Ever since the notion of combining free-to-play games with micro transactions became a viable business model, the idea of fusing online gaming with virtual trading cards has clearly been an attractive one for many developers and publishers. Sony even attempted to combine the virtual and the corporeal with Free Realms and Eye of Judgement.

Rise & Ruin, a browser-based card combat game from Toronto-based Veil Entertainment and Spore Productions currently in its Open Beta, is a similar affair, blending the style of card battle found in Magic the Gathering with 3D representations enacting your card denoted actions.

The final version of Rise & Ruin will provide four playable races, all intent on battling for supremacy on the planet Keldei, with the Beta allowing us to sample two: the reptilian Ralak and insectile hive-species The Jix’Su. Your avatar’s appearance is purely cosmetic, of course, with your fighter’s capabilities dependent on your hand. Currently, only the colours of your avatar can be customised, forcing you to essentially fight the same two combatants for each match. Presumably a few more body components are on their way.

Each fighter begins with three of a potential five mana spheres, with each card requiting a specific number of spheres to be put into use. How you manage mana is key to your success, as powerful cards generally exhaust all three, leaving you defenceless and unable to attack again for several turns. Each turn, which consists of an attack and a subsequent defence/evade/counter, also allows you to discard one card to make space for another (hopefully better) one. However, overzealously throwing away unfavourable cards will use your deck up sooner, and restarting your deck involves a debilitating 50% health penalty, making it near-impossible to win. You are also able to bring Modifier Cards into pay, which, amongst other effects, add elemental properties to strikes.