Simple mechanics, lots of information

Yeah, a lite version mirror match isn't a bad idea. I must admit though that designing and therefore manufacturing extra components used only for your first few games sounds like misplaced time, energy, and monies.

All I know is that Suit Up doesn't really build up in complexity as the game progresses, unlike most games. It doesn't become less complex either since new pieces and mechanics aren't introduced as it continues. It's more resource management and predicting what your opponent does.

I can't really think of many games like this. Can you guys?

As someone who enjoys progression in games, I'd love to incorporate it into my design but truthfully, I'm not sure it needs it. Attacks use up energy (cards in your hand) so some attacks are totally off limits simply because you don't have enough energy to use it. That's one of the ways I've made Suit Up be more predictable- make certain actions unusable due to circumstance and have players play more defensively to accrue more energy when they're low. But since you're low, maybe you want to be unpredictable? That kind of mind-game space is what I'm aiming for.

I like the idea of removing specials from the first play through. Seeing as my pawns (wife and friends) ignored them/was too much to take in, that's an easy adjustment. I could also remove powering up too.

I've been told that these might want to be completely axed, but I think a slower progression of learning is a good approach and these things give you the player extra wiggle room, synergy, strategy, and flavor that brings out the designs of the characters and deepens the game. For example, Powering Up is a good option if you know your opponent isn't going to attack. Otherwise, the only other way to draw more energy is by blocking (but if you know your opponent won't attack, blocking won't garner energy). Suiting Up into a different costume does get you energy, but I want an action that let's you stay in your current costume and draw energy.

Man, I'm coming off a little defensive. Phooey. And this all probably makes no sense without a proper rule book. That'll come soon

I'm actually already doing that. The deck is split between red and yellow. Red for attacks and Yellow for specials. Each card also has one of the three attack types, used primarily for blocking. So even if you have the right amount of energy to do an expensive attack, you may not have the right energy.

I revamped the document to reflect that change. I'm going to playtest is later today. It's way clearer now.

I checked out BattleCon a while ago because I was told it does a lot of what I'm trying to accomplish. I just couldn't get into it, probably due to so much information being thrown at me.

After playtesting Suit Up! today, I realized I haven't been true to what I want out of the experience. Simply put, I don't like games that force you to understand tons of different abilities. I like depth with as few moving parts as possible. Suit Up! Is crammed with parts. My goal now is to simplify the crap out of it. I want it to be digestible, fast, and fun the first time you play.

Removing the energy deck and turnng it into a meter made the game so much smoother, as did eliminating the square decision cards. I quite like my mechanics, but I have to grind them down to their very essence. My number one design trap is creating depth by adding more and more and more. It's time to mash things together and take away.

Thanks for all the support guys. I'll update with progress/ask for more design help.