I am working on a card game project (one month in). Please provide feedback if you find this game idea interesting and how to improve it.
CARD GAME “SHAPESHIFTERS”
SUMMARY
Shapeshifters is a satirical card game in which players shapeshift and travel different worlds to...surprise, surprise... save the Universe.
INTRODUCTION
A team of heroic scientists invented a device for mind-travelling. One evening they decided to transfer their minds into creatures from other worlds; worlds where magic was real and weird alien creatures romped. Because…well, there wasn’t anything on TV that night. But in the middle of this first mind-transfer experiment something went wrong and the machine exploded. This explosion destroyed the walls between parallel universes and now the scientists are kicked across various worlds, helplessly shapeshifting between different horrific forms. Now they have to save the Universe by finding all the parts of their machine, re-assembling it and stopping the experiment. If only there had been something better on TV that night…
TARGET AUDIENCE: 20 yo + ; 2-4 players
APPROXIMATE PLAY TIME: 30-40 minutes
GAME - OVERVIEW
Cards used in the game:
- Deck of Player Form Cards (FC). This is a one-sided card. FC determines your physical form for the turn. These forms are human, werewolf, ghost, extra-terrestrial.
- Deck of Location&Scenario Cards (LSC). This is a two-sided card. LSC contains information on the world, setting and task/s that player must accomplish to get one or several resources. These resources are required to advance in the game, find machine parts and reassemble them. There are four thematic LSC types that correspond to four different worlds: human world, fantasy world, sci-fi world, wilderness world.
- Deck of Resource Cards (RC). This is a one-sided card. RC may be an object or character that changes players characteristics and/or special skills. Some RC are parts of the exploded machine - players must collect all these parts to restore the machine and save the Universe.
GAMEPLAY
Each player represents one of the scientists afflicted with shapeshifting. Players take turns, moving clockwise:
1) All players draw one FC
2) Active player draws one LSC, reads out the text on the front side and attempts to complete a scenario on the back side that matches his FC (he must read out the chosen scenario). If he is successful, he gets a reward: RC or any other prize indicated in the scenario
3) All FC and LSC are returned to their decks. Players keep received RCs
4) Turn goes to the next player
I ATTACHED THREE LSC CARDS TO ILLUSTRATE THE SCENARIOS FOUND IN THE GAME.
Please share your thoughts.
Leon
Comments
Format looks good
I would say what you are trying to do - is interesting. It will just take a bunch of creative "juices" to invent different scenario and they matching location and the various choices.
While that's cool - the one thing I did not like is the "forms" that you are shape-shifting to (Ghost, Werewolf, Extra-terrestrial, Human). They seem to common and unrelated...
Perhaps if you were shape-shifting human forms, that might be more interesting: like Wrestler, Business Man, Teenage Cheerleader, etc.
Those could make even zanier scenarios: the Wrestler pulls a half-nelson on the leading bureaucrat and everyone starts to cheer you on (2 rewards). Or Business Man, you just blend in with the crowd (1 reward). You shout out a Cheer - but none of the business men seem to pay any attention (0 rewards), etc.
Just some ideas... For what it's worth, my 2 cents...
Party game vibe
So, it looks like this is supposed to be a party game. The illustrations are neat, and the descriptions are pretty funny, but there's not a whole lot of game there. From your basic premise and cards, it looks like you draw a card, spend a resource (if you have it) and then maybe gain a different resource. Some things to consider:
In all, it looks like you have a neat idea for a game that needs some fleshing out. Keep at it!
Also...
Certain Scenario cards require another card - have you checked the ODDs of actually having that card? Perhaps it should instead be that each of your reward cards has a TYPE that matches the form that earned that card.
This way what you only need is another form card and then you can collect those points. Think of it like "combo-ing".
Ex: If it requires a Cheer and I have a Cheerleader reward card, I can use it and earn bonus reward cards...
Something like that.
Interesting concept
Interesting concept. Just a few questions. Are the RC's cards drawn at random? do you show other players or keep them hidden? How do you know throughout the game who is winning? Is it just down to luck who draws the right/enough machine part cards first or is there a way of specifically getting the parts you need?
