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Hardy's Design Blog - Cadence

Cadence - Road Racing Championship.png

Hey everyone,

So about a month ago, I saw this contest going on on BGG:
http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1211499/18-card-microgame-contest/page/1

The contest has one big limitation and that's it: Make a game that has 18 cards(no more no less) and no components other than that. Is it extremely difficult to make a game with just 18 cards? Well, apparently, its easy; the contest already has 75+ entries. My game 'Cadence - Road Racing Championship' will also be included in that.

Cadence - Road Racing Chaampioship

2 players
45-60 minutes
Ages 12+

THEME:
Wheels have the ability to spin like a tornado, making everything on top of it glide through the air. An engine can make them do that, but an engine doesn’t sweat. It doesn’t increase its heart rate. It doesn’t breathe heavily and it doesn’t give all its got!

An engine doesn’t, a rider does. Carbon frames, drop down handle bars, aluminium pedals, thin wheels and the only engine is your heart.

After weeks and months or rigorous training, you stand at the starting line of the most long awaited cycling race. Ahead of you, lie smooth roads, steep climbs and rapid descends waiting to test you to your limits. Your opponent seems tough as well.

Bums on the saddle! Hands on the handle bars! Pedal to the metal! Ready… Set… GO

OVERVIEW:
Cadence is a 2 player racing game that simulates bike racing and the strategy involved in it. You are professional cycle racers going head to head on race circuit. Use your energy but save your stamina, shift gears to maximize speed, move along a race circuit with climbs and descends of different gradients, use abilities to draft or sprint and strive to reach the fish line before your opponent.

PNP:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1gu5btm8nufbwgr/Cadence%20PnP.pdf?dl=0. Cadence - road racing championship PnP PDF

WIP THREAD:
http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1258540/wip-cadence-road-racing-champion...

Rules are in the first comment of the WIP thread with a few handy diagrams.

DESIGN OBJECTIVE ANS STATUS:
Well, i always thought that deeper strategy war games and simulation games should have been more portable. At same time i also thought that microgames should have had more depth. So my aim was to create a strategic bike racing simulation with fairly good depth.

The game has changed A LOT in its design life. I started out with easy to learn quick family game and turned it into a deeper and more strategic racing game. The 18 card limitation has certainly made me be creative as far as mechanics is concerned.

The game has gone through a lot of intensive solo playtests, playtests with my gaming group and also a couple of blind playtests from some friendly people on BGG. Although, i would still carry on playtesting and any blind playtesting would be deeply appreciated.

Thanks for reading! Any comment/thoughts are welcome!

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