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Language for Subtypes/Keywords

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infocorn
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I've NO idea if this is in the right place, so mods, feel free to move this if needed.

I'm looking for a word to convey the following arcetypes for a card game.

(SITE): These are places forgotten by time, by man, or by both. It's the house that never seems to be torn down or a room with no apparent purpose, but is also a lost city in the Amazon or ruins atop a mountain. They're sort of visibily invisible pocket dimensions. The name given to these places will also likely be the name of this game. I've tried "Lost Place," "Henge," "Shadowland" and some others but nothing really fits. I'd like something that has a mysterious feel to it, but is an actual word. "Zone" is too general and really makes me think more of where the actual card would be placed on the table (just as an example). In any case, these places are unstable (used as a game mechanic) and accessable only to...

(CHARACTER): An "attuned" PC, your avatar in the game. (CHARACTERS) can see-- and find-- (SITES) in ways that normal humans cannot. I'm thinking that there will be subtypes such as Arcane, Beasts, etc. One of the mechanics of the game is that while it's straightforward NCCG/CCG in flavor, your (CHARACTER) card is actually more like the advert inserts you get in some packs, as it will be double the length and folded like a booklet. I've tried: "Liminal," "(Henge)keeper," "Shadowseer" (which is a Warhammer term; "seer" was just a little weak), "Shadow Walker" (too like "planeswalker" and too many w's), and some others.

The gameplay? Well, it's reasonably straightforward but needs VERY pared down from its current form. I had some ideas on keeping it to 4 kinds of cards only (Sites, Critters, Characters and Events), but may up that to include Items as well.

I might game journal this one, as I have a kinda mythology for it despite myself. I mean, I wanted it to be kind of like how Yu Gi Oh just has all kinds of things smashed together-- Egyptian motifs combatting against D&D types and cyber creatures battling Toons-- giving me some freedom to just DO stuff, but I like backstory WAY too much to be able to do that. I also kind of like the idea of doing it in "seasons" more like a TV show, where a certain storyline's told and the end is determined by gameplay (I think Deadlands did this with its card game, if I'm not mistaken). In any event, there's a global calling and the various (CHARACTERS) find out they're to find the (SITES) and whoever controls them in the right way might be able to (ACHEIVE SOME END). The mythology's very rough at this point.

Willi B
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Joined: 07/28/2008
I definitely feel Ruins of some sort

Ghost Ruins?
Spirit Ruins?

I have some ideas for the character, but it would depend on the location site name first.

Katherine
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Joined: 07/24/2008
Shadow rift or Shadow vale?

Shadow rift or Shadow vale?

bluesea
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For site: 1. Missed Place 2a.

For site:
1. Missed Place
2a. Lore: for a place that is legendary and may or may not have existed (i.e. Atlantis.)
2b. Lorn(e): for a place that did exist once, but is in ruins or just not noticed.
3. Perdu or Perdition
4. Miasma
5. Smaze
 
For the character:
1. Cursor
2. Seer/Seeress


Or you can get all greek mythological:
Site = Erebus
Character = Khaos or Nyx
Wiki the above and you might see a connection in to your game.

infocorn
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Thanks!

All of this is great, in fact, you folks have inspired "Veil" as a name for another concept in the game.

I think I like Seer for the PC type. The more I think about it Seers themselves don't have to be wimpy little omen readers, now do they? :-D

I was thinking the Sites could be Lairs, but I don't like that LAIR kind of has that "there's a nest full of monsters inside" connotation. At least it does to me. I kind of liked "Haven" for a while, it's nice, it's pretty impossible to have imagined fanboys butchering the pronounciation...but it seems to peaceful-- I can't imagine having a war for a "haven." "Port" on the other hand...that's got some promise.

I also kind of like "node," but is it too sci-fi for something that's very all over the place with its source material?

awakener76
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Joined: 10/07/2008
Here's a few suggestions

How about sanctum or locale

infocorn
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Joined: 07/30/2008
Sanctum's not bad. I like it

Sanctum's not bad. I like it a lot.

infocorn
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I wanted to thank everyone.

I wanted to thank everyone.

I've decided the following:
Site= Ruin (I'm keeping "sanctum" in my pocket for a specific card :-D)
PC= Seer
Critters= Minions
Instant/Interrupt/Socery/Action/Plot/Etc: Event (and, strategically enough, all will be two-part "If/Then" cards).

Next phase:
Your PC in the game will be featured on a folded-in-half, double-the-length card. This means that packages will still be regular-sized, but you can easily separate out your Hero from collections and on the table. The thinking is now that the front of the "book" will be a full-frame picture with the Seer's name, but no game info (if you're familiar with WOW the Card Game's Heroes, imagine the "flipped" side). The reverse-- the "back cover" will have a short flavor text on the Seer and likely a turn-sequence flow chart.

On the inside, a smaller version of the cover picture and a basic ability (along with the Seer's stats line) will be on the left "page." On the other, to keep the number of card types down for the time being, I'm considering using a series of 5 printed "attacks," written more like D&D events: "(SEER) uses his Blessed Halbard to (effect)." There will be costs associated with the various attacks, which play at the speed of an instant/plot/etc. type card during combat.

Now here's the question: with attacks like that, and the possibility of various fights (Seer/Seer, Seer/Minion, Seer/Ruin Guardian), do I need a subtype for specific weapons, trinkets, etc. akin to items, treasure, or artifact cards? Do CCG players here LIKE having a separate card type for these things, or can they be folded into the attacks/flavor text?

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