This is the set of skill which the Physical Fire class, the Soldier, can learn. The Soldier specializes in dealing massive amounts of damage to a single target. Gaps in the list indicate levels that I haven't composed a skill for yet. The bottom list of "Bonus Skills" contain skills which must be acquired through slipstream rounds (see Advanced Rules).
Lvl. 3: Parry (uz) - Receive 1/2 damage from the next attack.
Lvl. 6: Sharpen (u<3) - Attacks now do +4 damage.
Lvl. 9: Pierce (uuu, for two-Base or greater monsters only) - Destroy the monster's current active Base, then do 1 u and 1/2 another u damage to the next active Base.
Lvl. 12: War Cry (uu^) - Negate up to 1/2 uu in overkill penalties.
Lvl. 15: Master Stroke (uuuu) - Does 1/2 of total cost damage to 1 monster. If it is a multi-Base monster, carry the overkill damage into the next Base.
Bonus Skills
Lvl. 4: First Aid (u^) - Remove 1/2 ^ damage from yourself.
Lvl. 7:
Ability Updates
Lvl. 5: The damage of your u attacks can now be adjusted (that is, reduced or amplified) by a max of 2 points.
Lvl. 10: Increase the range of the previous update to 4.
Lvl. 15: Choose one other suit. The damage of these attacks may be adjusted by a max of two points.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Pyrotechnic's Skill Set (In Progress)
This is the list of every skill which the Spiritual Fire class, the Pyrotechnic, can learn. The Pyrotechnic specializes in dealing damage to several monsters at once. The gaps indicate levels I haven't composed a skill for yet. The bottom list called "Bonus Skills" contains skills that are acquired through slipstream rounds.
Lvl. 3: Flash Bomb (uu) - Does 1 u damage (regardless of enemy's type) to 1 monster, and disables that monster for 1 turn.
Lvl. 6: Refuel (u<3) - Attacks that connect may now do +2 damage for the duration of the round. (Does not alter the damage dealt by other skills.)
Lvl. 9: Crowd Pleaser (uuu) - Does 1/2 damage of total cost to 3 monsters (regardless of their type).
Lvl. 12:
Lvl. 15: Incinerate (uuuu) - Destroy the active Base of 1 monster. Attack the remaining monsters with 3 u.
Bonus Skills
Lvl. 4: Barrage (u<) - Fire 1 Firecracker at one monster, then do 1 u damage to the same or a different monster.
Lvl. 7:
Lvl. 10: Finale (Au) - Draw six cards. If any of them can be effective against any of the monsters on the field, attack with them. Discard any cards that aren't used.
Ability Updates
Lvl. 5: Can Hold 2 u from the hand per turn.
Lvl. 10: When attacking multiple monsters, you may add +1 damage to each target involved in your attack.
Lvl. 15: Increase the bonus from the previous update to +3.
Lvl. 3: Flash Bomb (uu) - Does 1 u damage (regardless of enemy's type) to 1 monster, and disables that monster for 1 turn.
Lvl. 6: Refuel (u<3) - Attacks that connect may now do +2 damage for the duration of the round. (Does not alter the damage dealt by other skills.)
Lvl. 9: Crowd Pleaser (uuu) - Does 1/2 damage of total cost to 3 monsters (regardless of their type).
Lvl. 12:
Lvl. 15: Incinerate (uuuu) - Destroy the active Base of 1 monster. Attack the remaining monsters with 3 u.
Bonus Skills
Lvl. 4: Barrage (u<) - Fire 1 Firecracker at one monster, then do 1 u damage to the same or a different monster.
Lvl. 7:
Lvl. 10: Finale (Au) - Draw six cards. If any of them can be effective against any of the monsters on the field, attack with them. Discard any cards that aren't used.
Ability Updates
Lvl. 5: Can Hold 2 u from the hand per turn.
Lvl. 10: When attacking multiple monsters, you may add +1 damage to each target involved in your attack.
