Genso Suikoden Card Stories TCG

The Genso Suikoden Card Stories Trading Card Game (幻想水滸伝カードストーリーズ TCG) was a collectible card game produced and released by Konami. It made its first appearance in the fall of 2001, in tandem with the GBA game. It was released in two versions - the original, which included a starter pack and five volumes of booster cards, and part II, including a starter and four volumes of boosters. Konami discontinued the game in 2004.

Gameplay

Genso Suikoden Card Stories TCG
Card Types (種類)
Character • Mission • Facilities
Order of Play
Preparation Phase • Main Phase • Deployment Step • Clear Decision Step • Garrison Step • Replenishment Phase • Turn Shift Phase
Rules
Deck rules • Game field • Link rules • Unique Rule

The game is a trading card game in which players draw cards from their respective decks and take turns playing cards onto the field. Each player uses a deck containing 50 cards.

A player wins when one of these conditions are met:

• The player's wins the agreed upon number of VP (Victory Points). 5 VP is the standard amount suggested by the game rules. VP is gained by using Character cards to "clear" Mission cards.
• The player's opponent is required to draw, but the opponent has no more cards to draw from their deck.

Players prepare decks before the game and once prepared and turn order established, begin the game. Player's place Mission cards and attempt to fulfil the cards qualifications in order to acquire the VP gifted by the card, as marked on the card itself. The opposing player can also attempt to fulfil the cards qualifications, winning the VP for themselves.

Besides this, players can also attempt to construct Facilities cards. They are built in much the same way as Mission cards are played but do not provide VP. If the player succeeds in building the Facilities card they played, they gain the bonus granted by that card. If the opposing player wins, however, the Facilities card is considered to have been destroyed and no bonus is granted to either player.

Play continues in this manner, with control passing between each player at every Turn Shift Phase until one meets one of the victory conditions listed above.

Differences between Card Stories and Card Stories Chapter II

Technically, Genso Suikoden Card Stories and Genso Suikoden Card Stories Chapter II are the same game. Although there had been rule changes and refinements, cards from one release are compatible with cards from the other. In truth, the two releases are two different series within the same game, much like other commercial trading card games.

The following changes occurred between the two series.

• Players were limited to 4 of each card in their deck in Card Stories Chapter II. There had previously been no limitations.
• Several card text abbreviations were removed and some new ones added.
• The Unique Rule was expanded to include Mastermind cards in Card Stories Chapter II.

Card Stories

The first version of the game contained a total of 556 cards, released in five volumes of booster packs. The cards featured characters and missions from the first three Suikoden games.

Each volume of boosters contained seven types of cards - Masterminds, Leaders, Commoners, Free, Craftsman, Mission and Facilities. Along with normal cards, each set had a collection of Star Parallel (SP) cards - shiny versions of the character cards - and Radiance Star Parallel (RSP) cards, mostly for key characters. RSP cards were shiny with a cross pattern in the sheen in boosters 1 and 2, and shiny with large flecks in the later sets.

The boosters were sold in packs of 10, with 9 normal cards and one SP or RSP card. RSP cards were considerably more rare. Each booster pack sold for 300 yen.

The Starter Box and the first two booster sets contained artwork from several contributing artists. They were as follows:

• Ishikawa Fumi (石川史)
• Ohtsuki Beruno (おおつきべるの)
• Ogata Koji (緒方剛志)
• Otokita Takao (おときたたかお)
• Kaneda Eiji (金田榮路)
• Kawano Junko (河野純子)
• Kinoshita Sakura (木下さくら)
• Kedo Mitsuharu (外戸光晴)
• Takamichi (たかみち)
• Taguchi Junko (田口順子)
• Hasumi Miyako (羽住都)
• Hirotake (洋武)
• Fujita Kaori (藤田香)
• Futaba Jun (双羽純)
• Masaki (正輝)
• Miki Sato (みきさと)
• Yashioka Sho (八至丘翔)
• Kyoto Animation (京都アニメーション)

Starter Box

The first starter box contained 50 cards, instructions and a paper playing field. Each starter box was sold for 1280 yen. The box contained images of the hero of Suikoden II and Luca Blight on the front, and Nash Latkje, Nanami and Zamza on the back.

For specific card details, see Starter Box

Booster Volume 1 (#1 - #191)

The first volume of the CCG contained cards and missions from Suikoden II. Volume 1 had a total of 191 normal cards, 148 Star Parallel (SP) cards, and 26 Radiance Star Parallel (RSP) cards.

