How to Play Parallel: A Beginner’s Guide For Gamers

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8 months ago

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What is Parallel? 

Parallel is a science fiction trading card game (TCG) that empowers collectors to have true ownership of their cards and other in-game items. These cards can be utilized to construct a deck and engage in gameplay within an online PC client, currently undergoing development.

Parallel, a trading card game developed by Parallel Studios, incorporates play-and-earn features, blending traditional trading card game mechanics with modern digital gaming innovations. The game unfolds within a narrative framework of interstellar travel and societal evolution.

Although still in the development phase, Parallel achieved a significant milestone by gaining approval for the Epic Games store, marking a crucial step for web3 games aiming for widespread adoption. Once its onboarding page is live, individuals can freely download the latest version of Parallel, participate in the open beta, and contribute to the collaborative building of the game.

At the heart of the Parallel Trading Card Game (TCG) are the Parallel NFTs, an expanding collection of digital assets representing the game's central factions, known as "Parallels." These digital assets serve as the foundation for gameplay, allowing players to construct and deploy decks composed of these NFTs for competitive matchups.

Parallel utilizes NFT trading cards and the game and governance token PRIME on the Ethereum blockchain. It is an integral part of the Echelon Prime Foundation, contributing to the development of a new Web3 gaming ecosystem.

Who comprises the Parallel team?
Parallel Studios, the creative force behind the groundbreaking Parallel Trading Card Game, is a game development company situated in Toronto, Canada. Specializing in the development of the Parallel sci-fi franchise, they leverage blockchain and NFT technology.

The team consists of professionals adept in game design, blockchain technology, and NFT creation. Their efforts are focused on integrating this intellectual property across diverse formats, encompassing games, cards, comics, and movies.

A central objective for the team is to seamlessly merge traditional entertainment with blockchain technology, envisioning a model where users can truly own elements of the digital realms they engage with.

How to play Parallel?

Parallel draws parallels with conventional collectible card games like Magic: The Gathering.

Players alternate playing cards from their hands onto a shared playing area. Each card is equipped with specific abilities, strengths, and effects capable of influencing the course of the game. The game's objective varies, often entailing the reduction of the opponent's life points or the fulfillment of specific conditions for victory. Gameplay incorporates elements like attacking, defending, and the strategic management of resources.

What sets Parallel apart are distinctive features and mechanics, characteristic of a blockchain-based digital card game, similar to Splinterlands and Gods Unchained. These features include:

• Genuine ownership of in-game digital assets
• A play-and-earn economy
• Blockchain-based security and transparency

Parallel Gameplay

FUNDAMENTALS
Within the Parallel game, participants acquire cards and construct decks that embody one of the 5 Parallels, engaging in matches against other players across various game modes.

In Parallel, each match unfolds as a 1vs1 confrontation between two opponents. The gameplay operates on a turn-based system, with players alternating turns to deploy cards from their hand. These cards can unleash potent effects, reinforce their army with units, exert passive influences through relics, or enhance their units with formidable upgrades.

Every player in the game represents a specific Parallel, determining the unique cards and abilities at their disposal. At the commencement of a match, each player starts with 30 Health. If a player's Health Points are depleted to zero, that player experiences defeat in the game. It's noteworthy that both players have the option to represent the same Parallel in a match.

DECK CONSTRUCTION
Although certain cards, known as Universal cards, are accessible to decks across any Parallel, a significant portion of the card pool is exclusive to specific Parallels. This exclusivity bestows each faction with distinct strengths and unique abilities.

During the deck construction process, players must assemble a deck comprising 40 cards from a chosen Parallel, supplemented by any cards from the Universal pool. To enhance play consistency, up to three copies of a particular card can be included in a deck. However, cards classified as Legendary rarity may only be incorporated once in a deck.

FORMIDABLE PARAGONS
In addition to the 40 cards, a deck must include a designated Paragon. Paragons act as leaders, offering a continuous passive ability throughout the match and, in most instances, presenting "active" abilities when deployed as a Unit. It's important to note that a Paragon can only be played as a Unit once per match.

Should a Paragon be vanquished in combat, the corresponding Unit is eliminated from the field. Nevertheless, any passive abilities conferred by the Paragon endure for the entirety of the match.

CARD PLAY IN PARALLEL
Every card in Parallel comes with an Energy cost, conveniently located in the top right corner of each card.

At the beginning of the game, players commence without Energy, but they can accrue it by Banking cards. For each card placed in the Bank, players receive 1 unit of Energy to allocate towards playing cards.

Energy is replenished to the current maximum value at the onset of each turn. Any unused Energy at the end of a turn does not carry over to the subsequent turn.

As the game unfolds, players progressively expand their Bank. Accumulated Energy in later rounds enables players to deploy more expensive cards, introducing the potential for more remarkable moves and the activation of powerful abilities.

THE OBJECTIVE
In Parallel, the goal is straightforward: diminish the enemy's Health to zero before they can achieve the same against you. Nevertheless, the game incorporates numerous strategic elements that demand proficiency for success at competitive levels of play.