Lvl. 15: Increase the bonus from the previous update to +3.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Item Charts
As stated in the Rulebook, players can buy items for their characters between battles with their gp. Your character's class determines the items available for purchase.
Item | Price | Description | Classes |
Potion | 5 | Restores 1 Base. | All |
High Potion | 15 | Restores 2 Base. | All |
Twisted Root | 25 | Restores 3 Base. | Herb |
Poison Dart | 20 | Prevents 1 monster from attacking for 1 turn (2 for Herb) | Herb, Hunt, Martial |
Hallucinogen | 22 | For 1 turn (2 for Herb), 1 monster targets another monster. | Herb, Sea, Martial |
Energy Reserve | 20 | Increase Hold capacity by 1. | All |
Magnet (a) | 30 | Grants the ability to draw the top card and use it immediately. | Pyro, Sea, Storm, Hunter, Herb |
Magnet (B) (Available after buying above) | 40 | Grants the ability to draw from discard instead of the deck. | Storm, Herb, Sea |
Magnet (z) (available after buying above) | 60 | Grants the ability to hold up to two cards from anywhere in the discard pile. | Storm, Herb |
Orb of Absorption | 40 | Grants ability to hold enemy attack cards of 1 suit (pick which suit upon purchase). Can’t hold attacks that hit. | Storm (max 3), Pyro, Sea, Martial (max 2), Herb, Hunt, Sold, WW (max 1) |
Flux Control | 40 | Hold 1 card of 1 suit from your Hand instead of attacking. | Storm (max 3), Pyro, Herb, Hunter (max 2), Sold, Sea, Mart, WW (max 1) |
Cat’s Lives Base | 9 | Guaranteed active Base of 9 at start of next battle. (Find it before drawing enemies.) | Herb, Sold, WW, Pyro, Hunt |
Queen’s Grace Base | 15 | Guaranteed Queen Base at start of next battle. | Sold, WW, Herb |
Candle’s Cross Base | 22 | Guaranteed A and 2 active Base at start of next battle. | WW |
Ether Sword | 55 | 1 suit’s attacks now always connect. (Choose which suit upon purchase.) | Soldier (max 3), WW (max 2) |
Ether Specs | 55 | Can now always attack 1 suit of monster. (Choose which suit upon purchase.) | Hunter (max 3), Martial (max 2) |
Frost Mantle | 60 | Reduce all < attacks by ½. | Sea, Martial, Herb, Storm |
Magma Gauntlets | 60 | Reduce all u attacks by ½. | WW, Sold, Pyro, Hunter |
Gaia Belt | 60 | Reduce all z attacks by ½. | WW, Sold, Herb, Hunt |
Static Scarf | 60 | Reduce all <3 attacks by ½. | WW, Martial, Pyro, Storm |
Firecracker | 15 | Inflicts 5 damage to 1 monster (6 w/ Pyro) | All |
Spark Shower | 18 | 3 damage to all monsters (4 w/ Pyro) | All |
The Big One | 25 | 10 damage to one monster | Pyro |
Show Stopper | 28 | 7 damage to all monsters | Pyro |
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Character Creation and Levelling Up
There are eight classes in the game, two for each element. Half are Physical, the rest are Spiritual - the former are better at attacking, while the latter wield more control over their Hand and Held cards. All classes start with one unique ability (i.e a skill that's always in effect) and one skill.
Fire (u)
Pyrotechnic (Spiritual) – Can hold 1 u instead of attacking.
1st Skill: Roman Candle - uu - Does 1 ½ damage of total cost to two monsters (regardless of type)
Soldier (Physical) - u attacks always work.
1st Skill: Sear - uu - Does damage of 1 u and ½ of other u to one monster (regardless of type).
Earth (z)
Herbalist (Spiritual) – Can draw and hold top discard (if z) instead of attacking.
