’s Valuable: Pikachu is the face of the franchise, and any special artwork commands collector attention. Its Illustration Rare from 151 is colorful, playful, and is jam packed with cameos of many other popular mons.

7. Squirtle - 170/165 (Illustration Rare)

• Current Value: ~$50-70
• Why It’s Valuable: Along with Charmander and Bulbasaur, Squirtle completes the original Kanto starter trio. Nostalgia + adorable art = guaranteed long-term collector appeal. Bonus: this one is drawn in the signature style of Mitsuhiro Arita, a renowned artist and community favorite who has been providing illustrations for the TCG since its inception.

6. Charmander - 168/165 (Illustration Rare)

• Current Value: ~$50-70
• Why It’s Valuable: Charmander cards are always in demand. They’re cute, plus they eventually evolve into Charizard, one of the most popular Pokémon of all time and often the chase of many sets.

5.  Alakazam ex (Special Illustration Rare)

• Current Value: ~$55-75
• Why It’s Valuable: Alakazam has always been a fan favorite, and its SIR card features stunning art that captures its psychic mystique.

4. Venusaur ex - 198/165 (Special Illustration Rare)

• Current Value: ~$75-90
• Why It’s Valuable: As one of the three Kanto starters’ final evolutions, Venusaur consistently holds value. The SIR version features lush, detailed art that makes it stand out in binders and displays.

3. Zapdos ex - 202/165 (Special Illustration Rare)

• Current Value: ~$75-100
• Why It’s Valuable: Legendary Birds have a loyal collector base. Zapdos’s dynamic Illustration Rare artwork shows the Pokémon mid-flight, alongside its counterparts Articuno and Moltres. So this is really a 3 for 1!

2. Blastoise ex - 200/165 (Special Illustration Rare) 

• Current Value: ~$75-100
• Why It’s Valuable: Blastoise is one of the original big three, and this SIR card captures the turtle tank in cinematic detail. Shout-outs to another Arita artwork.

1. Charizard ex (Special Illustration Rare)

• Current Value: ~$250-400
• Why It’s Valuable:  It’s Charizard—no explanation needed. Every modern set with a premium Charizard card sees spikes in price, and the 151 SIR is no exception. Affectionately known as the “Sunzard” referring to the gorgeous artwork. Its value shows stability, with PSA 10s already commanding even higher premiums.

Why 151 Cards Are Spiking

1. Nostalgia Power: Anything tied to the original Kanto Pokémon commands premium prices.
2. Collector Demand: Tons of fan-favorite Pokémon and characters from the original series, most with already built-in fan bases.
3. Popular Set: Prices of sealed products continue to rise (and singles follow behind). It’s massively appealing to old and new collectors alike. 
4. Introduction of “God Packs”: These special packs full of hits have been around in Japan for some time, but for the first time in English releases 151 provides an ultra rare chance to hit a “Demi-God Pack” in which you’d pull all three IRs+SIR for a complete evolution line of one of the original starter Pokémon, giving collectors another reason to invest in this set.

Tips for New Collectors and Investors

• Don’t Chase Every Card: Focus on a theme (Legendaries, Trainers, or one favorite Pokémon).
• Track Marketplaces: Use eBay sold listings, TCGPlayer, and apps like Collctr and ALT.
• Condition Is King: Pack fresh doesn’t mean perfect—inspect centering and print quality if you plan on grading.

Final Thoughts

Scarlet & Violet: 151 is already cementing itself as one of the standout modern Pokémon sets. The cards above show how nostalgia, rarity, and collector demand collide to create lasting value.

Whether you’re in it for investment or pure love of the hobby, these 10 cards are worth watching closely—and maybe chasing for your own collection.

Exploring the Language of Middle-earth

Step into the enchanting realm of Middle-earth as we revisit the intricacies of J.R.R. Tolkien's language and lore. From Elvish to Orcish, this glossary sheds light on some of the unique people, places, and immortal objects that bring the pages of the beloved Lord of the Rings trilogy to life. 

What do all these concepts truly mean? This guide deciphers essential terms and provides deeper insight into Tolkien’s legendarium. When J.R.R. Tolkien crafted his epic tale of hobbits, elves, and dark lords, he created more than just a story. He built an entire world with its own languages, cultures, and terminology.

As a result, keeping track of the unique words and phrases scattered throughout the trilogy can be challenging for newcomers and seasoned fans alike. This glossary serves as a starting companion to help you navigate Middle-earth, with short insights on the rich tapestry of terms that bring this beloved fantasy world to life. Join us on a journey through the vivid landscapes and vibrant cultures of Tolkien's masterpiece.

The A to Z of Middle-earth

A

• Andúril: The reforged sword of Aragorn, originally Narsil, symbolizing his return as the true king.
• Aragorn: The rightful heir to the throne of Gondor, raised in secret as a Ranger before reclaiming his kingship.
• Arwen: An Elven princess and daughter of Elrond, who gives up her immortality to marry Aragorn.

B

• Baggins: Surname of principle family of hobbits in The Shire, namely Bilbo, who discovers the One Ring, and his nephew Frodo, who undertakes the quest to destroy it.
• Balrog: A fiery, demonic creature from ancient times, famously battled by Gandalf in Moria.
• Barrow-downs: Haunted hills containing ancient tombs where the Hobbits encounter malevolent spirits.
• Boromir: Member of the Fellowship of the Ring, son of Denethor, and Captain of Gondor, he betrays Frodo but redeems himself in the battle of Amon Hen.

C

• Celeborn: The Lord of Lothlórien and husband of Galadriel, ruling the Elven realm alongside her.
• Cirth: The runic alphabet used by Dwarves and some Elves, notably seen on the Doors of Durin.

D

• Durin'sBane: Another name for the Balrog of Moria, a terror lurking beneath the Dwarven kingdom.
• Dwarf: One of the peoples of Middle-earth, short, stout and adept at mining and building subterranean kingdoms.

E

• Elendil: The last High King of Gondor and Arnor before their fall.
• Elf: Fine-featured, intelligent, and wise race of immortal beings who populate Middle-earth but are dwindling in numbers at the time of the Lord of the Rings novels.
• Ent: Shepherds of the forest, a race of large tree-like creatures led by Treebeard, who assists the Fellowship in the Battle of Isengard.
• Elessar: The royal name taken by Aragorn upon becoming king, meaning "Elfstone."
• Elrond: Elven ruler of Rivendell and father of Arwen, assembles the Fellowship of the Ring and assists in the fight to destroy the One Ring.

F

• Faramir: Boromir's younger brother, a noble captain of Gondor who resists the Ring's temptation.
• Fellowshipof the Ring: The nine companions tasked with destroying the One Ring.
• FrodoBaggins: Central protagonist of the Lord of the Rings, nephew to Bilbo and bearer of the One Ring, journeys with the Fellowship of the Ring from Rivendell to Mordor to destroy the ring.

G

• Gimli: Member of the Fellowship of the Ring, dwarf son of Gloin.
• Gollum: A wretched creature once named Sméagol, corrupted by the Ring and pivotal in its destruction.
• Gondor: The greatest kingdom of Men in Middle-earth, long besieged by Sauron's forces.
• GreyCompany: A group of Dunedain rangers led by Halbarad who assist Aragorn during the War of the RIng.

H

• Haradrim: Race of malevolent men from the south of Middle-earth, who join forces with Sauron.
• Hobbit: Also known as halflings, hobbits are small, peaceful creatures with hairy feet, who enjoy simple lives of food, drink, and socializing.
• Hobbiton: The peaceful Shire village where Frodo and Bilbo Baggins begin their adventures.

I

• Isengard: The fortress of Saruman, transformed into a war machine before its downfall.
• Isildur: Past ruler of Gondor who cut the One Ring from Sauron’s hand during the Second Age.

J

• J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Lord of the Rings, mastermind behind it all.

K

• Khazad-dûm: The Dwarven name for Moria, a once-great underground city later overrun by evil forces.

L

• Legolas: Member of the Fellowship of the Ring, Sindar Elf from the woodland realm.
• Lembas: Magical Elven waybread, sustaining travelers on long journeys with small portions.
• Lightof Eärendil: A small crystal bottle given to Frodo by Galadriel that is capable of creating bright shining light in the total darkness.

M

• MeriadocBrandybuck: Also known as “Merry”, a hobbit and member of the Fellowship of the Ring.
• Mithlond: Also known as the "Grey Havens," a port city in the far west from which elves and other mortals depart Middle-earth.
• Mithrandir: Elven name for Gandalf, wizard of the order of Istari, one of the central protagonists in the Lord of the Rings.
• Mithril: A rare, silvery metal stronger than steel, mined in Moria and used in Bilbo's mail shirt.
• Moria: Deep underground cavern system in the Misty Mountains, extensively mined by the dwarves and home to countless orcs, goblins, trolls and darker things.
• Mordor: Dark, desolate realm that is home to Sauron, the tower of Barad-dûr, and Mount Doom.

N

• Narsil: The sword wielded by Elendil, former King, whose son picked up the broken shards of the sword and used it to cut the One Ring from Sauron’s finger.
• Nazgûl: The nine Ringwraiths, once kings of Men, now Sauron's most feared servants.
• Númenor: Kingdom of greater men who lived unnaturally long lives and ruled a large kingdom thousands of years before the Lord of the Rings.

O

• One Ring: Sauron's master ring, forged to dominate all others, the central object of the trilogy's quest.
• Orc: Race of wicked, disfigured, violent humanoid monsters who serve to destroy the world of men and elves. Descended from corrupted elves.

P

• Palantír: A seeing-stone used for communication, corrupted by Sauron to deceive Saruman and Denethor.
• PeregrinTook: Hobbit and member of the Fellowship of the Ring.

Q

• Quenya: The ancient Elvish language, used in rituals and high speech among the Eldar.

R

• Rivendell: Elrond's hidden sanctuary, where the Fellowship is formed and key decisions are made.
• Rohirrim: The people of the kingdom of Rohan, great horsemasters and cavalry warriors, who aid the Fellowship of the Ring in the fight to destroy the One Ring.

S

• Sauron: A deceiver and powerful necromancer, the primary antagonist in the Lord of the Rings.
• SamwiseGamgee: Loyal friend to Frodo Baggins who travels from the Shire to Mount Doom to help Frodo destroy the Ring.
• Shadowfax: Lord of the great horses of Middle-earth, Gandalf’s mount.
• Shelob: A giant, monstrous spider dwelling in Cirith Ungol, nearly killing Frodo.

T

• TheShire: Home of the hobbits, a land of rolling hills, farmland, and green forests in the northwestern part of Middle Earth.
• TomBombadil: A mysterious, cheerful figure immune to the Ring's power, dwelling in the Old Forest.

U

• Uruk-hai: A stronger breed of Orcs, created by Saruman to serve as elite warriors.

V

• Valar: The godlike beings who shaped the world, though they rarely intervene directly in Middle-earth's affairs.

W

• Wargs: Giant, intelligent wolves allied with Orcs, used as mounts in battle.
• Witch-king of Angmar: A once powerful king of men, now the leader of the Nazgûl.

Y

• Yavanna: A Vala who created the Ents and the Two Trees of Valinor, protecting living things.

Z

• Zirakzigil: The peak of the Misty Mountains where Gandalf defeats the Balrog in a legendary duel.

Additional Resources

Here are some further resources to deepen your understanding of Middle-earth and its lore:

• A Guide to Middle-earth by Robert Foster
• Encyclopedia of Arda
• The Atlas of Middle-Earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad
• The Languages of Middle-Earth by Ruth S. Noel
• The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien (ed. Humphrey Carpenter) – Insights into Tolkien’s creative process.
• The Lord of the Rings Wiki
• The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull
• The One Ring.net
• The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien – Explore the mythology behind The Lord of the Rings
• The Tolkien Society Official Website
• Tolkien Gateway

It's More Than Just Oppenheimer: Valuable Blu-Ray and 4K Discs

Many people were first made aware of the value of some Blu-ray and 4K UHD discs last year when they heard about the price people were paying for Best Buy–exclusive steelbook versions of Oppenheimer. Or maybe they saw the Lawrence of Arabia 4K steelbook selling for 5x retail.

If you happen to have one of those, you probably already know that it's valuable, but here are some lesser-known rare Blu-rays and 4K releases.

1. Dogma on Blu-Ray

Typical eBay sold price: $70–100

Dogma is one of Kevin Smith's films, but the Blu-ray has been out of print for a long time. The rights to the film were owned by Harvey Weinstein personally (not the Weinstein Company), and after his arrest and conviction, there was little interest in doing business with him. For that reason, the Blu-ray that once sold for $10–20 is now fetching up to $100 on eBay.

2. Columbia Classics 4K Ultra HD Collection—Volume 1

Typical eBay sold price: $600–1,000

These sets were expensive when new, which was only a couple years ago. I believe they sold for around $150. Then they went out of print. A couple of the movies included in this set have never seen individual 4K UHD releases, which made it a must-have for physical media collectors and cinephiles. Sealed copies now sell for north of $1,000.

3. Rad 4K UHD

Typical eBay sold price: $160–200

You'll be forgiven for not knowing this 1986 movie directed by Hal Needham and starring Bill Allen and Lori Loughlin. It was a box-office bomb that later received cult status. That's just the type of movie that distributor Vinegar Syndrome loves, and they released it with a beautiful lenticular cover on 4K UHD in May 2020. That particular release now sells for $160 and up.

4. Breaking Away Blu-Ray

Typical eBay sold price: $100–250

Breaking Away is a bicycling movie starring Dennis Quaid, Dennis Christopher, Daniel Stern, and Jackie Earle Haley. Twilight Time released 3,000 copies of a limited-edition Blu-ray, and to date that is the only Blu-ray release of Breaking Away in the United States.

Prices have been coming down on this one recently, but it's hard to say if that will last, given the limited supply.

5. Suspiria (2018) on 4K

Typical eBay sold price: $200–500

This is not the Dario Argento classic horror film; it's the 2018 remake (or homage) directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Dakota Johnson. It received mixed reviews (Argento himself panned it), but the 4K UHD disc only sold in Germany and was imported by collectors and horror movie buffs in the United States. It's now selling for hundreds of dollars.

6. At Long Last Love on Blu-Ray

Typical sold price on eBay: $150–225

This 1975 Peter Bogdanovich homage to musical comedies starring Burt Reynolds and Cybill Shepherd was released on Blu-ray in 2013, but it soon went OOP. Bogdanovich and Blu-ray collectors have been after it ever since, and they now often pay over $200 to add it to their shelf.

7. Twin Peaks: From Z to A Boxset

Typical eBay sold price: $250–400

Twin Peaks was probably the weirdest show to ever appear on network television. In the early 1990s, ABC actually let David Lynch, along with Mark Frost, make a TV show. They later made a prequel movie. A third season titled Twin Peaks: The Return aired on Showtime in 2017, 25 years after the second (and, at the time, final) season of the show.

The whole collection was packaged together in the Twin Peaks: From Z to A boxset. Originally selling for around $150 and often discounted to $100 or less, it now regularly sells on eBay for more than $300.

8. Super Mario Bros—Trust the Fungus Edition

Typical eBay sold price: $300–400

This release of a critically panned movie quickly caught the eye of collectors, who seemed to know it was going to be valuable before it even came out. Released by an Australian distributor named Umbrella Home Entertainment, this 4K UHD set was about $100 retail, but it sold out almost immediately.

Umbrella has made the movie itself available for a reasonable price, but the Trust the Fungus edition still commands a hefty price tag of $300 or more.

9. Showgirls 4K UHD Limited Edition Boxset

Typical eBay sold price: $150–200

This controversial movie directed by Paul Verhoeven (Robocop, Starship Troopers) and starring Saved by the Bell alum Elizabeth Berkley got the 4K treatment from cult movie distributor Vinegar Syndrome. Originally selling for a uncomfortably high price of $65, it now often sells for more than $150.

10. Jaws 5/Cruel Jaws/The Beast

Typical eBay sold price: $100–120

Did you know there was a 5th Jaws movie? Neither did the people who owned the rights to the Jaws franchise. Originally released as Cruel Jaws—or, in some markets, as The Beast—it's direct-to-video trash from Italian director Bruno Mattei.

Severin Films, which specializes in cult horror movies, released it in 2020 with a slipcover that gave it the title Jaws 5. Even while recognizing the unlicensed status of that name, Jaws fans ate it up, and it was soon sold out, OOP, and commanding over 100 bucks on eBay.

11. Kids Boxset From Umbrella on Blu-Ray

Typical eBay sold price: $150–200

Larry Clark's disturbing 1995 movie Kids received a Blu-ray release from Umbrella in 2023, and many people balked at the $70 price tag on the limited-edition boxset, which also included the documentary We Were Once Kids. Those who took a gamble on that one saw it pay off, as those sets now regularly sell for more than $150.

Enter the World of He Who Fights With Monsters by Travis Deverell, AKA Shirtaloon

He Who Fights With Monsters is a litRPG that is being published in a serialized fashion. It is still ongoing and has been adapted into a fantastic audiobook series. Its world is filled with the complex RPG mechanics you'd expect from a lot of modern isekai series, like stats, abilities, racial passives and ranks.

But if you are here, you likely already know this and are looking to learn more about the world to better understand it. I hope this guide to He Who Fights With Monsters (HWFWM) is helpful to you and increases your enjoyment of the series.

Guide to HWFWM Mechanics and Lore

• Ranks: Iron to Diamond (and Beyond)
• Essences and Confluence Essences
• The Races of Pallimustus
• Racial Gift Evolution
• The Gods of Pallimustus

Spoiler Warning

I will avoid spoilers at all costs. No character names or story examples will be used, if I can help it. This guide assumes you have read the first book already and are looking for a greater understanding of the world.

Be Warned: There may be spoilers in terms of mechanics not yet discovered by Jason Asano in Book 1.

Ranks: Iron to Diamond (and Beyond)

Rank is actually fairly conventional. It follows an Iron to Diamond format that you'll likely be familiar with if you've played online games like League of Legends or Overwatch. However, the ranks up through Diamond are the basic ranks; they're what the general public knows about. There are also two more ranks above Diamond, as we'll see below.

0. Normal/No Rank

Life Span: Average
Physical Attributes: Average

Anyone who doesn't have a full set of essences will begin at Normal rank (or no rank). These are average people, for the most part. They have a normal life span, but they may have a few powers and abilities.

1. Iron Rank

Life Span: Slightly increased
Physical Attributes: Slightly enhanced with magic

Iron rank is the first real step to becoming something more than human. It begins when a person uses three essences and a confluence essence is formed. This gives the user access to up to 20 abilities, though only four are guaranteed to begin with. If all 20 ability slots are filled and the abilities are trained to a sufficient level, the user can move on to Bronze rank.

At Iron rank, the user will begin to experience physical and spiritual improvements that can enhance their senses and slightly increase their life span. This is because the essence user's body becomes less biological and more magical at each rank.

2. Bronze Rank

Life Span: 100 years
Physical Attributes: Enhanced with magic

At Bronze rank, essence users have all of their essence abilities unlocked and should be familiar with them. Their body becomes more magical, and they can expect a longer life span, reaching past the high end of an average person from our world; 100 years or more is nearly guaranteed. Bronze rank ends once the user reaches the maximum level in all of their abilities.

3. Silver Rank

Life Span: 200 years
Physical Attributes: Significantly enhanced with magic

Silver rank is where the user truly becomes something outside of the normal scope of humanity. Their life span can reach 200 years. Their body will be significantly enhanced: Most of their wounds will heal passively, their senses will be sharpened to a supernatural level, and they will develop entirely new senses.

Many adventurers will not move past Silver rank. The time required to do so varies wildly, but even full-time adventurers may take decades to move past Silver. In fact, many users get sidelined by wealth, family or positions of power at Silver rank and enjoy the massive perks they have obtained rather than advancing further.

4. Gold Rank

Life Span: 500 years
Physical Attributes: More magical than biological; breathing and eating are no longer required.

Within Gold rank, we start to see a lot of wealthy essence users who have forced their way into the rank by using monster cores, which they typically purchase with the fortunes they've made through commerce and craft. Some priests of various churches obtain this rank by using god-given essences as well.

The adventurers gain the most from Gold rank, though. A lot of their biological functions are no longer needed; for example, breathing and eating can be done if the user desires, but they're not necessary. Gold rankers can expect to live hundreds of years and often become the leaders of great houses.

This rank cannot be reached simply by leveling one's abilities. It requires an essence revelation.

5. Diamond Rank

Life Span: Near-immortal
Physical Attributes: Almost entirely magical; some can reconstitute their bodies after death.

Diamond rank is the peak of mortality. Diamond rankers will not die of old age. Their bodies are almost entirely made of magic and will rebuild themselves from near-death experiences. Even death is not certain, as it's said that a lot of Diamond-ranked adventurers will come back from the dead, given enough time.

Diamond rank signifies an understanding of the natural and supernatural worlds that most people can never obtain. Not everyone is cut out for this rank, and, even given unlimited time and resources, not everyone can achieve it.

6. Transcendent

Life Span: Immortal
Physical Attributes: Godlike

While Diamond rankers may be ageless and near-immortal, Transcendent rankers are literally godlike. Some readers view Transcendent rank as being part of a whole different system, but, from context, it seems like Diamond rank is a requirement for achieving Transcendent.

7. Astral Being

Life Span: Immortal
Physical Attributes: Godlike

If Transcendent is the god rank, then what could possibly be above that? Astral Being (or Builder) is the highest known rank, and it's a mysterious one. The circumstances for advancing from Transcendent to Astral Being are unclear, and it's possible that the Astral Beings have simply always existed. If these final ranks are indeed part of the same system as Iron to Diamond, then Diamond rank is likely a prerequisite for Astral Being as well.

Essences and Confluence Essences

Essences are a type of magical item that can be found in areas with sufficient ambient magic. For the general public, they are highly sought-after because essences are the first step to magical abilities.

How Users Get Abilities From Essences

Using an essence (and conducting the appropriate ritual) will cause the essence to become a part of the user and grant them access to its abilities. The abilities the user gets are seemingly random, but they can be steered somewhat by Awakening Stones.

Example: The Fire essence will immediately grant the user a fire ability, like "Cast Fireball" or "Resistance to Fire."

The essence will always bond to one of the four main stats of Recovery, Spirit, Power and Speed. Increased proficiency with abilities belonging to that essence will increase the bonded stat.

Unlocking Confluence Essences

Once a person has used three essences, they will unlock a fourth that is not of their choosing. This is called a confluence essence. It is a reflection of how the first three essences will work together.

Example: Farrah Hurin has the Fire, Potent and Earth essences. Her confluence essence (which she did not get to choose) is Volcano, which gives her access to abilities like "Lava Cannon" or "Magma Golem."

Essence Rarity

Essences have different levels of rarity. For example, Farrah's Fire essence is considered common, while Jason's Sin essence is legendary. Here is the full list of rarities:

• Common
• Uncommon
• Rare
• Epic
• Legendary

Are Rare Essences Better?

A rarer essence is not necessarily stronger. Typically, rarer essences seem to be more specific or have a complicated mechanism of action. The more common ones tend to be basic and broad in application.

Example: Let's look at Farrah Hurin again. Fire and Earth are common, while Potent is epic. The basic elements are easy to get, but it's her Potent essence that allows her to enhance them further. Farrah ends up with an extremely high damage output because of this.

Example 2: Jason Asano uses Blood and Dark, which are uncommon, and Sin, which is legendary; in fact, Sin is so rare that most adventurers aren't aware it exists. However, Jason is not as obviously powerful as Farrah, based on his essences. Instead, he has many utility and adaptive abilities. (Note that this isn't from essence choice alone, though.)

To sum it up: The strength of a user's essences is based more on combination than rarity.

What Essences Are There?

There are too many essences to list here. For a complete list of essences, I recommend referring to the He Who Fights With Monsters Wiki.

The Races of Pallimustus

The world of Pallimustus has a diverse set of races. Each race has different physical attributes and racial gifts. HWFWM Book 1 introduces us to humans, elves and leonids, but there many more to come. Below is a list of known races (as of Book 10) and their standard racial gifts.

Racial Gift Evolution

Racial gifts can be transformed by something called gift evolution. This can happen in a few different ways.

• Intense Repetition: Gift evolutions can be triggered through intense repetition, such as with crafting specialists who use their abilities over and over while creating goods. Adventurers who rely on the same handful of abilities may also trigger gift evolution via repetition.
• Near-Death Experiences: Traumatic near-death experiences may make racial gifts evolve in a way that will help the user survive similar encounters in the future. For example, the human gift called "Human Ambition" increases the growth of essence abilities. Under certain pressures, it can transform into "Hero's Drive," which will grant an additional mana and stamina recovery when the user is outnumbered, along with few other perks.

The Gods of Pallimustus

As far as we know, we haven't met all of the gods of Pallimustus yet, but we have encountered quite a few. These gods tend to interact much more closely with their followers that the gods from Jason's homeworld. Some even grant essences to their followers in exchange for service, but these gifts can also be taken away.

Here is a list of the gods we have discovered so far (up through He Who Fights With Monsters Book 10).

Enjoy Following Jason Asano on His Journey

I hope this guide will enrich your reading of this litRPG series as you advance beyond Book 1. I cannot wait to read the upcoming books, discover more about Pallimustus, meet new races and gods, explore powerful essence combos, and see which ranks Jason manages to attain. Happy reading!

