Triple Triad

Triple Triad is a recently popularized card game in Eorzea, wherein players make clever use of their deck's composition to defeat their opponents. It can be played in the Manderville Gold Saucer.

Getting started
To take part in Triple Triad, players must first proceed to the Card Square.



Creating a deck
The first step to becoming a successful Triple Triad competitor is building a deck.

After completing the quest "Triple Triad Trial," players will receive five cards. Using the cards in your inventory will register them to your Card List, which can be accessed by selecting Gold Saucer under Character in the main menu. To create a deck, access Card Decks, also located within the Gold Saucer options, and select one of the five available slots to assign cards to a deck.

Once you have prepared a deck, speak with the Triple Triad Master to engage her in a tutorial match. These matches can be repeated as many times as desired.

New cards can be obtained from the Triple Triad Trader NPC found in the Manderville Gold Saucer, as rewards from winning against various NPCs, and as prizes from Triple Triad tournaments.



Unwanted cards in your inventory, such as doubles of those already registered to your card list, can be sold for MGP to the Triple Triad NPC in the Manderville Gold Saucer (X:4.1 Y:7.4).

Challenging NPCs


Certain NPCs are willing to play a game of Triple Triad with you. Such NPCs can be identified by a unique icon over their heads. For a small amount of MGP, players can challenge them to matches, and potentially win additional MGP and acquire new cards.

Challenging players


Other players can also be challenged to Triple Triad matches. To issue a challenge, target your desired opponent and select Challenge to Normal Match from the subcommand menu. Although no fee is incurred, neither are there card rewards to be had. However, players will receive an MGP bonus for up to five wins every day. Eligibility to receive this bonus is reset every day at 7:00 a.m. (PST). The rules for the match are set by the player issuing the challenge. Moreover, a challenge can only be issued in areas designated for Triple Triad matches.


 * The Manderville Gold Saucer
 * Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks, Adventurer's Guild (X:11.2 Y:11.2)
 * New Gridania, Adventurer's Guild (X:11.9 Y:13.3)
 * Ul'dah - Steps of Nald, Adventurer's Guild (X:11.8 Y:9.2)
 * Eastern La Noscea, Costa del Sol (X:33.6 Y:30.5)
 * South Shroud, Buscarron's Druthers (X:18.0 Y:19.9)
 * Central Thanalan, The Coffer & Coffin (X:19.6 Y:20.5)
 * Coerthas, The Observatorium (X:25.0 Y:28.0)
 * Mor Dhona, Seventh Heaven (X:21.9 Y:8.6)
 * Idyllshire, The Snail (X:4.9 Y:7.4)
 * Foundation, The Forgotten Knight (X:13.0 Y:11.9)
 * Rhalgr's Reach (X:9.8 Y:9.7)
 * Kugane, Shiokaze Hostelry (X:10.2 Y:10.0)
 * The Lochs, The Ala Mhigan Quarter (X:35.0 Y:32.2)

Cards


As of patch 2.51, 80 varieties of Triple Triad cards are available. While some cards can be purchased with MGP at the Manderville Gold Saucer, others can be obtained as rewards from defeating NPCs, Triple Triad Tournaments, and the completion of certain duties. As cards cannot be traded or purchased from the market, players are encouraged to challenge NPCs and journey throughout Eorzea in search of rare and powerful cards.

All cards can be classified by rarity (one to five stars). Initially, each deck can only contain one card with a rarity rating higher than one star. As you acquire more cards, however, the restriction becomes less prohibitive, and will eventually only apply to the highest tiers of rarity.

Less than 30 Cards
Allowed one card with a rarity of two stars or higher.

Between 30 and 59 Cards
No restriction on cards with a rarity of two stars or less. Allowed one card with a rarity of three stars or higher.

60 Cards or More
No restriction on cards with a rarity of three stars or less. Allowed one card with a rarity of four stars or higher.
 * In the upper right corner of certain cards is an icon indicating a type, which comes into play when used with certain rule sets.