1st Skill: Mild Tonic - zz - Remove damage equal to ½ total cost, or create base with ½ total cost.
Hunter (Physical) – Any attack works on z monsters.
1st Skill: Subdue - zz - Does damage of 1 z (regardless of type), and reduces damage from monster by ½ other card for the rest of the battle.
Thunder (<3)
Storm Mage (Spiritual) – Hold <3 attacks (that don’t connect).
1st Skill: Rain Scent (<3<3) - Draw two (if neither <3 is over 10) or three (if one <3 is over 10) cards from the top of the deck. Rearrange them in any order you like, then place them back on top of the deck.
Martial Artist (Physical) – Enemy <3 attacks (that connect) do ½ damage to enemy (but will still harm – NO bonus deductions for counter KOs)
1st Skill: Reflex – <3<3 – Attack with 1 <3 (regardless of type); if that monster (or the next one, if slain) attacks in the next turn, attack with the other <3 (also regardless of type).
Water (^, or spade)
Sea Mystic (Spiritual) – Replace ^ with current base of attacking (old base is held; does not remove damage).
1st Skill: Whirlpool - ^^ - Switch the base of 1 monster with 1 ^; do damage of other ^ to same monster (ignore type; discard old base)
Winter Warden (Physical) – Enemy ^ attacks do ½ damage.
1st Skill: Frost Shield - ^^ - Ignore up to ½ damage of total cost.
All classes begin with two Hand and two base. Spiritual classes can Hold up to one card. Hunters, Martial Artists, Pyrotechnics, and Sea Mystics always go first; Herbalists, Storm Mages, Soldiers, and Winter Wardens go after the first monster.
Levelling Up
Your first level-up requires 5 exp; every subsequent level-up requires 5x(level) exp. Until Lvl. 7, gain 1 base per level. Every 3rd level, gain a new skill. Every 4th level, increase Hand size. Every 5th level, update your ability.
Levelling Up
Your first level-up requires 5 exp; every subsequent level-up requires 5x(level) exp. Until Lvl. 7, gain 1 base per level. Every 3rd level, gain a new skill. Every 4th level, increase Hand size. Every 5th level, update your ability.
Rulebook: Overview and Battle Mechanics
Right. So if you're reading this blog, you probably know how a RPG typically works. But for those that don't, I'll try to be as rudimentary as possible. Key terms are introduced with italics.
Overview
The game is comprised mostly of a series of battles between your character and "monsters". At the outset, the player chooses one of the eight classes for their character; each class has a unique set of abilities and skills. Winning battles net you experience (or exp), gold points (or gp), and occasionally items. After so much exp, your character gains a level, and receives certain benefits. After each battle, you can spend gp on items that can either be used in battle or grant new abilities.
So far, there is no end objective. But there will be.
Battle Mechanics
Each participant in battle is represented by one or more cards, collectively known as Base. To initiate a battle, draw out the number of monsters you wish to fight, then draw out your own Base (two cards to begin with - so I generally start with two, one-Base monsters). Only the first Base, or the active Base, should be face up - the rest of the Base is face down. Each enemy Base is worth 1 exp; each monster has a 10-gp Gold Bonus, and each additional Base after the first increases the Gold Bonus by 5 more gp (more on Gold Bonus later - but a one-Base monster would have a 10-gp Gold Bonus and be worth 1 exp, a two-Base monster would have a 15-gp Gold Bonus and be worth 2 exp, a three-base 20 Gold Bonus and 3 exp, and so on).
On your turn, draw two cards - this is your Hand. These cards will be used to attack your enemies. To attack, however, your card's suit - or element - must be strong against a monster's Base. Diamond (Fire) is strong against Club (Earth), which is strong against Heart (Thunder), which is strong against Spade (Water), which is strong against Fire. The value of the card you attack with indicates the amount of damage you'll inflict on the enemy; for face cards, J =11, Q=12, K=13, A=14. To defeat a monster, you must inflict enough damage to equal or exceed the value of its active Base(s). You can only attack once per turn - the remaining cards are discarded (i.e - set aside in a separate pile). All destroyed Base cards (and any damage attached) are also discarded.