View the original article to see embedded media.

Was There Really a Harry Potter Trading Card Game?

In 2001, Wizards of the Coast introduced the Harry Potter Trading Card Game alongside the debut of the first live-action film in November of that same year.

Participants assume the roles of rival wizards employing potent spells, summoning formidable creatures, and enlisting the aid of familiar characters from the Harry Potter universe to vanquish their adversaries.

Following its initial release in August 2001, the game swiftly ascended to become a bestseller. Wizards of the Coast proceeded to produce four additional expansions. Nonetheless, after launching the Chamber of Secrets expansion set in October 2002, the company declared the discontinuation of the game.

Since its discontinuation, the Harry Potter TCG has gradually slipped into relative obscurity. Yet, akin to various childhood toys that captured our imagination, certain Harry Potter trading cards remain sought after by a specialized group of collectors.

Let's take a look at five of the most valuable and elusive cards from the final "Chamber of Secrets" set. Did you have any of these cards in your old collection?

1. Colin Creevey (7/140): $40

Colin Creevey is an eager and passionate student at Hogwarts, particularly fascinated by the magical world and its heroes, including the famed Harry Potter! Despite often preferring to stand behind the camera, Colin's trading card takes the spotlight as one of the rarest and most valuable cards from the Chamber of Secrets set.

As any trading card game player would tell you, the ability to draw cards during your turn is extremely valuable. That's why many Harry Potter TCG players find Colin Creevey so useful since his card can allow players to exhaust an Action to draw three cards and immediately have the advantage to use them.

It's no surprise that near mint holographic copies of Colin Creevey can sell for $40 or more!

2. Angelina Johnson (1/140): $70

In the Harry Potter universe, Angelina Johnson is best known for her Quidditch prowess and loyal bond with fellow Gryffindor teammates, Fred and George Weasley. She only appeared once as a character card in the Harry Potter TCG, making this piece highly sought after for fans and other collectors.

Within the actual game, players can use Angelina Johnson to gain an additional Action beyond the allotted two per turn when a Match card is in play, increasing the potential potency of that player's turn by up to 50%!

But don't expect to come by this card too cheaply, because near mint holographic copies can sell for $70 or more!

3. Fat Friar (19/140) - $90

The Fat Friar's friendly demeanor extends to all students at Hogwarts, regardless of their house affiliations. Despite being the house ghost representing Hufflepuff, he's known for his willingness to offer advice and guidance to anyone who seeks it.

And this affable nature has seemed to attract collectors of this rare Character card from the Chamber of Secrets set. Those who chose to include this card in their decks can use him to perform a once per game Action allowing them to draw two cards, deal two damage to the opposing player, and return two non-Healing cards from their discard pile to the bottom of their deck.

Those looking to add a near mint holographic copy of Fat Friar to their collections can expect to pay $90 or more!

4. Ginny Weasley (25/140): $90

Ginny is the youngest child and only daughter of Arthur and Molly Weasley, best known for shaking her shy demeanor to become one of the most impactful characters in the Harry Potter universe. And just like she made a big splash in the series, her trading card from Chamber of Secrets remains one of the rarest and most valuable in the entire game.

Players can use this Ginny Weasley card to draw a number of cards equal to the number of Character cards they have in play. This can offer a massive card advantage that gives players a significant competitive edge against their opponent.

But before you rush out to add this card to your collection, you should know that near mint holographic copies can go for $90 or more!

5. Arthur Weasley (2/140): $100

The patriarch of the Weasley family, Arthur is known for his kind nature, genuine curiosity, and passion for Muggle artifacts and inventions. Fittingly, his trading card from the Chamber of Secrets set allows its user to take full advantage of their Item cards to deal direct damage to the opposing player every turn!

Whether its because this Arthur Weasley card is so useful for aggressive play builds, or because it remains one of the lowest population cards in the entire Harry Potter TCG universe, Arthur Weasley's Character card is seriously hard to come by in good condition.

Because on that, collectors can expect to pay $100 or more for a near mint holographic copy!

Happy Collecting!

The Harry Potter TCG boasts a dedicated, though limited, community of enthusiasts who actively exchange these classic collectibles. Despite their comparatively moderate market value among trading card games, individuals who reminisce about stowing away their collection of holographic Harry Potter cards might find reason to unearth them.

I trust this piece has offered insight into the worth of your Chamber of Secrets cards, or evoked a sense of nostalgia for this excited albeit brief game!

What Are Flips, Capsules, and Snaps for Coins?

Coins of any numismatic value require protection. Coin protection has two main components: physical protection and environmental protection. There are many products you can use to protect your coins, including flips, capsules, and snaps. Choosing the right protection for a coin requires knowing how these products differ and what advantages and disadvantages they have.

We'll take a look at the following coin protection options.

• Soft Flips
• Mylar 2x2 Flips
• Coin Capsules
• Coin Snaps and Similar Holders

Soft Flips

Soft flips often have tabs to help keep a coin inside. Some double flips have no tab and instead rely on folding the flips over to hold in the coins. These flips have limited protection against damage, especially environmental damage. The soft flips are not airtight. However, they are excellent for short-term use, such as protecting coins during shipping.

Mylar 2x2 Flips

Cardboard flips with Mylar-covered openings are popular, in part because they're very inexpensive. They help keep coins in place in binders. You can even write on the cardboard. There are problems with 2x2 flips, though.

Staple Problems

Many 2x2 flips require staples to hold them closed, and this can cause problems. Often, a staple will not close properly. A staple from one flip can cause damage to another. (This author once had a nice uncirculated coin that had about a one-millimeter tear from a staple in another flip. The result was a black carbon mark on the surface of the otherwise nice coin.)

Improperly stapled coins can become damaged. If a staple is placed improperly so as to break the Mylar, the coin can become damaged due to contact with a rusting staple.

Ultimately, the best use for 2x2 flips is to protect inexpensive coins.

What About Flips With Adhesive?

Mylar flips with adhesive is a nice idea, but if you use them, be careful not to get the adhesive on the coin.

Coin Capsules

Coin capsules are hard, so they offer excellent physical protection. They also fit together tightly, thus limiting air flow. This provides enhanced environmental protection. A small amount of air is trapped inside a coin-containing capsule, so place coins in capsules in clean air environments when possible.

There are two main types of coin capsules: direct-fit capsules and capsules with rings. You'll want to consider which one works best for your coin.

Direct-Fit Capsules

Be aware that a direct-fit capsule must be slightly larger than any coin placed in it. This allows the coin to slide slightly. Usually, capsules also have a slight gap above the coin. Some people are concerned with the possibility that the capsule itself will eventually cause abrasion and damage the coin. This is why capsules with rings exist.

Capsules With Rings

These are just what they sound like: a hard plastic coin capsule with an interior ring that protects the coin. The ring opens slightly to hold the coin snugly. This eliminates movement of the coin inside the capsule.

While a capsule with a ring may seem better, there are things to consider. There are people who find the rings unsightly. Another problem is the coin cannot simply be dropped into the capsule; instead, the coin must be pushed into the ring. This is best accomplished using cotton gloves.

Higher-End Capsules With Rings

Lighthouse has developed what is called Ultra Intercept Capsules. A chemical is used to absorb harmful pollutants. In some of Lighthouse’s ringed capsules, the ring is treated. Yes, this adds to the cost.

One brand of coin capsule, Kointains, uses concave inner surfaces to prevent the faces of coins from touching the inner surfaces of the capsules other than at the rims of the coins.

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How to Properly Handle Coin Capsules

Coin capsules must have clean inner surfaces. If oil from a finger gets onto an inner surface of a coin capsule, it can be transferred to the coin. Handle capsules by their edges using the same rule used in handling coins. Also avoid having dust fall into an open capsule.

While outer surface scratches are less serious than scratches to a coin, they can inhibit properly seeing the true beauty of the coin. For this reason, boxes are made to hold coin capsules. Now, albums with rigid plastic pages can also hold capsules for storage.

What About Buying Capsules in Bulk?

Bulk boxes of coin capsules lower the cost, but the capsules must be properly cared for. If exposed, dust can collect in the capsule halves. Also, it is easy to contaminate the inside of the capsules. Even speaking over the exposed inner surfaces of the capsules can have microscopic droplets land on them and later damage a coin placed inside one of the contaminated capsules.

Bulk capsules are best used by coin dealers skilled in coin capsule protection. The exception is when a collector intends to use all of the capsules packaged together in a short period of time.

Coin Snaps and Similar Coin Holders

Whether the brand is called snaps, snaplocks, or another term, the square holders with an insert are related to coin capsules. They perform the same function as coin capsules with rings. One can even get Lighthouse Quadrum Intercept with the protection from the chemically treated material inside.

One advantage is storage: A box intended to hold 2x2 flips holds these square holders nicely. Another advantage is there is room for a label where the coin is not hidden.

What Should You Consider When Choosing Coin Protection?

• Weigh the value of the coin against the level and cost of protection.
• Think of how the coin will fit with your collection. One coin protected differently than the other coins in your collection might look strange.
• Make certain the coin fits the holder properly.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

What Is the Difference Between Albums and Folders?

There are several differences between coin albums and coin folders. Here's a quick look at how they compare.

• Price: The most obvious difference is the price; albums cost more because they offer more features.
• Ability to Add Pages: Coin folders cannot be expanded, but you can usually add more pages to an album as needed.
• Protection: In general, albums offer better protection than coin folders and keep the coins in place better.
• Coin Visibility: With an album, you can see both sides of the coin because the pages are fully transparent. With folders, you'll only be able to view one side of the coin.

View the 4 images of this gallery on the original article

What Is the Purpose of Coin Folders?

Albums obviously have a lot of advantages, but folders still have a use in organizing a collection. New collectors usually start by taking coins out of their pocket change just to collect one of every coin in a set. A folder satisfies the need to determine whether a set is complete; there is a hole for each year/mintmark combination. (Occasionally, the holes for really rare coins will have temporary fillers that can be easily pushed out.)

Limitations of Folders

• One Side Only: One problem with using a coin folder is that you can only show one side of the coin. Some coins have the date on the obverse and the mintmark on the reverse—but only one side can be shown. This often results in multiple coins looking identical when viewed in a folder.
• Coin Holes Stretch Easily: Another issue is replacing coins. When you find a coin, you usually insert it into the folder. But when you find a better coin, you'll likely want to replace the less appealing coin in the folder with the better one. This can be done, but moving the coin in and out may increase the size of the hole. If this happens too many times (even once is too many, in some cases), eventually some of the replacement coins will fall out of the slightly enlarged holes. The best practice is to only buy new folders and to only add desirable coins. Hold onto the poor-quality coins needed to help complete your collection elsewhere.
• Limited Holes: Folders usually have three panels. These panels feature a limited number of holes. As a result, many coin sets require multiple folders.

View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article

The Advantages of Coin Albums

A coin album, meaning here something more than a coin folder, usually has transparent coverings for both sides of the coins. This allows viewing of both the obverse and the reverse of a coin without removing it from the album.

Album pages are sold separately. If a page is damaged, it can be removed and replaced. As a set continues to grow with new issues, pages can be added as needed. However, pages are not as inexpensive as a folder might be.

The transparent shielding on both sides of a page can help keep coins in place even if the hole becomes slightly enlarged.

Storing Older Coins: Folders vs. Albums

Most folders are from Whitman, including H. E. Harris folders. Several other companies make folders, including Littleton and Dansco. Older coin folders for Barber dimes, quarters, and halves are no longer made by Whitman. Not every coin series is supported by Whitman folders. However, coverage of older coin series is not a problem for albums.

Can You Use a Blank Folder for Old Coins?

One caution is needed: Blank coin folders are available, so you might have considered using blank folders for the older series. This can have pitfalls. For example, the shield nickel has a slightly smaller diameter than other nickels. Shield nickels will not fit the blank nickel folder.

One must be careful with small changes in size that have occurred over time. A better option is to use albums for older coins when folders are not available.

Dansco Coin Album for American Silver Eagles

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Can You Store Foreign Coins in Folders and Albums?

Whitman does make Canadian coin folders. It is possible to find older folders that no longer exist for British coins, but Whitman currently only produces United States and Canadian coin folders. Dansco does have some foreign coin folders, but their current rate of production makes finding the folders difficult. Again, albums for foreign coins are easier to find, so that's a better storage solution.

Proper Handling of Coins

One company that makes coin albums includes cotton gloves. The coins must be pushed into place for both folders and albums. Circulation coins taken from circulation might not be worth special handling, but quality collectable coins should never be touched (other than on the edge) without protective cotton gloves.

New Plastic Coin Albums

A coin in a capsule is better protected from physical damage and environmental damage than a coin in a normal folder or album. Now, clear plastic pages that snap closed are available to store coins in a new type of album that has a cover and plastic closable pages.

The difficulty here is to make certain that coins fit the pages when they're in capsules. Coin capsules have an inner diameter, but different brands have different outer dimensions for a capsule that fits a certain coin. In fact, capsules with rings are often larger than those without rings.

Some albums with plastic pages hold graded coin slabs. Again, make certain the slab will fit the page. Different grading companies have different size slabs.

Folders Are Fine for a Hobbyist, But Albums Are Best for Serious Collectors

The choice between folders and albums—and, if one opts for an album, the type of album—depends on the intended goal. For inexpensive hobby collecting, folders are often adequate. If you're seriously collecting coins, opt for an album, and then determine if you need to accommodate capsules or slabs.

The Exciting World of Tabletop Game Design

Tabletop RPG design is an area that attracts many creatives, especially those drawn to storytelling. It's not hard to see why, especially if you've ever had a good DM or gaming group to play with!

This can be a great long-term project for someone who wants to start an exciting new story or system. In fact, some pretty great TTRPG systems started with the question, "Why can't I find an X system?"—and eventually the asker had to take it upon themselves to make their own.

Thanks to an explosion in the gaming community and the mainstreaming of nerddom in general, there have never been so many interested players, publishers, and potential funders of new systems. Everyone loves a good game, and if you can create a great, unique experience or offer an original twist on a classic, there's a huge market for that.

How to Fund a Tabletop RPG

There are only a few ways for realistically funding a TTRPG, and if you don't have any current experience in game design, that will narrow down the options a little bit more. There are three main paths to funding that most indies use to produce the TTRPG system that they've designed.

Kickstarter

Kickstarter is probably the best-known funding platform, as well it should be. Countless video games, board games, and tabletop RPG systems have been funded through Kickstarter projects, which leverage the power of the Internet and the site's reputation as a place to bring investors and creators together to support indies.

While Kickstarter campaigns have funded many TTRPG systems (I just received my rewards for funding The Old Gods of Appalachia TTRPG system myself), it takes a lot of work, some development, good graphics, high-quality concept art, and an engaging video to really get attention. It also normally requires some smart social media spending.

Still, with a good idea and presentation, it is absolutely possible for an indie developer to get huge levels of Kickstarter funding from excited fans eager to see your system come to life.

Self-Fund and Self-Publish

This is not an option for everyone, but the good old-fashioned bootstrap can be a viable way to develop, playtest, and eventually self-publish a tabletop RPG system. Many projects start on this route before looking for a publisher or Kickstarter to get widespread distribution or before polishing things up to complete the first edition.

Having attention on other platforms—like an active website, YouTube, or a large social media following—definitely helps with this, as it gives you the numbers to get attention and traction through outlets you actually control.

Publisher Investment

The traditional method is sometimes the best. This is much easier if you have industry contacts or some history in gaming, but sometimes you can pitch publishers for funding. You will need prototype art, examples, and a fair bit of development to win over a publisher—but if you can pull this off, the available knowledge, support, resources, and contract for distribution could be huge.

So Why Talk About Funding First?

While the creative side of making a tabletop RPG is more fun and interesting for would-be designers, it's important to keep funding in mind. It helps you know what needs to be developed early, where a little refinement might be good for a pitch, and, if you're going the Kickstarter route, what the possible rewards might be. You need to figure all of those factors into your budget.

Starting From Scratch or Using an Existing Dice System?

Mechanics matter when it comes to tabletop RPG systems, and the good news is that because of how most mechanics work in gaming, they can't be copyrighted. This means that there are many very successful dice mechanics for every type of die available.

You may still want to create your own dice system (this is the direction Matt Mercer and co. at Critical Role went with their Daggerheart announcement, for example), but it's worth looking at the systems that are already available to see whether or not one of them meets your needs.

If you need something different or original, then, by all means, get to designing those mechanics! On the other hand, having an existing dice system picked out from the beginning allows you to have a foundation to build around.

This is one of the most important decisions to make when designing a tabletop system from scratch.

Pros of Using an Existing Dice System

• Heavily tested and often-used mechanics mean you have a proven system that you don't have to tweak or worry about.
• There are plenty of examples of how to build different roleplaying systems around these specific dice mechanics.
• It gives you a good framework right away so you don't develop mechanics that don't work with your dice system.

Cons of Using an Existing Dice System

• You must design various parts of your system around how the existing dice mechanics work.
• Putting your own "spin" on it can result in confusion for players used to using the conventional system.

Pros of Creating Your Own Dice System

• You have complete control over the dice mechanics in your game.
• A unique dice system mechanic can be very interesting and bring attention to your game, especially if it catches on down the line.
• You don't have to "settle" for gameplay mechanics that have to be nerfed or altered in order to work with an existing system. You can keep customizing to get the system you want.

Cons of Creating Your Own Dice System

• Creating a rock-solid mechanic is hard and will require a lot of extra work.
• You might have a loophole or problem within the mechanic that breaks the game, and this is especially a problem if you go to print without catching it.
• It's easy to create a base system with a bunch of addendums, which at the end of the day means the system is complex and not well-built—and that will turn off potential players.

Looking at Existing Dice Systems You Can Use

There are many different existing mechanics out there, and if one works perfectly for your system there might not be any need to waste time developing a different set of dice mechanics.

Most game mechanics are under open gaming licenses, creative commons, or even have been legally designed to be public domain, preventing copyright or trademark. In other words, they're all open for use.

Here are some of the most common and popular existing dice systems.

A d20 System

Made most popular by Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder, the d20 system is a classic TTRPG system and for a long time was the most used mechanic with new tabletop systems.

There are many advantages to staying with a d20 system. Players will almost certainly be familiar with it, it allows for a degree of chance and variance, and it's general enough you can put your own spin on it if you so wish.

A d100 System

The percentile system, generally players roll 2 d10s, one which is a tens die and the other is a singles die, and those allow the player to roll a percentage from 1 to 100.

This system is used in both Warhammer 40K in addition to Call of Cthulhu. Generally lower numbers are good and higher numbers are bad. This system gives a much wider potential range for skills, successes and failures, and does well in number crunchy systems where players, even when powerful, are still very much "human" as opposed to super powered.

Dice Pool System (d10s)

I first ran into this one playing Werewolf: The Apocalypse, which is appropriate considering this was often referred to by players as the White Wolf Dice Pool System, though I've also heard it called the World of Darkness Dice Pool System as well as other names.

It's used by World of Darkness RPGs like Werewolf and Vampire the Masquerade (though this system has custom dice as opposed to regular d10s). The dice pool system is interesting and has some built in versatility that can make it intriguing as a potential dice system for your tabletop game system.

Powered by the Apocalypse (d12 System)

There aren't many systems that give love to d12 dice, but the Powered by the Apocalypse system does exactly that, using a d12 and using a range of numbers that determine full success, partial success, neutral result, or failure.

It's a good system if you want to be d12 based and is worth taking a look at before trying to create your own new one from scratch.

Fate System (Fudge Dice)

The Fate system is renowned for being versatile, and if you are dreading dice rolling mechanics but feel good about the rest then this might be the way to go. You roll 4 dice, each of which has 2 sides with a +, two sides with a -, and two sides that are blank. The cumulative total of plusses or minuses are added together and then adjusted to your roll.

Fate is designed to be versatile so systems and worlds can be built around it, and the system succeeds wildly in that regard.

Books to Build a Gaming World

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Are You Building a World or System?

There is a difference between building a TTRPG around a world, setting, or story, and one that is built around an entire system. Both are awesome creations, and both can take a lot of work.

However, there is a main difference between the two.

• If you're designing an entire TTRPG system that means that you need to design absolutely everything from dice mechanics, decisions on if there are chips or cards also involved, how gameplay rules and interactions work, everything.
• If you're designing a world or setting the base of gameplay mechanics can be taken from an existing system like Fate or Cypher and you can build off of those focusing on your world, characters, etc, while there is a default to combat, social interactions, dice rolls, and other mechanics.

Think about what you're really designing. There are amazing TTRPG systems that are built using mechanics systems like Fate and Cypher. Others are very unique but use borrowed dice mechanics (like Monster of the Week).

If you realize you have some ideas for feats, for a setting, for a world, and that's where all the interest is and you haven't given much thought to in-game mechanics then maybe building around Fate or Cypher is the way to go.

This would let you focus on your ideas, on the setting, and paint the picture in your mind while having the framework in place via Fate or Cypher to fill in the details of how the mechanics work.

If you have been dreaming about building a multi-d6 or d12 system, attaching certain mechanics to certain parts of your game system, then it sounds like you will be looking to build a complete tabletop RPG system from the get-go.

This is going to be more in-depth since you will have to make up and test the mechanics to make them work...and design other aspects of the game with those mechanics in mind because you can't create a good working RPG system if you are just winging it with knew mechanics through creating hundreds of pages.

Decide whether you are looking at building a world or an entire system - and then you will know how to outline and proceed accordingly.

The Fate System Mechanics Are Used in Countless Systems

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Start Broad, Then Narrow In

While I understand the temptation to start with a very specific bit of design that inspires you, and by all means you should write down all your notes on the esoteric ideas or sections that really fired up your imagination, but it's best to start with some broad strokes and outlines and then start working on the foundation.

Personally I find things like character feats and enemies much more interesting to design, but if you don't have the base mechanics set up in the game you're going to end up with a lot of problematic inconsistencies later.

Starting with the broad rules, mechanics, and foundations and then narrowing in to more specific rules makes for a far more comprehensive system that holds up during playtesting as opposed to the messiness that often occurs from writing a lot of bits and pieces and then trying to figure out how to sew them all together later.

Starting with the broad foundation and then narrowing in bit by bit will almost always be the right choice when setting up your RPG system design.

Plan These Aspects First

• Dice mechanics
• Fate, card, or chips if used in addition to dice
• Character traits and skills
• Overall tone of system (high power, high casualty, etc.)
• Base combat mechanics
• Basic experience/leveling mechanics
• How social interactions, survival, and other important mechanics work
• Very basics of character creation

Plan These Aspects Later

• Classes
• Monsters/enemies
• Creative information on settings
• History & back story
• Backgrounds
• Feats
• Spells and/or skills

Starting out broader like that and then narrowing in as the game takes shape makes it much easier to design things like enemies, feats, skills, and classes since they will all fit in with the mechanics and frameworks that are already in place.

What Makes Your System Stick Out?

When you count completely original systems and systems that use Fate, Cypher, or similar open mechanic frameworks, there are 100s of systems out there. That's a LOT of competition!

So what makes your system different from what is already out there? What different spin or take does your system have that makes players want to try out your system versus one that already exists?

If you're high fantasy, what makes you different from D&D or Pathfinder?

If you're looking at low power high challenge horror, how are you different from Call of Cthulhu or Delta Green?

What Makes Your Tabletop System Special?

There are many potential answers to this. Maybe you introduce a short system meant for one-shots that is hilarious. Or maybe you're going grim dark in a unique way.

Maybe your system is built around lesser used dice like d4s and d12s or maybe you can storytell in a way that makes a world different, vibrant, and coming to life. There are many different potential ways that you can make your system stick out, but it is important to find something that makes it stick out.

Otherwise there are dozens if not hundreds of other options that will be willing to do something different enough to get players' attention.

A few examples of what other systems did really well (and some have done many things well - but for brevity's sake I'll only mention one or two in the most basic way).

• Shadowrun - Incredible story explaining how fantasy/mythical races came to be in the modern era and incredible dystopian corporate setting
• Jadepunk: Tales from Kausao City - Mashes together martial arts with steampunk and puts it's own spin on steampunk with magical types of jade as the center point
• Over the Edge - Very strange system book along with an incredibly fun and unique dice mechanics that create a lot of fun interactions between players and DM
• Toon - You're cartoons...that's way off the beaten path and makes it stick out from most other TTRPG systems.
• Dungeon Crawl Classic - Uses very specific dice rules to create a funny old school dungeon crawls that sometimes resemble the high casualty "peasant golf."
• Vampire the Masquerade - The blood dice and hunger mechanics are incredibly unique and create constant tension in this world.
• Skateboard Wizards - They're wizards really into skateboarding and it's hard not to have a hilarious
• Warhammer 40K - The most dystopian and violent future universe pretty much ever created.

Finding a way to stick out is crucial if you are going to carve out your share of fans and players.

Monster Garden: An Incredible YouTube Channel About Designing an Original World (and Systems)

High Power or Low Power?

Gaming systems tend to be "high power" or "low power" and it's extremely important to know relatively early on which one you're going to go with. This decision affects everything from character creation, classes, feats, enemies, and combat mechanics. Not to mention whether this is likely to be a "low combat" or "high combat" system.

High power systems are ones where player characters (PCs) are incredibly powerful and whether it's through high hit points, magical abilities, or powerful tech, they become "gods among men" or at least superhuman.

Systems that are considered high power include both 3.5E and 5E "Dungeons & Dragons," "Pathfinder," "Fireborn," or most Super Hero genre TTRPGs.

