Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game
| Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game | |
|---|---|
| |
| Platform | Tabletop |
| Engine | LANE-to-LANE Combat System |
| Release Date | August 15, 1995 |
| Language | English |
| Retail Price | $7.95 (booster), $2.65 (starter) |
The Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game is a collectible card game developed by Mag Force 7, Inc. and released in 1995.
Description
Breakdown
The base set consists of 312 regular cards divided into two factions. Each faction has 156 cards further divided into 45 commons, 50 uncommons, 50 commons and 11 nav points each. Ten of the eleven nav points are functionally identical but are printed on both card backs to ensure proper distribution.
Starters were sold from boxes of twelve each, six Terran and six Kilrathi. Each starter includes 65 cards: 41 commons, 16 uncommons, 3 rares and 5 nav points. The reverse side of each starter pack duplicates that faction's carrier nav point card because it is required for play.
Boosters were sold from boxes of 36 packs of 15 cards each. Each booster pack includes 4 commons, 2 uncommons and 1 rare from each faction as well as one nav point (with a 50% chance of having a Terran or Kilrathi card back).
Card Backs
Product Information
| Product | Internal | ISBN | UPC | EAN | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booster Pack | MAG7102 | 0-929373-29-4 | 9 780929 373294 | 59540 | $2.65 |
| Booster Box | MAG7102P | 0929373-31--6 | 9 780929 373317 | 59540 | $90 |
| Starter (Terran) | MAG7101 | 0929373-27--8 | 9 780929 737270 | 50795 | $7.95 |
| Starter (Kilrathi) | MAG7101 | 0929373-28--6 | 9 780929 373287 | 50795 | $7.95 |
| Starter (Box) | MAG7101P | 0929373-30--8 | 9 780929 373300 | 59540 | $90 |
Card Types
- Battle Damage
- Carrier
- Crew
- Fighter
- Luck
- Maneuver
- Modifier
- Nav Point
- Pilot
- Pilot Award
- Secret Orders
- Weapon System
Packaging
Booster Pack
Front
Back
Starter Packs
Terran Front
Terran Back
Kilrathi Front
Kilrathi Back
Booster Box
Front
Right
Left
Back
Top
Flap
Bottom
Starter Box
Front
Right
Left
Back
Top
Flap
Bottom
In Situ
Credits
Advertising
Press Release
Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game Press Release
Print Advertising
InQuest (Issue 4, August 1995)
InQuest (Issue 8, December 1995)
InQuest (Issue 10, February 1996)
InQuest (Issue 12, April 1996)
InQuest (Issue 13, May 1996)
Scrye (Issue 9, September-October 1995)
The Duelist (Issue 6, June 1995)
Promotional Poster
Artist William Hodgson painted a promotional poster for the game which was shown at trade shows in 1995. Only a fragment has been preserved:
This is just a sliver of the promo poster for the Wing Commander III CCG. I really enjoyed the project, in which I got to work with a great group of people at Mag Force 7 (Margaret Weis, Don Perrin, and co.). I'll upload a full image when I can find one!
Press
Behind the Scenes
- The Making of Wing Commander (Scrye #10, November 1995)
Reviews
InQuest (Issue 9, December 1995)
Card Lists
Scrye (Issue 9, September-October 1995)
News
InQuest (Issue 2, June 1995)
InQuest (Issue 5, September 1995)
Scrye (Issue 8, July-August 1995)
Duelist (Issue 9, February 1996)
Prices
InQuest
InQuest included Wing Commander in their price guide starting in January 1996. Wing Commander was delisted following issue 17.
Issue 9 (January 1996)
Issue 10 (February 1996)
Issue 11 (March 1996)
Issue 12 (April 1996)
Issue 13 (May 1996)
Issue 14 (June 1996)
Issue 15 (July 1996)
Issue 16 (August 1996)
Issue 17 (September 1996)
Development
Team Shirt
The team shirt is a baseball jersey with the Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game logo on the breast and a recolored version of the Hell's Archer Squadron logo on the back. The shirt provides Wing Commander lore which has not been presented anywhere else.
The example seen below was made for Mark Hamill to wear at GenCon in 1995. He refused and it remained unworn. It has since been signed by Margaret Weis and Tom Wilson.
