Game Idea: Take Two

[Callie]

I attempted to start a complex forum game a while ago, but it failed to generate sufficient interest. There have also been two recent attempts to revive Northern Isles, which unfortunately failed. In such cases, I think that the complexity turned people away. I am proposing what I feel to be a simple, Avadon-themed deck-building game for six to ten players. I have posted the rules below. Please provide feedback if you have any; I'd love to moderate a game that everyone enjoys! If I feel there's enough interest, I will post a signup after Labor Day weekend.

 

Rules:

 

 

Introduction

 

 

Lynaeus is a game for six, eight, or ten players. Players represent a unique nation and a corresponding allegiance (Pact or Farlander, there are an equal number of players for each allegiance). Each player begins the game with 20 unique cards, 2 faction-specific cards, and one scarab (at random). Cards and scarabs add to a combination of: attack (A), defense (D), culture (C ), and economy (E). Players acquire victory points (VP) by playing cards, creating military excursions, and diplomacy. The player with the most victory points by the end of 7 turns is the winner. Each turn lasts 24 hours.

 

 

The Turn

 

 

Cards: Each player draws 6 cards from the deck at random and plays 4. Attack, defense, culture, and economy totals for the turn are based on the cards played; a player who plays a flagbearer (2A/1C), walls (3D), bandit (1A/2E), and alchemist (1A/1D/1E) and has an Opaline (3E) scarab would have 4A/4D/1C/6E. Culture and economy accumulate over time, whereas attack and defense are only applied for the specific turn.

 

Played and drawn cards are added to the discard at the end of each turn. When the deck does not contain enough cards for a draw, the remaining cards in the deck are kept and the discard is shuffled to supply the needed cards.

 

Trades: Twice per turn, a player may trade up to two cards from the hand, deck, or discard with another player (except faction-specific cards). Trades must be balanced (no player can ever have anything other than 22 cards). Cards traded from the hand cannot be played. Scarabs may not be traded. Traded cards are added to the deck at random, not the discard.

 

Classification: Once per turn, a player may attempt to identify another player’s nationality for a VP and defense bonus. Players are not penalized for incorrect classification attempts.

 

Combat: Once per turn, a player may choose to attack another player. The player may also attempt to identify the victimized player for an attack bonus (this identification attempt does not provide VP). The winning player gains 2 VP and the losing player loses 1 VP. A player may not attack a specific player more than once. Combat is resolved by comparing attack and defense scores as follows:

 

 

Attack:

Sum of cards and scarab

+2 for correctly identifying the defender

-1 for incorrectly identifying the defender

+3 if the defender is a faction-specific enemy

-1 if the defender is part of your allegiance and not an enemy

 

Defense:

Sum of cards and scarab

+3 for correctly classifying the attacker

 

 

The defender learns the name of the attacker (not the nationality or allegiance). The winner has the difference between the corresponding attack and defense scores added to their military reputation total; similarly, the losing player has the difference subtracted. Both players learn the military reputation total gained by the winner, but not the attack and defense scores.

 

 

Communication

 

 

All forms of communication are allowed.

 

 

End of game

 

 

The VP total is calculated as follows:

 

+2/military victory

-1/military defeat

+3 for each successful classification

+4 for each enemy defeated

+1/3 of accumulated culture (not rounded)

+1/3 of accumulated economy (not rounded)

+8 for having the highest military reputation

+8 for having the most accumulated culture

+8 for having the most accumulated economy

-5 for having the lowest military reputation

-5 for having the least accumulated culture

-5 for having the least accumulated economy

Faction-specific bonus (see Appendix B – each faction gains a VP bonus for specific totals in the deck, i.e. economy and defense)

+5 VP bonus if one’s allegiance has the highest combined VP total

 

The player with the most VP wins. Tied players both receive the same bonus/penalty.

 

 

Appendix A: the Cards and Scarabs

 

 

The scarab with the corresponding total is in brackets.

