TCG Interview #54: Starlight

I spoke with the creator of Starfall! Here are his answers to my questions:

Q: Please describe your trading card game! 

A: Starlight is a highly interactive creature collection game, deep in strategy if you really want to go further, but easy enough for kids to play, colorful, modern, mysterious, urban and action packed. Raised in a world reformed by the arrival of the Starlight where the new order is dictated by the Willpower. 

Q: What inspired you to create your own TCG? 
A: My own feeling of finding a TCG that allows the player to express themselves, that shows that games built differently from established ones could be just as good, as long as people are willing to give them the opportunity. 

Q: What TCGs did you grow up playing as a kid? 
A:Yu-Gi-OH, I was a Dragon type player, I miss those times.

Q: What sets Starlight apart from other TCGs? 
A: Starlight has a really different gameplay, you can tell it as soon as you see the card, game forces you to think like your opponent, and to analyze it, The game raises things like: there is no individual combat phase for each player. Instead, each player uses their ability card at the same time in a phase known as a "Skill Chain" where your ability is a link to your own chain, and dictates the actions they take to your starlight ally in combat. Add to this that nothing ensures that you act first because the combat flow is very dynamic. The game consumes plenty of cards from your hand so we add Reload instead of Draw phase. there are really several aspects that if they are not unique, make the game quite interesting. On the other hand, there is the lore of the world, which presents stories at a more mature level than other games of this style, exploring human consciousness in depth. 

Q: How did you come up with the name Starlight? 
A: Long story, but I'll sum it up. The game will be called Temur but looking we found TemTem and their Creatures are called Tem so it was discarted. After trying to find many names without much success... I return to the base "Starfall union" and then something that maybe you have ear before: Each person is born under a starlight. This is how the game took its name based on that concept and its name totally reformed it from what it would originally be. 

Q: How long have you been working on the game? 
A: Up to this date I have been working for about a year and a month. since I decided that this would be the project to which I would dedicate my efforts. 

Q: What is the illustration/design process like? 
A: This is the most complicated part, since each creature is created based on an aspect of human nature itself, which is reflected in its companions. Then there is the detail of having a line that differs from other creature collection games, but not too far from what has already been raised previously. Then there is the color part, which is one of the hallmarks of the game, a colorful game capable of capturing the attention but without over saturating the view. This balance is sometimes difficult to achieve, really based on all this, some arts can really take a long time, other times they are discarded halfway, because I am not convinced by just a nice, cute or strong creature, I need it to show that it is worth what it was created for. As in the case of Nyxyv, the game's flagship creature, created to pre-represent an entire universe. 

Q: When will the game officially be released? 
A: I'm still not sure, I'll take all the time I need for this, I'm the only one working on art, card design, playtesting and others, but that doesn't mean I'm not willing to help, I'd really appreciate it, but I am very picky about some things. On the other hand I don't want to deliver an incomplete product. Although there are already cards of the game circulating. 

Q: What are your future plans for Starlight? 
A:Currently working on the first deck that will be public "1YD", it will be available on certain platforms like Tabletopia, there will be a Print to Play document and for those who want to support the game, the deck will be available for purchase. Besides this I am happy to say that the bases for the next expansion are ready, and you will be the first to know the name publicly: "Nyx Shapes", but before that "Legendary Stages" will arrive. I can also say that an augmented reality APP is in the works as well as a comic but focusing more on the Starlight-Human ties, The Stadium game format is ready to be published as soon as the game is released. I also have in mind the collaboration with several games, but I can't say anything until I'm completely sure for this to happen. 

Q: Will you be at any upcoming conventions? 
A: No, I wish I could attend, but friends and members of the Starlight Discord community take the card and others to help me promote it at conventions like CAC. That makes me very happy, I hope of course I can attend in the future 

Q: Do you have any advice for someone looking to make their own TCG? 
A: Feel free to enjoy what you are creating, don't focus on what other people like in other games, think about what you want to be attractive to them in your game. Take your time to think, because you'll need it, Build bonds around your game, Show them why your game is worthy of admiration, but never stop listening to opinions. Well, how you process and adapt them is an essential part for the safe growth of the game and yours as a developer.

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