Obake Merchant

... and SEEDS OF DECAY is complete, too!

Direct link: https://obakemerchant.com/product-category/juegos/juegos-de-cartas/l5r/the-age-of-conquest-emperor/seeds-of-decay-2012/?wpf_fbv=1&orderby=sku&wpf_order=title

For a brief time, there is a full set available of SECOND CITY at the store. You know, there is something satisfying when you complete a set, so... this is the time to check if you were looking for that annoying last few cards for you binder set or your deck!

Direct link: https://obakemerchant.com/product-category/juegos/juegos-de-cartas/l5r/the-destroyer-war-celestial/second-city-2011/?wpf_fbv=1&orderby=sku&wpf_order=title

Now in, a big Emperor Edition restock... an almost complete playset, but only from the fate side.

Direct link: https://obakemerchant.com/product-category/juegos/juegos-de-cartas/l5r/the-age-of-conquest-emperor/emperor-edition-2011/?pr_stock=instock&wpf_fbv=1&orderby=sku&wpf_order=title

Because of the sudden change of ownership of the L5R game and IP back in 2015 (more than 10 years now!) the release of the promo cards for the very last arc was somewhat bumpy. We can be grateful that they were distributed at all (like it happened with the Evil Portents already printed set) , instead of just pulping them, which frankly would have been easier and cheaper for AEG

However, one thing that happened is that there were two versions of the Claiming the Throne alternate art promo! Because of printing times, AEG probably decided to print both outcomes of the Twenty Festival arc metagame. This overall competition was to decide which one of the elder sons of Iweko I were on the run for succeding their mother in the Throne, The eldest one was Seiken, a conservative that didn't like the changes happening in the Empire over the last generation, like the cultural divide between the Rokugan and the Colonies and, the peace with the Shadowlands that had resulteed in the Spider being adopted into the Empire. On the contrary, the progressive Shibatsu embraced the changes a was on really friendly terms with the Spider leadership.

Eventually Seiken won, broke his mother promises to Daigotsu, which blew spectacularly in his face, leading to hell literally breaking loose in the War of the Seals.

In any case, Seiken victory probably meant that the Shibatsu version was supposed to be destroyed but, with the changeover, both versions were released!

This makes me wonder.... Despite the momentous changes involved, probably the outcome would have been the same in general lines, even if the details would be change. What would have happened had Shibatsu come ahead? What would have triggereed the War of the Seals? Maybe the Spider would have betrayed the Empire, instead of the other way around?

Also, were there other promos in this watch that remained unreleased? Probably they weren't for, at this point, AEG had taken the probably wise decision not to create new cards as promos, but making alternate arts of legal cards.

BTW the regular version of some of those cards were not part of the final Ivory/Twenty Festival legality, but were updated reprints of existing cards (some of them last printed several years previous) which made them legal in the Onyx arc. ***EDITED FOR CORRECTION

If you want to check how these ALTERNATE ART cards looked you may check:

https://obakemerchant.com/product-category/juegos/juegos-de-cartas/l5r/a-brothers-destiny-ivory/promos-ivory-onyx-2015/?orderby=sku&wpf_order=title&wpf_fbv=1

Along the WWP run of the game (2000-2010) dozens of promos were published. Some of those were previews from the next set coming, but a majority were exclusive promos intended for organized play and most of these haven't been reprinted.

Truth to say, there is little (if anything at all) really earthshaking in gameplay terms that hasn't been reprinted, but there are some pieces that may be of interest for collectors, like Vampires from minor bloodlines, or Advanced versions of existing Kindred, powerful items, additional Werewolf allies, etc.

Sadly many of the OP promos are really hard to find in NM shape. I think is that they didn't come in boosters, but instead within a prize kit mailing box, a handful of them barely held with a rubber band, loose Iinside said box, so they consistently come with rough edges... oh well.

Anyway, I recently acquired a lot that included about a hundred of these, and the stock is now added to the store!

Direct link: https://obakemerchant.com/product-category/juegos/juegos-de-cartas/vtes/white-wolf-publishing-2000-2010/promos-wwp/?pr_stock=instock&wpf_fbv=1

After a flurry of restock post a week ago (around one per day) you'll notice that the Obake Merchant has gone silent. That doesn't means it is idle, though!

Last lot was clearly separated in sets (it came in collection binders) and, therefore, it was easy to work with it piecemeal and them make posts upon completion of each, highlighting the big hits of each of those sets. However the lot the obake gang is working on right now is a bunch of unsorted stuff... a couple of boxes, then several huge bags. Certainly, as it is usual, most of it is bulk, but there is some cool stuff here and there, too... only not enough to make a significant post about it. These cards are mostly from the Celestial and Emperor eras, but they range also from the Clan Wars to the Twenty Festival eras in lesser measure.

Those poor obake minions have been, and will continue working overtime separating each box/bag on manageable stacks... first by era, then by set; then sorting, counting and adding to the stock, before advancing to the next box/bag. Really minute, time-consuming work! Fortunately, they are paid in tainted barley, which is easy to come by.

In any case, let me encourage to those of you that use the wishlist function to keep checking and, those of you who don't... what are you waiting for!?

New in stock: A full playset of DEATH AT KOTEN!

Latest in, an almost full playset of THE HARBINGER (TH). All cards are in at the moment of posting this, including several high demand cards!

For the last week so, I have been posting regular updates regarding a restock of several sets on the FB page. Which makes me think... it has been some time since I cross-posted at the other groups this: All updates are posted first there, and only a few of them are later reposted outside. This way, faithful followers have first chance to call dibs at high demand stuff. So, if you are interested in those last few cards you need to finish your collection or deck, please follow our page or, at least, check now and then for updates!

Also, be aware there is now wishlist function, so log in in the store and mark those cards you are looking for.

There were not a lot of cards missing from GLORY OF THE EMPIRE (GotE), but the few that were, are now in stock!