 

Battalion……. (3A)……... [Warfare]

Weaponsmith (2A/1D)…. [subtlety]

Flagbearer…. (2A/1C)…. [Truesight]

Galley………. (2A/1E)….. [Calling]

Incantatrix…. (1A/1D/1C) [Void]

Alchemist….. (1A/1D/1E) [Fleetfoot]

Scribe……… (1A/1C/1E) [Timewalk]

Walls……….. (3D)………. [Evasion]

Archer……... (1A/2D)….. [Tenacity]

Diplomat…... (2D/1C)….. [Life Symbol]

Armorsmith.. (2D/1E)….. [spiny]

Craftmaster. (1D/1C/1E) [Translucent]

Artist………. (3C)………. [Amethyst]

Drummer…. (1A/2C)….. [icerock]

Bugler…….. (1D/2C)….. [Pure Clarity]

Tailor……… (2C/1E)….. [Malachite]

Mint……….. (3E)………. [Opaline]

Bandit…….. (1A/2E)….. [Corrupted]

Tanner……. (1D/2E)….. [Vibrating]

Merchant… (1C/2E)….. [Frost-Rimed]

 

 

Appendix B: The Nations and their Attributes

 

 

Each nation gains a VP bonus corresponding to the total score of cards in the deck (except for unique cards). For example, the Kva gain a bonus for defense and culture; if the Kva never traded cards, the VP bonus would be +15 for total defense and another +15 for total culture (no points are awarded for two blademasters). Similarly, a Kellem player who has not traded during the game would receive 30 VP (+15 culture multiplied by two).

 

Pact Members

 

 

Dharam

VP: 2E

Enemies: Tawon Empire, Wretch Lands, and Svorgald

Unique: Tinkermage (3D/2E)

 

Holklanda

VP: A + D

Enemies: Tawon Empire, Khemeria, and Kellemderial

Unique: Shadowwalker (3A/2D)

 

Kellemderial

VP: 2C

Enemies: Holklanda, Tawon Empire, and Svorgald

Unique: Sorceror (2A/1D/2C)

 

The Kva

VP: D + C

Enemies: Wyldrylm, Titan Peaks, and Wretch Lands

Unique: Bladmaster (3A/1D/1C)

 

Wyldrylm

VP: C + E

Enemies: Khemeria, the Kva, and Titan Peaks

Unique: Shaman (1A/2D/1C/1E)

 

 

Farlanders:

 

 

Khemeria

VP: 2D

Enemies: Wyldrylm, Holklanda, and the Tawon Empire

Unique: Runner (3D, 1C, 1E)

 

Svorgald

VP: A + E

Enemies: Dharam, Tawon Empire, and the Wretch Lands

Unique: Longship (3A/1C/1E)

 

Tawon Empire

VP: A + C

Enemies: Holklanda, Kellemderiel, and Dharam

Unique: Temple (1A/2D/2C)

 

Titan Peaks

VP: 2A

Enemies: the Kva, Wyldrylm, and the Wretch Lands

Unique: Titan (3A/1D/1E)

 

Wretch Lands

VP: D + E

Enemies: the Kva, Dharam, and Titan Peaks

Unique: Wretch (2A/2D/1E)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mea Tulpa]

Can you trade any card from your hand/deck/discard, or only cards in your hand?

[Callie]

Thanks for pointing that out! One can trade cards from the hand, deck, and discard, but cards from the hand cannot be played.

[Mea Tulpa]

You mean that IF you trade a card from your hand, you can't play it (since you traded it away)... not that you can never play cards from hand... right?

[adc.]

This is for the Northern Isles Misc Game?

 

At first, I was like; What game is it? Yes.

[Callie]

You mean that IF you trade a card from your hand, you can't play it (since you traded it away)

Correct

[Goldengirl]

I'm in.

[BJ Back From the Beyond]

Looks interesting. Count me in, for now.