In my latest effort at designing a "Fantasy Duel" called "Wizardry TCG" (WIZ), I have an interesting Mechanic CHOICE.
There is one component associated with Trading Card Games or Collectible Card Game which is "Deck-Building". Now I know the deck will be comprised of 60 cards. But I am unsure about how "Deck-Building" should be done.
Let me explain the various options.
- One option is to use deck-building prior to dueling an opponent. This is similar to Magic: The Gathering (Magic). Players take the time to build their deck BEFORE playing their opponent.
- Another option is to have a deck-building mechanic which means that cards are subdivided for each Wizard. This means that there would be five (5) piles of twelve (12) cards (for example).
- The last option is to have BOTH forms.
Let's discuss these. So #1 is a YES because I would like to perhaps allow the Trading or Collectible aspect.
The real question is about #2: would you subdivide the piles for each Wizard???
At the start of the game, you draw TWO (2) cards from each Wizard's pile (Starting deck of 10 cards - using random topmost cards). This would eliminate BAD shuffles of the decks (like in Magic). Ultimately you would get to choose what cards get added to your Deck that you play with. So there could be a RULE such that you may draw ONE (1) card from the table (New Knowledge). Or you may draw TWO (2) cards from your deck (Prior Knowledge).
It could allow "specialization" of your deck also - since you could decide which cards to choose and ADAPT based on the cards your opponent chooses to buy (yes - there is a cat & mouse effect).
The QUESTION boils down to this: only #1 (Deck building by selecting the cards PRIOR to a duel) or option #3 (both BEFORE and DURING)???
What do you guys think?
I've lost many a game of Magic because I couldn't get the right cards out at the right times, and it's super frustrating to draw and draw and not get the card you need. (Or to draw 5 lands in a row while your opponent destroys you.)
Well that's what I have been doing with this card game: fixing problems with the other popular card games. As you said, each Wizard in WIZ has a purpose and the cards vary in his "pile" but do specific things. Spells or the Sorcery pile is the Sorcerer, Enchantments or curse another (+X/-Y modifiers), Minions are another pile (like Creatures), etc.
Basically I wanted a SIMPLE mechanic for "buying" cards from the table. Instead of using COST (as in most deck-builders), I would keep it a very simple choice: either draw ONE (1) card from one of the five piles and place it in your discard OR draw TWO (2) cards from you Deck (Library).
It would take 50 turns to collect all cards. But my guess there will be a victor after maybe 20 turns (or 30 cards in your deck = 10 starter + 20 buy).
A valid TRUTH! It would make the game different from the other games. Plus you could position the Poly dice under each pile to remember which one if for which Wizard in WIZ.
Anyone else care to share their opinion?