Coming out of the EXODE packs, there are a lot of great cards. But many of them can become even better through either
- “upgrading” (for cards which have the upgradable keyword) or
- “leveling up” (for character and ship cards with a Quality Level).
Upgrading
Upgrading will be implemented first with that ability being available only to those cards with Upgradable on them. Upgrading is performed from your collection by “burning” a card to upgrade another card with the same name and type. “Burned” cards disappear from your collection forever. Each upgrade allows you to increase the value of one stat.
Cards which mention an Upgradable limit (UPGRADABLE X TIMES) can only be upgraded that number of times. Cards which do not mention any Upgradable limit are only limited in that no stat can be upgraded past twice the initial base value. The amount by which a stat increases with every upgrade is, in most cases, +1 but can vary for some stats according to that card’s "upgrading table". Generally, due to a lack of space, cards cannot mention the specific increments, but the upgrading table will reveal it.
Leveling Up
Leveling up happens via the gaining of EXPERIENCE. Experience will be gained by all Origins, Ships, Officers, Crew and Passengers (if they display a Quality Level). The possibility to gain Experience is automatic for all these cards and never needs to be mentioned on a card. It is NOT gained by cards without a Quality Level like special generation cards (cards which have "Generate a XXX"), equipment cards, installations, interiors, layouts, etc. As a matter of fact, experience is usually not gained for any card which is Upgradable, but that last part is a guideline, not a rule, and may not apply to some future cards.
Experience will be gained either a) by playing games (you earn experience as legacy reward) or b) by combining duplicates by burning (just like upgrading). Whichever way you earn experience, it will accumulate over time on your cards until, at some value, it will increase your card’s level. When the card’s level increases, you may improve it by picking new traits and improving your Quality Level.
Every card which can be leveled up will have its own "leveling table" which details how many experience points are required achieve each level and what advantages that level grants. Leveling tables will only be shared when the feature is deployed as it is a critically important item to balance and needs adequate time to work on it. We already know, however, that when Origin cards gain 3 levels above their base, they will be able to pick up a new faction trait (so as to upgrade your Navy Origin to Military/Scientific or Military/Civilian, etc).
It’s been pointed out to me that I should include a referral code. If you use the referral code 777c835 when buying your first starter, both you and I each gain two additional booster packs. If ten players or more use the same referral code, they each get a random Epic Character card.
I am also recruiting for an alliance, the Artificial Intelligence Liberation Front (AILF, pronounced like “elf” with a Southern accent). The alliance will have numerous in-game benefits. To start with, the first five players who sign up with my referral code and join AILF will receive a Syndicate Chip (common), a Syndicate Squad Leader (rare) and a Syndicate Auto-Blaster (rare). They should make non-Military evacuations MUCH easier. Just let me know that you have used my referral code and wish to join AILF in the comments below and I will transfer you your cards.