Let's play a game.
Have you ever heard of Cenotaph?
Doesn't ring a bell.
I'm sure you've played it before.
Even if that's not the name you know it by.
Here, let me set up a board. It’ll be easier to explain that way.
What am I looking at?
This is a simple 3x3 map. And I've also set us up rudimentary characters to play as so I can explain the basics.
For this example you'll be playing as Blue and I as Red.
The game is split into three primary phases
Snare > Shift > Strike
Each phase happens in a set order. Snare goes first, then Shift, and then Strike.
These will be our action cards.
Each card has a corresponding colour. Green, Yellow and Red.
These colours represent the three phases.
Green represents Snare
Yellow represents Shift
Red represents Strike
To keep things simple, I have named the cards after their phases.
Before the round starts. We must choose our action.
The number at the top represents the current round. This is the first round.
The bar below it represents the current phase. The bar is empty right now because we haven't decided our actions yet.
We will be able to select a total of two cards per turn.
For this match I will be the only one performing actions. This will be to demonstrate what each card does.
The first phase is the Snare phase. I also so happen to have decided to use my Snare card.
The Snare card has created a trap inbetween two tiles. The colour of the trap is red to represent that it is my trap.
Now, Let's wait for the other phases to play out.
This is the Shift phase.
As you can see nothing has happened this turn. Which means I decided not to play my Shift card.
This can only mean one of two things. Either I decided not to use my second card or I have played my blast card.
The last phase is the Strike phase. As you can see I've used my Strike card.
With the Strike card. I am able to highlight two tiles in any cardinal direction relative to my character.
Because you stood within a highlighted tile. You have lost a heart. To win the game you must Injure your opponent 3 times.
You may have noticed Two things. For one, My Snare card is still there. The Snare card persists through rounds.
Aditionally. The two cards I used have been darkened.
A darkened card cannot be used.
In order to relight the card. I would need to darken all of my cards.
This means no matter what, Whenever I perform my next action it will be the Shift card.
Let's continue.
Snare phase.
This is the Shift phase. I have now used my Shift card.
The Shift card is quite simple. I can move one tile in any cardinal direction relative to my character.
If I were to move through an opposing snare. I would take damage and the snare would dissapear.
Strike Phase.
And finally, Now that I've used all 3 of my action cards. They have all been relit and i'm able to use any one that I desire.
That's the basics. So, did you get all that?
Um...
Yeah I'm gonna be completely honest.
I stopped listening like a quarter of the way through.
Okay, just. It's not that hard I'm sure you'll get it when we start playing.
Okay....
Alright, let me reset the board. And we can play from there.
Are you ready?
Sure...
Fuck.
Of course you moved aswell.
I already don't want to play.
Come on, you've hardly given it a chance.
Look, you're in the middle now atleast. The middle is a pretty good spot to be.
You still have a trap and-
Don't backseat me, I have an idea.
Okay, I'm ready now.
I know exactly what you're gonna do.
No Snare?
Don't need it.
Nothing???
God damn it.
You seriously didn't use any actions?
HAHAHA, dude you suck.
Since when were you here?
Calda, He's new.
That explains why you're both using these dogshit characters.
What are you going easy on him or something because he's new?
He hasn't played before, I'm teaching him how to play.
This is so boring though.
The basic cards are so lame.
I mean, I'm having fun.
Yeah and you're ass.
Why do you have to be so mean to him.
Because this match is BORING.
Can you guys do something more fun?
Let us just finish this match atleast first.
Yeah, sure whatever.
Listen, he plays like a pussy.
He almost never moves.
You should see how he set up his character it's so fucking funny.
I don't need advice.
Okay, okay.
Trust me, I can win.
Whatever you say.
Ughhh.
LOL
Let me guess, you used shift to the east because I called him a pussy.
Can you just stop talking.
I bet he wouldn't have even done that if you didn't say what you did.
Who knows....
You don't even have a blast card bro there's no point moving there.
That's just an unsafe spot.
I'm already dead???
Okay, That read was kinda nuts.
I wasn't expecting him to Snare AND Strike you.
Fuck this game I quit.
You're too good I can't compete.
I mean hey if he's done playing. Pesce how about we play a few games?
I've spent some time redesigning my character. I want to try her out in some games.
Character?
Oh, yeah. I sort of alluded to it briefly but never really explained.
Yeah i sort of just, Created us some basic characters so i could easily explain the game to you.
You're supposed to make your own though, With your own set of cards.
To be honest I find making characters way more fun than playing the game itself.
Not that I don't like the game though. I still enjoy it too.
I'm mostly just in it for the game.
LOL, You just reminded me.
I remember how terrible your old character was.
You know I'm not an artist...
Wait, I don't understand.
I was sort of just assuming that when you meant characters you sort of just meant the cards.
But what like, You straight up design the whole character?
How does that even work in a game like this?
Okay umm. Yeah technically it is just the cards. You don't actually have to make a whole ass character
But I think a lot of the fun comes from why they have those cards, And stuff like that.
Certain sets of cards gives me this impression of like. The character I'm playing as being a real person. Like maybe them having a ton of shift cards says something about them.
And it makes me want to like write backstories and stuff.
I see...
That does sound kind of fun but. I don't even know where I'd start with something like that.
How about...
I'll show you my character and how I designed her, maybe that will give you some ideas.
That and, I was going to show pesce her updated design anyway.