The Gospel of Christ is the largest Redemption set released in the game’s 25+ years. It should be no surprise that such a large set required more people involved than ever before! What you’re about to experience is a glimpse at some really special cards that stand out to the people who spent the most time working on GoC. [WARNING – SPOILERS!!!]
If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to check out GoC Significant Cards – Part 1!
Going through a bunch of game reports weekly can be a rather dry but necessary, task. The sense of humor that came through in Joe’s weekly reports made a mundane task quite enjoyable! Joe tested a really wide variety of GoC for us. Everything from Type 1 to Type 2 and just about every theme in the set too!
Since the angels are spread across three different themes they are something he used in various forms quite a few times. During phase 1 testing he mentioned that angels were lacking the solid territory class characters that other themes in the game have. At the time, it wasn’t something the leadership team chose to change. But we always listen to all of the feedback we receive. We may not act on it immediately, or even agree with it at times, but we file it away and keep it in mind.
Fast forward to phase 2 testing and the angels got a bit of an overhaul, including a couple of strong territory class characters, like what Joe had suggested to us months before. He also had this to say about why he chose this card:
“The ability to grab a gospel dominant is also pretty big for me. Some of my favorite and most played cards have been The Resurrection, Harvest Time, Crowds Choice, Star of Bethlehem, and even the Nativity SoG. There have been many great games using these or playing against them. All in all I think the link that Resurrection Revealer has to them along with the usage it’s had for me connects a lot of experiences.”
Jayden also tested a large variety of formats and themes during our phase 1 and phase 2 sessions. He’s responsible for a number of healthy adjustments that we made to cards which probably made it quite difficult to pick just one. But he settled on Star of Bethlehem, a dominant that underwent changes, more changes and then more changes after that. Let’s just say that it wasn’t easy to get this one right.
Here’s what Jayden had to say:
“The card I had the most fun testing and probably had the most impact on would have to be Star of Bethlehem. I think activating star abilities outside of the normal conditions for doing so is very cool and finding the best ways to utilize them was a fun challenge.
Early on it inspired some crazy deck ideas, like one that just discarded a giant deck to The Gates of Hell and activate all of the game’s best star abilities at once. It led to finding new ways to win battles with a Dominant. And lastly I really like where the Nativity theme as a whole ended up. I think Star of Bethlehem gives it what it needs to shine.”
It was really hard to pick just one significant card! That seems to be a running theme for most of us. John was no exception. In addition to card design, testing and all the other things John brings to the team, he plays a pretty special role in helping with the artistic design. While he doesn’t have time to do a lot of the graphic design himself, he has a very good eye for opportunities to improve design elements and make things look better.
One of the ways that he does that is by suggesting areas that we can add what we call “3D effects”. That is where a piece of the card art extends outside of the standard art box. John is not only looking for new opportunities to use those, but also for new ways that we can use them.
He had this to say:
“One of my favorite things that I get the opportunity to do each year is look for 3D effects that can be implemented. I don’t even think I tested Gabriel in a deck at all. It was a very unique opportunity to do an effect using the card border and text box that we hadn’t done before.”
Roy had this to say about the card he chose:
“Joseph has always been dear to my heart. This amazing man is the epitome of an ordinary person, understated, probably one of the least highlighted in the Bible – but a remarkable human, next to his wife Mary – for accepting the responsibility to be the human father of Our Savior and God!
God is good. I am sure that The Holy Spirit whispered to us to make Joseph’s special ability to be able access both draw pile or reserve. Joseph’s virtues make him the ideal earthly father who went out of his way to completely rely on God’s guidance especially when he needed to look for a place for Baby Jesus to be born – and was given a manger – the only place ‘reserved’ for his family for the Holy Infant to be born – and Joseph did well to provide.
Joseph had the gift of always finding a way to support for his family no matter what. I am certain that he always had some kind of ‘reserve’ to use for his family’s needs, whether it be spiritual (prayer) or material (money from carpenter work) or food and other essentials stored away.
Joseph obeyed God through an angel in a dream to marry (band to) Mary in spite of almost certain ridicule from his Jewish faith. Joseph’s marriage to Mary is God-made (as all marriages!) – a bond that can never be undone by man (cannot be negated).
And to be able to take a neutral card? That is so very much Joseph! He was a man who cared for everyone as he does so even to this date as a Heavenly model – modeling after his own Son and wife – lover of all – good or bad – neutral!
This GoC card will always be close to my heart. Whenever I see it, I am reminded of utter humility that I must keep learning all my life.
I will give a copy of the card to my best friend who I owe my life to – His name is Joseph. He was my classmate from kindergarten till freshman year before he left for the US. After 33 long years we finally re-united. He has been a main financial source as I have been employed by him to help him with his IT jobs by helping him with project management.
11/9 – how significant are these numbers! I will never forget 9-11 because I was at JFK Airport for work the day it happened! I am sure that if Joseph were alive in 2001, he would have volunteered to help rescue victims at the twin towers. I would have imagined that he would have tearfully embraced and kissed his Son before embarking on his rescue mission. But I am 100% sure that Jesus would have blessed his dad with an eternal hedge of protection – a Godly blessing!
White is not just the color of Redemption’s Nativity theme – it stands for purity – a virtue both Mary and Joseph had and always will have. I wish to emulate that.
I want to be like Joseph:
a. Generous and self-giving.
b. Humble despite his God-given authority as head of household.
c. Lived an interior life – he was a carpenter who was active in his trade but was also contemplative – I could imagine the young man Jesus admiring His dad.
d. Had amazing faith and obedience as he faced the mystery of Mary’s conceiving a child that was not inherently his.
May The Holy Spirit continue to guide me and keep my fire aflame for the love of the game and the spreading of its seeds!
Praise be to the ever living and ever loving God!”
Well, I definitely didn’t save the “best for last”. As the lead on the Gospel of Christ set and the graphic design, there isn’t a single card that I didn’t impact in one way or another. Picking one is kind of like blindly tossing a dart.
In the past when I’ve played other games, I really enjoyed strategies that allowed you to take and use your opponent’s resources. Redemption has had very little of that over the years… until now. The thieves in GoC steal a LOT of cards!
The card that represents that theme the best, and therefore was chosen as my significant card, is Purloin. The star ability can take a card (with minor limitations) and the special ability can take any card on the playing surface! I especially like the fact that it can take Three Woes; which is a staple for most decks. I like things that make players think thrice about their dominant selection. Having your Three Woes stolen and used against you will definitely make you consider your options.
The art on this card is also something that I found a while ago and really liked. I wasn’t sure if there would ever be a good opportunity to use it, but it fit well here.
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