Why TCGs Are Impossible to Balance

Why are some cards in Trading Card Games so much better than others? In this episode of TCG Design Academy, I look at why balance is impossible, why that's not necessarily a bad thing, and how you can design your game to be more balanced. Blog / Transcript: https://remptongames.com/2022/10/29/why-tcgs-are-impossible-to-balance/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:55 The Math Ain't Mathin' 03:47 Design Space is Limited 05:13 Power Level Depends on Context 07:46 The Designers are Outnumbered 08:52 Balance is a Moving Target 10:07 Cards are Designed for Different Audiences 11:49 Some Cards are Intentionally Weak 12:44 Bad Cards Make the Game Better 13:58 Designing for Balance