This is far from a comprehensive list, but they are some of the top ones that come to mind.

In low power systems you may have skills, abilities, or talents, but you remain very mortal, very killable. Combat is often far from your first choice. Sometimes you can be dangerous, but so is everything else, while in others you are facing Eldritch horrors that you have little chance against in a fair fight, but you fight against the likely inevitable loss against cosmic horrors of the universe, but you fight on to keep them from being fully unleashed.

Low power systems that are popular include "Call of Cthulhu," "AD&D," "Torchbearer," and "Warhammer 40k."

If you compare these systems, it shows how many options there are for having fun. You can be fun as walking legends who can crush insane challenges or as the very definition of underdogs, as the ants scrambling in the shadow of a Cosmic Horror to foil the plans of its agents on this plane and allow humanity to breathe easy for another century.

There are systems that can be both: ones like "Werewolf: The Apocalypse" or "Vampire: The Masquerade." In these games you can carefully build yourself into a tank or a nightmare to deal with, but you may face opponents equally as dangerous.

This hits some middle ground between the two, which is also possible to do but takes a bit more finesse and work to design well.

Which type of game are you most familiar with? Which power level do you find the most fun? These are simple questions but they are important to figure out what type of system you are in the best position to create and which you are most likely to enjoy creating.

Make this decision early because it affects so many other aspects of design!

Create Your Enemies or Antagonists

Each system is different and one way to stand out is with new or unique enemies, or at least your original spin on them. This can include re-skinning popular myths to fit in your new world. A vampire from D&D shouldn't look like one from "Vampire: The Masquerade" or one from "Monster Hunter." Each system will have its own take.

The enemies found in a TTRPG system that is high fantasy will be far different than those found in a science fiction setting, or a modern world setting. Whether you want to go super creative or just put a slightly different spin on existing enemies in other systems, this is a great opportunity to set yourself, and your system, apart from others.

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So, Get Designing That Brand New TTRPG System!

There are many great RPG systems out there that can give you inspiration for your own creation. By taking some of your favorite mechanics, stories, or quirks from other games, putting your spin on them, taking inspiration, and creating your own new world you just might be the author of the next huge thing.

So understand that designing your own tabletop system will take a lot of time, a lot of work, and a lot of dedication, but diving in and committing can result in you creating an awesome TTRPG system, and that is one heck of an accomplishment!

Take the advice in this article to help you get started with that dream project, and make sure to tell all of us eager TTRPG players all about it!

© 2023 Shane Dayton

U.S. Currency Quiz: Challenging Trivia About Money

How much do you know about the coins and paper currency of the United States? Are you familiar with United States mint issues? Find out by trying this fun quiz!

The quiz is divided into three parts that increase in difficulty:

• Starter Questions (10)
• Medium Questions (10)
• Expert Questions (2)

Keep in mind that this quiz is intended for coin collectors, so even some of the "easy" questions will be challenging if you're not in the hobby. But if you get any wrong, don't worry. The detailed answers are provided at the bottom. You'll learn a lot of interesting facts about U.S. money!

Starter Questions

1. What type of coin were the first nickel five-cents coins?
2. What coin denomination ceased being struck for general circulation in 2002?
3. What were the first coins issued under the authority of the United States called?
4. What mintmark was used by two different United States mints?
5. What is the lowest denomination on a United States coin?
6. What is the lowest denomination of a United States gold coin ever struck?
7. What was the first type of small cent coin called?
8. What type of coin was the first base metal small dollar?
9. Has the United States Mint ever produced a base metal reverse proof coin?
10. Who is shown on a current paper money bill with a higher denomination than $20 and was never president?

Medium Questions

1. What is, by diameter, the smallest coin issued by the United States mint?
2. What is the fourth lowest denomination of paper currency issued by the United States?
3. Has the United States ever minted a coin other than on a round planchet?
4. During World War II, which United States mint produced florin coins for Australia?
5. What is the highest denomination on a United States coin?
6. Did any one-cent coin of the United States contain silver?
7. Where were the gold commemorative arts medals minted?
8. How many five-cent copper coins exist?
9. When did Martha Washington first appear on a dollar bill?
10. What coins had the same denomination and were minted concurrently over a nine-year period?

Expert Questions

1. How many coins of the United States feature a current president?
2. On how many denominations of United States coins does former president Calvin Coolidge appear?

Starter Question Answers

1. The first nickel five-cent coins minted were the shield nickels.
2. The half dollar ceased being placed in general circulation in 2002. However, half dollars can still be obtained from the mint. The premium paid is low, but the quantity must be a ten-dollar roll of a larger bag. Single coins are available in sets.
3. The first coins minted for the United States were called Fugio cents.
4. The D mintmark is currently used by the Denver Mint. In the 1800s, it was used by the Dahlonega Mint.
5. The lowest denomination on a United States coin is the half cent.
6. The 2016 anniversary gold dime has a denomination of ten cents.
7. The first small cent coins were called the flying eagle cents.
8. The first small base metal dollars were the Susan B. Anthony dollars.
9. Yes, the innovation dollar is an example of a coin minted in reverse proof that is made of base metal.
10. Benjamin Franklin is on the $50 bill.

Medium Question Answers

1. The smallest diameter coin minted by the United States Mint is the $1 gold piece with a diameter of 13 millimeters. It beats the silver three-cent coin, which has a diameter of 14 millimeters.
2. The fourth smallest denomination of paper currency issued by the United States is fifteen cents. The fifteen-cent fractional currency note was part of the fourth issue of fractional currency. The smaller denominations are three cents, five cents, and ten cents.
3. Yes, the 1915S Panama-Pacific United States Sesquicentennial gold coin has an octagonal shape.
4. The San Francisco Mint minted florins for Australia during World War II, recognized by the S mintmark.
5. The highest denomination on a United States coin is $100. The American Eagle platinum one-ounce coin has a denomination of $100.
6. Yes, the 1792 silver center cent contained silver.
7. The United States issued bullion gold medals from 1980–1984 in both the one-ounce and half-ounce sizes using the West Point Mint. Ten medals of each size were minted. Because there was no denomination, these medals were discontinued in favor of the American Eagles.
8. In 1792, the half-disme (no, that's not a typo—"disme" is pronounced like "deem") was produced in both silver and copper. The copper version is listed as unique, so the answer is one.
9. In 1896, both George and Martha Washington appeared on the $1 bill, part of the short-lived educational series.
10. The nickel and silver three-cent coins were issued from 1865–1873 concurrently.

Expert Question Answers

1. None. By law, a living person is not allowed to be depicted on a coin. There are many former presidents on coins, but no current president.
2. Coolidge appears with Washington on the Sesquicentennial fifty-cent commemorative coin and on the $1 presidential dollar. He appeared on the Sesquicentennial fifty-cent commemorative coin while in office, which was an exception to the law prohibiting a living person from being on coinage!

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The History of Currency Is Fascinating

I hope you enjoyed this quiz and learned some new facts about United States currency. We all deal with money on a daily basis, so even if you're not a collector or a trivia buff, it's interesting to know the rich history behind our coins and bills. Happy quizzing!

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This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

What Is an Annual?

Unlike ongoing numbered issues of comic books, many series will use "Annual" issues as a way to tell side-stories that don't tie into the current storyline. During the '90s, Annual issues were often a way to have crossover stories that wouldn't interfere with currently running stories. While modern Annuals often serve a similar purpose, many comic series now use their Annuals as a prelude for upcoming or even currently running events.

With the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers comics, the first two annuals served as a way to share fun side stories, while the third annual was a direct tie-in to the storyline of that year. Let's review the six stories in the 2016 Annual.

• "A Week in the Life ..."
• "Only the Strong"
• "Unlockly Heroes"
• "It's Putty Time"
• "A Spot of Trouble"
• "What Makes a Ranger"

"A Week in the Life ..."

The Premise

Jason is a leader not only to the Power Rangers but in his everyday life. This short comic gives insight into Jason's weekly struggle to balance fighting Rita's monsters, maintaining good grades at school, and keeping up with his martial arts expectations as both a student and mentor. At the end of the week, despite being exhausted, he shares a late picnic with the Rangers, eager to start the next week.

What Worked?

The quick cuts from one scene to the next show just how quickly life comes at you, reminding the reader to take time to enjoy it. Seeing Jason struggle, despite being the leader of the Rangers, shows that he is human.

What Could Have Been Better?

The art style of this story was more heavily inspired by the appearance of the original actors that played the Power Rangers, rather than keeping in line with the modern depictions in the comics. Having near photo-realistic depictions of the original cast was amazing to see, especially in Thuy Tran's case, but it felt out of place for this ongoing series.

Overall Rating: 7/10

"Only the Strong"

The Premise

Goldar and his brother, General Silverback, are summoned by Lord Zedd. When Lord Zedd reveals his plan to send them to Earth to destroy Zordon, Silverback declares that he will not stand for Lord Zedd's weakness, threatening to join Dark Specter's forces instead. Enraged, Lord Zedd blasts Silverback with a barrage of magic, giving Goldar an ultimatum: join his brother in death, or kill the traitor. The comic ends with Goldar killing his brother and making his way to Earth to act as Rita's general.

What Worked?

Not only was Goldar given a backstory, but this comic also reveals just how ruthless both he and Lord Zedd are. The artwork is a pretty solid alternative to the ongoing series, and having a story written from Goldar's perspective is a great change of pace.

What Could Have Been Better?

While the old trope for Power Rangers is having the "monster of the day", it would have been awesome to have Silverback be more of a presence in the bigger picture before having him slaughtered so quickly.

Overall Rating: 8/10

"Unlockly Heroes"

The Premise

While preparing for a talent show, the Power Rangers are imprisoned by Rita's monster, Sir Locks-A-Lot. There are limited options for temporary Rangers, leaving only Bulk and Skull for candidates. While the bumbling duo's costumes don't fit them just right, and they are ill-prepared for any sort of real fighting, a combination of good fortune, Cockroach Kung-Fu, and a locksmith named Glen, Bulk and Skull manage to save the day. Right before Alpha-5 blasts them with a memory-erasing raygun.

What Worked?

The art style for this comic was absolutely perfect for the story it was telling. It had a sort of goofy, cartoonish vibe that was well-suited for Bulk and Skull. Giving these two the chance to be proper heroes, long before their stint in Power Rangers in Space, was refreshing and honestly long overdue.

What Could Have Been Better?

It has frustrated me for years that despite proving their value as Rangers, Bulk and Skull lose their powers almost immediately. While this does make for a great gag at the end of the comic, it leaves me feeling like they have been severely under-utilized.

Overall Rating: 9/10

"It's Putty Time"

The Premise

While fighting against the Putty Patrollers, Kimberly beats one up, and the Putty falls in love with her. To get closer to her, the Putty wears a disguise and gets a little too handsy. Tommy and Kimberly then kick the Putty's butt and Kimberly calls him a jerk to his face.

What Worked?

Giving the Putty Patrollers a personality outside of being bumbling cannon-fodder was a great idea, but it does end up falling a bit flat in my opinion.

What Could Have Been Better?

In all honesty, of all the short comics done for the series, this is probably the one I despise the most. The artwork and writing feel like they belong in a children's comic, not in a Power Rangers series targeted to teens and young adults. I appreciate that this was likely meant to draw in a younger audience, but I don't get why it would be part of this lineup of shorts.

Overall Rating: 2/10

"A Spot of Trouble"

The Premise

Kimberly and Trini are throwing a charity ball to help raise money for the environment. While the fundraiser is a bit vague as to where that money will go, the girls have the best interests at heart. While finishing setting up for the guests, a fox-like villain, Vixenya, arrives and turns all of the guests into various critters, leaving only Trini as a human.

As Trini fights Vixenya, Kimberly (as a bunny) jumps between the pair, causing Vixenya to realize the error of her ways and form a bond with Trini. The guests, turned back into humans, begin throwing their donations at Trini and Kim, and Vixenya turns back into a fox. Happy endings all around!

What Worked?

The artwork was so beautiful. It genuinely felt like something out of a fairy-tale story. Vixenya was refreshingly modern and posed a genuine threat, despite just being misguided.

What Could Have Been Better?

The story wrapped up a bit too quickly, and I would have liked to see a bit more of Vixenya's abilities before it ended, but overall worth it!

Overall Rating: 8/10

"What Makes a Ranger"

The Premise

In the latest battle against Rita's monsters, the Power Rangers face off against the Commandant. While the battle seems hopeless initially, the Rangers pull through, defeating the Commandant's War Golem and saving the day. In the aftermath of the fight, the Rangers demorph and follow-up their battle by helping to rescue survivors from the rubble of the collapsed city.

What Worked?

Seeing that the Rangers hold up their morals, even when they aren't in suit, is a great touch that the comic series doesn't show off too often. It gave that touch of heart that the original show had that is sometimes forgotten in the grand scheme of the ongoing series.

What Could Have Been Better?

There is something severely off-putting about the way that Jorge Corona's artwork looks. It feels like there was an attempt to imitate the '90s style of comics, but it came across wonky.

Overall Rating: 6/10

Final Thoughts

Overall, this Annual issue has a little bit of something for everyone. There was really only one story that I didn't enjoy, and considering there were six different teams writing and illustrating, that is impressive.

Thanks for reading! Leave a comment below if there's anything you'd like me to review! Until next time, stay frosty!

The Premise

In the aftermath of the Green With Evil story arc from the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series, Tommy is struggling to find his place within the team of Power Rangers. It would be easy to just have him be instantly accepted into the posse like they did in the show, but in this reimagining, Tommy is an outcast. While Kimberly is eager to accept Tommy into the gang, there is plenty of mistrust among the others.

While the spell over Tommy has been broken, Tommy is still suffering from visions. Rita is constantly whispering in his ear, trying to coax him back to the side of villainy, all while Tommy is just trying to function not only as a Ranger but as a student. To add on to the feelings of self-doubt he is already feeling, the inner turmoil Tommy feels is creating a rift between his powers and the control over the Dragonzord.

While the Rangers are trying to figure out their next move in their war against Rita, Rita reveals her own plot for disaster. Using the chaos energy that is created by the Dragonzord fighting against her monsters, Rita is preparing to open a portal to another dimension.

As Tommy's visions begin to grow worse, the decision is made to bench Tommy until they can figure out how to keep Rita out of his head for good. All too quickly, however, Scorpina uses a false Dragon Dagger, charged with the chaos energy from fighting Tommy, to pilot the Dragonzord and wreak havoc in Angel Grove. As the Rangers move to fight Scorpina and Rita's new shark monsters, Tommy faces his own demons.

As Tommy comes to the revelation that the visions he has been having of Rita are all in his head, he steps up to join his teammates in the fight. With Scorpina taken prisoner, the Dragonzord reclaimed, and the battle won, the Rangers return to the Command Center to confront Tommy.

As tempers begin to rise, the chaos-energy-charged crystal begins to glow before causing an explosion that takes out much of the Command Center, including Alpha-5 and Zordon. The Rangers are left face-to-face with the Black Dragon, their next foe in the battle against evil.

What's There to Love?

This first story arc of the ongoing Mighty Morphin Power Rangers comics tackles difficult topics that were often brushed under the rug in the original TV series. In doing so, it has drawn in older age brackets than the source material usually does. Even when compared to Go Go Power Rangers (which acts as a prequel series to this one), the storyline gives a very realistic approach to feelings of dread, abandonment, and overwhelming failure.

This story arc provides a pathway into bigger and better things within the span of just a few issues but does not feel rushed in any way. Rather, the story progresses at a natural pace, giving each of the Rangers their own time to shine. In addition to the Rangers, we are given a much more in-depth analysis of how psychological torment can affect the teens that are so heavily burdened with saving the world.

Similar to the first story arc of Go Go Power Rangers, this first arc of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers was incredible at building the characters up, and not just the Rangers and Rita's gang. Bulk and Skull are given a proper role outside of the comic relief bully trope, acting as bloggers who chronicle the Power Rangers and their fight against the forces of evil.

While their role is pretty limited in the grand scheme of things, it does give the reader a more down-to-earth view on the reality that Angel Grove lives in, despite the lack of humor that these two typically bring to the table.

What Could Have Been Better?

The negatives for this particular story arc are few and far between. If it boils down to anything, it is purely on a personal preference level. The artwork wasn't bad by any means, but I would have preferred the more animated stylization the series had later on, especially in Go Go Power Rangers and post-Shattered Grid.

The only other critique I have for this arc, and unfortunately many of the first arcs in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, is that it lacks much of the humor that the original source material, TV series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, had. While there is a lot of heart that is written into the characters, I would have appreciated seeing Bulk and Skull being given a bit more humor to their personalities than they were given.

What Time Is It?

In addition to the main story arc included in these first few issues and the supplemental The Ongoing Adventures of Bulk & Skull (which was featured in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #0–12), Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #0 included a short comic titled What Time is It?. This story appears to take place right after Tommy is freed from Rita's control; however, there is no certain way to confirm.

The small, six-page story features a fight between Goldar and the Rangers, with Tommy being the focus of Goldar's assault and the other Rangers jumping in to assist once Goldar grows. With a quick defeat thanks to the Megazord and Dragonzord, Goldar realizes that his former ally may prove to be a much larger threat than anticipated.

This one-shot has a different creative team than the ongoing story; it was written by Mairghread Scott and illustrated by Daniel Bayliss, with Ed Dukeshire providing the lettering. While the story is short, it provides a solid look at how the Rangers work as a team, and the artwork, while very different from what we see in the ongoing series, works very well for the smoky effect that is necessary in the narrative.

Overall, it feels a bit out of place in this particular issue, and I personally feel that it would have been much better suited for one of the Annual issues. I do appreciate the lore that it adds to the series, showing that the Rangers, in the right circumstances, are capable of great things.

Final Thoughts: 8/10

Not only does this story provide the action and outlandishness we know and love the Power Rangers franchise for, it brings the massive world down to Earth and allows us to get an inside look at what it truly means to be a Ranger. The characterization and time spent developing the story was spot-on, giving the villains just as much heart as the heroes.

While the art style is not my personal preference (I am a sucker for Dan Mora's Go Go Power Rangers run), I think it is a solid base to build upon with the rest of the series. Overall, this first story arc gets an 8/10 from me.

Thanks for reading! Leave a comment below if there's anything you'd like me to review! Until next time, stay frosty!

© 2023 Cameron Walker

Monster of the Week (MOTW): A TTRPG That Delivers on Its Name!

Monster of the Week is an exceptional system that hits a very different tone from Delta Green or Call of Cthulhu. It's a highly flexible system focused on a modern-day world where monsters, spirits, and other supernatural entities are real. MOTW offers a wide array of classes, very interesting character creation, and a very X-Files-esque monster episode vibe, where there might be a different supernatural threat every single week.

The classes vary greatly and have cool unique spins on typical roles, from the Spooky, Chosen, and Monstrous to the very human Expert—and even the Normal, who is just ... normal. The MOTW system really does a great job of pulling together players in the beginning and giving them all reasons for adventuring together, then setting the group off on their next Mystery.

This is an outstanding system that offers something very different from what D&D players might be used to. It's an incredibly fun experience that really emphasizes teamwork and gives everyone in a group a chance to jump in and have their moment during an investigation.

Group-Based Character Creation

One of the things that will jump out immediately about MOTW is how character creation is done. In many TTRPGs, there is an unspoken "Let's go adventuring" problem, meaning that the DM has to work to explain how a group, especially an eclectic one, would come together. Monster of the Week handles character creation in a way that circumvents this problem completely and partially takes the pressure off the DM to have to force it.

Each player chooses their class and multiple attributes about their past, who they are, and what exactly their standards are. But then there's a point where you go through a list of different short explanations, and you assign one to every other player in the group.

This could include being a distant relative, having had your life saved by one of the other players, or even being a bit antagonistic towards them. It's a really cool system that helps you paint out the world and group dynamics before the first session even begins.

This creates prior relationships between players, giving them a broad array of options that still leave plenty of room for interpretation or creative storytelling. Some of the options even allow the other players to fill in details, such as, "A player saw you when you abused your power for personal gain. Have them explain to you what they saw and how that has affected your relationship with them."

This is far and away my favorite character creation system I've run into, and I love the way it engages the entire group into each other's lives immediately. By limiting any group to having only one of each class, this gets everyone together and on the same page as they start off every adventure.

Are You Up for a Mystery?

Every session (or series of sessions) starts with an Investigation into a Mystery. Something is happening, and you suspect it involves the supernatural. Your group's job is to investigate the Mystery, find all the hints or clues available, and rush to deal with whatever alien, demon, monster, or other supernatural entity is behind the problem—hopefully before the worst-case scenario takes place.

Each Mystery can come to your group in a variety of ways, and the game's Keeper (the name for the DM running the game) gives clues or information based on actions your characters can take. Some characters can roll for extra information in the very beginning because of various skills (called Moves) that they pick up in character creation or from leveling up later on.

Oftentimes, your investigation is running against a clock of some kind. If you can solve what's going on early enough, you might be able to prevent a murder, save a victim, or stop something catastrophic from happening. If you're too slow, that might spill over as a serious problem in future Mysteries.

Solving the Mystery is only part of the problem. Once your investigation tells you what's going on, you still have to solve the problem, and that is often easier said than done—or you might get an answer to a Mystery that opens up an entirely new Mystery you'll have to figure out against the ticking clock.

This is a fun system, and the process never seemed dull or slow while my gaming group was playing it.

What Are the Classes in Monster of the Week?

There were originally 12 classes (called Playbooks in the system) in Monster of the Week, though the Revised Handbook added two more that were previously just digital: The Spooktacular and the Snoop. For convenience's sake, we're going to group those in with the originals and briefly go over each one.

• The Chosen
• The Crooked
• The Divine
• The Expert
• The Flake
• The Initiate
• The Monstrous
• The Mundane
• The Professional
• The Snoop
• The Spell-Slinger
• The Spooktacular
• The Spooky
• The Wronged

The Chosen

The Chosen is a class built to fight the Big Bads. Tied into destiny and the supernatural, this is a fighting class that will come in very handy when your party moves from investigating to having to deal with the supernatural nuisance behind the Mystery.

The Crooked

What to be a hoodlum? A grifter or fixer? A burglar or assassin? Sometimes, the best asset a team can have is that shady figure who knows all those other shady figures, and that's exactly what a Crooked can do in this game ... and you can even level up to have your own crew (of varying effectiveness in-game).

The Divine

The Chosen might be fighting due to prophecy, but the Divine is actually connected to something supernatural. An otherworldly entity of some type provides you with information and the power to fight against an adversary you may or may not know. Are you here to stop the apocalypse? To speed it up? The Divine is in this world but powered from another, and that leads to some very interesting characters.

The Expert

The Expert is just that: someone who found out about the supernatural and then spent their life studying anything supernatural or unnatural. The Expert is an enormous help in investigating Mysteries, and they also have monster-slaying weapons to help out in combat when it's rough-and-tumble time!

The Flake

The Flake is the conspiracy theorist who sees the patterns—all of the patterns—so much so that they are among the best pure investigator class in the game. They're able to see a lot of weird things, and then when trouble comes, they can hide or slip into a less noticeable position until the danger subsides.

The Initiate

Coming from an ancient sect, the Initiate blends the use of old weapons and new, as well as old mystical practices and new technology. Are you from an order that specializes in one or two things, or do you serve a greater prophecy?

The Initiate is a really cool class that can do a little of everything. They may very well be armed with monk weapons and a sniper rifle, using a laptop when their mystical outreach fails.

The Monstrous

You aren't human. You are something else that would be hunted by others ... if you didn't fight those base urges in you. You are supernatural, which means you can do a lot of things (depending on what you pick for Moves), from flying to shape-shifting to being a devastating fighter or even nearly impossible to injure. Just remember, if you run out of luck, the little of you that is human will be devoured by the monster within!

The Mundane

The Mundane is just a normal person who knows about monsters ... but since you are normal, your "superpower" is that you can rack up experience really easily, and a quickly leveled-up Mundane can become incredibly powerful—maybe even brokenly so, as long as you can stay alive in the beginning!

The Professional

You are a professional monster hunter. For real, you're armed to the teeth and loaded with skills in combat, first aid, and reading bad situations. The Professional is the offensive compliment to the Expert, and they are ready to take care of any unnatural problem once the other hunters have helped to investigate the Mystery and point their skilled Professional in the right direction.

Professionals can also call on the Agency when they really need more assistance, but remember there might be some blowback from unhappy supervisors ... so make sure it really is necessary before making that emergency call!

The Snoop

Ghost or cryptid hunter, you are all about discovering the mysteries of the supernatural, and you're even somewhat of a minor celebrity in some circles. This class is all about getting leads to know where to search for clues or who to talk to, being a distraction so other hunters can get by undetected, or—when all else fails—pulling on past interviews or your celebrity status to open up new leads. Don't forget to cover the next Mystery on your podcast!

The Spell-Slinger

Just like it sounds, this class is all about using magic, and they've mastered an extensive list of spells for use, especially in combat. Whenever you are setting up for a fight, you will be glad to have a Spell-Slinger on the team, ready to use a wide array of spells to blast any supernatural threat or monster into oblivion (or wherever monsters go after getting killed by magic).

The Spooktacular

You come from a supernatural show. Is it a circus? A carnival? A magic act? Well, that's up to you to decide—and what type of show you come from directly affects the powers you have. But one thing's for sure: You're a charmer and a showman, whatever your other mystical qualities are, and that can come in very handy when a face is needed to smooth over a situation among the "normies."

