Join Jason (CactusKnee) for a story about the development of the Scrolls Only unofficial format.
I got into Redemption early on in its history, and played quite a bit for the first four or five years. Then life hit, and I’ve had a literal 20-year hiatus from the game. I recently returned to it in early 2022 and have been adapting to all the changes since I last played. “Wait a minute… what’s a reserve?” “Star ability?” “What do the little oasis symbols mean again?” While this was a bit overwhelming at first, I must say the changes have really enhanced the game play.
One change, though, that hit me right away, was the fact that all of the 1000+ cards I owned (Classic) were no longer part of legal play. “What?!” I had to start collecting something called Rotation cards. Rest assured, and worry not good reader, I have since padded my collection well with Rotation cards, and have been navigating the new format ever since.
But what of those old Classic cards? Not having an answer at the moment, I told myself, “I guess I’ll just hang on to them for now.”
When the announcement for Nationals 2022 came out, and I saw that one of the side events was Type 1 Classic, I was excited. I could dig out those old cards that I had so lovingly played with 2 decades ago. I might be able to hold my own a little better with cards I was intimately familiar with.
Nationals was amazing! Please read/listen/watch other contributors’ content for recaps. The night before official tournament play began, the side events started. I was ready with my Classic deck. Come to find out, a “Classic” deck meant any and all cards were legal: Rotation and Classic. My assumption had been Classic cards only, since that is what it was named.
To be honest, I felt duped. My competitor came in with his very well-tuned, all-Rotation card deck, and wiped the floor with me. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind losing; but I felt I had brought a knife to a gunfight, where everyone else knew it was a gunfight, and I had been told it was a knife fight. Ultimately, it was my own ignorance that was my undoing.
I was talking with my friend, Al, about this after the loss. He also lost, as he, too, assumed that Type 1 Classic meant only the Classic cards, not a combination of both. We decided to play a “true” Classic-cards-only exhibition game. I’ve got to say, it was pretty fun and nostalgic. I did squeak out a 5-4 win after he decked out and I had 6 left in my deck. The old style of game play felt familiar, like riding a bike.
This is where he and I got to talking. We determined that there could and should be a Classic Cards Only event at tournaments, even if it was a side-event. We presented this idea to Gabe who told us to go make it happen in the Redemption community. If people want it, they’ll include it. This is how Scrolls Only (sometimes calls Type Scrolls) was born. Like the name suggests, only cards with the Bible reference in the scroll illustration are legal for this deck: the Classic cards.
The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced that this could be a thing. Like me, others had to have had hundreds or thousands of Classic cards just sitting in a box somewhere, collecting dust. That’s a lot of invested money to not be used. It would also allow those without Rotation cards to get into the game while building up their Rotation stash. And, it would make getting Rotation boosters more valuable. Who else kept the first 4 Rotation cards in a booster pack, and then chucked the remaining Classics in a box? I can’t have been the only one.
Scrolls Only makes Classic cards valuable again. I don’t think they’ll ever overtake Rotation cards; and I don’t think they should. But it does bring more variety to the game, as well as a little nostalgia.
I am happy to report that Scrolls Only was a featured play type at the Scroll Around the Block district tournament in Rochester, NY on November 5th this year.
Needless to say, I am pretty excited about this development. I am hoping Scrolls Only will appear in other tournaments and will be able to make an appearance at Nationals 2023. But that is up to you, dear Redemption community. Dig out those old cards, and start playing some Scrolls Only decks from time to time. Even if just for the memories.
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Bill Voigt (Everytribe)
Like the idea. That’s what I thought classic was too. Just the old sets. I’m teaching a couple family’s with 5 young kids to play and we will just stick to the old sets to learn how to play. Although I’m looking forward to the next set coming out that will complement the new starter decks. Then I’ll have to teach them to play sealed deck.