Elements such as unit control, strategic prioritization of targets, intricate card synergies and interactions, and the unpredictable nature of randomly drawn cards each round contribute to the complexity of the game. This complexity ensures that the optimal plays are not always apparent, adding an additional layer of challenge to the gameplay experience.

Parallel NFTs

Within the Parallel universe, a diverse array of NFTs exists, each serving distinct roles and functions. Notably, two predominant types stand out: Cards and Avatars.

Cards
In Parallel, Cards constitute a central element among NFTs, significantly shaping the gameplay experience. These digital assets form the backbone of the trading card game, serving as the primary instruments for players to devise strategies and engage in competitive matches. Each card, represented as an NFT, possesses distinct attributes, including various types of actions, effects, and stats that can significantly impact the outcome of matches.Themed around the five Parallels or factions that propel the game's narrative, these cards contribute to a diverse range, each featuring unique abilities and gameplay mechanics. As NFTs, players have true ownership of these cards, enabling them to freely trade or sell within the Parallel and Echelon ecosystem.

In a typical Parallel match, players construct and deploy decks composed of these cards, with the aim of outmaneuvering their opponents. Consequently, strategic deck composition and a nuanced understanding of card interactions are crucial elements of gameplay.

As the game progresses, Parallel Studios has plans to introduce additional cards in various formats, enriching the game's tactical depth and providing players with new avenues to explore the Parallel universe. These cards are available on the secondary marketplace OpenSea or the game's dedicated marketplace. At the time of writing, the floor price for the Parallel Alpha cards collection is 0.8 PRIME ($1.51), and the sales volume has exceeded 77,387 ETH ($154,332,120).

Avatars
In Parallel, character portraits, known as Avatars, represent the five distinct factions existing within the game's universe. These Avatars, also referred to as Parallel PFPs (Profile Pictures), transcend mere digital representations, serving as gateways to an expanding array of experiences within the Parallel universe.

As of November 17, 2023, the assignment of an Avatar as your profile picture enables players to earn additional PRIME tokens within the TCG when achieving victories, enhancing the overall value of gameplay. Additionally, Avatars are strategically designed to grant priority access to forthcoming experiences introduced within the Parallel universe, solidifying their essential role in the ecosystem.

Remarkably, the launch of the Avatars collection witnessed overwhelming demand, with all units selling out within a few hours. The trading volume for these Avatars demonstrated strength, reaching 387 ETH ($771,000) within a few days of minting. As of the current writing, the collection's floor price has stabilized at 0.59 ETH ($1,170), contributing to a total market cap exceeding 15,670 ETH (over $31 million).

Parallel’s PRIME token

Parallel TCG relies on the Echelon Prime (PRIME) token, a vital utility token within the Echelon ecosystem. Functioning on the Ethereum blockchain, the token serves as a central tool for gameplay, reward distribution, and community governance.

Players receive PRIME tokens as rewards for victorious matches, but their significance extends beyond mere gameplay. These tokens act as a medium of exchange for acquiring collectibles, services, and in-game enhancements provided by Parallel Studios.A distinctive feature of the PRIME token economy lies in its circular design. Rather than undergoing burning or removal from circulation post-use, the tokens are systematically redistributed across different contracts. This approach is employed to maintain equilibrium within the game's economy and support its scalability. The total supply of PRIME is set at 111,111,111,111, with the tokens becoming accessible for trading on Uniswap and various other exchanges after their initial unlock in March 2023.

As of the present writing, the PRIME token is valued at $5.89. It achieved an all-time high of $6.65 on November 15, 2023, a significant milestone coinciding with Parallel's approval for Epic Games. Conversely, the all-time low was recorded at $1.19 in May 2023.

Earning from Parallel Gameplay

In Parallel TCG, players have the potential to earn PRIME tokens by securing victories in matches. The quantity of tokens bestowed is contingent on several factors, encompassing the match's outcome, the duration since the game's initiation, the player's rank on the ladder, and equipped keys, among other influencing variables.

In essence, the more engaged and successful a player becomes, the heightened the prospect of accumulating PRIME tokens.

Final Thoughts

Parallel emerges as a groundbreaking sci-fi trading card game, seamlessly merging traditional gameplay with blockchain and NFT technology. With a dynamic ecosystem of cards, avatars, and the unique PRIME token, players experience true ownership and the potential to earn real value.

Parallel Studios, based in Toronto, showcases a dedicated team proficient in game design, blockchain, and NFT creation. Their commitment to integrating this innovative intellectual property across various formats, from games to comics and movies, sets a precedent for the intersection of entertainment and blockchain.

The game's strategic depth, the circular economy of the PRIME token, and the play-and-earn model contribute to a captivating experience. As Parallel evolves, it promises an ever-expanding universe for players, ensuring a vibrant and rewarding journey into the realms of blockchain-based gaming.