On The Edge
Encyclopedia
On The Edge was a collectible card game
Collectible card game
thumb|Players and their decksA collectible card game , also called a trading card game or customizable card game, is a game played using specially designed sets of playing cards...

 released in 1994, not long after Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...

. The setting and characters were based on the RPG
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...

 titled Over the Edge
Over the Edge (role-playing game)
Over the Edge is a surreal role-playing game of secrets and conspiracies, taking place on the mysterious Island of Al Amarja. It was created by Jonathan Tweet with Robin Laws, and published by Atlas Games...

. The game's story was set on the island in the southern Mediterranean of Al Amarja, where various factions were fighting for control.

Core Version

The game launched in 1994 with the core series, titled On the Edge. This series included starter decks and booster pack
Booster pack
In collectible card games and collectible miniature wargames, a booster pack is a sealed package of cards or figurines, designed to add to a player's collection....

s. The starter decks contained 60 randomized cards and the rulesheet in a cardboard tuckbox. The booster packs were made up of 10 randomized cards in a foil sleeve.

The starter decks were sold to retailers in display boxes
Point of sale display
A point-of-sale display is a specialized form of sales promotion that is found near, on, or next to a checkout counter . They are intended to draw the customers' attention to products, which may be new products, or on special offer, and are also used to promote special events, e.g. seasonal or...

 of 10 starters. For the booster decks, the display boxes containing 60 boosters packs.

Limited Edition was released in October 1994 and contains 269 cards. The card titles are printed in gold letters. The Limited Version had the mid rarity of all three series.

The second release was the Unlimited Version and also contains 269 cards. The card titles are printed in yellow letters. The Unlimited Version had the least rarity of all three series. The starter decks and booster packs have "Unlimited Version" printed on the boxes/packs.

The third printing was the Standard Edition and contains 270 cards and was released in February 1995. In addition to the cards found in Limited and Unlimited, it has card #270, Resounding Bell. Card titles are printed in yellow letters, and each card has a copyright 1995 notice printed at the bottom. The Unlimited Version had the most rarity of all three series. The starter decks and booster packs have "Standard Version" printed on the boxes/packs.

The Cut-Ups Project

The first expansion, created by Robin D. Laws, was called The Cut-Ups Projects. Coming out in 1995, it added 90 new cards to the game. These cards were sold in randomized booster packs of 10 cards.

This expansion added even more strangeness to the game's already bizarre cosmology in the form of talking dogs, diabolical beverages, and creatures that fell from the sky.

Retail display boxes of this expansion contained 60 booster packs.

Shadows

The second expansion, designed by game co-creator Jonathan Tweet
Jonathan Tweet
Jonathan Tweet is a game designer who has been involved in the development of the role-playing games Ars Magica, Everway, Over the Edge, Talislanta and the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons, as well as the Collectible Miniatures Game Dreamblade.-Early life:Jonathan Tweet started playing D&D in...

, added another 117 cards to the game. This time the focus was on the minions and dark conspirators of Al Amarja.

These set contained only booster packs of 10 randomized cards. As with the previous expansions, the retailer displays contained 60 packs each.

Arcana

The third expansion, by game co-creator John Nephew, focused on the strange energies of the island such as magic
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...

 and psychic powers. The set followed the standard set by the rest of the line by adding 153 new cards. These were sold in 10 card booster packs. Retail displays contained 60 of these booster packs.

Surviving On the Edge

The only print product made in support of the line, Surviving On the Edge provided tips, strategy, errata, card lists, and rules variations for the game. This 287 digest-sized book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...

was written by Peter Hentges. While containing detailed information and tips regarding the cards, Arcana series was not included at the time of printing.

The Burger Box

The Burger Box is an introductory set that contains decks and packs from the various expansions.

Each Burger Box contained a random assortment of the following:
  • 6 Standard Starter Decks
  • 12 Standard Booster Packs
  • 12 Cut-Ups Project Booster Packs
  • 12 Shadows Booster Packs
  • 12 Arcana Booster Packs


The Burger Box was released in 1996 and was the last product in the line.
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