Cancelled Developments
Proposed Expansion
When the game launched, the developers at Mag Force 7 had rough plans to release an 'Unlimited' set and/or additional expansions with new content in the same manner as contemporary collectible trading card games. Little beyond the initial idea was locked down, although there was talk about the first expansion including grey 'Border Worlds' cards inspired by Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom which could be played by either side as well as a Kilrathi corvette modifier card.
Gift Box
In 1996, Mag Force 7 and the rights to the Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game were sold to Thunder Castle Games. Thunder Castle Games planned to release an updated version of the game in the form of a two-player gift set. These sets, popular at the time, included everything two players would need to enjoy a collectible trading card game together. The company promoted the box set on their website but never completed development or published anything; they have since become defunct. Artist Brad Kelly designed the proposed packaging for the set. His description of the experience:
I mocked up a number of gift set box designs for TCG including this one for Wing Commander. To my knowledge it never got published. TCG mostly imploded in 1996, hemorrhaging employees, including myself. I don't recall details of any plans, beyond the obvious expectation of releasing a two-player gift box. I knew at the time that relations soured between TCG and MF7, but didn't know details. TCG had/has a reputation for burning bridges, so it was not unexpected. I spoke to Margaret Weis years later at a conference, mentioned who I was, and that I had worked on this a bit. Asked in general terms what had happened and she just said that it was a bad experience.
Thunder Castle Games gift box mockup
Documentation
Manual
Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game Manual
Frequently Asked Questions
Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game FAQ - Version 1.00 (September 25, 1995)
Official Card List
Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game Card List (August 1995)
Usenet Posts
Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game Usenet Posts
Card Scans
- Jetlag Card Scans (.zip, 119M)
- WCCIC Card Scans (.zip, 2GB)
- WCCIC Card Scans, Raw (.zip, 2GB)
Card List
Terran
Common
Uncommon
Rare
| Card Type | Card |
|---|---|
| Carrier | TCS Victory |
| Nav Point | Alpha |
| Nav Point | Beta |
| Nav Point | Gamma |
| Nav Point | Delta |
| Nav Point | Epsilon |
| Nav Point | Zeta |
| Nav Point | Eta |
| Nav Point | Theta |
| Nav Point | Iota |
| Nav Point | Kappa |
Kilrathi
Common
Uncommon
Rare
| Card Type | Card |
|---|---|
| Carrier | Sivar's Glory |
| Nav Point | Alpha |
| Nav Point | Beta |
| Nav Point | Gamma |
| Nav Point | Delta |
| Nav Point | Epsilon |
| Nav Point | Zeta |
| Nav Point | Eta |
| Nav Point | Theta |
| Nav Point | Iota |
| Nav Point | Kappa |
Promotional Cards
Two unique promotional cards were released for the game. 10,000 copies were printed of each card. The first promo card released was Wing Commander Heart of the Tiger which was given away at the Mag Force 7 booth at GenCon. Mark Hamill appeared at the booth on August 12, 1995 to sign copies of the card. The second promo card, Admiral Tolwyn, was included in the earliest copies of Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom when it was released on February 12, 1996.
| Card Type | Card |
|---|---|
| Wing Commander Heart of the Tiger | Colonel Christopher Blair |
| Admiral Tolwyn | Admiral Geoff Tolwyn |
Original Art
As was common with trading card games at the time, artists were allowed to keep the copyright for their work. This has resulted the private sale of many of the original paintings and also has allowed high resolution, uncut versions of some to become available to the public.
Robert Daniels
Bob Eggleton
"Drinking with Aliens", 6"x15" acrylic.
Alan Gutierrez
Alpha From the card came Wing Commander, commissioned and published by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, 1995. One of the most striking cards of the 12 I did, it is one of the last astronomicals left in my archives. I had to recreate the art, as the scan brought up the printed pixels too much (very small image), so it is a digital version of the original trad. version. Part of a series that includes Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, and Epsilon.
Beta From the card game Wing Commander, commissioned and published by Tracy Hickman & Margaret Weis, 1995 Part of a last offering of astronomical works in the archive, a simple rendering for mood in the game... Gouache on Masonite, photoshop finishing.
Capture Pilot From the card game Wing Commander, commissioned and published by Tracy Hickman & Margaret Weis, 1994. A "Luck" card (in this case bad luck) capturing an opposing pilot from a destroyed fighter. Gouache on masonite.
Epsilon From the card game "Wing Commander", commissioned and published by Tracy Hickman & Margaret Weis, 1995. The original idea in the commissioned game. This was also used as the background for https://www.deviantart.com/alangutierrezart/art/Stranded-sketch-2-736178955 And as part of other concept sketches for the "Stranded" book. Gouache on masonite with Photoshop enhancement.
