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A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

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JackDarwid
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Joined: 12/31/1969

Well, this is my first card game. My goal is to make :
1.a ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game
2.No bookkeeping, no token, just you and the cards and a die and an adventure.
3.Not just rolling the die (luck factor), but a game about choices.
4.Fun

Since the game is 95% finished, I've post the rules (not final version) in www.geocities.com/islandofd (please read the designer's notes too!)
The complete game isn't there yet (but soon!), so I post this topic in Game Design, not in Game Playtesting.

Please read the rules and give me critics,comments,etc,etc

Thanks guys !!

Anonymous
nice concept

Hello there Jack...

Im looking forward to know about your RPG card games...Me, myself have an idea of making adventure card game too but i have to finish my tactical war board/card games first...feel free to talk about it with me on yahoo messenger...i would love to hear more about it...here s my yahoo add;jojo_taro_2000...see ya later

Peace!

Hedge-o-Matic
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A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

I think one player games are a vast, untapped wilderness. Looking forward to seeing how this develops.

JackDarwid
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

The game is ready now(you can download for free on www.geocities.com/islandofd ).
What I like about designing solo games is that it's easy to playtest (it's difficult to gather people to test a game, well I have one, my wife :P , but she is not a gamer).
The Island Of D is my first try and I like what I have done (at that time), see the designer's notes on the site. If there's something I want to improve (please try the game first) :
- too much die rolling (but it fits my plan for that game, an adventure, so we will face many random encounter, isn't it exciting :) )
- the freedom of movement (I find it's difficult to make too much freedom because at one time, it will come up with a too easy game or too difficult game), so I make the game more straight forward (but still with a lot of choices).

If I ever want to change the aspects above, I will have to overhaul the game. So, I left the game as is (small errata here and there, but the concept is the same), and I start my next project, the solo adventure game, but with the above aspects. The game is still in scratch now.

Any ideas are welcome :)

dete
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

Hi Jack,

I'm not a card game person, I am a Chess game person,
having said that, I went to your site and found it very
fascinating.

You know like when you watch a documentary about something
your not into but still enjoy the show anyway?
That is what your site did for me.

Like you, I like the same genre, fantasy sword and sorcery,
I like GAME BOOKS, you know the choose your own adventure
ones, but I dislike it when I have to do more than just flip pages.

Like you said, I don't want to keep track of stuff, calculate, etc.

So what about a card game where you use the cards to read
a paragraph like a GAME BOOK, and choose your own destiny,
and the cards also become your stats and items.
How much life do I have left? Just look at how many life cards
I have left. What about dice? Just shuffle the dice cards and pick
one out randomly :) everything is done in cards.

JackDarwid
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

"You know like when you watch a documentary about something
your not into but still enjoy the show anyway?
That is what your site did for me. "

I enjoy the process, and I'm happy that someone can enjoy the process I enjoy :P

"So what about a card game where you use the cards to read
a paragraph like a GAME BOOK, and choose your own destiny,
and the cards also become your stats and items.
How much life do I have left? Just look at how many life cards
I have left. What about dice? Just shuffle the dice cards and pick
one out randomly :) everything is done in cards."

IMHO your description (almost) fits the game, Island Of D, minus the paragrah.
The game was inspired by a paragraph-based game, see the Trivia on the site (just like a GAME BOOK but that game requires a lot of bookkeeping, using a board, dice, and a token).
To put the paragraph on the cards will need a LOT of cards, so I put just the 'essence' on the cards. The Life/Gold/Time/Item and everything else in the game are represented by cards.I put as much story as possible on the cards to add the theme ,but the cards are still too small :) Unless there's a book to 'contain' the story / paragraph (then it's a card - paragraph based game)
As for randomizer, in that game I choose to use a die. But the second game is on the way, using no die, but cards as the randomizer (and I put as much story as I can on the game).
In the Island Of D game you don't hold any cards on your hand, so the main idea is adventuring-combating-upgrading level-buying items/skills-defeating the Black Knight.

Jack

Anonymous
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

Agreed that this looks pretty cool. One Pplayer games are sorely lacking in my opinion. It would be nice to sit down and "play a quickie" when there is no one else around.

dete
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

Hey Jack,

not only has your Solitare CCG been entertaining,
but it has also inspired me to try and make my own.