However, every time you defeat an active Base with an attack that exceeds that Base's total value, the difference between the two (or overkill) is subtracted from the total Gold Bonus. Overkill damage does not carry on to the next active Base (if there is one).
If your Hand contains any pairs or runs, you gain a 10-gp Item Bonus (more on this at the end).
Instead of drawing your Hand, you may use an item from your inventory instead. Also, if your class has the ability to do so, you may also choose to, after drawing your hand, save one card for future use (these are Held cards). However, your character can only hold so many cards at once; if you have reached your maximum, yet wish to Hold a new card, you must first discard one of your old Held cards.
After or before drawing, you can combine two or more cards from either your Hand or your Held cards (or both) to perform a skill instead of attacking. Each class starts with one skill and will gain more as the game progresses.
On an enemy's turn, draw one card. This is the enemy's attack, and will inflict damage on you if your active Base is weak to the element of that attack. Any ineffective attacks are discarded. If the enemy has sustained any injuries, it will attack one more time for every card of damage it has received. Should the enemy's attack card make a pair or run with its active Base, then attach this to the enemy and draw another card - this attack does 1/2 damage to you, regardless of its element. However, if you can defeat this enemy's active Base in the next turn, add 5 gp to the Gold Bonus (I call it a revenge bonus).
When every enemy Base is defeated, or all your Base is destroyed, the round is over. If you have won, add up all the exp you've earned and collect the Gold Bonus. If you have won any Item Bonuses, you may redeem the total amount of those bonuses for any number of items equal to that value (ex. if I've won one 10-gp Gold Bonus, I can trade that in for any number of items worth 10 gp). If you have lost, you do not earn any gp, exp, or items, and lose 1/2 of the gp you own.
After a battle, you may trade in the gp you've won for items from the Shop. Your class will determine the items available in the Shop.
So...that's the basic mechanics of the game. Any questions so far? Drop me a line. Next on the chopping block - character classes.
Overview
The game is comprised mostly of a series of battles between your character and "monsters". At the outset, the player chooses one of the eight classes for their character; each class has a unique set of abilities and skills. Winning battles net you experience (or exp), gold points (or gp), and occasionally items. After so much exp, your character gains a level, and receives certain benefits. After each battle, you can spend gp on items that can either be used in battle or grant new abilities.
So far, there is no end objective. But there will be.
Battle Mechanics
Each participant in battle is represented by one or more cards, collectively known as Base. To initiate a battle, draw out the number of monsters you wish to fight, then draw out your own Base (two cards to begin with - so I generally start with two, one-Base monsters). Only the first Base, or the active Base, should be face up - the rest of the Base is face down. Each enemy Base is worth 1 exp; each monster has a 10-gp Gold Bonus, and each additional Base after the first increases the Gold Bonus by 5 more gp (more on Gold Bonus later - but a one-Base monster would have a 10-gp Gold Bonus and be worth 1 exp, a two-Base monster would have a 15-gp Gold Bonus and be worth 2 exp, a three-base 20 Gold Bonus and 3 exp, and so on).
On your turn, draw two cards - this is your Hand. These cards will be used to attack your enemies. To attack, however, your card's suit - or element - must be strong against a monster's Base. Diamond (Fire) is strong against Club (Earth), which is strong against Heart (Thunder), which is strong against Spade (Water), which is strong against Fire. The value of the card you attack with indicates the amount of damage you'll inflict on the enemy; for face cards, J =11, Q=12, K=13, A=14. To defeat a monster, you must inflict enough damage to equal or exceed the value of its active Base(s). You can only attack once per turn - the remaining cards are discarded (i.e - set aside in a separate pile). All destroyed Base cards (and any damage attached) are also discarded.