The Spooky

The Spooky was the first class I played in Monster of the Week. Imagine a modern warlock who may or may not be aware of where their power comes from, but notices nagging vices from the darker side of their personality, and you're on the right path.

The Spooky class is about spellcasting, getting major boosts when they use magic, but they also have vices from a higher entity that give them a boost that can be ... problematic. When a Mystery leads to a college keg party and your vices from the darkness are Addiction, Self-Destruction, and Hedonism, well, chances are your team is down one helpful member. But that is all part of the fun!

The Wronged

You learned about the supernatural the hard way. You were wronged by a creature, and training yourself to hunt them down and get your revenge has been your life's obsession. Armed with two practical weapons and one signature weapon, you are ready to take on that which took everything from you—and you'll cut down any other supernatural threats along the way.

New Classes From the Tome of Mysteries

The Tome of Mysteries expansion adds a lot to the game, and among the many great additions are four new classes that bring some very interesting dynamics to the the game. Some of these classes are also the most complex in the current game when it comes to mechanics and how they work.

• The Gumshoe
• The Hex
• The Pararomantic
• The Searcher

The Gumshoe

The gumshoe is straight out of an old Film Noir film of your choice, combined with some modern sensibilities. Choose your personal code you follow no matter what, decide how much of a charmer vs sleuth you are, and never keep that .38 too far away as you never know when something supernatural will come out of the shadows at you.

Great addition to the base game and while the general flavor stays the same, there are a lot of skills, abilities, personal code, and story variations to play multiple types of gumshoes, all stumbling onto things normal people weren't meant to know and now having to, with their fellow hunters, deal with the fallout.

The Hex

The Hex is probably the most controversial of the classes. A super-charged magic user that can get bonuses for magic use well above what was likely intended with their design, the Hex can be a very fun and versatile class...but it's also going to be abused by any "Munchkin" or "Min-Max" player who likes to break the system and dominate the game.

Or as my group would put it: It's the "Lucky Feat" of MOTW (called that because Lucky is the one feat banned from every D&D campaign).

In fairness, Hex can be a fun class and if it's not being used by a player trying to optimize it to the teeth, or if you have an experienced Keeper who knows how to use overpowered players' strengths against them, it can be balanced out but this is a challenging class to play and story tell over, so be sure to talk with your Keeper to see if it's allowed. A leveled up Hex can make even a Spooky or Spell-Slinger look like a joke by comparison.

The Pararomantic

The pararomantic is unique in that I can't think of another class in another system that it's really comparable to. This is an unusual class where the hunter's relationship with a supernatural or unnatural being of some kind is a major focus - delivering help they otherwise wouldn't have in investigating a mystery or dealing with a threat.

This Supernatural Guide in the relationship provides bonuses, but can also put pararomantics in hard spots when their forbidden relationship is discovered or if botched rolls lead to a strain on the relationship...which with enough luck burned not only lead to a permanent breakup but can lead to the formerly friendly unnatural becoming an enemy.

The Searcher

A cryptid investigator, you are obsessed with finding the truth and have becoming very good at it. A fateful first encounter leads your player down this path. From being able to act coolly under pressure to getting extra luck or awareness of dangers, you are an investigator who is not only very good at finding the problem source behind mysteries but avoiding danger when acting under pressure or avoiding hazards.

You are an investigator first and foremost, but whether it's luck, fate, or skill, you have a little bit more ability to dodge problems than many of the other investigative classes in MOTW.

The Storytelling System Is Versatile, Thanks to Its Episodic Format

Monster of the Week works best as an episodic system, with each Mystery working as a standalone 1- or 2-session game. You can string these together for the same characters to continue to gain experience and even have an overarching plot, but this is a system built primarily for single stories. This can add a lot of versatility to each session.

• In one, you might be wondering why a usually good supernatural creature appears to be going on a murderous rampage, only to find out something is controlling it or afflicting it.
• The very next session could be an all-out war with a bloodthirsty group of vampires trying to move in or an Eldritch horror trying to steal the souls of one or more of the hunters in your group.
• In the session after that, maybe Elvis returns. Like, seemingly the real Elvis. Weird.

This gives the Keeper a lot of tools and ideas to work with, since the Mystery being investigated can vary so much from one session to another. This helps keep the system fresh; as a group, the players never quite know what they're in for this time around, which makes it easy to prevent sessions from becoming too one-dimensional or rote.

Can You Do a Long Campaign With Monster of the Week?

The campaign is built for more of the short-form session-by-session mysteries, and this is where it thrives. This allows players to level up, lets the team gain experience, and helps everybody get their feet wet with the different challenges that arrive and the various ways that they can be dealt with.

That said, it is 100% possible to stretch an overarching plot around everything happening, dropping clues even as the group is forced to deal with one potential spot of weirdness after another.

A group that has multiple players taking classes like Chosen, Divine, Monstrous, or others with prophecy heavily involved in their potential backstories may want that larger theme. There's a big plot going on about the end of the world, but in the meantime, solve these mysteries, pick up clues, and maybe figure out how the threads connect.

This does require more work from the Keeper, since using MOTW for a longer campaign is sort of fitting a square peg in a round hole most of the time, especially compared to a system like Call of Cthulhu or Delta Green where longer campaigns more easily fit in mechanically.

That doesn't mean it's not worth it—but it does take some planning and work to pull off well.

Tome of Mysteries: A Great Expansion

Tome of Mysteries is an expansion that was added to the game and it is an outstanding addition that is worth the purchase. They introduce 4 new classes, not to mention many different game sessions that the DM/Keeper can use for ideas as nearly 30 Mysteries are included.

There's a lot here to love, and almost none of it is fluff. New classes, rule variations, Mysteries to run, advice for running the game or playing the game, and that's all wrapped up in a book that has more of the excellent pencil sketch art that I'm a fan of from the first one.

Other publishers should take notes on how this is done. No fluff, nearly 300 pages of what players want most, and it integrates with the existing system very well while learning from feedback to give rule variations that can help the game run more smoothly.

Fantastic expansion and one I would 100% recommend for any table who enjoys the Monster of the Week TTRPG system. Tome of Mysteries adds more of what you want and expands the universe.

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So What's the Verdict on Monster of the Week?

Monster of the Week is a very well-designed game. From character creation threading the needle between allowing you to create your own character and encouraging the group to contribute to a smart level up system and incredibly interesting and diverse classes, there's a lot to love about what this system brings to the table.

While it's fully possible to run full-length campaigns with overarching plots, it's also ideally built for that Monster of the Week scenario where there is a different instance, different monster, different situation every single session that keeps things fresh.

What also was surprising was just how different the system could play based on the Keeper. This could be a fairly chill system where the heavy, heavy focus was on the Mystery, or it can be a very scary system where a simple monster acts like a BBEG and your hunters have to truly fight to survive, often getting hurt in the process, burning luck, and surviving by the skin of their teeth.

That versatility is rare in a system and another feature of what makes Monster of the Week so great. Highly recommend, and it also works as a perfect "filler" system for tables where you like ending a long campaign, taking a few sessions to do something different, and then going back to another long campaign again.

This is a system I can whole-heartedly recommend as a buy.

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© 2023 Shane Dayton

The Premise

If you go to your VCR and pop in that old VHS tape of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Day of the Dumpster, you'll get a pretty good idea of how this first arc of Go Go Power Rangers will play out. It picks up immediately after the Ranger's first battle with Goldar and focuses on the lives of each of these amazing heroes, rather than focusing on the giant monsters and robots that the series is famous for.

In addition to meeting this more contemporary team of Rangers, we are also reintroduced to fan favorites Bulk and Skull, Rita Repulsa, Zordon, and of course Alpha 5. While it's great to see these classic characters revamped for the modern era, we are also introduced to a new character, Kimberly's boyfriend, and he's not quite who fans would expect.

Matt Cook is a star athlete, tall, dark, and handsome, and he's a friend to each of the Rangers before Go Go Power Rangers #1 even starts. It's made clear that he is genuine, caring, and (at times) an awkward high school guy, which makes him relatable to fans both new and old. Through the interactions with each of the five Rangers (Jason, Zack, Billy, Trini, and Kimberly) as well as the other characters that appear on the pages, we learn about the characters in a much more three-dimensional way than we ever got on the original television series.

Rita Repulsa, in this canon, is far more intimidating than her television counterpart. Her power in battle is shown firsthand as she sends Jason blasting through a wall, and her minions, for the first time, have just as much clout in their own right. Her usual ragtag band of baddies joins her on the page: Goldar, Finster, Squatt, and Baboo. The only character that seems to be missing from her original team is the femme fatale Scorpina, but given the number of characters that we are already being introduced to, this is forgivable.

As one might expect, Rita turns to Finster to work on a new monster, but this particular monster will be something special: a shapeshifting creation that can assume the form of any human, even one of the Rangers' own friends.

In addition to the more mature versions of the characters that we are treated to, we get to see a more realistic side of Angel Grove. After the Putty Infiltrator touches down in Angel Grove, the Rangers and their peers are participating in the volunteer event Angel Day, coming together to repair the buildings and property damage caused during Rita's initial assault on the city.

Unlike the original series, there is collateral damage. When a building is knocked down by a giant monster, it stays down. This creates a world where the Rangers need to be more conscious of their actions than their television counterparts do.

Matt, trying to protect Kimberly from danger, ends up being knocked through a building, forcing Kimberly to leave Matt in the care of the disguised Putty Infiltrator so that she can morph and assist the other Rangers. Applause all around as the Power Rangers save the day, sort of. While Kimberly keeps a watchful eye on Matt in the hospital, it is revealed that the Putty Infiltrator has taken Matt's form while the real Matt is being imprisoned on the moon.

The first arc of this series wraps up with an awesome fight at the homecoming dance (because it wouldn't be a teenage drama without a dance), with the Infiltrator using the skills and information it had learned while spending time with the Rangers to beat them back before it finds its own humanity and tries to break from Rita's spell.

Unfortunately for the Infiltrator and the Rangers, Rita always has an ace up her sleeve. She takes control of the Infiltrator, causing it to grow into a twisted version of the Megazord before the creature is taken down by the Power Rangers.

In the fallout of the battle, the Rangers are left trying to pick up the pieces of their relationship with Matt, who is traumatized from his time spent imprisoned. Billy makes the difficult decision to turn down Promethea's offer for the internship, and the other Rangers worry for the future of their own security.

In the last pages, the reader is introduced to a new Pink Ranger, along with an amalgamation of Finster and Alpha 5, proclaiming that they will be returning their "lord," which sets the stage for a major crossover event that picks up in the next issue.

What's There to Love?

Oh, God, what isn't there to love?! We get to see the Power Rangers not only in a modern setting with real-world issues, but we are treated to a genuine threat in the form of Rita Repulsa. Instead of a band of bumbling idiots surrounding her, the denizens of Rita's Palace are actually capable of destruction. Each of the updated villain designs is absolutely gorgeous, giving us something familiar that also looks cleaner and more menacing than the show ever could give us.

Seeing the Rangers focus on REAL teenage issues, rather than the (let's face it) unrealistically do-gooder issues that they faced in the TV series is absolutely refreshing. They aren't trying to save the environment (necessarily), they aren't showboating about taking down bullies, they are just being teenagers. Kimberly has a boyfriend, and they have issues. Billy is dealing with the fact that one of his old friends has turned into his current bully. We are given actual teenagers, not the perfect idea of teenagers we watched on Saturday mornings.

Of the entire cast of characters, my favorite upgrade we got is that of Bulk and Skull. Yes, they are still the good old bullies we knew as kids, but now, they aren't caricatures. Bulk bullies Billy, but he does so in small ways, like pelting him with water balloons or putting trash in his locker. He doesn't charge around like a dumb ox.

And Skull, bless this sweet boy, feels so much remorse for the way he and Bulk treat Billy, but because of the way Billy neglected him after realizing how smart he was, Skull just sort of goes along with it. These two are not just defined by being bullies obsessed with the Rangers. They are just two jerks that are now dealing with the way the world has changed around them.

What Could Have Been Better?

To be honest, it is hard to find anything that I would want to see differently. I am not just saying that because I am a die-hard fan of the series. This story by Ryan Parrott is genuinely well written, and Dan Mora's artwork is just gorgeous. Of all of it, I would probably say I'd have liked to see a bit more of Matt and the Rita gang during his imprisonment. The villains are one of the best parts of these issues.

Final Thoughts?

Look, love the Power Rangers or hate them, this was a beautifully done story that could honestly be applied to any sort of genre. While it does stray pretty far from the source material, it is still close enough that it feels right (unlike some other adaptions).

All things considered, I give the first arc of Go Go Power Rangers a solid 9/10.

Thanks for reading! If you think there's anything I should review next, leave a comment below! Until next time, stay frosty!

In the vast realm of Pokémon collecting, some cards stand out as true treasures, sought after by enthusiasts and collectors around the world. Among these rare gems, there are dozens of beautiful Kyogre cards, and a few of them are worth more than you would expect.

Kyogre, known for its association with the seas and its awe-inspiring power, has left an indelible mark on the Pokémon franchise. First introduced in the third generation, Kyogre has not been around as long as other legendary characters like Zapdos or Articuno. But that doesn't mean that there aren't tons of hard-to-find Kyogre cards that collectors will pay big bucks to obtain.

Do you remember having any Kyogre cards in your old binder? We're breaking down five of the rarest and most valuable ones you might come across!

1. Kyogre ex—Crystal Guardians (2006): $70

The first card on this list comes from Crystal Guardians, the 14th regular set produced by the Pokémon Company International.

Alongside iconic cards like Jirachi ex and Blaziken ex, this card is one of only ten ultra rare "ex" cards to appear in the set, and they are not easy to find. In fact, you would need to open 18 booster packs of Crystal Guardians to find just one ex card, and there's no guarantee you would find this amazing Kyogre!

But if you want to add this card to your collection, you don't need to pay up to $300 for a Crystal Guardians booster pack, because you can find a near mint copy of Kyogre ex for around $70!

2. Team Aqua's Kyogre EX—Double Crisis (2015): $100

The next card on our list is this Team Aqua's Kyogre EX from 2015's Double Crisis, a special set released during the XY block that only contained 34 cards.

One of these cards was this amazing Full Art Team Aqua's Kyogre EX, which is one of only two ultra rare cards to appear in this set, along with Team Magma's Groudon EX.

At least part of the reason why collectors enjoy this card so much is because it's among a small group of rare cards with art featuring both human and other Pokémon characters. This particular illustration features Team Aqua members Shelly and Archie, as well as Sharpedo, Seviper, and Walrein, who also appear in the Double Crisis set.

Find a near mint copy of this card in your old collection, and you might be able to sell it for as much as $100!

3. Kyogre EX (Full Art)—Dark Explorers (2012): $130

This Kyogre EX (Full Art) comes from Dark Explorers, the fifth main expansion in Pokémon's Black & White block.

A fun fact most don't know about this set is that it was the first to feature an item card as a secret rare: Pokémon Catcher! It also includes a ton of amazing regular and full art printings, including this Kyogre EX (Full Art).

But before you go and open a bunch of booster packs of Dark Explorers, which can cost you $100 or more each, you should know that you would need to open 36 booster packs, on average, to find just one full art rare!

But fortunately, collectors can forgo opening old packs of Dark Explorers and instead buy single copies of this illustrious card. In near mint condition, collectors pay up to $130!

4. Kyogre (Shiny)—Call of Legends (2011): $180

Call of Legends was a regular standalone set that was released between the end of the HeartGold & Soul Silver series and the start of the Black & White series. The set featured 95 cards and 11 special Shiny Legendary cards, including Deoxys, Rayquaza, Palkia, and of course, Kyogre!

These cards featured alternate colorations of the Pokémon, which corresponded to how they appeared in their "Shiny" forms in the handheld videogames, and a unique brightly colored and shining border that appears on no other card type.

Similar to the "Shining" Pokémon that appeared in the Neo Series (2001–2002), these Shiny cards have remained highly sought after by collectors. In fact, near mint copies of this card can sell for $180 or more!

5. Kyogre Star—Delta Species (2005): $400

Without a doubt, the rarest and most valuable Kyogre card released in a regular set is the iconic Kyogre Star from Delta Species, an early set released by the Pokémon Company International in 2005.

The Star designation is what sets this Kyogre apart from the pack. Many collectors chase these incredibly rare cards, which were released in EX series sets from 2004's Team Rocket Returns through Power Keepers in 2008.

Star Pokémon cards are incredibly hard to find. Not only were they released during a low point in the popularity of Pokémon TCG collecting, but only one appeared in every 72 booster packs, making Star Pokémon more than four times rarer than many "ex" cards of the time.

If you find a near mint copy of Kyogre Star in your collection, you could be able to sell it for $400 or more!

It makes sense that Chansey has remained a beloved Pokémon since it first premiered in 1999's Base Set. Often appearing as a nurse's assistant in both the video games and anime, the puffy pink Pokémon is most known for its caring nature and warm disposition.

Chansey doesn't appear on a ton of highly valuable Pokémon trading cards, but it does have some rare printings featuring lovable and nostalgic art.

Break out your old collection, because we're listing five of these sought-after Chansey cards!

1. Chansey—Neo Destiny (2002): $12 for First Edition

We're starting off this list with Chansey from 2002's Neo Destiny, the final Neo series set. This set introduced Generation II Pokémon to the trading card game but still heavily featured Generation I characters.

Since this Chansey has an "uncommon" rarity designation, it isn't too difficult to pull from a booster pack of Neo Destiny, but just one booster pack can cost you $600 or more. The high prices for cards from these sets can largely be attributed to the steep decline in market interest for Pokémon cards in 2002 compared to previous years, causing a much lower print volume of these cards.

However, this particular card is not among the rarer cards from this set, but if you find a First Edition copy in your collection, you can sell it for around $12!

2. ____'s Chansey—Challenge From the Darkness (1999): $15

If you have this in your old childhood collection, that would be a real oddity. That's because this iconic Chansey card was only released in the Japanese set "Challenge from the Darkness." Though the cards from this set were eventually released in English as 2000's Gym Challenge, this unique Chansey card was not translated.

In English, the card's title is "____'s Chansey", which would allow its owner to write their name on the line. Neither Wizards of the Coast nor the Pokémon Company International has stated why this card was never released in English, so perhaps we might eventually see an English reprint of this card. If Imakuni?'s Doduo got one, why can't ____'s Chansey?

Find a near mint copy of this card in your collection, and you can sell it for around $15!

3. Chansey—Base Set 2 (2000): $20

This next Chansey comes from the vintage reprint set called Base 2. Unlike Base Set, which premiered in 1999, this set was published in 2000, and it featured some of the most popular cards from the previous three sets: Base Set, Jungle, and Fossil.

Though these cards resemble their predecessors, you can distinguish them by their set symbol outside of the lower right side of the illustrative frame. And unlike most other sets printed by Wizards of the Coast from 1999 to 2003, this set never included a first edition print run.

Naturally, these reprints sell for a bit lower than the original printings, but that doesn't mean collectors aren't eager to add them to their collections. Near mint copies of Chansey from Base Set 2 sell for around $20.

4. Chansey ex—Ruby and Sapphire (2003): $30

Ruby and Sapphire is an extremely special set because it is the first English language set that was published by the Pokémon Company International after Wizards of the Coast cut ties with the property in 2003.

This set is also the first set to feature the "ex" designation, making this Chansey ex among the first ex Pokémon in the history of the TCG. Other ex cards that appear in this set include Mewtwo ex, Lapras ex, and Scyther ex.

Though Ruby & Sapphire are extremely popular sets with vintage collectors of today, at the time of its release, Pokémon was at a low point in the TCG's popularity. Because of this, relatively few Ruby & Sapphire cards exist, making them tough to find in great condition.

So if you find a Chansey ex in your collection, you could expect to sell it for around $30!

5. Chansey—Base Set (1999): $30–$400

When it comes to Pokémon cards, it is tough to beat the originals. The rarest and most valuable Chansey card of all comes from Pokémon's premier English set published by Wizards of the Coast in 1999.

This card art features an illustration of the iconic pink character by veteran Pokémon contributor Ken Sugimori, who also provided the art for Base Set Alakazam and Base Set Blastoise!

If you remember having this card in your collection, make sure you know what edition you have. There are three distinct printings of this Chansey card, and their values differ widely!

Unlimited Chansey cards were printed at a limitless volume to meet the explosive demand for Pokémon cards during 1999 and 2000. There are a few ways to tell if you have an unlimited Chansey, but the easiest way to identify an unlimited card is that these cards feature a drop shadow around the bottom and right side of the illustrative frame. These Chansey cards can sell for around $30 in near mint condition.

Shadowless Chansey cards were printed after the initial very short "First Edition" release of Base Set in 1999 but before "unlimited" cards were printed. These cards are called "shadowless" because they lack the drop shadow around the illustrative frame present in unlimited cards. You may also notice that their coloration is a little lighter than their unlimited counterparts. These Chansey cards can go for around $60 in near mint condition.

First Edition Chansey cards will look almost identical to shadowless cards. However, they will include the iconic "Edition 1" stamp outside of the bottom left corner of the illustrative frame. If you find a near mint first edition copy of Chansey in your collection, you may be able to sell it for up to $400 or more!

Happy Collecting!

Whether you're looking to add Chansey cards to your collection, or you've found a few old copies in your collection and want to know more about them, it's my hope that you've found this list helpful!

When it comes to the world of Pokémon, there are countless creatures with remarkable abilities and unique characteristics. Among them stands Alakazam, a psychic-type Pokémon that has captivated collectors and fans alike with its extraordinary psychic powers and unmatched intelligence.

The Alakazam Base Set card is a highly sought-after and iconic card from the original Pokémon TCG Base Set, released in 1999. In fact, it is the very first card noted in that serialized set list since its set number is 1/102.

However, since 1999, Alakazam has appeared on dozens on rare and valuable Pokémon cards from Alakazam EX (Secret) in XY: Fates Collide to Dark Alakazam inTeam Rocket.

Break out your collection! Let's take a look at five of the rarest and most valuable Alakazam cards ever printed!

1. Alakazam— Expedition (2002): $75

The first card on this list comes to us from Expedition, an often forgotten about later Wizards of the Coast set which features the short-lived E-reader border feature. This thick border includes a bar code that collectors could swipe through an attachment made for the Game Boy Advance to see more details about the Pokémon featured on the card.

Because Expedition premiered a few years after Pokémon's initial spike in popularity, the print volume of Expedition cards is much lower than many other sets. As a result, many of Expedition's rare cards, like this Alakazam, are extremely tough to find.

If you have a near mint copy of this Alakazam, you can sell it for around $75.

2. Sabrina's Alakazam— Gym Challenge (2000): $125 in First Edition

This next rare Alakazam card was included in 2000's Gym Challenge set, which featured Pokémon that appeared in, were attributed to various iconic characters from the original Red and Blue games by Gamefreak.

Many features contribute the demand for this particular printing, including the dynamic illustration of Alakazam in the right most third of the frame, harnessing his psychic powers against a backdrop of holographic negative space.

Additionally, Gym Challenge was released on the tail end of the initial Pokémon craze, making cards from this set slightly rarer than cards from Jungle, Fossil, or Base 2.

If you're able to find a near mint unlimited copy of Sabrina's Alakazam, you will likely only pay around $40, but if you manage to find a first edition printing in near mint, you may end up paying $125 or more!

3. Alakazam— Skyridge (2003): $300

Alakazam from Skyridge is the final printing of this Pokémon to be released by Wizards of the Coast, the Washington-based company responsible for adapting the Pokémon trading card game for the American market from 1999 to 2003.

Similar to Expedition, at the time this set arrived in America, the popularity of Pokémon cards had taken a significant dip, so relatively few Skyridge cards were printed. In fact, Skyridge packs are among the most expensive sealed product that are from regular set release, with just one booster pack going for $1000!

But you won't need to sift through dozens of one-thousand dollar packs to get your hands on this Alakazam because you can get a near mint copy for $300 or more!

4. Alakazam Star— Crystal Guardians (2006): $450

This Alakazam Star card is the "newest" printing featured on this list, having been released in EX: Crystal Guardians, a 2006 set, and the fourteenth regular set released by the Pokémon Card Company International.

Collectors passionately chase cards with the "Star" designation, a rarity type that was far rarer than "ex" cards of the time. This designation first appeared in 2004's Team Rocket Returns with cards like Mudkip Star, Treecko Star, and Torchic Star, but continued through the Ex series until the premier of Diamond & Pearl in 2007.

Star Pokémon appear, on average, in only one in seventy-two booster packs, meaning that you would need to purchase two booster boxes of Ex Crystal Guardians to pull just one Star card on average.

Fortunately, you don't have to start ripping open $300 packs of Ex Crystal Guardians because you can find a near mint copy of Alakazam Star for around $450!

5. Alakazam - Base Set (1999) $600 in First Edition

Rounding this list off is the very first Alakazam card ever printed: Alakazam from Base Set. The Alakazam Base Set card showcases the striking artwork of Ken Sugimori, who has created artwork for numerous Pokémon cards over the years, including Base Set Blastoise and Base Set Mewtwo.

However, if you find this card in your collection, be sure to check which printing it comes from, because there are three different printings of Base Set, and the value of each varies widely.