Like I said before, I'm not a card game person,

so the major difference from your game will be
that mine is MUCH more simpler like a kid's game.
The card battles will be done like "War"
just look at my character's battle points, then look
at the monster's battle points, and the higher number
automatically wins. your probably laughing at how
simple this is.
I'll spend today working on the rules.

Anyway Thanx for the inspiration!

phpbbadmin
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A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

michaels0620 wrote:
Agreed that this looks pretty cool. One Pplayer games are sorely lacking in my opinion. It would be nice to sit down and "play a quickie" when there is no one else around.

Regarding One player games: Isn't that why they made computer games?

Just a thought.
-Darke

Yogurt
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A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

I spend 8+ hours a day in front of a computer, so I'm happy to find solo games that let me use some other part of my house.

I actually have a lot of fun playing multiplayer games like Struggle of Empires or Duel of Ages solo. (They have to have names like X of Y though or it doesn't work.) The games that don't work at all for me are trading and auction games. I can't shift perspectives fast enough.

Yogurt

JackDarwid
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

"so the major difference from your game will be
that mine is MUCH more simpler like a kid's game.
The card battles will be done like "War"
just look at my character's battle points, then look
at the monster's battle points, and the higher number
automatically wins. your probably laughing at how
simple this is. "

That's what German board games are : simple, easy but have a LOT of strategy. I think the simpler the game (to learn) the better it is. I myself try the best to make my games as simple as I can.
So, when it's ready, post the game ! Let us try ! (remember : playtest a lot ! since it's a solo game, it won't be difficult to playtest,time is all you need )

"Regarding One player games: Isn't that why they made computer games? "

:P I'm sure this phrase will show up somewhere sooner or later :)
So, I'm ready too with my answers (no offense here) :P :
1.when the lights go out, you can't play electronic games (you only need candles to play a card game :)
2.sometimes there are no PC/PS2/any electronic games/laptop,handheld device/etc etc around
3.sometimes I need to rest my eyes from the screen (well, I make the games using PC too :)
4.another type of exercise for your body (from typing/'mousing') to draw and play the cards or roll the die :)

dete
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A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

I'm pretty busy with my other board game stuff right now
I'm near self-publishing.

so tis on hold, but definitely will post it for you to check it out.

as far as solitaire games should be video games,

well the advantage is that
1) you don't have to install it
2) no loading time
3) doesn't take up space on your puter
4) doesn't require you to unplug your dvd player and hook it up
to the TV :)
5) provides a different experience to your senses,
no music, no video, much of it is in your head
Remember
As awesome as movies are today,
how often do you still hear people say the book was much better :)

nuff said! YAYY!!

JackDarwid
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

"I'm pretty busy with my other board game stuff right now
I'm near self-publishing. "

Well, it will be an interesting experience. Here is a forum in BGG you may want to check it out (a discussion about someone who want to publish his game for the first time too):
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geekforum.php3?action=viewthread&threadid=5...

Then there are 3 links in that forum that goes to
http://www.thegamesjournal.com/articles/LivingTheDream1.shtml
(there are 3 of them, change the "1" to "2" and "3".
Check it out !

dete
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

Hey Jack I really appreciate it.
this is my website, just kidding, this is a website I really like.

http://www.toddweeksmovies.com/

to most people this webpage is a joke, some fat@ss who
thinks he's a martial arts master and some kind of
talented musician/director.

but I love the creativity and in his videos you can tell
he's having fun. Bottom line he has done something
and created a product to show to whomever.

I think it won't hurt for you to also put on your website
like this guy, if you played my game and if you've liked
it, please send me one dollar :)
of course you'll have to have original art work though.

dete
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

Card Game idea so far...

you play a hero protrayed by a hero card.

You go enter a Maze of death to get a magical artifact
to prove that you indeed went into the maze and came out
alive.
(the maze was created by an evil wizard who after his death
didn't want his magical items to be stolen, it's like his tomb.)

The Maze is portrayed by cards of course.

3 stacks to choose from.

stack A, B, and C.
Each card asks you a question, and offers several answers to
choose from.

You see a statue to your left WDYD (what do you do)?
1) walk around it
2) closely examine it
3) kick it in the nuts

and then when you choose your decision, you flip the card and
on the back it say which answer draws from which pile.

If you choose 1) then draw a card from stack B.