Basic rules
1. Two players take turns placing cards on a three-by-three grid.
 * Triple Triad basic rules 1.jpg

2. The player who goes first is decided at random.
 * Triple Triad basic rules 2.jpg

3. When it is your turn, you must place a card on one of the open spaces on the grid.
 * Triple Triad basic rules 3.jpg

4. When a card is placed, the numbers representing its four sides are compared to any adjacent cards. If a number on the card placed is greater than the number it faces on an adjacent card, you will flip that card and capture it.
 * Triple Triad basic rules 4.jpg

5. The objective is to capture and control more cards than your opponent. After nine cards have been played, the player who controls more cards is the winner. Note that the unplayed 10th card is also counted.
 * Triple Triad win.jpg

Advanced rules
In addition to the basic rules, there are a number of advanced rules that can alter the way a Triple Triad match is played. They can be applied under a variety of circumstances, and can be considered either "regional rules" or "match rules."

Regional rules
Regional rules vary by location, and are reset daily at 7:00 a.m. (PST). Up to two regional rules are in effect at any given time, and certain preferences may be observed in each region. It is worth noting, however, that certain NPCs will not adhere to regional rules.

Match rules
Match rules are decided upon by the participants. A maximum of two match rules can be in effect at any one time, and are set automatically by NPC opponents. When challenging fellow player characters, however, you are given the decision as to which match rules will be in play. Regional rules can also take effect when challenging fellow players. As a result, when two match rules are set by an opposing player, a maximum of four rules can be in effect during any given match.
 * The selection of match rules differs when paired with players in the Battlehall.

The Battlehall
The Battlehall is an instanced area where players within the same data center can gather to challenge one another in Triple Triad. It may be accessed from any location via the Duty Finder.

Battlehall matching
In addition to challenging other players and NPCs directly in the Battlehall, players can also choose to be matched at random by speaking with the Hall Assistant NPCs located in each corner of the room.
 * You cannot challenge other players or accept offers to play Triple Triad while queued via Battlehall Matching.

Battlehall match rules
Match rules are decided upon by the participants. A maximum of two match rules can be in effect at any one time, using a combination of the rules selected by both opponents.

Example
 * If player A selects Same and Player B selects Plus, both Same and Plus will be used for the match.
 * If player A selects Same and Player B selects Same, only Same will be used for the match.

However, should two players choose any of the following combinations of rules, one of the two will be selected at random:
 * All Open and Three Open/Order and Chaos/Ascension and Descension

Time limit
Any given Battlehall will remain open for four hours. This four-hour period starts with the first person to enter the Battlehall instance. Please note that players will be unable to challenge other players or NPCs to play when there are five minutes remaining in the Battlehall.
 * Ongoing Triple Triad matches when there are less than five minutes remaining will not be canceled.

Triple Triad tournaments
The Manderville Gold Saucer will periodically host Triple Triad tournaments, some of their most enthralling and popular events. Compete against the realm's best players for a chance to win some of the rarest cards to be found in Triple Triad.

Participating in tournaments
Players can sign up to participate in ongoing tournaments by speaking with the following NPCs:
 * Tournament Recordkeeper - The Battlehall (X:3.3 Y:3.5)
 * Tournament Recordkeeper - The Gold Saucer, Card Square (X:4.2 Y:7.0)

Players must first complete a tutorial match with the Triple Triad Master before participating in any tournaments. Tournament matches can only be held in the Battlehall.

Tournament rules
Tournament participants can only play a set number of matches per tournament, with every match played counting toward their final scores. Each tournament has a fixed set of advanced rules that tournament matches must follow. This does not apply to regional rules.

Tournament matches
Players must first register with the Hall Assistant NPC to take part in tournament matches. Once registered, they will be randomly matched with another player. Players will continue to be randomly matched every time a match finishes, unless they cancel their registration in the window that is displayed at the end of matches. It should also be noted that, in addition to players, NPCs located within the Battlehall can also participate in tournaments.
 * Players will appear in the Gold Saucer Card Square after finishing tournament matches, regardless of where they started the match.
 * Players will be removed from the Battlehall 15 minutes before the end of tournaments. In the event players are in the middle of a match at this time, they will leave the Battlehall once their match has finished.
 * Players will not be paired with players they have already battled while they are in the same Battlehall.

Tournament rankings
Players can view the standings for ongoing tournaments at any time by either speaking with the Tournament Recordkeeper NPC at the Card Square in the Manderville Gold Saucer (X:4.2 Y:7.0), or examining the nearby Tournament Ranking Board. Scores will be locked the moment the tournament ends, and these numbers will determine the final rankings.

When two or more players share the same score at the end of a tournament, rank is then determined by the greatest number of wins. If wins are also equal, then rank will be decided by the least number of matches played. Should match numbers also be equal, then the higher rank will go to the participant who first recorded a result on the tournament ranking board.