Unlimited Alakazam cards were printed in the highest volume, and were manufactured to meet the explosive demand in Pokémon cards during 1999 and 2000. There are a few ways to tell if you have an unlimited Alakazam, but the easy tell is that these cards feature a drop shadow around the bottom and right side of the illustrative frame. These Alakazams will go for around $35 in near mint condition.

Shadowless Alakazam cards were printed after the initial very short "First Edition" release of Base Set in 1999 but before "unlimited" were printed. These cards are called "shadowless" because they lack the drop shadow around the illustrative frame present in unlimited cards. You may also notice that their coloration is a little lighter than their unlimited counterparts. These Alakazams can go for around $150 in near mint condition.

First Edition Alakazam cards will look almost identical to shadowless cards. However, they will include the iconic "Edition 1" stamp outside of the bottom left corner of the illustrative frame. If you find a first edition copy of Alakazam in your collection and it's in near mint, consider yourself lucky. These Alakazam cards can go for $600 or more!

Happy Collecting!

As we come to the end of our journey exploring the wonderful world of Alakazam Pokémon cards, it's clear that this psychic powerhouse holds a special place in the hearts of collectors. With so many rare printings, it's plain to see that Alakazam is a Pokémon that will continue to be featured prominently in the TCG, and remain highly sought after by enthusiasts for years to come.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

If you're a '90s kid, you probably have fond memories of the Disney Channel's original line of made-for-TV family movies. Maybe you remember the unmistakable jingle, inviting you to "watch a Disney Channel movie," or the marathon of spooky Disney titles during "Hauntober Fest."

But if you're really lucky, your memory of Disney Channel Original Movies (DCOM) includes collecting your favorite ones on VHS. That's because many of the titles with VHS releases have become increasingly hard to find over the years.

Let's cover eight of the rarest and most valuable DCOM releases that you might find in your collection!

1. Miracle in Lane 2 (2000): $15

Miracle in Lane 2 is a DCOM released in 2000. The film is based on the true story of Justin Yoder, a boy with spina bifida who realizes his dream of being an athlete by competing in soapbox derby racing.

Justin is portrayed by Frankie Muniz, who, in the same year of this film's release, would begin his tenure as the title character on the iconic sitcom Malcom in the Middle.

Although Miracle in Lane 2 is not the most valuable DCOM VHS release, collectors typically pay around $15 for used copies.

2. Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999): $25

Zetus Lupetus! Do you remember this DCOM sci-fi classic featuring a young Raven-Symoné in the role of Zenon's best friend Nebula?

In Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, the title character, played by Kirsten Storms, lives on a space station but gets into trouble and is punished by being sent to Earth to live with her aunt. However, when Zenon discovers a plot to destroy her space station, she must find a way to save her friends and family.

Prices for this tape are certainly high, but not quite "out of this world," with used copies going for around $25.

3. Johnny Tsunami (1999): $30

Johnny Tsunami is a DCOM that was released in 1999, and it follows a teenage boy named Johnny Kapahaala, played by Brandon Baker, who moves from Hawaii to snowy Vermont after his father accepts a new job.

Johnny finds it difficult to adapt to his new environment, but he takes up snowboarding in an effort to have fun and fit in with the kids from the local public school. This, however, doesn't make him any more popular with the snooty students at his private school where skiing is all the rage.

Used copies of Johnny Tsunami can sell for as much as $30!

4. The Color of Friendship (2000): $30

The Color of Friendship is a unique DCOM because, unlike most, it is a period piece set in the 1970s. It is based on the true story of Carrie Bok, a white South African girl, and Piper Dellums (Shadia Simmons), an African-American girl from Washington, D.C. However, in the film, Carrie was renamed to Mahree, who was portrayed by Lindsey Haun.

Mahree comes to stay with Piper's family as part of a student exchange program. While Piper is expecting her South African exchange student to be Black, Mahree, who lives under apartheid, is shocked to realize that she'll be staying with a Black family.

Over the course of the movie, however, Mahree questions her prejudices and learns about the injustices of apartheid. Eventually, the girls confront their differences and find common ground, ultimately developing a deep bond of friendship.

If you find this VHS in your collection, you could likely sell it for as much as $30!

5. Luck of the Irish (2001): $35

Luck of the Irish follows Kyle Johnson, a teenage boy played by Ryan Merriman, who always seems to have luck on his side. However, when Kyle's coveted gold coin, which has been passed down through generations, mysteriously disappears, he discovers that he is actually part leprechaun.

How does he realize this, you may ask? Well, upon losing the coin, he starts transforming into one: pointy ears, red hair, accent, and all!

As Kyle embarks on a quest to find his missing coin, he learns about his heritage and the magical world of his ancestors. Along the way, he encounters various challenges and must defeat an evil leprechaun named Seamus McTiernen (Timothy Omundson), who wants to steal the gold coin and hoard its powers of good fortune for himself.

If you find a used copy of this VHS in your collection, you could expect to sell it for around $35.

6. Smart House (2000): $50

Before appearing in Luck of the Irish, Ryan Merriman starred as Ben Cooper, a boy who wins a sweepstakes that allows his family to move into an Artificial Intelligence–enabled home, in Smart House. At first, the home's computer "PAT" (Katey Sagal), provides the attention and care that Ben and his sister have craved since losing their mother.

However, things take a turn when PAT's programming becomes overly possessive and starts controlling every aspect of the family's life. PAT's overprotectiveness begins to affect the family's relationships and freedom, leading them to realize that there is no substitute for human interaction and genuine experiences.

One of the rarer DCOM movies to find on VHS, Smart House sells for around $50 for a used copy.

7. The Even Stevens Movie (2003): $200

The Even Stevens Movie is a DCOM that was released in 2003, and it serves as the finale to the popular Disney Channel TV series, which aired from 2000 to 2003.

In the film, the Stevens family is invited by a state department representative to visit a remote island and serve as ambassadors. But shortly after the family arrives, Louis (Shia LaBeouf) accidentally destroys a sacred totem, which causes the initially friendly islanders to completely banish the Stevens family to the island's jungle.

However, unbeknownst to the Stevens, they are participating in a reality TV show called Family Fakeout, and every event has been orchestrated by a scheming host named Miles (Tim Meadows).

As the Stevens family tries to navigate the challenges and pranks orchestrated by the show's producers, they must set aside their differences and work as a team to get back at the evil host.

This is one of the rarest and most valuable VHS tapes ever produced by Disney. If you find one in your collection, you could expect to sell it for up to $200!

8. Brink! (1998): $250

The undisputed rarest and most valuable DCOM VHS on the market is the 1998 extreme-sports classic Brink!. This movie follows the Andy "Brink" Brinkman (Erik von Detten), who is the most talented inline skater in his group of friends. Together, they compete in local competitions as the "Soul Skaters."

But when Brink learns that his family is struggling financially, he takes an offer to join the Soul Skaters' greatest rivals, the professional "Team X-Bladz," filled with aggressive skaters who want to win at all costs. Throughout the course of the movie, Brink learns that being the greatest at skating is pointless if he can't do it with the people who make him happy, and he eventually rejoins his friends in a last-ditch effort to take down the ruthless Team X-Bladz in a final downhill competition.

This is indisputably one of the rarest VHS tapes ever produced by Disney. If you manage to find a copy of Brink! in your old collection, you could sell it for as much as $250!

There Was a Harry Potter Trading Card Game?

In 2001, Wizards of the Coast released the Harry Potter Trading Card Game to coincide with the premier of the first live-action film in November of the same year.

Players take on the role of competing wizards who wield powerful spells, summon fearsome creatures, and recruit the help of familiar faces from the world of Harry Potter to defeat their opponent.

Upon the release of the first set in August 2001, it quickly became a top-selling game, and Wizards of the Coast would go on to print four more expansions. However, shortly after releasing the Chamber of Secrets expansion set in October of 2002, the company announced that they were not continuing the game.

In the decades since the Harry Potter TCG was discontinued, the game faded into relative obscurity. But like many toys that captured our attention as kids, some Harry Potter trading cards are still demanded by a niche market of collectors.

Let's take a look at five of the rarest and most valuable Harry Potter Trading Cards from the original 116-card Base Set! Do you have any of these in your old collection?

1. Draco Malfoy (3/116): $10

One of Harry's notorious nemeses, Draco Malfoy was heavily featured throughout the short lifespan of the card game. One of the rarest Draco Malfoy cards you can find is his original holographic Character card from Base Set.

Using this card, players could exhaust one of their two allotted Actions per turn to discard a card from their hand, view their opponent's hand, and discard one of their cards.

It also features an original illustrative rendition of Draco by artist Pete Venters, who is best known for his prolific work as an illustrator for Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons.

While not the most expensive card in the Harry Potter TCG, near mint copies of Draco Malfoy sell for around $10!

2. Rubeus Hagrid (18/116): $10

Also illustrated by Pete Venters, the Rubeus Hagrid holographic Character card is one of the more popularly traded cards from the Harry Potter TCG.

This card is great for aggressive damage decks. It features a continuous effect that buffs a player's creatures whenever one deals direct damage in excess of three.

Though copies of Rubeus Hagrid are not too difficult to come by, fans of the gentle groundskeeper typically pay around $10 for near mint copies!

3. Professor Severus Snape (16/116): $15

The mysterious and brooding Professor Severus Snape has his own holographic card, and it is one of the tougher-to-find pieces from Base Set!

This Character card allows its user to shuffle up to seven non-Healing type cards from their discard pile into their deck once per game, and it provides a continuous Potion Lesson. If you aren't familiar with the Harry Potter TCG, "Lessons" are used to pay costs to cast spells and summon creatures, similar to Energy in Pokémon or Mana in Magic: The Gathering.

This card features art by Scott M. Fisher, who has also worked on other Wizards of the Coast properties, and whose art has also appeared in publications by Dark Horse Comics and Simon & Shuster.

Find a near mint copy in your collection? You may expect a buyer to offer around $15!

4. Unicorn (20/116): $25

Unicorn is the only non-Character card to appear on this list. However, this holographic Creature remains one of the most valuable Harry Potter TCG cards that collectors are looking to add to their collections.

This card is also very useful in the competitive trading card game because it allows a player to take an additional Action each turn. Typically, a player only receives two Actions, such as casting a Spell, summoning a Creature, or playing a Lesson, per turn. Having an additional Action provides a significant benefit to players.

This Unicorn card features art from Zina Saunders, who, like many other artists working on the Harry Potter TCG, provided illustrations for Magic: The Gathering. However, she has also contributed artwork for Wacky Packs and Goosebumps trading cards!

If you find a near mint copy of this elusive Creature card in your collection, it is worth around $25!

5. Harry Potter (8/116): $40

Unsurprisingly, the rarest and most expensive Harry Potter TCG card is the Boy Who Lived himself: Harry Potter. This holographic card features original art by Scott M. Fischer in a style reminiscent of early Harry Potter book art.

Harry's Character card offers its player the option to draw an additional card after using an Action to draw a card. This provides a reliable draw engine, but it does pose some drawbacks since your Health is equal to the number of cards in your deck. Run out of cards, and you lose!

Nevertheless, Harry Potter remains the rarest and most valuable card to ever appear in the Harry Potter TCG. If you find a near mint copy in your collection, you can sell it for around $40!

Happy Collecting!

The Harry Potter TCG has a small but passionate fanbase that still trades these vintage collectibles. While these cards certainly have modest asking prices compared to other trading card games, people who recall storing away their holographic binder of Harry Potter trading cards may have a reason to look around for it.

It's my hope that this article has either helped you understand a little more about the value of your old cards or provided you with a bit of nostalgia for this fun and short-lived game.

Moltres is one of the three Generation One legendary birds, alongside Articuno and Zapdos, that appeared in the earliest Pokémon card sets released by Wizards of the Coast.

According to Pokémon mythology, Moltres lives on the top of a volcano far from any humans, so those who catch a glimpse of its fiery feathers are said to expect good fortune!

The same can also be said for anyone who comes across a Moltres card in their collection, because many printings are highly sought after and therefore very valuable!

Let's take a look at just five of the rarest and most expensive Moltres cards you might come across.

1. Moltres - Supreme Victors (2009)

This secret rare Moltres printing was released in 2009 as part of the Supreme Victors set within the Platinum block.

It features a bold illustration depicting the legendary Pokémon in mid-flight, surrounded by flames.

As one of the few secret rare cards in this set, finding one of these cards in a pack of Platinum: Supreme Victors is exceedingly difficult. In fact, you would need to open an average of 36 Supreme Victors booster packs to open just one secret rare card from the set.

But don't go out there and look for this elusive card in packs yourself because just one booster pack can sell for $150 to $200. Meanwhile, you can find a near mint copy of this Moltres card for around $100.

2. Galarian Moltres V (Alternate Full Art) - Chilling Reign (2021)

This modern printing of Moltres appeared in the Sword & Shield: Chilling Reign set released in June of 2021. It features Moltres in its Galarian form, which is a variation of the original Pokémon found in the Galar Region.

Like many Alternate Full Art cards from the Sword & Shield block, this Galarian Moltres V is very tough to find by just opening packs. This is due, in part, to the fact that the likelihood of opening an Alternate Full Art card from a booster pack of Chilling Reign is between 0.5% and 1%.

Fortunately, however, collectors can save themselves time and money by opting to purchase the single themselves, which goes for around $120 to $150.

3. Blaine's Moltres - Gym Heroes (2000)

Blaine's Moltres appeared in Gym Heores, one of the last sets released during the initial "Pokémania" of 1999-2000. Gym Heroes and its companion set, Gym Challenge, are especially cool because they feature the names and faces of gym leaders from the original Red and Blue video games.

This was only the second time Moltres would ever appear on an official Wizards of the Coast card, and features a long shot perspective of the Pokémon, soaring through the sky.

This Moltres is among the more sought after vintage cards. Although unlimited printings will only sell for around $50 in near mint condition, First Edition copies can sell for between $150 and $200.

4. Rocket's Moltres ex - Team Rocket Returns (2004)

Rocket's Moltres ex comes to us from Team Rocket Returns, which premiered in November of 2004, and features a number of extremely rare and sought after cards, including Dark Dragonite and Torchic Star.

It features an incredibly unique 3D illustration by Ryo Ueda, who also provided the art for Rocket's Zapdos ex.

Many of the cards that appear in this set are very hard to find and expensive due, in part, to the relatively low population of Team Rocket Returns cards that were printed in the mid 2000's, when Pokémon cards saw a notable drop in demand compared to previous years.

And only one "ex" card appeared in every 12 to 18 booster packs of Team Rocket Returns, making this Moltres card especially tough to find. If you're lucky enough to come across one in near mint, you might expect to pay around $250.

5. Moltres - Skyridge (2003)

This impressive holographic Moltres card from Skyridge is among the final cards released by Wizards of the Coast, the company responsible for adapting and producing Pokémon cards for the American market from 1999 to 2003.

By the time this set had come to America, the popularity of Pokémon cards had taken a significant dip, so relatively few Skyridge cards were printed. In fact, while an unlimited Base Set booster pack will sell for $400 to $500, Skyridge packs can sell for $1000 or more!

But you won't have to worry about tracking down one of these packs if you want to pick up this Moltres. Near mint copies sell for around $400 to $500.

Happy Collecting!

Since it first appeared in 1999's Fossil set, Moltres has enjoyed the spotlight on dozens of rare Pokémon cards that collectors love to chase.

If you find that any of these cards are in your collection, congratulations! And if you are looking to add some Moltres cards to your collection, the ones featured on this list are sure to add significant value and prestige!

Which Old VHS Tapes Are Worth Money?

Remember that old box of VHS tapes in the attic? Although it's hard to believe, your retro movie collection from the '80s and '90s could be worth a lot more than you would expect.

That's because there is a niche market of VHS collectors who will pay impressive prices for an array of unique tapes. The reason for collecting varies among enthusiasts. Some of the most popular motivations for VHS collecting include nostalgia for the format and its aesthetic qualities, as well as the ability to watch rare films that were never released on DVD or made available through streaming.

And unlike other collectibles markets—like trading cards, comics, or vintage toys—the VHS market is not overly concerned with the particulars of box conditions, meaning that even if your VHS tapes show signs of wear or light damage, the value of your rare tapes relative to the market shouldn't be significantly impacted.

Most Valuable Types of VHS Tapes

In this guide, we'll look at a few broad categories of VHS tapes that are generally valuable, which will help you know what to look for as you sift through your old collection. Although the vast majority of VHS tapes are worth only a few cents, there are countless titles that VHS collectors want to add to their shelves, and many of those fall within the following categories:

• Horror and Sci-Fi B-Movies
• Children's Television Series
• Anime
• Arthouse Movies

Horror and Sci-Fi B-Movies

B-Movies are low-budget pictures that typically did not receive theater releases and generally received limited distribution deals, resulting in a very low population of tapes. Additionally, many of these films never received later distribution opportunities either through DVD or digital download, so many can only be found on VHS.

Some of the most sought-after B-Movie releases are horror and sci-fi titles. Here are just a few examples of the countless valuable B-Movies that you might find in your old collection:

Children's Television Series

Adults who fondly remember popping in a tape to watch a few commercial-free episodes of their favorite show are still collecting VHS releases of various children's television series.

Whether tapes within a particular series become valuable or not depends heavily on scarcity, so rarer and more obscure releases tend to fetch the highest prices, but that doesn't mean that you cannot find valuable tapes within more popular series.

Let's look at the prices of just some of the many children's television series with VHS releases that often sell for surprising amounts of money.

Anime

America began importing Japanese animated films in the early 1960s with shows like Astro Boy, Speed Racer, and Kimba the White Lion, and the genre has only grown in popularity since. However, anime was not quite as widely enjoyed in the '80s to early 2000s as it is these days, and so many anime titles are very tough to find. As a consequence, collectors are willing to pay up to see their favorite titles in this format.

Let's look at some examples of anime tapes that collectors chase!

Arthouse Films

Arthouse films are movies with niche market appeal that are produced with small budgets to allow their directors a greater degree of artistic control, generally unencumbered by the pressure from a major studio to create massive profits.

Due to the relative obscurity of many of these titles, distributors refrained from producing too many copies, and few made it to the shelves of big box stores or local video rental spots. Because of this, many independent and arthouse VHS tapes are extremely hard to find—and valuable.

Let's look at just a few arthouse titles with some spectacular price tags.

Other Types of Tapes to Look Out For

Rare and valuable VHS tapes can be found across a wide variety of genres. Some other types of tapes you might want to look out for include:

• Music and Live Performances
• Made for TV Movies
• Skateboarding and Snowboarding Tapes
• Professional Wrestling Tapes
• Adult Films

Is Your Collection Worth Thousands?

Unfortunately, the vast majority of VHS tapes are worth very little money. Most people have blockbuster titles in their old stash of tapes, and the collector market simply isn't large enough to make up for the massive population of these tapes.

But if you have a lot of tapes from some of the genres listed above, it may be worth doing some research. While not all of the films that fall within these categories are worth decent money, you might just find a few that will make searching worth your time!

Not sure how to determine whether your VHS tape is valuable? All you have to do is search the title on eBay and filter results for completed transactions. This will allow you to see the real-time prices collectors are paying for a particular tape. But make sure to match your tape up to the printings you see, because many VHS tapes have variants that are rarer than others, which can significantly impact price.

Happy collecting, and best of luck on your search for the old VHS stash!

Articuno is a mysterious, legendary bird-type Pokémon that first appeared in 1999's Fossil set. Within the world of Pokémon, Articuno is said to live in the snow-capped mountains of the Kanto region, and it possesses the ability to whip up devastating ice storms with just a beat of its wings.

Since 1999, Articuno has appeared on dozens of beautiful cards, including quite a few that can cost collectors several hundreds of dollars. From mid-era printings like Articuno from Majestic Dawn to Wizards of the Coast's Blackstar Promo Articuno, there is no lack of wonderful Articuno cards for enthusiasts to chase!

1. Galarian Articuno V (Alternate Full Art)—Chilling Reign (2021)

First on our list is this Alternate Full Art Galarian Articuno V from 2021's Sword & Shield: Chilling Reign set. It features Articuno in its Galarian form, which is a variation of the original Pokémon found in the Galar Region, encapsulating itself in a bright blue forcefield.

As a full art card, similar to others in the set like Galarian Moltres V and Galarian Zapdos V, this card is very hard to pull in a pack. The likelihood of finding an Alternate Full Art card in a pack of Chilling Reign is believed to be between 0.50% and 1%.

But fortunately you don't need to start ripping packs, because this card isn't too expensive. A near mint copy will only cost you around $40 to $50!

2. Articuno—Fossil (1999)

Recognize this Articuno? You should, because this is the first time Articuno ever appeared on an English Pokémon card! This printing is part of Fossil, which was the third set published by Wizards of the Coast in October of 1999.

Like all Pokémon cards released during the original Poké-mania, there are a ton of Fossil Articuno cards floating around out there. However, finding one in great condition is definitely a rare treat.

Unlimited copies of this card typically go for around $25 in near mint condition. But if you come across a first-edition Articuno in perfect condition, you might expect to pay around $100!

3. Articuno ex—FireRed & LeafGreen (2004)

Articuno made an appearance in this iconic set of Pokémon cards, premiering around the time that two video games of the same title were released for the Game Boy Advance.

This set was only the sixth expansion released by the Pokémon Company International following their acquisition of publishing rights to the English language cards from Wizards of the Coast. It features only generation one Pokémon, but it includes modern design elements like the ex designation and holographic borders.

Near mint copies of this Articuno ex card can go for around $150 or even more!

4. Rocket's Articuno ex—Team Rocket Returns (2004)

Team Rocket Returns is an iconic early Pokémon Company International set, released in November of 2004. It features a number of beloved cards, including Rocket's Mewtwo ex and Rocket's Zapdos ex, as well as its own fabulous variation on Articuno.

If you've ever opened up booster packs of Team Rocket Returns, you know that it is not easy to come across one of its coveted ex cards, with only one appearing in every 36 packs on average.

And with these vintage packs going for as much as $600 each, it may be easier just to pick up the card itself, since you can buy a near mint copy for around $200!

5. Articuno—Skyridge (2003)

The rarest and most valuable Articuno card you might find in your collection is this copy from Skyridge, the final English language expansion produced by Wizards of the Coast.

You might notice the unusual border, which appeared on English cards from Expedition in 2002 to Ex Dragon in 2003. This allowed collectors to scan the cards like a credit card (via a Game Boy Advance attachment) to see more information about the Pokémon featured on the card.

Because Pokémon was in a significant cooling-off period (after its peak popularity in 1999) at the time of Skyride's release, these are some of the rarest vintage cards collectors can come across. In fact, just one booster pack can sell for $1000 or more!

So if you want to add this card to your collection, it's better just to find a single because near mint copies sell for around $350!

Happy Collecting

Articuno has appeared on many of the most popularly collected Pokémon cards dating all the way back to 1999's Fossil set.

Though there are tons of highly sought-after Articuno cards not listed here, like the one from Supreme Victors or from Plasma Storm, this list features many of the rarest that you might come across on your search to catch them all!

Could Hulk Beat Superman? Or Would Superman Beat Hulk?

Hulk vs. Superman has been an intriguing battle between comic book titans for decades. Why them, in particular? Well, because of their often egregious feats of that most obvious and decisive superpower—pure, unadulterated physical strength.
Unless you’re a telepath/telekinetic of Professor X or Jean Grey’s caliber, you’d better have some degree of superhuman strength if you want to be effective battling bad guys.

About Superman

Superman is not only DC's flagship superhero (he’s kind of like the Michael Jordan of the comic book universe), he may very well be the ultimate superhero in all of comic-dom.

There have been numerous copycats in other universes: Prime, Hyperion, Mr. Majestic, Gladiator, the weak-minded but ultra-powerful Sentry, and Marvel’s Thor and Image Comic's Supreme. There have been quite a few more; but these serve quite nicely as representatives of a superhero mold that has withstood the test of time.

The Man of Steel remains unique among this stable of powerhouses. Superman’s strength is sometimes listed as whatever numerical maximum the current author cares to list, but true fans understand that it is essentially incalculable. Clark is as strong as he needs to be—and then some.

Superman is a savior of sorts, in the sense that frail primates can depend on his Kryptonian palette to protect them from otherwise insurmountable foes.

It is usually either a love/hate relationship that readers have with Superman. You might love him for being the most powerful ally for whom you could ever hope, for being a relentless force for what is good and should be right in the world, or simply for being so damn powerful and giving you hope against even extra-galactic threats

Or, you might hate him precisely for the antithesis of those reasons—for being too powerful, for being too good, etc. If you’re a nihilist, then Superman is, in all likelihood, a hero you would rather see beaten to death.

In the next section, we take a look at Superman's equivalent in the Marvel Comics universe: the Incredible Hulk!

About the Incredible Hulk

The Incredible Hulk is an absolute titan. Whereas Superman has an array of god-like powers, Hulk just has matchless strength—well, sort of. Hulk also has a very high degree of durability, endurance, and regenerative healing that scales with his anger (as do all of his powers)—but one could argue that these are inevitable for something so incredibly strong.

After all, what good is the ability to throw skyscrapers at someone if you could be knocked out by a well-placed rock? You can't very well engage a crew of supervillains if you tire like a human, now can you?

What sets the Hulk apart from other extremely strong metahumans is that his strength is tied to his emotional state. The angrier he gets, the stronger he becomes—so, to increase your chances, no cracking “yo mama” jokes while fighting him.