Stack A consists of tons of exploration, and you will progress
in the maze with this one.

Stack B consists of tons of fighting.

Stack C is when you make a bad choice. It is the dreaded stack.

To beat the game fast, you need to go through BOTH stack A & B.

Battle is like I said before VERY simple "War" method, just
look at the battle points, the higher one wins.
If you win, you keep the monster card and add his points to yours.
That is your level up.

For those who just keep on choosing answers that will "most likely"
lead to stack B and just fight like crazy and collecting
monster cards, after the 10th battle you will face a BOSS.
And to beat the boss, you NEED some weapons/items.
To get those, you MUST go through other stacks like A and C.

Like wise, if you just looking for items and travel in Stack A,
after the 10th card, you WILL face a BOSS and you need to have
fought some monsters to increase your level.

OK that is what I have so far, and probably won't work on it
anymore cause like I said other fish to fry at this point.
But I hope it sounds good!!!

Inspired by your solitare CCG and those choose your adventure
books! So far I really like it, I hope you do too!!!!
Please give me comments!

larienna
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A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

About solitaire board games

I think solitaire board games are cool. I tought once of making a mixed game where it could be played as solitaire and as multiplayer. You play in solitaire at home to improve your deck of cards ( it was a card game ) and then you play in multiplayer if you wish.

Not all games can be played in solitaire and it is difficult to make solitaire game where you play against a ghost player since the lack of AI.

So I think solitaire game should not be ignored. Making a solitaire mode in a multiplayer game should not be ignored.

dete
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

Larienna wrote:

So I think solitaire game should not be ignored. Making a solitaire mode in a multiplayer game should not be ignored.

I agree, and want to go further and say that I think most
solitaire games can be played as 2 player games (just take turns)

where as to most 2 player games cannot be played solitaire.

JackDarwid
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

Hi Dete, your card games sounds cool. You try to blend game books with card games.
I have this idea about the same mechanics, a player playing againts a deck (but you make it 3 decks :)

Maybe one of the problem is that it will not have a 'continuing' story (from card to card) like game book (because every card is a small part of the story, on it's own, then it is shuffled at the beginning of the game), so maybe if there's a way to link the cards with each other, it will be better (ie after I pull the blue handle here in this card, the next time I face the closed blue door, it will be open), or something like that. So there will be a real story there :) (but I still not sure how it works, just a thought).

Then, what if the player remember all the 'right' answer of the cards ? He will win easily.

That's some comment from the cool idea :)

Looking forward for the next version of your game

dete
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

JackDarwid wrote:
Hi Dete, your card games sounds cool. You try to blend game books with card games.
I have this idea about the same mechanics, a player playing againts a deck (but you make it 3 decks :)

Maybe one of the problem is that it will not have a 'continuing' story (from card to card) like game book (because every card is a small part of the story, on it's own, then it is shuffled at the beginning of the game), so maybe if there's a way to link the cards with each other, it will be better (ie after I pull the blue handle here in this card, the next time I face the closed blue door, it will be open), or something like that. So there will be a real story there :) (but I still not sure how it works, just a thought).

Then, what if the player remember all the 'right' answer of the cards ? He will win easily.

That's some comment from the cool idea :)

Looking forward for the next version of your game

Hey Jack thanx for your reply,
and you really hit the main issues about this game.
I struggled with those Qs the most.
So I had to revert back to simplicity and say No true story,
just a Maze.
No continuity between the cards. Each card I draw is a room, monster
or item. You go from room to room. So that is how I took care of that.

What if they memorize the cards? Then they master the game hehehe!
I guess that is why it is a CCG, they need to get more cards.

As far as 3 decks, because it is my lil attempt to make it more
strategy than random.
However you can't always know what choice will make you draw
from which stack.

The appeal:
solitaire (from you)
all you need are the cards (from you)
qualities of a game book
but not as much to read (depending on your preference, good/bad)
expandable (CCG)

dete
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

someone want to produce this with me
as a free download, print and make yourself card game?

I can draw a little, but making the printable downloadable
card is gonna give me a headache.

And we can both work on the fun stuff, making the cards!

BTW Jack, I think we are on to something,
this is not your average mill CCG.
It should have a unique name for this type of game.....