However, every time you defeat an active Base with an attack that exceeds that Base's total value, the difference between the two (or overkill) is subtracted from the total Gold Bonus. Overkill damage does not carry on to the next active Base (if there is one).
If your Hand contains any pairs or runs, you gain a 10-gp Item Bonus (more on this at the end).
Instead of drawing your Hand, you may use an item from your inventory instead. Also, if your class has the ability to do so, you may also choose to, after drawing your hand, save one card for future use (these are Held cards). However, your character can only hold so many cards at once; if you have reached your maximum, yet wish to Hold a new card, you must first discard one of your old Held cards.
After or before drawing, you can combine two or more cards from either your Hand or your Held cards (or both) to perform a skill instead of attacking. Each class starts with one skill and will gain more as the game progresses.
On an enemy's turn, draw one card. This is the enemy's attack, and will inflict damage on you if your active Base is weak to the element of that attack. Any ineffective attacks are discarded. If the enemy has sustained any injuries, it will attack one more time for every card of damage it has received. Should the enemy's attack card make a pair or run with its active Base, then attach this to the enemy and draw another card - this attack does 1/2 damage to you, regardless of its element. However, if you can defeat this enemy's active Base in the next turn, add 5 gp to the Gold Bonus (I call it a revenge bonus).
When every enemy Base is defeated, or all your Base is destroyed, the round is over. If you have won, add up all the exp you've earned and collect the Gold Bonus. If you have won any Item Bonuses, you may redeem the total amount of those bonuses for any number of items equal to that value (ex. if I've won one 10-gp Gold Bonus, I can trade that in for any number of items worth 10 gp). If you have lost, you do not earn any gp, exp, or items, and lose 1/2 of the gp you own.
After a battle, you may trade in the gp you've won for items from the Shop. Your class will determine the items available in the Shop.
So...that's the basic mechanics of the game. Any questions so far? Drop me a line. Next on the chopping block - character classes.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Current Updates/Progress
Here I'll record my progress, and state what I'm currently working on.
5/21/2011 - Set lists up for the two Fire classes. Soldier class is entirely operational - I just haven't developed many Bonus Skills for it yet. And I'm thinking that some classes may have less Bonus Skills to learn than others. So, the Soldier may be finished, after all. Eh...nah, it needs at least one more. At any rate, I'm thinking of posting up some Notes on Playing that may aid any testers with getting into the game. And I also need to get up the Advanced Rules, which will include the procedures for acquiring Bonus Skills.
5/20/2011 - Characters and Levelling Up finished yesterday - Item Charts up today. That's not exactly every item I've concocted - there's some advanced gear that I haven't even experimented with yet. At this point, it would be possible to play up to Lvl 2...but how worthless would that be? So now I just need to hash out the Skill Charts. I'll try to have at least each Lvl. 3 skill up tomorrow.
Been thinking lately that an actual website would serve for displaying all this much better than a blog...but, at least, this format IS a bit more interactive. And no use really establishing myself if the game's no good yet, I s'pose.
5/19/2011 - Overview and Battle Mechanics finished. A little longer than I expected - hope I haven't boggled any minds yet. Trust me, once I set these rules down, I never had to glance at them again - but maybe that's 'cause I'm the creator. : / Anyway, tried to be as straightforward and thorough as possible. Character Creation is next, then I'll probably set down the Item Chart.
5/18/2011 - Introduction posted today. Now composing the Overview and Battle Mechanics post. Might get it done tonight, might not. But that'll be out soon. Next I'll publish info on Character Creation, which will entail descriptions of each of the eight character classes.
In the books, I'm hashing out skill sets for each class. Also testing out my characters in game play, and brooding on advanced rules (such as multiplayer modes).
12/20 - Was a bit preoccupied with baking and shopping yesterday, but I managed to fix the rules to pages, and put up the Pyrotechnic, the Herbalist, and the Soldier. Just got the Hunter up - now I'll see if I can't have all the classes up by the end of today.
