[on deck]

Reviewing
the latest
releases in
collectible
card game

[the box]
top of the order
Publisher: Donruss
Designers: Duncan Macdonell
    and NXT Games
Genre: Pro Baseball
Release: November 1995
Packaging: Deluxe double deck game set
    with two 80-card starter decks and a game
    wheel: 12-card booster packs
Suggested Retail: $10 per starter deck;
    $2.79 per booster pack

Top of the Order

Can you feel those temperatures rising? That's right, spring is here,
that means one thing: baseball. And even if those April show-
ers are keeping you indoors instead of out on the diamond, you
can enjoy all the excitement of baseball, collectible card game-style.

Donruss and NXT Games have released the first Major League
Baseball-licensed collectible card game, Top of the Order. And while
the game isn't exciting enough to make Tommy Lasorda quit as
manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, it does an adequate job of
translating some baseball strategy into a collectible card game. Top
of the Order requires basic baseball knowledge and rewards those with
a deeper understanding of the game and the athletes who play it.

Unfortunately, gamers who have participated in other baseball
simulations like Strat-O-Matic and Micro League Baseball will find
that Top of the Order falls short in utilizing the kind of comprehensive statis-
tical database that excites strategic die-hards. Plus when you get down to
it, this card game simply isn't that exciting.

Play begins after each "manager" has selected a lineup of nine play-
ers - one pitcher, one catcher, one first baseman, one second baseman, one
third baseman, one shortstop and three outfielders - and placed them in a batting
order (a designated hitter may be used and inserted in the pitcher's spot in the bat-
ting order). Each manager then draws six cards into his hand. For each new batter,
both managers draw one card.

The defensive manager first chooses a pitch from his hand based on what's indi-
cated in the cards' top left corners, and places the card face down on the table. The
offensive manager then checks the top right corners of his cards to consult the var-
ious types of swings from which he may choose. The offensive manager has the
option to steal before the play is executed and the defensive manager may opt to play
his infield in before selecting his pitch.

Once a decision is made, both managers turn their cards face up to reveal their
selections. To determine the result of the play, each manager flips the top card of his
draw deck and consults the colors in the bottom left corner of the card. Green is
favorable to the offense, yellow is neutral and red is favorable to the defense. The col-
ors are then cross-checked on charts. After the result of the at-bat has been determined,
there are a variety of factors that may have to be taken into consideration. Runners
on base may or may not advance bases on hits, ground outs and flyouts, depending
on the run ratings listed on their cards.