Meet the Community #20 : Silence

After a long break from collectible card games, during which I explored other passions, I started looking for a new game to get back into earlier this year. None of them convinced me until February 1st, when I discovered Altered during a stream by Les Joueurs du Dimanche with Maxildan, Rofellos, and Marie Grand-jeux. Régis Bonnessé was a guest to present the game and the Kickstarter. Although I knew nothing about the game, I was instantly hooked on every level.

First, the innovative gameplay intrigued me, particularly the idea of not keeping your characters on the field. As I delved deeper, I discovered the strategic richness this brings. It's a gameplay that completely disrupts the usual mechanics of card games I've played, and it was exactly what I needed.

As a deck-building enthusiast, I found the rarity system particularly fascinating: the limitations on rare cards force complex strategic choices. Combined with a 39-card deck, it makes every decision more impactful and difficult.

Then, I was won over by its vibrant artistic direction, which brings a breath of fresh air to a genre often confined to dark aesthetics, marked by blood and combat. The fact that Altered is a French game also strengthened my interest.

Finally, the concept of "unique" cards definitively convinced me. As a child, I thought this idea was utopian, almost unachievable, but with Altered, this vision has become a reality, perfectly integrated into the game.

This summer, I was craving more Altered content and eagerly waiting for my display to arrive. So, I had the idea of creating my own content to share my passion for the game and deck building. On August 19th, I launched my Instagram page dedicated to the game.

Ever since I was young, deck building has been my favorite part of collectible card games. To me, it’s a science, where I can spend hours testing my decks and agonizing over one or two card changes. It's also a great exercise to improve and better understand the game.

Instagram seemed like the best platform to share my work, bring players together, and add an aesthetic touch to my decklists to make them enjoyable to read while highlighting the game’s stunning illustrations. I also interact with the community to gather players' opinions and keep everyone updated on the game’s competitive scene.

At first, I was drawn to Yzmir, especially thanks to Akesha on Board Game Arena with her "After You" ability. I found the idea of letting the opponent play very clever. Then I discovered the Lyra faction as more heroes were revealed, and it became my favorite. Known for their creativity and passion, Lyra gives me a freedom and enjoyment in deck building that no other faction offers, in my opinion. The wide range of rare cards and variety of mechanics in this faction provides a fantastic foundation for deck construction. The arrival of unique cards adds even more to this faction, making any type of deck viable.

As for my favorite card, I prefer those that offer both defensive and offensive options. The versatility and agility of a deck are sometimes more important than raw power in the game. In this sense, The Sandman is a card I really like. I could also mention other cards such as Snatched, Dr. Frankenstein, or Kodama.

Trading is a key element in the culture of TCGs, which has grown even more with the rise of the internet and trading platforms. However, it's the part I enjoy the least in card games. So, I can’t wait to be able to print the cards I purchase from the market. I love the idea of receiving in a booster the cards I’ve acquired through the app. This will allow me to carefully seek out all the unique cards I need to build custom decks.

The game has just officially launched, so I’m also looking forward to the first major physical events to see where the meta heads. And, of course, I’m already excited for the next sets to build more decks and create even more combinations!

• Instagram: @silence_altered_decklist