12/19/2011 - After a busy, busy summer and school semester, I've finally decided to tinker with this again. Still not sure if the Storm Mage's first skill is any good - been having ill luck with Chane in my test runs. : / Anyway, Sea Mystic's basic skill set is completed. Can't wait to play with that class some more.
And - holy crap - just realized I can make pages instead of these tacky blog posts. Will certainly have this page re-organized before this day is over.
5/29/2011 - Martial Artist's partial skill set up. Notice that this class earns an additional ability in co-op mode - I might have the Winter Warden (who isn't up yet) earn an ability similar to this. That, of course, invites other classes to have co-op only benefits; with a little ingenuity, I might come up with something for every other class. We'll see...
Haven't played the game in a while; today, however, is a gloomy enough day to discourage going out. The Winter Warden is, I think, the only class I haven't experimented with, so I'll try to have at least a Lvl. 3 skill up by the end of today.
5/27/2011 - Been slow to post lately, but many classes are up now (albeit w/ skeleton skill sets), and the Advanced Rules are also up. Trust me, I've tried a slipstream, and it's intense. Definitely a challenge worthy of a new skill. But I have never been able to try any of the multiplayer matches...so anyone who wants to give that a spin, please tell me how it goes.
5/22/2011 - About to post up a series of skill sets that will be mostly empty - but they WILL have the Lvl. 3 skill! :P At any rate, I'm getting these up so I can work on them further. Might flesh 'em out a bit more tonight, too.
12/19/2011 - After a busy, busy summer and school semester, I've finally decided to tinker with this again. Still not sure if the Storm Mage's first skill is any good - been having ill luck with Chane in my test runs. : / Anyway, Sea Mystic's basic skill set is completed. Can't wait to play with that class some more.
And - holy crap - just realized I can make pages instead of these tacky blog posts. Will certainly have this page re-organized before this day is over.
5/29/2011 - Martial Artist's partial skill set up. Notice that this class earns an additional ability in co-op mode - I might have the Winter Warden (who isn't up yet) earn an ability similar to this. That, of course, invites other classes to have co-op only benefits; with a little ingenuity, I might come up with something for every other class. We'll see...
Haven't played the game in a while; today, however, is a gloomy enough day to discourage going out. The Winter Warden is, I think, the only class I haven't experimented with, so I'll try to have at least a Lvl. 3 skill up by the end of today.
5/27/2011 - Been slow to post lately, but many classes are up now (albeit w/ skeleton skill sets), and the Advanced Rules are also up. Trust me, I've tried a slipstream, and it's intense. Definitely a challenge worthy of a new skill. But I have never been able to try any of the multiplayer matches...so anyone who wants to give that a spin, please tell me how it goes.
5/22/2011 - About to post up a series of skill sets that will be mostly empty - but they WILL have the Lvl. 3 skill! :P At any rate, I'm getting these up so I can work on them further. Might flesh 'em out a bit more tonight, too.
5/21/2011 - Set lists up for the two Fire classes. Soldier class is entirely operational - I just haven't developed many Bonus Skills for it yet. And I'm thinking that some classes may have less Bonus Skills to learn than others. So, the Soldier may be finished, after all. Eh...nah, it needs at least one more. At any rate, I'm thinking of posting up some Notes on Playing that may aid any testers with getting into the game. And I also need to get up the Advanced Rules, which will include the procedures for acquiring Bonus Skills.
5/20/2011 - Characters and Levelling Up finished yesterday - Item Charts up today. That's not exactly every item I've concocted - there's some advanced gear that I haven't even experimented with yet. At this point, it would be possible to play up to Lvl 2...but how worthless would that be? So now I just need to hash out the Skill Charts. I'll try to have at least each Lvl. 3 skill up tomorrow.