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Hulk vs. Superman: The Big Blue Boy Scout vs. the Green Goliath

This sets up a Superman vs. Hulk battle quite nicely; on the surface, it might seem that Superman takes this. After all, the Last Son of Krypton is invulnerable, absurdly durable, hyper-strong, has an elite level of superspeed even amongst fast superheroes, and has an impressive selection of distance weapons. But all may not be as it seems, which is why we’ll now take a look at who wins in an Incredible Hulk vs. Superman super-fight.

Would the Hulk's Strength (and Anger) Win Out?

One of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe, the Incredible Hulk is actually the superego/id of a scrawny and brilliant nuclear physicist named Bruce Banner. That would be Dr. Bruce Banner to you, it must be noted.

In his robust green form, it is generally acknowledged that Hulk is flat-out the strongest humanoid in existence—especially because of a most peculiar facet of his superhuman biology: He becomes stronger as he gets angrier.

As such, many believe his strength to be virtually incalculable, and rightfully so: Hulk has hoisted mountains on his massive shoulders and broken enchantments made by nigh-omnipotent gods using the sheer magnitude of his unrelenting strength. In short; Hulk has lifted Thor’s hammer, which is supposed to be an impossible feat for those unworthy.

On paper, the Incredible Hulk is about as unstoppable as the X-Men's Juggernaut claims to be. When writers are feeling like their loyal audience needs a reminder of Hulk’s strength levels, they pit him against the Mighty Thor—Lord of Lightning and Odin’s son from Norse mythology, recast as a Marvel superhero. It is meant to show that a Hulk unleashed requires the attention of a god to even have a hope of stopping him.

Is There a Limit to Hulk's Anger?

As for Hulk’s strength ratcheting up with his anger, the only apparent limit may be to his anger, itself. Many think that Hulk can continue adding to his already stratospheric strength levels, but this requires his anger to be limitless; is the latter a feasible assumption however? In a Hulk vs. Superman bout, the outcome of the battle may very well hinge on whether illimitable anger is a viable state of being.

Case Study: Hulk vs. Onslaught

In a Marvel Comics’ series, there was an incredibly powerful being called Onslaught; the mind-spawn of Professor X and Magneto. Heroes rose and fell in attempts to breach his hide; none succeeded in even harming the ultra-powerful telepath.

It was then that Jean Grey, harbinger of the Phoenix Force, used her powers to banish all semblance of humanity from Banner/Hulk, thereby turning him into the personification of anger. Finally, the offensive that Hulk launched—in this rage-maxed form—managed to actually break Onslaught’s armor!

In the World War Hulk and Planet Hulk story lines, Hulk reached a level of anger that simply could not be surpassed when his wife and unborn child were killed. We shall take a look at this one later, after first investigating how Superman might deal with Hulk’s increasing strength as the Green Scar's anger ratchets up to levels untold.

These are just a handful of the Incredible Hulk’s dashing feats of strength, in order to give you an idea of what the rage-monster is capable of.

Do Superman and Hulk Have Limitless Powers?

As if these two colossal entities weren’t strong enough, Hulk and Superman are some of the most powerful meta-humans just at their baseline levels. It is difficult for other strong super-beings to even hurt them at all in many cases—much less actually have a shot at taking them down.

Who Is as Strong as (or Stronger Than) Hulk?

Let’s take the Incredible Hulk again, for example. When Bruce Banner, nuclear theoretical physicist and one of the seven smartest people in the Marvel Comics’ Universe, turns into the Green Goliath, there are perhaps just five other humanoid characters that can stand toe-to-toe with him in strength. These are:

• the Mighty Thor (he’s an Asgardian god, folks)
• Gladiator—the intergalactic champion of the Shi'ar Empire
• Hercules
• Drax the Destroyer (surpasses baseline Hulk, with the Power Stone)
• and Juggernaut.

Among the beings that surpass Hulk in strength might be Sentinel and Onslaught, but that isn't nearly the entire story. If an adversary who hasn’t quite read up on Hulk’s brief does something to make him angry, Hulk’s abilities ratchet up to lofty heights if this continues. Yes, that’s why he is the rage monster—he goes from being incredibly difficult to being nigh-unstoppable. As Hulk becomes angrier and angrier, he can now match or damage the likes of Onslaught and Sentinel.

How Superman Matches Up Against Hulk's Rage

In a Hulk vs. Superman battle, this is the most important thing that Kal-El of Krypton will have to deal with. Hulk has traded blows with the Mighty Thor, for goodness’ sake; in fact, he picked up Mjolnir as his anger became unmanageably large.

Of course, Superman has picked up the hammer, too, and actually defeated Thor with a knockout punch in the Avengers vs. DC crossover comic. So, although the Big Green Machine has hoisted billion-ton mountains aloft and dove in the ocean to move an entire island closer to shore, Superman has moved solar systems (Silver Age Superman) and bench-pressed a planet for a business week—without the aid of the sun. The mass of the planet earth, for reference, is a whopping 5.972 x 10²⁴ kilograms. Yes - Kal-El of Krypton did the damn thing!

As we discussed earlier, the X-Men’s Jean Grey employed the Phoenix Super-Force to relieve Hulk of his humanity in the battle against Onslaught. This caused the Hulk to become as angry as possible, in a sense, as Banner’s calming influence and mental safeguards were no longer an impediment to him reaching his full strength and power. In this form, Hulk did something that the combined might of Earth’s heroes had been unable to do: He broke Onslaught’s supernormal armor.

There have been other tremendous feats of strength from either side, such as Superman holding a Black Hole in his hands and lifting half of infinity (don’t ask), or Hulk punching holes in reality and thunder-clapping light to fill a parallel universe.

Both of Their Powers Can Increase

The important thing here, for a Hulk vs. Superman fight, is that their power levels can increase. Hulk’s, as he gets angry, and Superman’s, as he bathes in the Sun or asks more of his Kryptonian physiology.

The Lord of Rage and the Prince of Power

As the Incredible Hulk gets angry or feels pain, his Class 100 strength grows seemingly without bound. I say seemingly, because it is dependent on pain and anger. So, if those two feelings are boundless, then so is Hulk’s strength (and other powers, such as durability, leaping, stamina, regenerative attribute, etc.).

In a Hulk vs. Superman battle, Kal-El will quickly become aware of the need to put the beast down—if he can. He’ll notice—as Hercules did with Gaea’s son Antaeus in Greek mythology—that his opponent does not seem to be tiring as the fight wears on. Unlike Antaeus and Hercules, however, it is unreasonable to think that Superman could hoist Hulk above his head and strangle or crush him.

Hulk heals very quickly and is difficult to control—even for Superman, although the Man of Steel would be the most capable humanoid Hulk has ever faced.

How Fast Is Hulk?

Those aware of the Superman mythos are of course aware of his incredible speed. This, as much as anything else, may make the Superman vs. Hulk battle one-sided.

Hulk is very fast, but he cannot speed past other demi-gods the way Clark can. For example, Hulk’s listed speed of 300 miles per hour on ground is brutally fast, but he might as well be crawling compared to the interstellar speed of the Kryptonian—even if we discount the Silver Age speeds that allowed Superman to turn back time.

Hulk’s speed derives from his prodigious strength and is limited by what the ground can sustain anyway, since he cannot fly. At some point, even as Hulk grows stronger with pain or rage, the ground would give way, and he would just keep “running downward” into the flames he creates from molten rock.

The Otherworldly Speed of the Kryptonian

Superman’s speed, on the other hand, is an entirely separate power - which is of course added to the excess speed he gets from the sheer force he can impart to the ground. When Supes launches flying attacks, Hulk would be struck before he even understands from which direction Superman is careening towards him.

Basically, a speed blitz for which Hulk has no answer is a very possible method of attack that Superman could utilize—which even the thunder god Thor could not unleash.

Next, Superman would recognize the potential for great destruction inherent in their little dance. Using his strength, speed, and powers of flight, he could make Hulk a victim of momentum and inertia—similar to how Kal handled Doomsday—and throw him somewhere far away so that they could fight.

Of course, Hulk could utilize his very powerful thunderclap to halt and even reverse his speed, once he becomes angry enough for this to be a very viable option. It is, and would remain, however, a unidirectional response - which means Superman would always know from whence the returning Hulk is coming.

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Can Hulk Ever Get Angry Enough to Beat Superman?

We must now consider whether it's even possible for Superman to make Hulk angry enough for the latter to reach formidable levels?

It seems that, unless something truly diabolical happens—such as the death of a loved one at the hands of his adversary—Hulk cannot just decide to get as angry as he wants in the comic books. Hulk had his pregnant wife killed in the World War Hulk Storyline, which eventually led to his planet-rending World Breaker form.

That notwithstanding, it took the Phoenix Force to absolve him of any checks to his rage. Simply beating him up doesn’t make his anger increase interminably, and I have a theory as to possibly why.

My Theory on the Limits of Hulk's Anger

As Hulk’s strength and abilities ratchet up, so too does his resistance to injury and his ability to heal from damage. Hulk will become too physically resilient for most super-beings to hurt him at some point, so he will no longer feel pain, and he will heal extremely quickly from any damage he happens to suffer at the hands of an ultra-meta.

These do NOT make a recipe for increasing anger. It is doubtful that Hulk could ever become resilient enough that the likes of Superman couldn’t hurt him, but he does become more and more capable of shrugging off blows if Clark doesn’t start to truly unleash his power, or to flat-out sun-dip.

So, if the Hulk is losing a battle and getting angrier and angrier, it will become harder to inflict pain and damage on him—barring a single, absolutely catastrophic barrage that supersedes his capacity to regenerate.

This begs the question, by what mechanism would his anger continue increasing? Clark is certainly not going to harm any of his loved ones for any reason whatsoever; neither will the Kryptonian take hostages.

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Superman Would Probably Win

For these reasons and more, Hulk vs. Superman is a very interesting fight. Hulk’s anger increases his strength, his resistance to injury, and his healing factor.

On the other hand, when Superman gets angry, he does something he rarely needs to do: unleashes his true power levels, unconstrained by the frailty of his surroundings (steel, concrete, etc.).

Additionally, the Man of Steel can sun-dip for even greater powers—which means he gets even faster, which may be the only thing for which the Incredible Hulk cannot account. Most of Hulk’s physical attributes exceed godlike levels to a similar degree as Superman’s, but that complete lack of speed (relatively) just might be the nail in the Green Goliath’s coffin in a fight with the Last Son of Krypton.

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© 2023 Zaton-Taran

D&D Classes That Are Powered and Guided by Nature

There are many powerful forces in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, and one of them that doesn't get enough attention is nature. Part of this is because the two classes with "nature builds" had some early issues that might have scared players away: Rangers were an underpowered class that had problems in the initial release of The Player's Handbook, and Druids had complex mechanics that overwhelmed new players.

A lot has changed since then, and while there are creative builds that can go different ways, there are three main choices for the player who wants their build to be driven by their character's love of nature or service to a nature god:

1. Druid
2. Ranger
3. Cleric (Nature Domain)

Which Nature Class Is Best for Your Character?

These are all excellent classes that can hold their own with the current 5th Edition D&D rules, whether you stick with the old sourcebooks or incorporate the One DnD changes that are going into the "new" version of 5th Edition.

Let's dive in to find out which class works best for each character concept based on stories, motivation, and what feels best for how you love to play.

Druids: Full Casters Keeping the Balance of Nature

Druids are often the first thought for nature-based characters, and that makes a lot of sense. You generally don't find Druids in a city or even a town of any size. If they are in an urban area, it's often because of a call to adventure or because they're warning a local ruler about a desperate emergency.

Druids can be found in many different locations, and the way a Druid from the Fey Wild views things versus a Druid of the Forest or a Druid minding old cemeteries in a swamp is vastly different.

This opens up many ways that Druid characters can appear and be roleplayed. However, no matter their environment, there are certain characteristics and mechanics that appear across the various sub-classes of D&D's most classic nature class.

Main Characteristics

• Heavily and directly tied to nature. Their sub-class is often a reflection of the type of ecosystem they're found in.
• Heavily focused on preserving nature and protecting the natural balance of things
• Main focus is generally nature itself, as opposed to protecting settlers or traveling merchants from danger
• May often find their values in direct conflict with a local lord or a side mission that involves expanding into the wild

Important Mechanics

• Druids are a full casting class.
• Wild Shape allows them to take the form of animals they know with a Challenge Rating equal or under their Level (so, weak in the beginning, but insanely strong by game's end).
• Balance between support casting, healing, and front lining (more of this in later levels)
• Can't use metal objects or armor

Consider Playing a Druid If ...

• You're all about speaking to animals, and you're concerned about the natural balance in an area.
• You're more inclined to "balance" (Lawful or a general Neutral Alignment).
• You're comfortable juggling the mechanics of being a full spell caster, using the Wild Shape ability, and possibly running healing/utility for the party.
• You love versatile characters that can creatively use their abilities.
• You like being an overpowered living god at Level 20.

Rangers: Rogues of the Woods

Ranger was the first class I played in D&D, and so it holds a special place in my heart, and they make sense as a choice for a nature-based warrior. Sometimes referred to as "Rogues of the Woods" (or Caves or Fey Wild, or wherever, depending on your sub-class and specialties), Rangers are all about stealth, survival, and nature knowledge.

They are built for ranged combat, but they can also be built to be very effective in close quarters. They are half-casters with a decent array of low-level and mid-level spells that are heavily focused on nature and amplifying their existing skills.

As opposed to keeping the balance of a natural area like Druids, Rangers travel where few dare, checking on isolated settlements, watching over important roads, and following reports of danger to discover, analyze, and even eliminate the threat to others.

Campers and wanderers, Rangers are hardened individuals who understand the importance of protecting the innocent and taking the battle to those who would raid civilized lands. While a Ranger will likely have a deep reverence for nature, they are not the types to stand by when danger strikes, choosing to intervene to do what they can.

Main Characteristics

• Until joining an adventuring party, they're often loners who spend a lot of time traveling throughout the wilds.
• Often specialize in tracking and fighting one or two types of enemies
• Strong in nature and stealth, allowing them to move through dangerous territory safely
• They have a link with nature, but they don't have the same fully intertwined relationship with a natural area as Druids do.

Important Mechanics

• Generally specialize in ranged attacks, though those built for melee tend to be built to wade into battle with multiple opponents
• Half-casters with spells representing a blend of nature, healing, and attack spells focusing on common Ranger combat styles
• Multi-classes with Rogue in a powerful way
• Seen as the default "Archery" class
• Very strong in stealth
• Sub-classes can be incredibly different

Consider Playing a Ranger If ...

• You love the distance archery build.
• You like the image of a warrior traveling through the wilds, but you don't necessarily want to be tied to "The Natural Balance" like Druids.
• Super stealth is your game.
• You want to be introduced to how magic works in 5E while you still get to play a familiar martial class.
• You're looking at a wilderness-heavy or survival-based campaign (your party will thank you later).

Nature Domain Clerics: Champions to Push the Natural Gods' Wills

Unconstrained by the Druid's needs for balance in a specific area, not being able to use metal weapons or armor, or needing to stay stealthy like the Ranger, the Nature Domain Cleric can don the Plate Armor, prepare a full range of spells, and move forward to anywhere in the world on a mission to further the desires of their Nature-based god or goddess.

This is someone with a deep reverence for nature, and especially for the gods/goddesses who oversee that realm, but their relationship is different. They serve those Deities who see what others can't, and so they are sent on specific missions, following the whims of larger forces.

The Druids keep the balance at home, the Rangers protect others in rough lands, and the Clerics get sent out to take care of the missions that their deities call them to.

Main Characteristics

• Follow a specific Nature God or Goddess that provides their magical power
• Communes with nature and their deities as a holy service
• Might take actions Druids or Rangers wouldn't consider (such as withering the crops of those who follow a rival god) in service of their deity
• More likely to be found in the cities, as they may be their deity's spokesperson when parlaying with nobles or urban kingdoms

Important Mechanics

• Clerics can wear heavy armor
• Nature clerics are full casters with several spells focusing on nature (and that Rangers and Druids might be familiar with)
• High AC, high hit point class that allows them to frontline more easily than the other "nature" classes

Consider Playing a Nature Domain Cleric If ...

• You still want the ability to wear heavy metal armor despite being a nature warrior
• You love the full power of the Cleric's spell list
• You're focusing on the healing aspects of nature in playing your character
• Love playing frontline characters

Nature Has Many Champions

A player has many options when it comes to playing the role of a Natural Warrior. Whether that's in the form of:

• A Druid working to keep the natural balance of an area in check
• A Ranger fighting against encroaching threats to far out settlements to defend what smatterings of civilization are struggling against the harsh environment while making sure those same settlements don't push too hard where they shouldn't
• A Cleric of the old Nature Gods, leaving the Druid groves behind to follow the Old God's orders to push their desires forward on the Material Plane

D&D players who want to play a nature-based warrior have no lack of options.

Each of these classes or sub-classes have plenty to offer and can put a very different spin on the type of character being played while keeping that theme of being a champion for Nature.

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© 2023 Shane Dayton

What’s New With Pokémon Cards for the 9th Generation?

After the main character, Ash Ketchum, achieved his dream of becoming a Pokémon master, the writers decided to retire him and Pikachu from the anime. This is the biggest change in Pokémon since its debut in 1996. It’s really a good time for new fans to get into the anime and the game. But it’s also fun for older fans, who'll finally get something a little bit different from the usual.

This article focuses on the best cards to collect following Ash’s departure from the main series. The 9th generation of Pokémon cards marks the end of an era for Pokémon.

One of the most coveted sets from the 9th generation is definitely the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet 151. This set features the original 151 Pokémon that the original franchise introduced to its fans. Even though there are 8 more generations released since the original 151, the very first generation is still the best to collect for both veteran and new collectors.

Ralts and Kirlia Art Rares and Gardevoir Special Art Rare

This trio of cards features an entire evolution line as art and special art rares! This is a first, and it's the most coveted change for 9th generation Pokémon cards. These three cards tell a story through their beautiful illustration:

Ralts move into a new house with its trainer. Upon its evolution to Kirlia, the trainer welcomes a baby as a new addition to the family. After the Pokémon reaches its final evolution as Gardevoir, the trainer is shown with grey hair.

This type of storytelling in generation 9 Pokémon cards is sure to excite both fans and collectors! These three cards should be collected as a set to insure maximum value in the future.

Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard

These three Pokémon are the most iconic and popular among all Pokémon card collectors. This evolution line is expertly illustrated with the little Charmander at the bottom of a mountain, looking up, and thinking about flying above the mountains one day. The Charmeleon has made some progress and climbed up but still thinking about soaring above the mountains. Finally, upon its final evolution, Charizard flys around above the mountains. This series of illustration showed us the development of this fan favorite fire and flying type. What a gorgeous set of cards that are must collects for Pokémon fans.

Trainer Special Art Rare

In addition to full art trainer cards, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet introduced another even rarer form of trainer cards. This type of special illustration will capture the hearts of all Pokémon fans. This beautifully drawn card has Miriam holding a lot of books and almost falling over. In the background, there's a photo of Pichu. Since Pikachu’s retirement from the main series, the whole Pichu evolution line is very nostalgic for fans.

This gorgeous card is currently the most expensive single card from the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet base set. Collect it early if you wish to add this special art card to your collection. The illustration is really detailed; it's on another level compared to the full art trainer cards.

More trainer special art rares follow in the footsteps of Miriam. Paldea Evolve features Iono 269/193 special art rare, which is now the chase card of that release. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet 151 features Erika's Invitation 203/165 special art rare, which is another illustration of the fan favorite grass type gym leader.

Riolu, Magikarp, Raichu, Pikachu, Dragonair, Psyduck, and Morpeko Art Rare

The most amazing thing about art rare cards is that they tell stories through their gorgeous illustrations. All art rares are worth collecting. The Riolu art rare shows a hard-working pre-evolution Pokémon training in its room. This little Pokémon evokes nostalgia for Ash’s Lucario when it was still a baby.

We can see that Riolu, who is a fighting type, admires other fully evolved fighting-type Pokémon, such as Lucario and Medicham. With hard work, Riolu will one day evolve into Lucario and achieve its dream of being a strong fighter.

Be sure to add this gorgeous art rare to your collection. It might not be a fully evolved Pokémon, but this little baby will always remind us of Ash's Riolu.

Other art rares are just as amazing as Riolu in sets that follow the Scarlet and Violet base set. Think about Magikarp! That card looks very busy and strongly resembles the highly coveted Giratina V Alternate Art card from Pokémon Sword and Shield Lost Origins. The Raichu art rare features the electric mouse Pokémon taking a nap after an intense training session with its trainer. Pikachu, Dragonair, and Psyduck art rares are all from the coveted Pokémon Scarlet and Violet 151. These three cards feature the different Pokémon in a various of different settings. The Morpeko art rare from Paradox Rift features an angry Morpeko feasting on a variety of different foods and snacks. These art rares are what every Pokémon card collector want in his or her collection! Don't sleep on these cards! Most are not very expensive and can be added to your collection now!

Tera Arcanine and Gyarados Full Art

First-generation Pokémon will always have lots of fans. Arcanine, the fire-type dog Pokémon is one of the most popular in the series. Remember how Gary had one? Also, the gorgeous coat on this canine outshines most real-life dogs!

With so many dog lovers in the world, Arcanine has a strong following. This gorgeous card is similar to other full art cards but with added details, such as a beautiful silver background that makes Arcanine stand out even more.

Gyarados is a popular first-generation Pokémon. Generation I Pokémon cards are evergreen cards to collect because they are the most popular in the entire series! This water type is known as the atrocious Pokémon. But this full art card is nothing short of amazing. The full holographic white/silver background contrasts beautifully against the blue Gyarados.

Complete your Tera card collection by also adding Arcanine! With future releases, more popular Pokémon will be available in the Tera card format!

Miraidon ex Illustration Rare

Miraidon is a new legendary Pokémon from the 9th generation. This electric and dragon dual-type legendary Pokémon has several different modes as it travels through different regions of Paldea. This guy takes adaptation to a new level.

Miraidon is the mascot of Pokémon Violet. This electric dragon looks very fierce, with lightning bolt horns and a yellow/purple color scheme. The illustration rare card shows Miraidon against a city background with very intricate details.

Even though modern or newly released Pokémon tend not to hold too much value in the future, this legendary Pokémon is now one of the most expensive from the Scarlet and Violet base set. Just wait for the price to slightly dip or stabilize to add this powerful beast to your collection!

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In December of 1998, Wizards of the Coast, a growing Washington-based company responsible for publishing popular tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, premiered the Pokémon Trading Card Game for the American market.

This launch closely followed the September 1998 release of the Pokémon Blue and Red video games for the Nintendo Game Boy, as well as the children's animated television show, which popularized the rallying cry of a generation of '90s children: "Gotta Catch 'Em All."

However, it wasn't until a few months into 1999, when WB Kids picked up the show for its Saturday morning lineup, that the Pokémon brand really took hold in America.

Quickly, children all across America were buying booster packs of Base Set, Jungle, and Fossil in numbers that smashed the sales volumes of sports cards, comics, and other collectibles of the time.

The mania around Pokémon became so intense, in fact, that school officials banned students from bring their cards to class, and disputes over Pokémon cards resulted in a wave of violent crimes!

But eventually, the excitement died down, and by the mid to late 2000s, many of the kids who had once committed themselves to "catching 'em all" were selling, giving away, and even disposing of their once-treasured collections.

However, some children had the forethought to stash their collections away, hoping that their shiny pieces of cardboard would one day be worth a small fortune. And by the early 2020s, many were given a reason to search for their old collections when the Pokémon market skyrocketed over 500% in just one year.

Why Your Vintage Pokémon Card Collection Probably Isn't Worth Much

If you took part in the Pokémania of 1999 and you think your old card collection is somewhere in the recesses of your parents' basement, attic, or garage, do not drop everything to go and find it.

As someone who has first-hand experience purchasing childhood Pokémon collections, I can assure you that most vintage Pokémon card collections are not worth tens of thousands of dollars. In fact, the overwhelming majority are worth only a few hundred dollars at best.

In this article, I'll break down the most common traits of vintage Pokémon card collections and how they impact what you can realistically make by selling off your old Pokémon cards.

We'll cover:

• The most common sets found in vintage Pokémon collections
• The most common print-runs found in vintage Pokémon collections
• The most common card condition found in vintage Pokémon collections
• The barrier to entry for selling Pokémon cards yourself

The Cards in Your Collection Aren't as Rare as You Might Think

In 1999, Pokémon cards were the hottest toy of the holiday season, with retailers struggling to keep booster packs on shelves. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Pokémon cards were in nearly every household with children and that millions were printed to meet demand.

Some of the most popularly printed Pokémon card sets of all time include Base Set, Jungle, Fossil, and Base Set 2, which reprinted a selection of cards from the previous three sets. In fact, no sets in the history of Pokémon would see an even comparable print run until the early 2020s.

These four sets appear most commonly in "found" childhood collections, and the corresponding cards are almost always "unlimited" print-run copies.

Most Vintage Pokemon Cards Are "Unlimited," Meaning That They Were Printed to Meet Demand

If you've done a little research into your vintage Pokémon cards, you may have come across the terms "first edition," "shadowless," and "unlimited." These terms refer to the print runs during which a vintage card was produced, with "first edition" cards being the rarest, and "unlimited" cards being very common by comparison.