Shrike
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Joined: 08/26/2010
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

Hey Dete,
Are you sure you want a CCG? Why not sell it as a stand alone (prepackaged 30-40 card decks, maybe 2-3 different ones to start) and then every couple of months put out an expansion of like 15 cards or so that people could add to their decks if wanted. I guess when I think of a CCG I think of a 300+ card base set w/ 120 or so new cards coming out every 3 months. that's a crazy amount of work. As far as producing the cards, find a program you own and use clip art galleries for the art (when legally available obviousy), that part wouldn't really be that hard I think, the big thing would be to figure out how many cards you want to put out how often.... Oh, you're a Dallas / Texas guy, you going to BGG con in Nov? I just found out I can go but I want to find folks to split hotel costs with...... just wondering

dete
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

Shrike wrote:
Hey Dete,
Are you sure you want a CCG? Why not sell it as a stand alone
As far as producing the cards, find a program you own and use clip art galleries for the art
Oh, you're a Dallas / Texas guy, you going to BGG con in Nov? I just found out I can go but I want to find folks to split hotel costs with...... just wondering

thanx for your reply,
since so much of this came from Jack I wouldn't sell it.
I'll honor him and say tis free to download just like his stuff.

yeah definitely don't want to produce that much! stand alone it is then!

I have a few programs, and I am capable, but the workload
is just too much. Drawing and scanning no problem I can handle
but to put that into a printable card game and make every card
myself, maybe if I was a card game mega-lover then yes.

BGG convention? can you tell me the cost?
Don't put me down as a reliable choice,
I would let you crash over at my apartment.
but I'm not sure if I'll still be here by that time!
I maybe going on a major vacation since my
lease will be up before that anyway.
The other thing is I have a big problem with smokers!

Shrike
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Joined: 08/26/2010
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

De nada on the reply. As far as the BGG con, if you go to boardgamegeek.com in their news section they have all of the info. 4 days long and the hotel is 99 a night, hence the splitting of cost. I understand how life is.... mine has been crazy but should start slowing down again in Sept, I hope. No smoker here... =)

dete
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

I definitely won't be attending but your welcome to crash
here if me is still here :)

JackDarwid
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

"I can draw a little, but making the printable downloadable
card is gonna give me a headache. "

You're better than me ! I can't draw :)

"It should have a unique name for this type of game....."

a "Story-driven card game ?" I don't know. It still sounds as a 'card game' to me :)
Maybe you want to check CCG Arcadia- the Wyld Hunt (I think that is the title), it tried to make an RPG with cards. I've never played the game, but from the rules and cards description the creator want to blend RPG with card game. From the sales I heard, it didn't work. But there's some idea there.

"BGG convention?"

Arrghhh. Don't make me crazy ! I live in Asia. But trust me, someday, trust me, someday, I'll go to the USA to attend Gen Con and BGG and everything else.

"since so much of this came from Jack I wouldn't sell it.
I'll honor him and say tis free to download just like his stuff. "

Well, thank you for the honor :)
If you want to sell, sell is OK because the whole idea is different (maybe with a little 'Special THanks to Jack D' in the rule book) hehehe
I'm a perfectionist, If I want to sell my game, I have to make it VERY sure that my game is spectacular. Then again , the process of selling the game from printing to promoting etc etc, I ton't think I have the time to handle it (that's why I want your story when at last you release your game, if you don't mind :)

dete
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

Hey Jack,
you mentioned you can't draw at all,
so as a thank you I did a cover art for your game,
hope you like it.
It should be roughly the size of a CD case.
I'm not that good of an artist, but hey at least you now have
1 original art work for your game!

check it out below after Seo's post

-dete

seo
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Joined: 07/21/2008
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

The link isn't working. For me at least.

Seo

dete
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

damn it!

OK here is a link that should work for everybody

http://www.geocities.com/boken88//misc.html

Thanx for the interest. which one do you like better?

-dete

seo
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A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

I think the third, but the title from the first.

It's funny how any time you make a few drafts and ask "which one you like?", people always answer "a combination of this and that."

Seo

dete
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

thanx Seo,
yeah, it's to make us redo everything :)
if you ever need
someone to comment on your art
just PM me

hpox
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Joined: 12/31/1969
A ONE player role playing fantasy adventure card game

Really nice artwork dede, I had some time to spare last night and I colored/retouched it. It was fun!


original by dete

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