Stranded (sketch 2) - Unused concept sketch for the cover of The Prometheus Project: Book 3: Stranded by Donald E. Richards (2011)
Creation - Unused concept sketch for the cover of The Prometheus Project: Book 3: Stranded by Donald E. Richards (2011)
When Planets Collide - Unused concept sketch for the cover of The Prometheus Project: Book 3: Stranded by Donald E. Richards (2011)
Gamma From the card game Wing Commander, commissioned and published by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, 1995 Part of the 12 illustrated works, and one of two more I mustered up for the last astronomicals in my archive, for mood... Gouache on Masonite w/photoshop finishing
Kilrathi Capture Pilot From the card game "Wing Commander", commissioned and published by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, 1995 This Kilrathi is none too happy at being captured, and is one of 4 "Luck" cards I did, showing 2 of each adversary. Gouache on masonite.
Kilrathi Recovery Pilot From the card game "Wing Commander" commissioned and published by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, 1995 One of 4 "Luck" cards of "recovery" and "capture" pilots of adversaries in the game. Gouache on Masonite.
Magnum Launch From the card game "Wing Commander" commissioned and published by Tracy Hickman & Margaret Weis, 1995 A "Luck" card, it was the launching of the "Arrow" fighter, and used again for "X Wing Fighter Scramble" Edit: This may have came before the "X Wing" art (presumably). But since I'm not sure when that commission happened, It could be Magnum Launch as the original...
X Wing Fighter Scramble
Minefield! From the Wing Commander card game, commissioned and published by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis, 1995 This is the combination of 2 traditionally painted works, "Minefield", and "Skillful Use Of Missile Decoys" from the game. Since I had the original scan from "Minefield", I digitally added the ship (unscanned and had to be digitally restored from the printed card) to present this new variation. Top half gouache on Masonite.
Composite with Skillful Use of Missile Decoys
Nebula 2 From the card game "Wing Commander" commissioned and published by Tracy Hickman & Margaret Weis, 1994 Last of the Wing Commander art. Second of 2 Nebulas, the first; https://www.deviantart.com/alangutierrezart/art/Nebula-756876557 Gouache on masonite.
Nebula (Star of the Guardians CTCG art)
Pulsar Commissioned by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman 1996, for the card came "Wing Commander" I did about 10 small illustrations for the card game, with various celestial effects, that might affect the outcome of the game. This was the only one I ever scanned from the original art. It's been many years, but my understanding is that a collapsed star-burnt out and becoming more dense, emits electromagnetic radiation (the blue streaks) and, spins very fast, with the light (the eruption in orange) "pulsing" as it spins. There may be other more accurate depictions, but this was done just for fun, so I'm not interested in the specifics. Just the wonder of outer space... Gouache on masonite, 7" x 10"
Recovery Pilot From the card game "Wing Commander" commissioned and published by Tracy Hickman & Margaret Weis, 1994 A grateful pilot rescued in a "luck" card. Gouache on masonite board.
William Hodgson
16 x 20, mixed media on hardboard. Illustration for the Wing Commander III collectible card game, a great game created by an awesome group of people -- but arriving on the CCG scene at the wrong time to be as successful as it could have been. tHE lOVE aNIMALS were a "technotronic, retro-folk band of the 28th century," serving as a morale-booster in the game, when they toured the space fleet, cheering on the pilots and crews. I figured that some futuristic instruments could be offset by granny glasses and bell bottoms to get the effect.
Gary Kalin
Barclay Shaw
I’ve attached a zip file of what I have; the files were recovered from a hard drive crash in the early 2000s and two of them are very low resolution. The artwork was a combination of painting, digital painting and primitive 3D renderings – one of my early forays into the digital art realm, pretty rough by today’s standards (scanner lines are apparent in the backgrounds) but it opened up a whole new world for me.