Let's break down these terms and see how they impact card prices.

First-Edition Cards

This was a distinction found on cards in most English Pokémon sets from Base Set to Neo Destiny in 2002, with the exception of Base Set 2 and Legendary Collection cards. You can tell a vintage card is first edition because it will have a small black stamp, left of the illustrative frame, that reads "Edition 1."

First-Edition cards can fetch anywhere from five to 25 times as much as their "unlimited" counterparts, depending on the cards and sets where they appear. However, these cards are really hard to find, with First-Edition print runs lasting a very short period of time and often not even appearing widely on retail shelves before being sold out.

As a result, most vintage childhood collections mostly feature "unlimited" cards.

Unlimited Cards

This is a term referring to cards appearing in sets that featured First-Edition cards that were published after the initial print run to meet demand. The reason why the term "unlimited" is used is because Wizards of the Coast placed no specific cap on the number of these cards that could be produced. They continued to print an unspecified number of runs until the corresponding set was retired.

These cards make up the overwhelming majority of vintage Pokémon cards on the market, and, consequently, prices on these cards have remained modest throughout the years.

Shadowless Cards

This term refers to a relatively small population of cards from only Base Set, printed after "First Edition" cards but before "unlimited" cards. Collectors refer to these cards as "shadowless" because, like First-Edition cards, the illustrative frames lack drop shadows. However, like "unlimited" cards, they do not feature "Edition 1" stamps.

While much rarer than unlimited Base Set cards, shadowless cards are considerably more common than First-Edition cards, and so their average market values are closer to the values of unlimited cards.

Now that you're familiar with the differences in these print runs, let's look at how those differences affect the market value of an example card: Alakazam.

Your Old Pokémon Cards Are Probably Not in Great Condition

When it comes to any collectibles, whether they're toys, comics, or trading cards, an item's condition significantly impacts how much it's worth. Collectors want the best quality items that they can find, and they're willing to pay exponentially higher prices for cards with few to no apparent signs of wear.

However, Pokémon cards were meant to be played with, traded, and handled frequently. Most cards handled by children were lucky to avoid being scuffed on the pavement, bent in half in a pocket, coated in chewing gum, or accidentally sent through the laundry.

Even if you recall storing your cards in plastic binder sleeves, that's likely not enough to have prevented some minor wear that can have a huge impact on the relative market value of your cards. These signs of damage include corner and edge whitening, surface and holographic scratches, and creasing.

This wear can occur when multiple cards are stored in a single plastic compartment, if the cards were frequently or improperly removed from their compartments, if dust makes its way into the binder, and if the binder is stored in an improper climate, such as a basement, attic, or garage.

In my experience, most cards in childhood collections fall in a condition class called "moderately played," which will typically decrease the market value of a card by around 50% to 70% when compared to the value of the card in near mint condition.

For example, a near mint unlimited Alakazam from Base Set can go for around $35, while a moderately played unlimited Alakazam will typically go for around $15.

A Collection Is Only Worth What People Are Willing to Pay for It

The final reason why your childhood collection probably isn't worth that much is because, without experience, you will struggle to sell the cards for top dollar.

If you aren't accustomed to working with vintage Pokémon cards, you will run a significant risk of misidentifying cards or misevaluating their conditions.

You may also struggle to properly ship cards in order to preserve their condition, which will also likely require you to purchase premium sleeves and top loaders. Failure to properly preserve cards in shipping can cause damage that could result in your customer returning a card or leaving you a terrible review, making it tough to sell the rest of your collection.

Finally, without a large inventory of cards to sell, you might find yourself sitting on your collection for a long time, struggling to find buyers who are interested in your asking prices. This is because most buyers like to bundle items to receive small discounts or at least save on their shipping costs. Without a large inventory, you will struggle to capture customers from your competitors.

For the person with an average vintage collection from their childhood, their best option is to sell the entire collection as a lot online or to a reseller. Either way, that person should expect to take anywhere from 30% to 60% of the collection's relative market value to sell it in one easy transaction.

Don't Worry! Your Collection Could Still Be Worth a Ton!

Although the trends discussed above are true for the vast majority of those with old Pokémon card collections from their childhoods, there is always a chance that your collection defies these trends.

The likelihood of this being the case is more significant if you collected cards after the height of Pokémania, took really great care of your collection, or simply collected thousands and thousands of cards during your Pokémon fanaticism!

So now that you've had your expectations sufficiently measured, feel free to check out how to determine the value of your old Pokémon cards! Perhaps you are sitting on a modern-day gold mine!

If you ever see a lightning storm, Zapdos might not be far away! The legendary bird Pokémon is said to "appear from clouds while wielding enormous lightning bolts," or at least that's what it says on its very first printing in Base Set!

Zapdos is the first Generation One legendary bird character to appear on an English language Pokémon card, and since its premiere in 1999's Base Set, the Pokémon has appeared on dozens of rare cards loved by collectors from around the world.

From modern printings like Galarian Zapdos V (Alternate Full Art) from Sword & Shield: Chilling Reign to older cards like Zapdos from Majestic Dawn, there is no lack of amazing Zapdos cards for collectors to hunt!

Let's take a look at five of the rarest and most valuable Zapdos cards that you can add to your collection!

1. Zapdos—Supreme Victors (2009)

This secret rare Zapdos printing was released in 2009 as part of the Supreme Victors set within the Platinum block.

It features uniquely illustrative card art by Toshinao Aoki, the artist behind the iconic Surfing Pikachu illustration, who does a bold take on Zapdos' iconic forward-facing pose in this holographic printing.

Because this is a secret rare card, finding one of these cards in a pack of Platinum: Supreme Victors is exceedingly difficult, with an average of only one secret rare card appearing in every 36 booster packs.

That doesn't sound so bad, until you realize that just one booster pack of Platinum: Supreme Victors can cost collectors $150 or more!

That's why, if you want to add this Zapdos to your collection, you're better off buying the single, because a near mint copy should only cost you around $120.

2. Rocket's Zapdos ex—Team Rocket Returns (2004)

If you're a fan of Zapdos' darker and more mysterious side, this Rocket's Zapdos ex card might be the perfect one for you!

It features a wonderful 3D rendering of the legendary bird by Ryo Ueda, who has created hundreds of illustrations for Pokémon cards dating back to the earliest EX sets.

Coming to us from the Team Rocket Returns set, which also includes iconic cards like Treecko Star and Rocket's Snorlax ex, this printing has a relatively low population due to the waning demand for Pokémon trading cards in 2004 when compared to the demand in previous years.

But even if you were able to track down a sealed booster pack of Team Rocket Returns, you would need to open between 12 and 18 of them to ensure that you would pull just one ex card!

But fortunately, you can save yourself the time and toil of ripping open a bunch of $500 booster packs and buy a near mint copy of this card for around $150!

3. Rocket's Zapdos—Gym Challenge (2000)

Rocket's Zapdos from Gym Challenge is an early printing of Zapdos that was published by Wizards of the Coast in the Gym Challenge set. This set featured Pokémon that were attributed to various iconic characters from the original Red and Blue games by Gamefreak.

However, while most of the cards in both Gym Challenge and Gym Heroes featured the names and faces of various gym leaders like Blaine, Lt. Surge, Erika, or Sabrina, this Zapdos card was one of just two "Rocket's" cards from this set, with the other being Rocket's Mewtwo!

Unlimited copies of Rocket's Zapdos are not too difficult to come by, and so collectors can find near mint copies for around $50, but if you want a first edition printing, be prepared to pay anywhere from $250 to $300!

4. Zapdos—Aquapolis (2003)

This card from Aquapolis was the last Zapdos printing published by Wizards of the Coast, the company responsible for adapting Pokémon cards for the American market from 1999 to 2003.

You may notice that this Zapdos card has an unusually thick border. At the bottom of the card, there is an e-reader code that collectors could scan using a Game Boy Advance attachment in order to see details about the Pokémon.

This was a short-lived feature, printed on English Pokémon cards from Expedition in 2002 until Ex: Dragon in 2003, and because Pokémon cards were declining in popularity around this time, a relatively small number of e-reader cards exist in great condition.

Just a near mint reverse holo variant of this Zapdos card could cost you $50 or more! But if you want the coveted holographic Zapdos from Aquapolis, be prepared to pay around $170 to $200!

5. Zapdos—Base Set (1999)

Recognize this icon from Pokémon's debut English language line, Base Set? This classic Zapdos card, featuring art from Pokémon's primary character designer, Ken Sugimori, shows the legendary bird with its wings and talons fully extended!

Zapdos is the only legendary bird Pokémon to appear in the first set, with the other two, Articuno and Moltres, appearing in Fossil, which also featured a Zapdos card as a potential holographic rare! It also shares the title for first legendary Pokémon ever printed on a trading card with Mewtwo!

If you want an unlimited copy of this card, you can pick one up in near mint condition for around $25. However, this price jumps to around $100 if you want a Shadowless copy in near mint condition, and to $500 to $600 if you manage to find a beautiful and elusive First Edition copy!

Happy Collecting!

Best known for its lightning speed and fearsome demeanor, Zapdos is a Pokémon that has captured collector interest for decades since its first appearance in Base Set!

Keep this guide handy when you look through your old collection, because if you were to find any of the cards listed here, you may have a reason to celebrate!

And if you are interested in adding some of these pieces to your collection, I am sure you will find that they add a wonderful burst of color—and considerable value!

To Pokémon collectors around the world, Venusaur is an icon. It is best known for being the final evolution of Bulbasaur, which was one of three characters that players would receive as their "starter" Pokémon when starting up the original Gamefreak releases: Pokémon Red and Blue.

Though arguably less popular than its peers, Charizard and Blastoise, Venusaur has still appeared on dozens of rare and valuable Pokémon cards since its original release by Wizards of the Coast in 1999.

From this Venusaur EX promo released in XY to this Celebi & Venusaur GX Secret Rare from Team Up, there are no lack of beautiful cards for enthusiasts to collect. Let's take a look at five of these cards and learn a little more about what makes them so rare and valuable!

1. Venusaur—Rumble (2009)

Our first Venusaur card comes to us from the special Rumble set, released in conjunction with the 2009 Nintendo Wii game called Pokémon Rumble. In Pokémon Rumble, players pilot their favorite classic characters in melee style combat.

To support this video game release, the company also released a special set of 18 cards and accompanying game pieces that could be used by players to engage in a tabletop version of the game. The rules for the tabletop version deviated significantly from those of the traditional TCG.

This Venusaur card, featuring a holographic Pokémon Rumble logo, depicts the Pokémon as it appeared in the Wii game, and it includes a small Dratini in the background. Near mint copies of this card are exceedingly uncommon due to the short print-run of the product and relative failure of the Pokémon Rumble property. If you're able to find a near mint copy, you will likely have to pay $50 or more to take it home with you!

2. Venusaur—Expedition (2002)

With such an incredible illustration, it's not surprising that this card remains one of the most sought-after and valuable Venusaur cards ever printed.

Released in Expedition, a 2002 set released by Wizards of the Coast near the end of their tenure as publishers for the English language sets, this card features the short-lived "e-reader" border. This thick border includes a bar code that collectors could swipe through an attachment made for the Game Boy Advance to see more details about the Pokémon featured on the card.

By the time this set was released, Pokémon had seen a steep decline in interest when compared to the mania of 1999 and 2000. This meant that fewer people were buying cards, and, as a result, fewer cards were produced, making this card all the more rare.

A near mint copy of this holographic card can run eager collectors $120. But if you like this card and don't mind owning a reverse holographic variant, you can find those for around $50.

3. Erika's Venusaur—Gym Challenge (2000)

Released near the tail end of the original 1999–2000 American Pokémon obsession, Gym Heroes and Gym Challenge were the final two vintage sets to feature only first-generation characters.

The cards released in these sets were cool and especially collectible because they featured the names and faces of gym leaders from the original Red and Blue video games. Included in this list is Erika, a grass-type trainer and the leader of the Celadon City Gym.

Most agree that her most sought-after card from this set is Erika's Venusaur, which was only the Pokémon's second original appearance in the TCG. This forward-facing perspective of Venusaur is not super unique, since the Pokémon is often depicted in that way, but its position in the right-most third of the frame is both uncommon for the character and for card illustrations in general.

Near mint copies of this card can go for around $80 if they are not first edition. However, if you manage to track down a first-edition copy in near mint condition, you can expect to pay $150 or more!

4. Venusaur ex—FireRed & LeafGreen (2004)

This Venusaur ex was a part of the FireRed & LeafGreen set, released around the time that two video games of the same title were released for the Game Boy Advance.

This set includes only cards featuring Pokémon from the first generation, harkening back to the Wizards of the Coast era cards but including modern design elements like the "ex" designation and holographic border.

With FireRed & LeafGreen being only the sixth expansion of English cards to be published by the Pokémon Company International, this vintage Venusaur card is very old and tough to find in great condition.

This Venusaur card highlights the fiercer side of the character, showing it from a low angle and accenting its huge, blue-green frame and gaping maw!

If you can find this printing in near mint condition, expect to pay $200 to $250.

5. Venusaur—Base Set (1999)

Is there anything that can beat the original? Apparently, when it comes to rare and valuable Venusaur cards, there isn't!

This original printing of the classic character is relatively simple, as most cards from Base Set are. However, it features wonderful detail, like the texture of Venusaur's skin and the varying color gradients used to detail the flower and leaves on the creature's back.

Many may wonder why this card is topping the list of the rarest and most valuable Venusaur printings. Since it was released in Base Set, when Pokémon was at a high point in its popularity, the population of this card is exceptionally high. That being said, this remains the most iconic and in-demand Venusaur card of them all.

Unlimited printings of this card that don't feature a shadowless illustration border and first-edition stamp will only go for around $90 in near mint condition. However, shadowless Venusaurs can go for around $200, and if you find a first-edition copy, expect to pay around $400 for a near mint copy!

Happy Collecting!

While Venusaur may be the least popular of the three starter evolutions from the Kanto region, it remains an iconic Pokémon with no lack of rare and valuable cards for collectors to find.

Whether you are a seasoned collector or are just getting started in the world of Pokémon collecting, the Venusaur cards listed above are sure to add a ton of value and quality to your collection!

Dragonite is one of Pokémon's original dragon-type characters. It appeared for the first time in 1999's Fossil set, which introduced a number of other first generation Pokémon, including other fan-favorites like Lapras and Gengar.

But Dragonite was heavily represented in the vintage sets, produced from 1999 to 2003, prior to the formation of The Pokémon Company International. And with so many striking and rare printings to track down, Dragonite has remained popular among collectors.

Let's look at five of the rarest and most valuable Dragonite cards that you can add to your collection!

1. Dragonite ex (Delta Species)—Dragon Frontiers (2006)

Dragon Frontiers was an EX block set released in 2006 that featured many of Pokémon's most popular dragon-type Pokémon, including Charizard Star (Delta Species) and Rayquaza ex (Delta Species).

Dragonite also appeared in this hard-to-find EX set as a grass-type Delta Species Pokémon. It sports an "ex" designation, and collectors generally agree that the likelihood of opening an "ex" card is roughly one in every 12–24 booster packs.

This means that this particular Dragonite ex card was not the most difficult card to pull from a pack, but near mint copies will cost collectors as much as $150.

2. Dragonite ex—Dragon (2003)

Did you know that this was the first English Dragonite card manufactured by The Pokémon Company International? It's true!

After Skyridge, the company took over North American publishing from Wizards of the Coast, which had originally adapted the cards to the American market starting in 1999.

Dragon, released in 2003, was the third English set published by Pokémon International, and it featured this stunning Dragonite ex card that's accented by a shimmering silver e-reader border.

If you think the border looks funny, you might not remember the short period in Pokémon's history when they printed cards that you could scan like a credit card (via a Game Boy Advance attachment) to see more information about the Pokémon featured on the card.

This was a short-lived feature that ceased in Japan after Skyridge, and it was laid to rest in the North American market after Dragon. But collectors love finding these odd and unique cards, reminiscent of the retro technology we remember using as kids.

Near mint copies of Dragonite ex from Dragon can set collectors back $170 or more!

3. Dragonite—Expedition (2002)

This rare Dragonite holographic card comes out of Expedition, the first set to feature the e-reader border format. Published in 2002 by Wizards of the Coast, the rarest holo cards in Expedition routinely fetch very high prices due to the low print volume when compared to previous vintage sets.

Despite competing for collector interest with other titans printed in this set, like Charizard, Blastoise, and Tyranitar, this Dragonite remains one of the most valuable cards in Expedition.

Near mint copies of this Dragonite printing can cost collectors $200 or more. But fortunately, if you don't have that much to spend, you can find more common reverse holographic variants of this card for around $100.

4. Dragonite—Fossil (1999)

If you collected Pokémon cards back in the late 1990s, you might recall opening this card in vintage Fossil packs! In fact, this is the first time Dragonite was ever printed in English in the Pokémon Trading Card Game!

Fossil was one of the earliest vintage sets produced by Wizards of the Coast, and it was printed at extremely high volumes due to the immense demand for Pokémon cards in 1999 and 2000.

As a result, "unlimited" copies of this card, which will not feature the first edition stamp beneath the left side of the illustrative frame, typically go for only $70 in near mint condition. However, if you want a first edition copy of this rare Dragonite card, expect to pay nearly $250!

5. Light Dragonite—Neo Destiny (2002)

You may remember when Pokémon introduced "Dark Pokémon" starting in the Team Rocket set, released in 2000. But do you remember when their "Light" counterparts premiered in the Neo block?

This Light Dragonite is one of only a few dozen Pokémon to receive this special designation on a trading card. It features wonderfully illustrative artwork, showing Dragonite tearing through a starry night.

Like many other holographic cards featured in Neo sets, Light Dragonite has remained popular with collectors, and it's now one of the most valuable Dragonite cards that collectors could have pulled from regular booster packs.

Unlimited printings of this card will cost collectors around $200 in near mint condition. But if you're looking for a first edition copy in near mint condition, it could cost you $350 or more!

Happy Collecting

Dragonite has a long history as a beloved character in the world of Pokémon and its Trading Card Game.

Though we couldn't list all of the wonderful Dragonite cards that collectors chase, including cards like Dark Dragonite from Team Rocket and Dragonite V (Alternate Full Art) from Evolving Skies, these five extremely rare Dragonite cards are certain to impress your friends and add significant value to your collection!

Gyarados is a fierce serpentine Pokémon that is revered among fans for its power and intensity, despite being the evolved form of the notoriously ineffective Magikarp. Loved by Pokemon collectors around the world, Gyarados has appeared on dozens of cards over the card game's history, and many are treasured by collectors who will pay top dollar for the most exlusive printings.

In this article, we'll look at five of the rarest and most valuable Gyarados cards, spanning a diverse array of sets and time periods!

1. Gyarados - XY Ancient Origins (Prerelease Staff Promo) (2015)

Looks may be deceiving. While this might appear to be a simple Gyarados Prerelease Promo, distributed to celebrate XY: Ancient Origin's debut, this is an especially rare variant. Featuring a "Staff" stamp parallel to the Ancient Origins logo, this card was only distributed to those who worked for companies hosting officially sanctioned Prerelease events during the release of this 2015 set.

The Pokémon Company also later decided to discontinue the "Staff" promo after the release of Sword & Shield: Vivid Voltage, so this card is also in an "extinct" class of cards, adding to its rarity and mystique.

Near mint copies of this card do not appear every day, but you will likely expect to pay $200 or more to add this card in your collection if you find one!

2. Gyarados - Base Set (1st Edition) (1999)

If this were the sports card world, we would probably refer to Gyarados' Base Set printing as its "rookie card". Like many of its fellow first-generation Pokémon, Gyarados first appeared in the 1999 Base Set, manufactured by Wizards of the Coast.

While most people recall having Base Set cards, the majority are considered to be "unlimited", meaning that they were produced during a time when Wizards of the Coast was just endlessly printing cards to meet demand. Unlimited Gyarados cards in near mint condition can go for $20 or so.

However, if you have a Base Set first edition Gyarados, you own one of the first English Gyarados cards to have ever been manufactured. A near mint copy could cost you $400-$500!

3. Shining Gyarados - Neo Revelation (2001)

Notice something different about this Gyarados?

This Shining Gyarados is the first appearance of the Pokémon in its alternate red form, and is among the first "Shining" Pokémon released in the Neo Revelation set.

These special cards feature a unique holographic foil pattern that gives them a wonderful shimmer, and are highly sought after. Collectors generally agree that the likelihood of pulling either a Shining Gyarados or a Shining Magikarp (the set's other Shining Pokémon) from a Neo Revelation booster pack, is about one in eighteen.

But with unlimited Neo Revelation booster packs going for $400 or more, collectors are probably better off buying the single. A near mint copy of Shining Gyarados will only set you back $350 or so. But if you want a first edition copy of this elusive card, be prepared to spend $1600 to $2000, or more!

4. Gyarados - Skyridge (2003)

This prized Gyarados holographic card from Skyridge is the last Gyarados card released in the United States by Wizards of the Coast, the company responsible for adapting and producing Pokémon cards for the American market from 1999 to 2003.

It features an incredibly unique front facing perspective of the beast, and features wonderfully detailed and inventive art, indicative of the expansive art styles that the Pokémon company was exploring during the e-reader sets.

This card remains one of the rarest Skyridge cards to find in great condition due to the low print volume of the set relative to Neo sets and sets produced from 1999 to 2000 when Pokemon was at its initial peak popularity. Now, Skyridge packs are so rare that just one pack will cost collectors $1000 or more!

But fortunately, this card isn't quite as expensive, with near mint copies going for between $600 and $800.

5. Gyarados Star (Delta Species) - Holon Phantoms (2006)

The final card on this list is one that's so rare, it's unlikely you've ever seen one in person. This Gyarados Star (Delta Species) can be found in packs of EX- Holon Phantoms, a set with an incredibly small print run relative to many other Pokémon sets.

Also sporting the "Star" designation, Gyarados Star (Delta Species) is an incredibly difficult card to pull from a booster pack. That's because "Star" Pokémon in Holon Phantoms only appear in about one out of every 72 packs.

And before you think about pressing your luck, realize that just one booster pack of Holon Phantoms can easily cost collectors $300 or more! It could cost someone nearly $22,000 just to open one "Star" Pokémon, and even then, it's not guaranteed that you'll open the Gyarados.

So if you need to have this card, it might be best to save up and look for a single. But be warned, a near mint copy of this extravagant Gyarados card can cost collectors $1300 or more!

Happy Collecting

Despite evolving from one of the goofiest and weakest Pokémon, Gyarados is definitely a fan favorite, and its cards have remained highly sought after throughout the history of the game.

Whether you are new to the world of collecting, or consider yourself a seasoned Pokémon fanatic, any of the Gyarados cards listed in this article are sure to add considerable value and prestige to your collection!

Introducing Splendor, the Board Game

Splendor is one of those board games that never stays on the shelf for too long with our gaming group. This game is fun, easy to understand, and extremely well-designed. Every game plays differently, and strategies vary depending on which cards and nobles are drawn.

Nobles play a major part of this game. Sometimes they determine the winner, and sometimes they force players who start later in turn order to tackle different strategies to remain competitive. The race to 15 points can take many different paths in a game, but that road to victory almost always involves capturing at least one noble, if not several.

How Do Nobles Work in Splendor?

A noble can only be claimed when a player has the numbers and colors of cards to fulfill the requirements printed on the noble's card. Gems don't count; a player needs either four cards each of two specific gem types/colors or three cards each of three specific gem types/colors (for example, three white, three blue, and three black).

Nobles are claimed immediately upon meeting their requirements; however, only one noble can be claimed on a player's turn. That means if they qualify for two, they must pick one, and the other can be sniped by another player who meets the proper requirements before it is the original player's turn again.

Regardless of whose portrait is on the card or what the card requirements are for grabbing them, the nobles are always worth three points.

Who Are the Nobles?

There are 10 nobles to choose from in Splendor, and for gameplay there should always be one more noble on the board than there are players. The nobles represent historical figures who were extremely important to regional and world economics and politics, which were often heavily intertwined at this time.

The ten nobles who appear on cards in the base board game are:

1. Mary Stuart
2. Charles V
3. Machiavelli
4. Isabella of Castile
5. Suleiman the Magnificent
6. Catherine of Medici
7. Anne of Brittany
8. Henry the 8th
9. Elizabeth of Austria
10. Francis I of France

The name spellings can vary slightly depending on the source, but these are the 10 nobles/royals (or, in the case of Machiavelli, influencers) who make up the noble cards used in Splendor.

So let's deep dive into exactly who these nobles are, how they affect the game, and how knowing who they are can bring a deeper appreciation of the setting... at least for those of us who love history.

1. Mary Stuart

Mary Stuart, aka "Mary Queen of Scots," was queen of Scotland from 1542 until she was forced from the throne in 1567. She was the only six days old when James King of Scotland died, and had a life that was filled with assassination attempts, uprisings, shady dealings, and ended with execution in England in 1587.

Known much more as a romanticized historical figure because of the Hollywood movie quality of her life versus actual accomplishments during her reign, she still played an important part, or was played as a pawn, between greater religious and political forces fighting for control of Europe's future in the 1500s and 1600s.

Card Requirements: 4 Emerald Cards and 4 Ruby Cards

2. Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire

Charles the V of the Holy Roman Empire, known as Karl V in German history books, wielded a crazy amount of power in various forms in 16th Century Europe and honestly a game set in that time wouldn't make a lot of sense if it didn't mention him.

