Lorcana: DLCs from the other side - an interview with judge Vitor Cernic!

Hello, everyone!

Often, we don't have a clear idea of ​​how much work goes into big events – in Lorcana, we are always looking forward to the next Disney Lorcana Challenge, or DLCs.

People from all over the world show up to participate and play in the event, and likewise, before the event even begins, people from all over the world are selected to be part of the team that will be responsible for this event.

One of the main roles in event teams is that of the judges. They are a sort of game's ambassadors, since they ought be a reference in rules and conduct, and they are there to help the events run smoothly and answer players' questions during the matches. In more competitive environments, such as the DLCs, the judges also have the important function of helping to maintain the integrity of the event, curbing inappropriate behavior.

In today's article, I had the chance to talk to Vitor Martins Cernic, from Brazil, who had the opportunity to participate in DLC Milwaukee, in the United States! Let's learn a little about Vitor's work and what it was like to be part of a DLC!

Q: Hey there, Vitor! Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about you.

A: My name is Vitor Cernic and I love card games. I started playing Magic: the Gathering in 2017 through a friend when I was entering college, and I loved it. In 2020, I became interested in the ins and outs of the rules and became a judge, but due to the pandemic, I ended up judging my first tabletop event only at the end of 2022. Since then, I have worked at events for various card games: Magic, Pokémon, One Piece, and now, Lorcana!

Q: How did you find out about Lorcana? What caught your attention in the game?

A: A friend lent me two beginner decks to learn, assimilate, and teach my friends. The game combines several cool mechanics, and the fact that you become vulnerable when you make certain decisions gives the game a very unique dynamic! Besides that, it's impossible not to be charmed by the Disney universe.

Q: What's your favorite ink color so far, and why?

A: I think Amethyst is the ink color that resonates with me the most. I really like synergies and having cards that do many things, including drawing more cards.

Q: Have you played and enjoyed any specific deck, ink combination, or theme?

A: I've played with a different few over the past months. My favorite was Sapphire/Ruby Control. The deck had a playstyle very close to what I like to do in other card games, which is to control the game and make sure that, if the match goes on, I'll win.

Today I'm really enjoying the Amethyst/Sapphire deck with Evasives, which has very cool mechanics - and Dumbo - Ninth Wonder of the Universe, which is a very strong card.

Q: How did you come to participate in a Disney Lorcana Challenge? What's the "path" to be selected for such an event?

A: Actually it was kind of a surprise to me. I was already working with the new Lorcana organizer, Pastimes, on various Magic events, and I was going to be in the United States during the DLC period. I decided to give it a try, and ended up being accepted!

Regarding the "path," it's a bit complicated. Ideally, you would work at events at your local store or at larger events, gain some experience, and then start applying for DLCs. Here's a tip: you need to really enjoy what you do! Study the rules documents thoroughly and take pleasure in helping others!

Even though the scene in Brazil is still developing, we have plenty of room to train incredible judges here.

Q: How was the experience during the Challenge? What caught your attention in this contact with both the community at large and also the more competitive side of the game?

A: It was incredible! I had no idea how big Lorcana is, and it was impressive to see more than 3,000 people enjoying the game at once. Unlike other games, like Pokémon and Magic, and even with players competing for thousands of dollars in prizes, the atmosphere was very welcoming.

Players worked out any small problems and we didn't have many situations of veterans trying to take advantage of newcomers. The community proved to be wonderful!

Q: Share a cool story or something that stood out to you during your DLC experience!

A: I think what struck me most was the number of people interested in playing side events, and how Lorcana has a strong culture of more "casual" players. In other games, like Pokémon, Main Events are always packed, while Side Events tend to be less crowded.

That wasn't the case with Lorcana: we had packed events all weekend long! And we saw parents, children, kids, adults, friends, couples – everyone was having a great time, and the feedback was fantastic!

Q: Lorcana recently started official distribution in Brazil through COPAG. Have you had the opportunity to participate in any local events in your region?

A: Not yet. I'd like to have more time to play, but I end up focusing on other things and usually only have time for these larger events. Despite that, with Lorcana being available here, I'll definitely be at the next release events!

Q: Next year, Ravensburger has confirmed at least two official Lorcana Challenges in Brazil. What do you think would be the biggest difficulty today for these events to have the same success as the events in the US and Europe?

I believe the biggest challenge today is the availability of cards and stable prices. We live in a very different reality from richer countries, so it's not possible to have an event in Brazil exactly like the ones we see abroad. I believe that in Brazil, we won't see the same number of players as in the DLCs in US and Europe, but that doesn't mean they won't be incredible events!

I'm very excited for next year's events, and I believe Lorcana should grow a lot with them!

Q: To wrap it up, what's your favorite card or character in the game?

A: That's an easy one. When I started learning Lorcana, I was playing with the Merlin deck, and I simply fell in love with it. The Merlin theme is great and the cards are very well designed!

And that was our interview for today! If you want to know more about how the event itself went, click here to read the Milwaulkee DLC review!

A huge thank you to Vitor for taking the time to share this experience with us, especially since it's a side of the story we don't see every day!

I hope you enjoyed it! Remember to leave your comments and feedback below.

Cheers, and until next time!