What other interaction is there other then simply draw card, attempt to complete scenario, receive reward then pass play to next player? perhaps you could have a card that allows you to take a RC from another player or skip another players turn? so that if another player is starting to do well you can level the score a bit? Games are generally more fun if there is a way of changing the game in your favor rather than solely relying on luck to win.
Also how does the shape shifting eligibility relate to the scenario. i.e in LSC example 2 why can a human, warewolf or ET bore someone to death but a ghost can't? The second task with the ghost has a better connections but perhaps work on making all the links a bit stronger.
It's a good idea, keep going & good luck!
Re: shape-shifting human forms
I use different non-human shapeshifting forms because this better reflects the multitude of worlds that the players visit.
If all forms are human this may limit scenario outcomes available to different species. What do you think?
Intrigued
I'm in agreement with the other posters, particularly killerkilroy and questccg.
The idea of the scenarios and little stories around them seem fun, but then... nothing much. If this was a party game where the aim was to come up with a cool story about your using your form in each scenario, and this was basically a social/party game, I would be totally on board if you managed to find the mechanical hook to pull it all together. As it is, it looks like I flip a card and either play the matching card or roll some dice, or just something happens based on my form, and none of that seems compelling.
Can there be some way of having other players judging your success in each scenario depending on how you told your story? Or could it be a collaborative storytelling game?
Keep at it, though, this has potential to go somewhere.
And for what it is worth, I like the idea of weirder shapes to change into. Why not be able to be a mouse, a hippopotamus, a dragon, a three-toed sloth, or an animated teapot?
It has potential indeed
I agree with all of the above. This can be a fun game. But indeed, there isn't much game.
As extra forms, you could try some "anime" forms. You can find some crazy stuff there.
But why stick with humans and humanoids?
Give animals a try. Aliens. Robots. Baloon lifeforms.
I guess, the theme allows for a lot of options for the game.
PS. Nice art. And the card layout is good enough for a player like me.
Good potential
I enjoy the art and the layout of the cards (front/back w/ txt is a good idea).
There is a story element to the LSC cards you shared which can help people who are not into telling their own stories.
As you shared 3 and included some base information about the game above, what is the end game, how can players make their decisions, etc.
I see others have asked similar Q's above so I'll leave it to that but I think you have a potential for a good game here Les and I hope you put more work into it as it could be a fun project.
Theres already a board game
Theres already a board game that is about collecting parts for your spaceship called Galaxy something.
I found the opening introduction a little weird. I'd suggsst you re-write some of the early parts to state there was a galaxy war that opened up a gateway to explore new planets through a found wormhole. There was then a savagecattack on earth and a group (the players) set off to find a solution. Something along thise lines would work better.
Im not a fan of card games, but i'd suggest adding in some twists and think of a way you can upgrade your skills that in turn lets you collect better resources. For example, at the beggining of the game each player chooses a character (there are 5 card levels for each character) starting at level 1. As the game progresses players can upgrade their character card level. The higher the level the mire skills you have that match the resource card you pick up. Resource cards will state what skill is required and at what level.
I hope this gives you some food for thought. I'd appreciate it if you could take a look at my political board game I posted in the mechanics section of the forum. I have started a blog which you might find useful: www.pixygamesuk.co.uk wirh new ones being added every month.
Jay
Theres already a board game
Theres already a board game that is about collecting parts for your spaceship called Galaxy something.
I found the opening introduction a little weird. I'd suggsst you re-write some of the early parts to state there was a galaxy war that opened up a gateway to explore new planets through a found wormhole. There was then a savagecattack on earth and a group (the players) set off to find a solution. Something along thise lines would work better.
Im not a fan of card games, but i'd suggest adding in some twists and think of a way you can upgrade your skills that in turn lets you collect better resources. For example, at the beggining of the game each player chooses a character (there are 5 card levels for each character) starting at level 1. As the game progresses players can upgrade their character card level. The higher the level the mire skills you have that match the resource card you pick up. Resource cards will state what skill is required and at what level.
I hope this gives you some food for thought. I'd appreciate it if you could take a look at my political board game I posted in the mechanics section of the forum. I have started a blog which you might find useful: www.pixygamesuk.co.uk wirh new ones being added every month.
Jay