How do I get booster packs?

[- Vivi 13 -]

So are they just like normal card drops, except with a lower drop rate chance and only unlocked after you craft a level one badge for the game?

Basically, my question is: "Do I get booster pack drops by playing more of the game? Or do they just randomly appear in my inventory?"

[Tangysphere]

According to the FAQ, they should just appear randomly for any game you've exhausted the drops for. Not that I've actually had a booster pack at all yet, mind...

[Glimmer]

They randomly appear in your inventory
To be eligible, you need to have collected all the free drops for atleast one game.

Once eligible, wait. Being in a game does not increase your odds. You can get a booster pack without being logged into steam. Only thing we know of that boosts chances of getting a drop is your Steam Level. Every 10 levels you get a 20% increase, but since we don't know the base chance it's not terribly useful info.

The rate booster packs are generated is based on the badge creation. The more badges that are created, the more booster packs are generated.

[- Vivi 13 -]

Thank you, Tangysphere and Glimmer! The FAQ just wasn't clear on that one part, all they did was emphasize on the requirements and drop rates! Good to know I don't have to keep CS:GO up for the rest of today! Haha.

[TerraAlexstrasza]

When you DO get a booster pack, do you get notified? How does the booster pack work? Do you just open it and get cards or do you go into whatever game it's for and unlock cards like the first time?

[- Vivi 13 -]

I think it just appears as a new item in your inventory.

[herman]

Yes, you get the new item in inventory notification. What I am wondering about: when someone doesn't own any cards are they still eligible? For example after crafting all cards into a badge. Based on the requirements I would say yes, but the link to view if you're eligible is no longer visible.

[Glimmer]

Yes. As long as you recieved all your drops from atleast one game, you're eligible for Booster Packs. What you did with your cards is irrelevant.

[#CuteFaceJay]

Ctrl + F "Booster"

http://steamcommunity.com/tradingcards/faq

I've been waiting for like 11 days so don't expect to see anything at a low level :P

[herman]

Another thing I am curious about: does the number of games that you have affect the chance on a booster pack? I assume you can only get packs for games that you have, then if a certain number of packs are distributed per game more games -> more packs.

[CDSK]

My understanding is just that, that the more games you are eligible with boosters with, the more chance you'll have at getting one.

[Auryx]

This is what i think i know so far/or what has been said.

"Once you have received all of your card drops, you become eligible for a booster pack.
which is a set of 3 trading cards that may include both basic and foil cards.

Once eligible, your Steam Level increases your rate of receiving a booster pack drop:

• Level 10: +20% increase in your drop rate
  
• Level 20: +40% increase in your drop rate
  
• Level 30: +60% increase in your drop rate
  
• Level 40: +80% increase in your drop rate
  
• Level 50: +100%

increase in your drop rate (i.e. the rate has doubled) Etc."
That's from the FAQ

Every badge that a user creates, gives another user a chance of randomly finding a booster pack.
From what i know you do not even need to be in a game. Just log onto steam every week.
So far i have had no booster packs dropped.

When one booster pack dose get dropped it will say at the top of your screen new items in your inventory.

(NOTE: That's what i think it is so far. I could be badly wrong)

[TheFragMan (P2D)]

Still though, it's completely random. I'm level 20 with 18 booster eligible games, and I have not received a booster pack yet. While on the other hand, a friend of mine with only 2 eligible games has already gotten a pack.

They say you have more of a chance the higher level you are and the more eligible game you have, but besides that, there's nothing much you can do besides wait with fingers crossed.

[gavvatar]

Originally posted by Mushy Snugglebites:

When you DO get a booster pack, do you get notified? How does the booster pack work? Do you just open it and get cards or do you go into whatever game it's for and unlock cards like the first time?

If you're still wondering it appears in your inventory (you don't have to be in game) and you just unpack it from there.

[Jawey]

Originally posted by Glimmer:

You can get a booster pack without being logged into steam.

You couldn't be more wrong. Apart from receiving all card drops, the second requirement is being logged into Steam at least once a week.

[Glimmer]

You need you log in at least once a week to maintain eligibility. You do not need to be logged in to Steam the moment you receive the pack. There have been many reports of people who signed into Steam and got notification they had a pack in their inventory. It's possible they got a badge the exact moment their client connected, but the odds of that are staggeringly low even compared to normal booster pack chances.