The following is a quick rundown of everything that's unique to Countdown as a TCG. If you're just starting out in the TCG world and want a little help, please refer to our TCG Newbie Guide!
Card Types
The most important thing to know before even beginning the TCG are our card types! Countdown only has one very basic type of card that everyone will be collecting, but we also have a few "special" types to make the game a little more fun. Check it out!
Basic cards are your generic card types: what you will be collecting and mastering as decks here at the TCG. They are horizontal and feature either a heart (for group/solo decks) or an asterisk (for misc decks such as dramas, stageplays or music videos).Earning Cards
Member cards are something that each trader receives at the beginning of the game: think of it as your Countdown business card! Each trader is allowed a card with their name on it, as well as a picture of their choice: they're simply a way to interact with other traders on the TCG & boost your card count!
Event cards will be handed out for special events, such as holidays or TCG milestones. They will be posted during our weekly updates for everyone to take and keep in their collection.
Star cards are a special edition to the game: essentially a holographic card! Not unlike the holographic cards you see in real-life TCGs, they are rare and may randomly come up in your prizes, or you may win them during special TCG events! There is no mastering holographic cards, nor do they count any more than other cards do-- but they are very unique and a great addition to any trader's collection, especially if it features your favorite johnny on it! :)
Every so often, I will add surprise star cards to our regular card rotation for a limited amount of time, so hopefully you'll be lucky enough to lay your hands on one!
Probably the most important thing in TCGs is earning cards. The more cards you have, the more you have to offer in your trades with other players. Here are a few ways to earn cards at Countdown:
GAMES: Countdown has a variety of game rotations that are updated weekly, they are the primary way for you to earn cards.
DONATION: The TCG is always in need of some help: you can take a job at the donation section and see how you can earn some cards, and help out the TCG at the same time.
HOLIDAYS/BIRTHDAYS: Event cards and other prizes will be given out on special holidays, as well as your birthday! On their birthday, every trader will receive 2 choice cards and one special star card! LEVELING UP: When you level up (see information below) you'll earn a special prize based on the level you've reached.
MASTERING: Mastering a deck will earn you 3 random cards & 1 choice card.
MEMBER REFERRAL: If a member lists you as a referrer, you'll be sent two random cards and a ticket, so pimp this TCG to all your JE buddies!
Mastering
Mastering means that you have collected all the cards in one deck (Countdown has a total of 15 cards in each). If you've mastered a deck, you'll fill out the form for a master in our Paperwork section and we'll send you a badge, as well as 3 random cards and a card of your choice! Examples of master badges are shown below. Most decks will have 2-3 master badges for you to choose from:
Levels
In Countdown, you'll be aiming for Super Idol status, but of course you have to take the steps to get there! :) Below are the eight different levels at Countdown, including the "bonus" (or "rewards") you'll receive when reaching each level! When you level up, go to the Level Up form in our Paperwork section and fill out the form to receive your prizes.
| LEVEL | CARDS | BONUS |
| Audition | 6 - 50 | --- |
| Junior | 51 - 100 | 2 random cards, 2 tickets |
| Shokura MC | 101 - 200 | 2 random cards, 2 tickets |
| Debut | 201 - 300 | 2 random cards, 1 choice card, 2 tickets |
| Chart Topper | 301 - 400 | 3 random cards, 1 choice card, 3 tickets |
| TV Host | 401 - 500 | 3 random cards, 1 choice card, 3 tickets |
| Drama Star | 501 - 600 | 3 random cards, 1 choice card, 3 tickets |
| Super Idol | 601 + | 5 random cards, 3 choice cards, 5 tickets |
Another fun thing about leveling up, is that traders that reach the Debut Level begin receiving a bi-weekly salary (basically bonus freebies). Once you've passed this level, you will be able to pick up the appropriate "paycheck" every other week at the Paycheck Pick Up via our Traders section.
Currency
Countdown's currency are tickets, each one featuring JE groups from the 1960's to now! You'll earn them in games and activities during the TCG, and be able to trade them in at the JE Shop. They can be mixed and matched in various ways to earn you some nice rewards! The basic combinations are listed below, but you can also view special combinations at the JE Shop.
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Ticket Matching
The two basic combinations you can use to exchange tickets at the JE Shop work like this:
4 MATCH: 4 matching tickets will earn you 2 random cards from any decks featuring the group. (In this case, you'd get 2 random cards from any decks featuring a SMAP member.)
8 MATCH: 8 matching tickets will earn you 1 choice card from any deck featuring the group + 2 random cards. (In this case, you'd get 1 choice card from any decks featuring a member of Tackey & Tsubasa, plus 2 random cards.)
However, since it is highly likely that there will be tickets you don't want/need, there are also a few more ways to combine your tickets effectively! Check out the JE Shop's "Ticket Exchange" for more information on strategies for ticket matching. Tickets are also tradable between players, so you can exchange tickets with another trader for something you both want more.