For specific card details, see Booster Pack Vol.1

Booster Volume 2 (#192 - #257)

The second volume featured characters and missions from the first Suikoden game. It contained 66 normal cards, 61 SP cards and 19 RSPs. Volume 2 also had several special character cards featuring characters from Suikoden 3 depicted at the age they would have been during Suikoden 1. Several of these cards were rare. Volume 2 also had three character cards for Genso Suikogaiden Vol.2 - Julie Latkje, Lena Suphina and Zaj Quiroz.

For specific card details, see Booster Pack Vol.2

Premium Pack (#258 - #397)

The Premium pack was a re-printing of the first booster set with the original character designs by Ishikawa Fumi. It contained 134 normal cards, five special illustration cards, 134 SP cards and 27 RSP cards. It contained no mission or location cards.

There was a printing error in the first run of the cards. Number 276, Han Cunningham, had a picture of Alex. Konami offered replacements with the picture corrected by mailing in a defective card.

For specific card details, see Premium Pack

Booster Volume 3 (#398 - #477)

Volume 3 contains some characters and missions from Suikoden III with the official character artwork by Ishikawa Fumi. It contained 78 normal cards, 58 SP cards, and 12 RSP cards. 477 was a special RSP-only card of the Masked Harmonian Bishop. This volume did not have every character from Suikoden III included.

For specific card details, see Booster Pack Vol.3

Booster Volume 4 (#478 - #556)

Volume 4 contains the remaining characters from Suikoden III with the official character artwork by Ishikawa Fumi. It contained 76 normal cards, 56 SP cards and 12 RSP cards. Two additional RSP cards - 555 and 556 - were released with no normal or SP versions. They were special prizes given out at events and are exceptionally rare. 555 depicts Luc and 556 is of Sasarai.

For specific card details, see Booster Pack Vol.4

Card Stories II

The second version of the game was released with a starter box and in four sets of booster packs. The cards contain characters and missions from Suikoden II, Suikoden III and Suikoden IV.

As with the first version of the game, there were seven types of cards - Masterminds, Leaders, Commoners, Free, Craftsman, Mission and Facilities, along with Star Parallel and Radiance Star Parallel versions. Some volumes also had special signed cards.

Part 2 had revised rules that tightened up the game play. The numbering system was also changed - each card number was prefaced by "CS2".

Starter Deck

The second starter box contained 50 cards, instructions and a paper playing field. Each starter box was sold for 1280 yen. The box contained images of Hugo, Sgt. Joe, Aila, Lucia, Dupa, the Fire Hero on the front and Yumi, Yuiri and Yun on the back.

For specific card details, see CS2 Starter Deck

Booster Volume 1 (CS-1 - CS-132)

Volume 1 features characters and missions from Suikoden III, with new artwork from several different artists. It contained 132 normal cards, 117 SP cards, 24 RSP, and 18 special signed cards.

For specific card details, see CS2 Booster Pack Vol.1

Booster Volume 2 (CS-133 - CS-266)

Volume 2 featured characters and missions from Suikoden II, with new artwork from several different artists. It contained 133 normal cards, 118 SP, 24 RSP and 21 special signed cards.

For specific card details, see CS2 Booster Pack Vol.2

Booster Volume 3 (CS-267 - CS-374)

Volume 3 featured characters from both Suikoden I and II, including characters who never appears in previous sets, along with characters from Genso Suikogaiden. It contained 107 cards.

For specific card details, see CS2 Booster Pack Vol.3

To The Promised Land, Remake Booster (CS-375 - CS-644)

The Remake Booster was a re-issue of the original Starter Box and Booster Pack Vol.1 from the first Card Stories, along with some new cards for characters from Suikoden III and Suikoden IV. It contained 269 cards.

For specific card details, see To the Promised Land

Booster Volume 4 (CS-645 - CS-789)

Volume 2 features characters from Suikoden IV, with the original character designs. It contained 144 cards.

For specific card details, see CS2 Booster Pack Vol.4

Related Publications

The Genso Suikoden Card Stories Visual Book contains some artwork from the first two booster sets, and information on game play. It has a list and commentary from the artists who contributed to the first two booster sets. It comes with a bonus RSP card of Zaj Quiroz from booster set 2.

The Genso Suikoden Card Stories Card Complete Book is a complete picture guide for the first Card Stories up to Card Stories II, Booster 2. It does not contain information on the last two booster sets.

References

1. Genso Suikoden Card Stories Card Complete Book
2. Genso Suikoden Card Stories Visual Book