The Simpsons Trading Card Game
Encyclopedia
The Simpsons Trading Card Game is a collectible card game
based on the popular FOX
animated television series, The Simpsons
. The game was published in September 2003 by Wizards of the Coast
.
, each player provides his or her own customized deck. The first player to earn 7 points wins the game (although ties are possible).
Each player, during his or her turn, can take the following actions:
At the end of a turn, the player can discard as many cards from his or her hand as desired, and then draw back up to 6 cards. Other than certain action cards which can be played during an opponent's turn, cards can only be played during one's own turn.
Scenes are completed or trashed by having an appropriate number of characters played to them. Characters who have at least one trait matching the scene count towards completing the scene, while characters who do not have a matching trait count towards trashing the scene. Once the appropriate number of characters are present, any player can declare the scene completed or trashed during his or her turn. The player who finishes the scene decides which characters are actually used in that scene; since scenes are not completed or trashed automatically, it can be advantageous to wait to do so due to various scoring situations.
When a scene is completed, the player who played the scene and any other players with any characters used to complete the scene score one point. A bonus point is also available if the scene was completed; this point is awarded to the player with the most characters involved in completing the scene. No bonus point is awarded if there is a tie, or if the scene was trashed.
Decks may contain a single star character which matches the action cards used in that deck, if desired. Since stars do not count towards the 2 character per turn limit when played, it is favorable to include these when such cards are available.
s, or in 40-card fixed-content character theme decks. The four theme decks feature cards based around a single character from the series, specifically Bart
, Homer
, Lisa
, and Mr. Burns
. The only star character lacking a theme deck is Krusty the Clown.
There are a total of 156 unique cards. There are only 2 levels of rarity, common and rare, although there are both foil and non-foil versions of the rare cards. Certain cards are only available in theme decks, while other cards are only available in booster packs, (it is possible to get theme deck unique rare cards in foil condition from a booster pack).
Collectible card game
thumb|Players and their decksA collectible card game , also called a trading card game or customizable card game, is a game played using specially designed sets of playing cards...
based on the popular FOX
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
animated television series, The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
. The game was published in September 2003 by Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
.
Card types
The game features three card types:- Characters - Major and minor characters from the television show. These characters have traits which are matched against scene requirements.
- Scenes - Cards showing various Simpsons locations. Scenes are where players compete, in an effort to complete or trash each scene for points.
- Actions - Special cards which have some immediate effect on the game. Actions are discarded after being played.
Gameplay
While The Simpsons Trading Card Game can be played with only 2 players, it is primarily designed to be played with anywhere from 3 to 5 players. As with all games in the genreGenre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
, each player provides his or her own customized deck. The first player to earn 7 points wins the game (although ties are possible).
Each player, during his or her turn, can take the following actions:
- Play a scene, if that player does not already have one in play.
- Play character cards (up to 2) to any in-play scene.
- Declare an eligible scene completed or trashed.
- Play an action card, if the action card is legal to play at this time.
At the end of a turn, the player can discard as many cards from his or her hand as desired, and then draw back up to 6 cards. Other than certain action cards which can be played during an opponent's turn, cards can only be played during one's own turn.
Scenes are completed or trashed by having an appropriate number of characters played to them. Characters who have at least one trait matching the scene count towards completing the scene, while characters who do not have a matching trait count towards trashing the scene. Once the appropriate number of characters are present, any player can declare the scene completed or trashed during his or her turn. The player who finishes the scene decides which characters are actually used in that scene; since scenes are not completed or trashed automatically, it can be advantageous to wait to do so due to various scoring situations.
When a scene is completed, the player who played the scene and any other players with any characters used to complete the scene score one point. A bonus point is also available if the scene was completed; this point is awarded to the player with the most characters involved in completing the scene. No bonus point is awarded if there is a tie, or if the scene was trashed.
Deck construction
Player constructed decks for The Simpsons Trading Card Game must abide by the following rules and restrictions:- Decks must contain at least 40 cards.
- Decks must contain at least 9 scene cards.
- Decks cannot contain more than 3 copies of any given card.
- Only action cards belonging to a single star character can be present in a deck, e.g. actions belonging to Lisa or to Bart, but not both.
Decks may contain a single star character which matches the action cards used in that deck, if desired. Since stars do not count towards the 2 character per turn limit when played, it is favorable to include these when such cards are available.
Products and availability
Cards can be purchased either in 11-card booster packBooster pack
In 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....
s, or in 40-card fixed-content character theme decks. The four theme decks feature cards based around a single character from the series, specifically Bart
Bart Simpson
Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by actress Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
, Homer
Homer Simpson
Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons and the patriarch of the eponymous family. He is voiced by Dan Castellaneta and first appeared on television, along with the rest of his family, in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
, Lisa
Lisa Simpson
Lisa Marie Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She is the middle child of the Simpson family. Voiced by Yeardley Smith, Lisa first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Cartoonist Matt Groening...
, and Mr. Burns
Montgomery Burns
Charles Montgomery "Monty" Burns, usually referred to as Mr. Burns, is a recurring fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons, who is voiced by Harry Shearer and previously Christopher Collins. Burns is the evil owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant and is Homer...
. The only star character lacking a theme deck is Krusty the Clown.
There are a total of 156 unique cards. There are only 2 levels of rarity, common and rare, although there are both foil and non-foil versions of the rare cards. Certain cards are only available in theme decks, while other cards are only available in booster packs, (it is possible to get theme deck unique rare cards in foil condition from a booster pack).