Week 09 - Analyzing Card Games

The first game I'll be analyzing was the in-class example I played— Fluxx.

To set the scene, 

The play space can be really anywhere as long as there is a middle visible to all players, where the current rules and goals will be placed.

There are 4 varieties of cards in any player's hand. Either an action card which tells you a specific move to carry out, a rule card that introduces a new rule or replaces an old one, a goal card which changes the win condition, and finally keeper cards which are the cards that have the images that match the end goal placed on goal cards.

How this game works, is for a group of 2-6 players to start this game with 3 cards going to each player, and they must follow the basic rule of drawing 1 card and playing 1 card. As they play cards from their hand, the rules and goals of the game will change because of the cards I listed above. The end goal is for players to try to match their keeper cards to the current goal, while playing within the current rules which are consistently in flux. (Get It?)

Next, though we'll get into my Watch It Played example:

Bloodborne Card Game

The play space for this game should really be a desk or flat surface in front of all 3-5 players, so everyone can see the cards.

The premise is for each player to play as hunters who battle monsters and bosses while trying to also be the last one standing at the end of the game. The game takes place over the course of several rounds.

Players choose action cards, giving them weapons and effects on said weapons. Hunters deal damage equal to the number listed on their weapons card.

They then fight a monster and roll a die to determine how much damage the monster will do to each hunter. While they fight monsters they're trying to deal maximum damage to collect blood tokens while staying alive.

Hunters who dealt damage to a fallen monster will also get trophies, which are indicated by the icon in the bottom right of the monsters' card.

The Hunter's Dream phase allows all players still alive to bank their blood tokens so as not to lose them upon death, reclaim all action cards, and take half damage.

Players may never have more than 7 cards in their hand or used pile, bosses and monsters get more health depending on how many hunters are playing.

Players play in rounds until the dungeon deck which dispatches monsters runs out, once that occurs they will face the final boss who was significantly more health than any previous enemies.

The final score is determined by adding the total your trophy marker is on top of plus the number of blood tokens you've collected.

Hunter with the highest total wins!