''Blood Wars'' is an out-of-print

collectible card game A collectible card game (CCG), also called a trading card game (TCG) among other names, is a type of card game that mixes strategy game, strategic deck building elements with features of trading cards. The genre was introduced with ''Magic: The G ...

produced by TSR, based on the

Planescape ''Planescape'' is a campaign setting for the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game, designed by David Cook (game designer), Zeb Cook, and published by TSR, Inc., TSR in 1994. Description ''Planescape'' encompasses numerous Plane (Dun ...

campaign setting from ''

Dungeons & Dragons ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) originally created and designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical ...

''.

Publication history

The game was released in March 1995 as part of TSR's 20th anniversary. The original release contained 334 cards in the set, sold in 15-card

booster pack In collectible card games, digital collectible card games and collectible miniature wargames, a booster pack is a sealed package of cards or figurines, designed to add to a player's collection. A box of multiple booster packs is referred to as a ...

s and two 50-card dual decks. Card art was designed by various artists, including

Tony DiTerlizzi Tony M. DiTerlizzi (born September 6, 1969) is an American fantasy artist, children's book creator, and motion picture producer. In the gaming industry, he is best known for his work in the collectible card game '' Magic: The Gathering'' and on ...

, Newt Ewell, Henry Higgenbotham,

Jennell Jaquays Jennell Allyn Jaquays (born Paul Jaquays; October 14, 1956 – January 10, 2024) was an American game designer, Game art design, video game artist, and illustrator of tabletop role-playing games (RPGs). Her notable works include the ''Dungeons & ...

, Dana Knutson,

Rob Lazzaretti Rob Lazzaretti is an artist whose work has appeared largely as a cartographer for roleplaying games, particularly the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game from TSR, Inc., TSR. Biography Rob Lazzaretti was born and raised in central I ...

, Robin Raab,

Robh Ruppel Robh Ruppel is an American artist best known for his work on role-playing game products. Critic Joseph Szadkowski of ''The Washington Times'' has referred to him as a "horror genius". Early life Robh Ruppel grew up in Bellaire, Texas, and atte ...

, and Dave Sutherland. A series of

expansion set An expansion pack, expansion set, supplement, or simply expansion, is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game, video game, collectible card game or miniature wargame. An expansion may introduce new rules or game mechanics tha ...

s called ''escalation packs'' were scheduled for publication. ''Insurgents of the Inner Planes'' never materialized and was halted at the printer in February 1996. The player guide '' Warlord's Tactical Manual'' was published in January 1996.

Gameplay

Players use cards representing Warlords and Legions for combat to claim Battlefield cards.

Reception

The game was said to play "pretty well as a multi-player game, and it's much better than TSR's Spellfire" according to

Allen Varney Allen Varney (born 1958) is an American writer and game designer. Varney has produced numerous books, role-playing game supplements, technical manuals, articles, reviews, columns, and stories, as well as the fantasy novel ''Cast of Fate'' ( TSR, ...

of '' The Duelist.''

Reviews

*'' The Duelist'' #5

Legacy

Blood Wars was notable for the aggressive stance TSR took against fan websites displaying artwork from the game. The result was to suppress popularity of the game while it was still being published. This was in contrast to

Wizards of the Coast Wizards of the Coast LLC (WotC or Wizards) is an American game Publishing, publisher, most of which are based on fantasy and List of science fiction themes, science-fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail game stores. In 1999, toy ...

, which allowed fair use reproduction of '' Magic: The Gathering'' copyrighted images online. The collectability of its chase cards was also notable across collectible card games, especially "The Lady of Pain." The card game is not associated with the '' Blood Wars'' Polish online MMORPG, which is not based on Planescape.

Publication history

Gameplay

Reception

Reviews

Legacy

Notes

References

Further reading