Hello everyone, Tbone here bringing you another one of my ideas. I've been bit by the publishing bug and want to pursue getting my first game published by Game Crafter. I know, not a huge deal but it was on my bucket list this year.
Dotacular (Dot-tacular) is an abstract game of placement and decision making for the goal of gaining 20 victory points. You gain victory points by spotting and scoring configurations of dots that have been created by players placing them from their supply. Your turn is split into three phases: Pick up, put down, and play. The pick up phase will allow you to pick one card from one of three piles: Objectives, Special Actions, and Dots. The put down phase will allow you to put down a card from your hand out in front of you. Objective cards when put down will allow you to spot and score the dot configuration that is printed on the card throughout the game. Special Actions cards when put down will immediately allow you to do the action printed on the card. Finally, dot cards when put down will give you dots in your supply to use in the play phase. The play phase will allow you to partake in three of the following actions: place dots from your supply on the field adjacent to another dot, activate a dots special action, or spot a configuration. The field will be full of dots placed by other players, but when it comes to your turn you control the show and are able to play with any dot active on the field.
This idea came to me while casually daydreaming in our youth building in church one day (I pay attention in church I promise! just not that day haha). The carpet was covered in grey, white, black, and red dots - all random and just plain interesting. I needed to make a game out of this! So here we are! Let me know if you have played or heard of a game similar. I have research some and have come up short of anything that plays quite like this. If you're interested, take a look at the rules here on Dropbox, I will be working on a Print n' Play version soon and hopefully on Game Crafter too!
Thank you!
Update: 9/10/15 updated the rules with a diagram and breakdown of the game's set up. Also trimmed down the colors and abilities. I want to add expansion to the game with different abilities and such, but for now I'll keep it simple just for testing. Each color now represents a "class" (Green = movement, Blue = prevention etc.). When a dot has a symbol on it, it has a special ability (instead of all of one color having an ability). This way expansions will be easier and not every dot has an ability; It makes the options on a turn less overwhelming and keeps the game moving
Comments
PnP On Its Way
I have cleaned up the rules a bit. Added some special ability dots that should make the field interesting. I've also added an exhaustion mechanic that makes it when you affect a dot in any way it becomes exhausted and cannot be used at all until the end of the round/cycle - which happens once all players have gone. This allows for players to plan and exhaust dots they don't want other players messing with.
The Print and play version is on its way. A little worried because there will be a lot of cutting little dots... I guess you could even rip papers into odd shapes and it would still work. Anyway, I would love some feedback on the rules if you'd like. Pretty straight forward only about four pages.
Thanks!