Lore
Characters
Terran
- Christopher Blair aka "Maverick"
- Amanda Carruthers aka "Deathbolt"
- Jeannette Devereaux aka "Angel"
- John Hefter aka Stowsky aka "Wizard"
- Ralgha nar Hhallas aka "Hobbes"
- Anthony Yee aka "Hard-Luck"
- Laurel Buckley aka "Cobra"
- Michael Williamson aka "Zydeco"
- Mitchell Lopez aka "Vagabond"
- Regina Ortwin aka "Snapshot"
- Robin Peters aka "Flint"
- Russ Wilbury aka "Rusty"
- Simon LeDuke aka "McGoo"
- Winston Chang aka "Vagabond"
- Jace Dillon aka "Flash"
- James Taggart aka "Paladin"
- Todd Marshall aka "Maniac"
- Ortiz
- Geoffrey Tolwyn
- William Eisen
- Rachel Coriolis
- Ted Rollins aka "Radio"
- Barbara Miles
- Unidentified Humans (Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game)
Kilrathi
- Canth nar Kur'u'tak aka "Apeshredder"
- Bhuk nar Hhallas aka "Bloodmist"
- Kramm nar Caxki aka "Deathfang"
- Dakhath nar Caxki aka "Deathstroke"
- Najji Ragitagha aka "Fireclaw"
- Thrakhath nar Kiranka
- Zrank nar Sihkag aka "Longshot"
- Kuklext Ragitagha aka "Motley"
- Vruskt nar Sihkag aka "Rogue"
- Khitz nar Ki'ra aka "Skitz"
- Marjak nar Kur'u'tak aka "Stalker"
- Kukubno nar Hhallas aka "Wise Hunter"
- Melek
- Braxna nar Caxki aka "Minx"
- Xilerks Ki'ra aka "Nikodaemus"
- The Emperor
- Unidentified Kilrathi (Wing Commander Collectible Trading Card Game)
Other
Ships
Terran Confederation
- F-27 Arrow V
- Hellcat V
- HF-66 Thunderbolt VII
- F/A-76 Longbow
- F-103 Excalibur
- Clarkson
- Southampton
- Tallahassee
- Yorktown
- Unnamed Shuttle
- Unnamed Fighter
Empire of Kilrah
Units
Terran Confederation
- Air Mogul Squadron
- Alphonzo's Raiders Squadron
- Angelheart Squadron
- Black Lion Squadron
- Black Widow Squadron
- Blue Devil Squadron
- Blue Meanie Squadron
- Burma Tiger Squadron
- Crazy Diamond Squadron
- Crimson Knight Squadron
- Death Merchant Squadron
- Dragon Master Squadron
- Dynamo Hum Squadron
- Earth Shaker Squadron
- Fire Birds Squadron
- Fire Dagger Squadron
- Fireball Squadron
- Galahad Squadron
- Gawain Squadron
- Golden Cheetah Squadron
- Gray Hornet Squadron
- Great White Squadron
- Hadrian's Hammers Squadron
- Hell's Archers Squadron
- Hurricane Squadron
- Jade Dragonfly Squadron
- Killer Bee Squadron
- Lancelot Squadron
- Merlin Squadron
- Monarch Squadron
- Mud Shark Squadron
- Northern Lights Squadron
- Osprey Squadron
- Red Ranger Squadron
- Scarlet Speedster Squadron
- SeaKing Squadron
- Sky Demon Squadron
- Sky Giant Squadron
- Sparrowhawk Squadron
- Speed Demon Squadron
- Storm Lord Squadron
- Throat Wolves Squadron
- Tiger Killer Squadron
- Tsunami Squadron
- Valkyrie Squadron
- William Tell Squadron
- Zombie Wolf Squadron
Empire of Kilrah
- Atomic Claw Squadron
- Battle Brothers Squadron
- Blazing Death Squadron
- Blazing Draptil Squadron
- Blood Most Noble Squadron
- Blood Rain Squadron
- Blooded Claw Squadron
- Bloodmist's Loyal Squadron
- Crimson Birha Squadron
- Dark Inquisitor Squadron
- Darkpride Squadron
- Death from Beyond Squadron
- Death Reaper Squadron
- Deathfang's Warmates Squadron
- Deathstroke's Pride Squadron
- Enslaver of Races Squadron
- Fangs of Death Squadron
- Favored by Sivar Squadron
- Fearful Symmetry Squadron
- Fire-Eater Squadron
- Fireclaw's Avenger Squadron
- Forever Loyal Squadron
- Furfighter Squadron
- Ghostwalker Squadron
- Heartbreaker Squadron
- Hero of the H'rai Squadron
- Hidden Dagger Squadron
- Honor Bearer Squadron