Among the many titles he held, there was:

• Holy Roman Emperor & Archduke of Austria 1519-1556
• King of Spain (Castile and Aragorn) 1516-1556
• Duke of Burgundy & Lord of the Netherlands 1506 to 1556
• Head of House of Habsburg

These titles don't even begin to explain all the lands that he had powerful influence or indirect authority for, especially because of the power of House Habsburg. With a direct hand in Spanish colonization in the New World led to his controlled lands being the first to be described as "An empire on which the sun never sets."

Arguably no one had his level of influence over European politics over the course of his lifetime.

Card Requirements: 3 Onyx (black) Cards, 3 Ruby Cards, 3 Diamond Cards

3. Niccolo Machiavelli

Machiavelli is known first and foremost for being author of The Prince, a book that has had such influence that in college I had to read it three times - once for a history class, once for a political science class, and once for a philosophy class.

During his life Machiavelli was a respected diplomat, advisor, and philosopher who even served for many years as a senior official in the Florentine Republic, one of many independent Italian city-state nations that existed in early 1500s Europe.

While respected during his lifetime, no one could have predicted his fame after death because of The Prince, which is still argued about hundreds of years later. Is it a realistic look at how politics will always work, a manual to guide tyrants to seize and keep power, or a tongue-in-cheek mockery of the lord the manuscript was meant for that instead has been taken as a literal guide ever since?

Card Requirements: 4 Diamond Cards, 4 Sapphire Cards

4. Isabella I of Castile

Isabella is the same Isabella who funded Christopher Columbus's voyage that resulted in the re-discovery of the New World, and she was the queen of Castile from 1474 until her 1504 death.

Along with her husband Ferdinand, they were known as the Catholic Monarchs as they were famous for ushering in the Spanish Golden Age that included the Reconquista to drive the Moorish Empire out of Spain, and Spain's emergence as a powerful force on the political and national stage.

Looking back historically not everything was golden as few will defend atrocious acts such as the Spanish Inquisition or the mass expulsion of the Jewish people from Spain, but there was no denying the historical and political importance of Queen Isabella during this time in European (and world) history.

Card Requirements: 4 Onyx Cards, 4 Diamond Cards

5. Suleiman the Magnificent

Known by history buffs, as well as players of the video game series Sid Meier's Civilization, Suleiman I was the longest-reigning Ottoman Empire Sultan and undeniably earned his title, ruling from 1520 until his 1566 death and seeing an empire that held over 25 million people.

Not only was Suleiman an outstanding military leader who led the Ottoman Empire to its furthest conquest of parts of Eastern Europe, but he was known for a fair system of laws, being a great patron of arts, and for ushering in a golden age that included economic prosperity from good trade policies.

Card Requirements: 4 Emerald Cards, 4 Sapphire Cards

6. Catherine of Medici

Catherine de' Medici is one of the most famous women from 1500s Europe and it's not hard to see why as her influence was incredible. Born in the famous Medici family of Florentine, an Italian city-state famous for its mercantilism, not only was she Queen of France from 1547 to 1559 via marriage to King Henry II but the years that her three sons served as kings of France (Francis II, Charles IX, and Henry III, respectively) are now more often known as "The Age of Catherine Medici."

She had extensive political influence regardless of which son was king, and no one wise in the politics of the time would cross Catherine... at least not publicly or in a way that could come back to them.

No seen as the most important woman in 16th Century Europe, while France did not thrive during the monarchies of her sons, it's widely believed they would not have held the throne for long at all.

While known now as a patron of the arts in her later years, whether this was a true passion or another tool for keeping some reign of power for the family remains up for debate.

Card Requirements: 3 Emerald Cards, 3 Sapphire Cards, 3 Ruby Cards

7. Anne of Brittany

Anne of Brittany historically played a major part in European politics in the late 15th Century and early 16th Century.

Among her titles:

• Duchess of Brittany 1488–1514
• Queen of France 1491–1498
• Queen of France 1499 to 1514 (not a typo—only two-time queen consort of France)
• Queen of Naples 1501–1504
• Duchess of Milan 1499–1500; 1500–1512

The multiple titles has a lot to do with the Italian Wars and the borders that changed based on military victories or defeat. Although strongly associated with France now, she was a strong defender of the Duchy of Brittany and defended them from just being "absorbed" into the French Kingdom.

Anne's reputation as a conscientious ruler and patron of the arts, and architectural advancements, made her quite popular among those she ruled over, for the most part.

Card Requirements: 3 Emerald Cards, 3 Sapphire Cards, 3 Diamond Cards

8. King Henry VIII of England

King from 1509 to 1547, Henry the Eighth is known for constantly beheading wives for not bearing him a son, the way he transformed England can't be overlooked. The Church of England broke them away from Catholicism, leading to being excommunicated and inflaming relations with France and Spain that would lead to wars in later centuries...or at least give another excuse for it.

He is known as the Father of the Royal Navy, developing the famous Navy that allowed them to defend England and create a colonial empire that spread across the entire world. He expanded Royal power and created the Super Power that England would be for centuries afterwards.

Early to middle reign he was considered charismatic, powerful, and intelligent though by the end of his reign that turned into paranoia and tyranny.

Whatever your thoughts, little denying he utterly transformed England in the 1500s to a local power that would be able to defend their homeland and project power across the globe.

Card Requirements: 4 Onyx Cards, 4 Emerald Cards

9. Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of France

Elisabeth of Austria was a member of the House of Habsburg and was the wife of King Charles the 9th, making her Queen of France from 1570 to 1574. After her husband passed away, Elisabeth returned to Austria and did some quite unusual compared to many nobles of her time: spent time and influence focusing on charitable work and living her faith through actual good works to the poor and impoverished.

Cards Required: 3 Onyx Cards, 3 Sapphire Cards, 3 Diamond Cards

10. Francis I of France

Francis I ruled as King of France from 1515 until 1547. Legitimately a major patron of the arts, he strongly promoted the French Renaissance, creating an artist-friendly kingdom that attracted even the likes of Leonardo da Vinci.

He continued the Italian Wars, and seeing France becoming completely encircled by the Habsburg Monarchy, he made an alliance with Suleiman the Magnificent despite religious differences, and strongly promoted the rights of Protestants.

While an artist and diplomat first, Francis I had a reputation as a fierce fighter who led troops from the front, earning the nickname of "The Knight King" from his men in the Italian Wars. Domestic policies were aimed at improving the bureaucratic systems in France and improving quality of life all around, and it can't help but to be wondered if the discontinuation of many of these policies by later monarchs led to the bloody revolutions that would follow.

Cards Required: 3 Onyx Cards, 3 Ruby Cards, 3 Emerald Cards

View the original article to see embedded media.

Are the Nobles of Splendor Confirmed?

The answer is yes, these identities have been confirmed more than once, including by individuals who worked for the company Space Cowboys, who developed the game of Splendor before the company was acquired by Asmodee Games.

With confidence, these are the ten nobles who appear in the game of Splendor.

© 2023 Shane Dayton

So Many Great Options for Your Gaming Table

I won't spend a lot of time talking about the new open gaming license (OGL) that was leaked at the end of 2022 and has the D&D and tabletop community angry and massively up in arms. There are plenty of places online to find the information on this, but the long and short of it is: Kiss third-party content, Kickstarters, and other homebrew D&D content goodbye—and possibly every major gaming system based off the original OGL, including Pathfinder and others.

While no one knows how this will all play out for sure, needless to say there are millions of gamers looking to walk away from D&D but who still want a great TTRPG experience for themselves and their gaming tables at home.

The good news is there are no shortage of systems that are in no way, shape, or form related to the D&D OGL. These tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPG) aren't listed in any particular order, but offer a wide array of genres, options, and gaming experiences that TTRPG players of all experience levels may enjoy.

So if you are an avid TTRPG player and have the "New OGL Blues" as so many of us long-time players have, don't worry—here are just 12 of my favorites that I'm sure your table will enjoy.

12 Great Replacements for D&D

• Fate
• Call of Cthulhu
• Cypher Fantasy System
• Vampire: The Masquerade
• Werewolf: The Apocalypse
• Savage Worlds Dead Lands
• The Warhammer Universe
• Eclipse Phase
• Mork Borg
• Monster of the Week
• Over the Edge
• Pathfinder or Pathfinder 2

Fate: The TTRPG System That Can Be Any Genre

One of the first TTRPG systems that will come up is Fate. Fate uses simple d6 dice that have two sides with a "+", two sides with a "-", and two blank sides. This means at any time, each die gives you a 33% chance to make you better at what you're attempting, a 33% chance to work against you, and a 33% chance that nothing happens.

There are four "Fate Dice" that can be rolled, and the versatility of the system is that it works with anything. You can create entire worlds, basic stats, or use existing ones from other systems, but just use fate dice and add any bonuses based on the system.

Characters have Aspects that describe what they're about, both good and bad. Players can invoke these in some situations to get bonuses on rolls, or the DM can invoke them to encourage an action. The player can always agree or deny, and they often gain or lose fate chips based on their decisions.

I've played the Fate System in a Dresden Files game, Cyberpunk game, and a Steampunk game. The versatility means you can use it just about anywhere, and many game settings choose to build around the Fate System because it can be so effective.

In fact, the following popular TTRPG systems are based around using the Fate System:

• Age of Arthur
• Diaspora
• The Dresden Files
• Fate of Cthulhu
• Starblazer Adventures

And this is a very small sampling of the systems that use Fate as a rule base. It is designed to be easy to use with any genre or homebrew, and it does a great job of allowing just that.

Below is a Tabletop episode with Wil Wheaton showing a one-shot of Fate, which is fantastic and shows just how interesting the system can be.

Call of Cthulhu: Lovecraftian Horror at Its Finest

A versatile horror system based heavily on the mythos created by H.P. Lovecraft, Call of Cthulhu is a system that can take place in modern times, Victorian times, Colonial times, whenever. Most settings seem to like the 1850s to 1940s as an ideal place for a Call of Cthulhu game, which does make sense when you look at Lovecraft's life and the times he wrote as settings for his work.

The crux of Cthulhu is that the Universe is a place filled with terrors that drive people towards insanity simply from knowing about them. You are very human, very mortal, and yet you and several investigators must do their part to get to the bottom of the mystery at hand and possibly work to delay the end of the world or whatever cosmic horror threatens the table, the area, perhaps even the world.

If you're shot once, you could die. Just like in real life. A stab wound? Possibly fatal. A multi-tentacled horror with the strength of many humans? That's a painfully horrifying and possible death.

The strength of this system is with a DM who can spin suspense, tension, and build up the horror even before the big reveal. I've played multiple variations of it and have enjoyed each experience thoroughly.

Cypher Fantasy System: A Great High Fantasy Alternative to D&D

The Cypher System is a simple system similar to Fate/Fate Core in that it's designed to be flexible for any genre or game setting, creating a simple, flexible, and rules-light frame that can be easily applied to any gaming table.

This was also a system that intentionally created supplemental content and encouraged third-party creators to make supplemental content that was genre-based. Since D&D and Pathfinder were the two largest TTRPG systems, it was clear that the hunger for high fantasy and sword & sorcery–based fantasy was still in high demand, and so there are scores of books specifically based around using the Cypher system with fantasy adventure.

Sometimes referred to as the Cypher Fantasy System, this system might be the perfect fit for you if you have great stories involving magic, dragons, Fey, or anything fantastical and don't want to use anything too restrictive.

This is one of the systems that will surely pick up a lot of new fans abandoning D&D (at least the new editions of it) after the OGL debacle.

Vampire: The Masquerade: Undead Politics, Intrigue, Drama, and Horror

Vampire isn't going to be for every group, but for the right gaming group, this one-of-a-kind TTRPG system can deliver a truly different experience. This is a system all about intrigue, misdirection, and oftentimes a table full of players who aren't necessarily allies but who are aligned as long as the success of the group forwards their own individual ambitions, as well.

The lore in this system is among the best and most in-depth I've seen, with each vampire clan distinctly different in abilities, temperament, and even appearance. This is a game where your clan is a major part of your identity and persona, from the elegant and artistic to the brutal and animalistic (perhaps even literally).

This is a system heavy on intrigue, on deceit, on each player not only having a common goal but also having their own manipulations, problems, and potential grifts needing to take place all at once. It's a game of alliances, betrayals, begrudging assistance, and an always wary eye for the Inquisition... or beasts even worse than them that also haunt the nights.

More than most systems, Vampire: The Masquerade is a TTRPG system where it's extremely important to talk about lines and veils before session zero, discuss what the boundaries are, set expectations, and have the right mature group to do a campaign with this system.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse

Ever get so mad you just want to howl at the moon? Well, no need to excuse yourself in this system—you're just playing in character. A d10 system from the same publishers as Vampire: The Masquerade, Werewolf is set in the same world and gives an interesting insight into the lives of these lupine monsters.

Originally created by Gaia to defend all that was good, lupines have gotten off the beaten path meant for them, thanks to pride, once or twice (well, that's an understatement), with one clan of werewolves even falling to the corruption of The Wyrm (the embodiment of corruption and evil).

Werewolf is a fun system that gives some interesting gameplay mechanics as werewolves are terrifying to other supernatural creatures because of their ability to cause deep non-surface damage immediately, though that also applies to one another.

Having a DM who understands the lore, how to bring in the Inquisition, and how to weave a great story is important, but Werewolf can be a very fun change-of-pace system that delivers a very memorable story.

Savage Worlds Dead Lands: Red Dead Redemption in a Post-Apocalyptic World

Savage Worlds is a very interesting system. It's more of an open rule set like Cypher or Fate, but a touch more fleshed out. Like the Cypher System, Savage Worlds made a lot of content to slot into the game based on what genre the game master wants to run at the table.

While we've done plenty of corporate dystopian future games with this system in our group, the attached system that Savage Worlds is most well known for is Dead Lands. Savage Worlds Dead Lands is basically Red Dead Redemption in a post-apocalyptic world.

The Apocalypse has happened, a mess of a dangerous world remains, and your party needs to navigate whatever specific challenges are thrown your ways in this always dangerous world, filled with things waiting for an opportunity to kill you.

The enemies are uniquely weird and terrifying, the world is interesting, and a good DM has so much to work with. This is the go-to for a post-apocalyptic system and worth a serious look for any table willing to engage.

The Warhammer Universe: War, War, and More War Across the Universe

This is another one of those systems that will be gold for the right groups, a decent change of pace for others, but not quite the right one for others. The Warhammer Universe is all about war. Demonic Chaotic forces want to destroy all life, an Emperor commanding all of humanity in a non-stop war pushes their forces forward, and may the Emperor help you if Orcs, The Inquisition, or Eldar (Space Elves) show up.

There are technically five different sub-systems in the Warhammer Universe as each book released in the series has its own group of rules, weapons, classes, and other mechanics that are unique to that particular setting. This can drastically change the gaming experience with each system and really opens up the feeling of having an entire universe to explore.

The Books/Sub-Systems in the Warhammer Universe are:

• Rogue Trader
• Only War
• Dark Heresy
• Deathwatch
• Black Crusade

Think of each book as describing one part of the Universe, and following the rules therein. A universe eternally at war, facing pure chaos that would make The Event Horizon a double take, and enemies that were terrifying on a level that's hard to comprehend, the Warhammer Universe is a lore-heavy system full of intrigue, combat, and some uniquely science fiction always facing potentially Universe-ending apocalypse goodness.

Eclipse Phase: You Can Be Anything... Anything!

Eclipse Phase is a really interesting system, and one that has been 100% fully released by the creators on their website in PDF form. You can have an online version of the books for free.

Using a d100 system, this is moderately crunchy when it comes to figuring out attributes and skills...but this opens up the path for customization in pretty much any direction you want.

This is a very different system where you can be a cloud of sentient nanite robots, a cyber-enhanced dolphin, an obsolete Terminator-style robot, or you know, whatever. Character creation is where this system really shines and allows players to really think outside of the box when moving from one body to the next.

This makes sci-fi dystopia easy to create and can cause some campaigns that will have a flavor that is impossible to replicate in almost any other system, and it gives more solid numbers to work with for people who love the fluidity of Fate, but need less reliance on pure storytelling as a DM and some support from a system to make it work.

A great curveball of a system, and since it's out there for free, give it a shot!

Mork Borg: Your World Is Dying, and You're Next!

This rules-light system is a "The Apocalypse is happening right now, sucks to be you," setup where your planet is dying, society is crumbled, and you're probably dying next.

This is a high fatality campaign where player characters are very killable and you will want multiple character sheets on hand. This is also a system with a very strong niche following and it can be a lot of fun if you know what to expect and have a good DM who knows how to run a high tension, high action game.

Currently Mork Borg is definitely in the "Cult Following" area of tabletop RPGs, but it's fan base is extremely devoted and although my playthrough experience was brief, and involved two deaths in one 6-hour afternoon, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is a very different system and if you like Sci-Fi apocalyptic horror, then this is a system that you really should check out.

Monster of the Week: The Best Character Creation Out There

My Sunday gaming group recently just started playing Monster of the Week, and it has been an absolute blast so far. There are many, many great things about how this system works.

The Monster of the Week style makes it great for one shots or for a small mini-series, the character classes are wonderful, and interact in very interesting ways, and one area where this fun and story-based system excels in a unique way is character creation.

Character creation is done partly by the player as they choose from options to build their class, but then it's a group situation. One by one players look at a long list of options and must assign one to each other player at the table - building up a web of relationships among players at the table.

Some are direct like "You saved my life," or "We're blood relations," while others make things interesting like "You saw me abuse my powers for selfish reasons, tell the table what you saw me do, what happened, and how our relationship formed out of that."

This eliminates the often joked about and memed "4 adventurers meet in a bar" type thing. Everyone works together to not only build individual stories but a group story, and this creates some really fantastic character dynamics before the first session even starts.

It's a great option for a modern supernatural system and I can't recommend it enough.

Over the Edge: Roll With the Book... Or Don't; the System Holds Up

Over the Edge is in line with the Fate style of system where it is extremely open-ended and you only need 2 normal d6 dice in order to play it. There is a book that describes the crazy modern island of (ISLAND) and paints a very, very strange picture of this location.

You might take it, or you might do what my group did and just drop the setting entirely and go with the very open dice system and open story-telling ability of the DM. Either way is acceptable.

Over the Edge is a really different system that is out there as far as core books go, but having such a versatile 2 d6 system that is adaptable, has great variable rules, and is so easy to learn opens up the story-telling possibilities.

Pathfinder or Pathfinder 2: The High Fantasy D&D Alternative

While Pathfinder was under the OGL, and originally not going to make this list as a result, with the recent news that parts of the OGL would be moved to Creative Commons to permanently protect certain gaming rights means the often referred to as "alternative" high fantasy TTRPG system is back on the table as a viable alternative that isn't going anywhere.

Pathfinder 2 is independent enough that it wouldn't matter as the system went under many changes or adjustments moving into a new system.

Whether you go with Pathfinder 1 or Pathfinder 2, this is a much more number crunchy system that many see as the spiritual successor to D&D 3.5. While there are many more feats, much more math, many more options, this can make it more complex but if you've done 5th Ed D&D and your group is ready for something more in the weeds or next level, Pathfinder is a great choice.

While not as simple or streamlined, Pathfinder makes up for that with versatility. Because there are so many stats, so many feats, you can customize characters in a way and to a depth that isn't comparable to most others out there.

This is a great way to stay in high fantasy but go to the next level when it comes to a fantasy-based TTRPG.

Don't Let D&D's Direction Get You Down

While the disappointment, frustration, and outright anger is understandable for creators and players alike in the D&D world, Hasbro's attempt at a new OGL could unintentionally be one of the best things that ever happens to your gaming experience.

Update: The backlash was so overwhelming that the new draconian OGL was scrapped with a lot of D&D properties going straight to Creative Commons, but understandably distrust remains among many players.

Even setting aside the amazing revision to put the original OGL into Creative Commons so it can't be messed with, there's no question a lot of trust was broken and it's going to be hard to rebuild that relationship.

And we haven't even gotten to the clear intention to force DnD to be an expensive recurring subscription, micro-transaction plagued MMORPG knock-off, which most players I've talked to are convinced will cause One DnD/6E to be a disaster.

But the bright side: there are so many more systems and stories out there that many gaming groups are going to get so much out of and are now open to trying.

Having groups open to trying out new gaming systems and new genres will create more great stories and experiences, in addition to helping independent publishers get more attention.

Add in the fact that many existing publishing companies are already designing open systems and non-revocable open gaming licenses for future use, and it's quite possible that the golden age of TTRPGs have only just begun!

© 2023 Shane Dayton

The legend of Mewtwo has captured the imagination of Pokémon collectors since the franchise's birth in 1996. The product of sinister experiments using DNA extracted from the legendary Pokémon Mew, Mewtwo is a one-of-a-kind Pokémon with a number of rare and valuable cards that are prized by collectors from all over the world.

In this article, we'll take a look at just five of these stunning Mewtwo cards from sets spanning Pokémon's long history in the United States.

Read ahead, because you might just find one of these cards in your collection!

1. Mewtwo Star—Holon Phantoms (2006)

Mewtwo Star is one of an illustrious set of ultra-rare "Star" Pokémon, released between EX Team Rocket Returns (2004) and EX Power Keepers (2007) as well as appearing as possible rarity types in Pop Series 5 booster packs.

This Mewtwo card can be found in EX Holon Phantoms booster packs, from which collectors can also find other desirable cards like Gyarados Star Delta Species and Rayquaza Delta Species. But be warned before you go looking for this card in booster packs because "Star" Pokémon appear, on average, in only one in seventy-two booster packs.

That doesn't seem too bad until you realize that just one booster pack of EX Holon Phantoms can cost you $300 or more! If you're interested in picking up one for yourself, you're better off buying it as a single, because near mint copies can be found for around $400.

2. Rocket's Mewtwo ex—Team Rocket Returns (2004)

Released in 2004, the Pokémon Team Rocket Returns expansion set introduced a host of new cards featuring some of the most notorious members of the Pokémon universe: Team Rocket.

This set brings us a ton of iconic cards, like Rocket's Snorlax ex and Torchic Star. However, Rockets' Mewtwo ex remains one of the most valued and widely sought card from this all-star set.

Despite being slightly easier to find than Mewtwo Star, with ex cards appearing in one out of every thirty-six booster packs, near mint copies of Rocket's Mewtwo ex can similarly sell for $300–$400.

3. Shining Mewtwo—Neo Destiny (2002)

Released in 2002, the Pokémon Neo Destiny set featured the highest number of Shining Pokémon cards released during the vintage Wizards of the Coast era. These special cards feature a unique holographic foil pattern that gives them an almost ethereal, shimmering appearance.

Exceeded in both rarity and value by only one other Shining Pokémon, Shining Charizard, Shining Mewtwo is one of the most coveted cards in the set of ten.

Shining Pokémon only appeared in about one in every twelve to eighteen Neo Destiny booster packs, and due to the low print rates and high demand for these vintage packs, just one pack of Neo Destiny will run collectors $600 or more.

That's why, if your old collection happens to include this card, you're in luck. Near mint unlimited copies can sell for $400 or more, and if you find a near mint first edition printing, you may be able to sell if for well over $1000, and possibly for even more!

4. Mewtwo (XY Evolutions Staff Prerelease)—XY Promos (2015)

This Mewtwo card is the only card featured in this article that cannot be found in any booster packs. In fact, this card is so rare that the only way that you could get your hands on one when they were released in 2015 was by working at a Pokémon sanctioned XY-Evolutions release event.

That being said, these events happened in local gaming shops, bookstores, and toy stores all over the United States, so thousands exist out there, but they certainly don't come cheap.

Though Pokémon released these cards to reward event hosts and their employees over many years, the Staff promo type is now an extinct breed, with Pokémon releasing their final four Staff cards in 2020's Vivid Voltage set.

Those interested in picking up this Mewtwo Staff Promo from XY-Evolutions will have to dig deep, with collectors commonly paying $400 or more for near mint copies!

5. Mewtwo—Base Set (First Edition) (1999)

It's hard to beat the classics, and collectors agree!

Despite producing well over 100 unique Mewtwo cards over its 20-year history, Mewtwo's first printing remains one of the most sought after and valuable printings of all time.

Unfortunately, most people who have a Base Set Mewtwo have an "unlimited" copy. These cards were produced to meet massive demand that Pokémon garnered after the release of the first and second print runs, and they are far more common. It's easy to tell if your card is "unlimited" because it will not include a first edition stamp and will feature a drop shadow on the right and bottom of the illustrative frame. Unlimited copies in near mint condition can go for $30 to $40.

However, if your Base Set Mewtwo has a first edition stamp, that means it was among the first Pokémon cards ever printed for the American market. It is among a historic class of cards that are widely sought after by vintage collectors.

A near mint copy of this Mewtwo in First Edition can go for well over $600!

Happy Collecting!

Despite its immense power, Mewtwo is a troubled and complex creature. Although it was created to be the ultimate weapon, Mewtwo's intelligence and free will led it to reject its creators and seek a life of its own. This Pokémon's journey of self-discovery is as enchanting as it is awe-inspiring, captivating Pokémon enthusiasts and driving the fan culture that ultimately makes some of Mewtwo's printings especially desired.

Whether you're a veteran Pokémon card collector, or just picking up your first cards, the Mewtwo cards listed in this article are sure to elevate any collection!