Been thinking lately that an actual website would serve for displaying all this much better than a blog...but, at least, this format IS a bit more interactive. And no use really establishing myself if the game's no good yet, I s'pose.
5/19/2011 - Overview and Battle Mechanics finished. A little longer than I expected - hope I haven't boggled any minds yet. Trust me, once I set these rules down, I never had to glance at them again - but maybe that's 'cause I'm the creator. : / Anyway, tried to be as straightforward and thorough as possible. Character Creation is next, then I'll probably set down the Item Chart.
5/18/2011 - Introduction posted today. Now composing the Overview and Battle Mechanics post. Might get it done tonight, might not. But that'll be out soon. Next I'll publish info on Character Creation, which will entail descriptions of each of the eight character classes.
In the books, I'm hashing out skill sets for each class. Also testing out my characters in game play, and brooding on advanced rules (such as multiplayer modes).
Statement of Intent (or - the Inevitable Introduction)
So I've been into this project of mine lately...
Y'see, I've always had this hobby of planning RPGs. The maps, the characters, the items, the monsters, all that jazz. Only problem was, I never had a particular medium in mind. And my ideas were usually far too ambitious to be confined to pen-and-pencil.
I forget how or when I mused about the notion of a playing card RPG. I started plotting my first two years ago - but the plans quickly grew convoluted. I had a navigation system, a bit like the Java-based Dragon's Court, worked out for the first world, and a bevy of items. The battle system worked on chance - a certain range of cards could hit, which could increase/decrease with upgrades and the enemy's Evasion stat. One could also "Hold" cards from accidental runs. Enemies had prescribed move sets, which were also determined by random card draws.
The problem, of course, was that I wanted this card RPG idea to be convenient...a little game that could be played with just a deck, paper, and minimum reference materials. That was not happening with this first project - I had pages of room details, with patches of storyline - and of course, every monster would be a page. I don't intend to scrap it just yet - but I needed something simpler.
So, about a month ago, I just had a bolt of inspiration. Stats aren't necessary - monsters don't need move sets. Hell, who needs a world map? Fancying myself as a fire-mage type - a pyrotechnic - I hashed out my first battle. From there the rules simply fell into place.
This blog series lays out the plans I've developed so far for this card RPG (which has yet to be named). Once I've developed far enough, I'll be asking any readers who care to give these rules a spin and drop me some feedback.
I haven't the slightest idea what will happen with this idea. But we'll see, won't we...?
Y'see, I've always had this hobby of planning RPGs. The maps, the characters, the items, the monsters, all that jazz. Only problem was, I never had a particular medium in mind. And my ideas were usually far too ambitious to be confined to pen-and-pencil.
I forget how or when I mused about the notion of a playing card RPG. I started plotting my first two years ago - but the plans quickly grew convoluted. I had a navigation system, a bit like the Java-based Dragon's Court, worked out for the first world, and a bevy of items. The battle system worked on chance - a certain range of cards could hit, which could increase/decrease with upgrades and the enemy's Evasion stat. One could also "Hold" cards from accidental runs. Enemies had prescribed move sets, which were also determined by random card draws.
The problem, of course, was that I wanted this card RPG idea to be convenient...a little game that could be played with just a deck, paper, and minimum reference materials. That was not happening with this first project - I had pages of room details, with patches of storyline - and of course, every monster would be a page. I don't intend to scrap it just yet - but I needed something simpler.
So, about a month ago, I just had a bolt of inspiration. Stats aren't necessary - monsters don't need move sets. Hell, who needs a world map? Fancying myself as a fire-mage type - a pyrotechnic - I hashed out my first battle. From there the rules simply fell into place.
This blog series lays out the plans I've developed so far for this card RPG (which has yet to be named). Once I've developed far enough, I'll be asking any readers who care to give these rules a spin and drop me some feedback.
I haven't the slightest idea what will happen with this idea. But we'll see, won't we...?
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