- Kabaka Warrior Squadron
- Khantahr's Snarl Squadron
- Kilra'k Demon Squadron
- Lair Master Squadron
- Laser Fangs Squadron
- Leatherhide Squadron
- Lightning Strike Squadron
- Lusterfur Squadron
- Mandibles of Doom Squadron
- Monkey Hunter Squadron
- Night Prowler Squadron
- Rage of Sivar Squadron
- Righteous Vengeance Squadron
- Sabak Liegemen Squadron
- Savage Fury Squadron
- Silent Doom Squadron
- Sivar's Honored H'rai Squadron
- Smiting Pride Squadron
- Space Terror Squadron
- Star Pouncer Squadron
- Steel Death Squadron
- Storm Bringer Squadron
- Throat Ripper Squadron
- Thundering Anger Squadron
- Unchained Thunder Squadron
- Unrelenting War Squadron
- Unrepentant Rage Squadron
- Vengeful Pursuit Squadron
- Winterblast Squadron
Locations
- Kilrah
- Ryka III
- Ryka System
- Alpha
- Beta
- Delta
- Epsilon
- Eta
- Gamma
- Iota
- Kappa
- Theta
- Zeta
- Asteroid Field
- Pulsar
- Nebula
- MInefield
Weapons
- Blackfish
- Claw Image Recognition Missile
- Fang Friend-or-Foe Missile
- Improved Comms
- Improved Shields
- Improved Tac Computers
- Pilum Friend-or-Foe Missile
- Reaper Cannon
- Skipper Missile
- Spiculum Image Recognition Missile
- Stealth Technology
- Tachyon Gun
- Tacval
- Torpedo
- Torpedo Mount
Other
OTHER TERMS
- VMF-544
- Blackmane Sector
- TCS Ark Royal
- Bronze Star
- Silver Star
- Gold Star
- Terran Medal of Honor aka The Pewter Planet
- Icon of Glory
- Icon of Sivar
- Sivar
- Terran Confederation
- Empire of Kilrah
- Kilrathi
- H'rai
- Kilra'k Demon
- Sabak Liegemen
- Furfighter
- Khantahr
- Blazing Draptil
- Lair Master
- Birha Tree
- Malf
- Sivar's Blessing
- Kabaka Warrior
- Court Martial
- TNS
- TNS Publicity Tour
- Fire Liquor
- Vak'qu
- Zu'kara
- Summons from Kilrah
- TNC
- Magnum Launch
- Decoy
- Terran Confederation Space Naval Academy
- Hilthros
- Communications Link
- Main Guns
- Maneuvering Thrusters
- Shields
- Windscreen
- Stabilizer
- Tail
- Fuel Tank
- Secret Orders
- SO1-RT aka Capture Fighter
- S02-UT aka Defend Listening Post
- S03-UT aka Capture Transport
- S04-UT aka Fighter Recon
- S05-UT aka Spaceborne Warning and Control Operation
- SO1-RK aka Capture Fighter
- S02-UK aka Defend Listening Post
- S03-UK aka Capture Transport
- S04-UK aka Fighter Recon
- S05-UK aka Spaceborne Warning and Control Operation
- Listening Post
- Spaceborne Warning and Control
- Nav Point
Generic Maneuvers
- Assault the Carrier
- Attack My Target
- Break and Attack
- Break-off
- Eject
- Hard Brake
- Kickstop
- Ram!
- Roll
- Shake
- Tail
- Taunt
- Tight Loop
Terran Maneuvers
- Academy Training
- Burn Out
- Fish-hook
- Furball Fever
- Heck Outa Dodge
- Maniac Solution
- Rock & Roll
- Shake, Rattle, & Roll
- Shelton Slide
- Sit-'n-Kick
- Turn-n'-Spin
Kilrathi Maneuvers
- Change the Hunting Ground
- Changing Prey
- Dewclaw
- Going Ape
- Lie in Wait
- Pounce on the Prey
- The Glorious Hunt
- The Savage Feast
- Warrior Code
Fan Projects
LackeyCCG Implementation
An implementation of Wing Commander for LackeyCCG is available here (30M).
Vassal Implementation
An implementation of Wing Commander for Vassal is available here (150M).
Tabletop Simulator Implementation
An implementation of Wing Commander for Tabletop Simulator is available here on Steam Workshop.
Playmat
Publisher files that can be used to print custom playmats. Includes two and four player variants. Adapted from the manual illustrations. Available here (58M).
