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How to best Allocate Objective Cards in my Game

4 replies [Last post]
Tue, 08/07/2018 - 07:41
DarkDream
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Joined: 12/31/1969

I am currently working on a 4x Space semi-cooperative board game that can support up to 4 players.

I want to introduce shared objective cards, like Twilight Imperium 3rd and 4th edtion, so players have concrete goals they can move towards to obtain VPs.

I am considering having an objective deck that will be the source of the objective cards.

There is a total of 8 rounds to the game, and ideally I would like no more than 2 objective cards in play (face up and able to achieve) at a time and around 3-4 objective cards appearing per game.

Each round the players would not know whether an objective card would appear or not, yet the game will guarantee a set number will show up (let's say 3).

Any thoughts on how to achieve this, or do you happen to know of any games out there that have a distribution of objective/quest cards that loosely corresponds to what I envision?

Thanks,

DarkDream

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Tue, 08/07/2018 - 08:11
#1
let-off studios
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Joined: 02/07/2011
Some Options

Here are some suggestions, based on sci-fi/spacefarer themes.

  • There's an ancient alien space ship, doubling as a repository for unusual energies and knowledge, players need to visit to "unlock" or otherwise reveal new Objectives.
  • Space Merchants or planetary governments send out distress calls and broadcasts that advertise "classified adverts" available until the players fulfill them.
  • You can have players pay resources of some type to intergalactic megacorporations for access to special missions/Objectives.
  • The Supreme Galactic Empress demands her edicts to be followed and fulfilled. Players have no choice but to accept her directives to obtain Objectives and points.
  • An intergalactic terrorist organization has set a Dark Matter Neutron Collider - or some other device - to explode and destroy half of the universe (the half the players currently reside in, of course) unless their demands are met. Could also include a game-timer mechanic to encourage players to go along with these Objectives, else the game end prematurely.
  • A science lab offers better technology or access to otherwise-inaccessible regions of space once their Objectives are fulfilled.
  • A superior alien race offers a chance at enlightenment for those spacefarers or civilizations that achieve significant intergalactic milestones.

There are plenty of directions you can go. It's just a matter of making a choice about one of them, and rolling with it.

Best of success on your project! :)

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Tue, 08/07/2018 - 10:39
#2
Jay103
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Joined: 01/23/2018
If you mean logistically,

If you mean logistically, here's one way:

Have a deck of 20 objectives, or however many you create. Also have 5 "blank" objective cards.

At start of game, shuffle and deal face down 5 objectives. Add the 5 blanks. Shuffle that mini-deck of 10 together.

Now at start of each game round, draw a card from this deck.

In 8 rounds, you'll get at least 3, probably 4, and sometimes 5 real objectives drawn, but players will never be sure what's coming, except maybe toward the end of the game (if 5 objectives or 5 blanks have already appeared).

(edit: I have no idea if objective cards take 1,2,3+ rounds to complete.. if you want to be sure that you never have more than 2 in play, then simply skip the draw in a round where there are already 2)

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Tue, 08/07/2018 - 13:03
#3
DarkDream
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Joined: 12/31/1969
Some Good Ideas

Jay103 wrote:
If you mean logistically
Yes. This is what I meant.

Jay103 wrote:
Have a deck of 20 objectives, or however many you create. Also have 5 "blank" objective cards.

At start of game, shuffle and deal face down 5 objectives. Add the 5 blanks. Shuffle that mini-deck of 10 together.

Now at start of each game round, draw a card from this deck.

Funnily enough, I was thinking of essentially the same thing.

Jay103 wrote:
I have no idea if objective cards take 1,2,3+ rounds to complete..
The objective cards fit into two different types, ones which last just one turn, and other cards that are ongoing and will stay on the board until completed.
Jay103 wrote:
if you want to be sure that you never have more than 2 in play, then simply skip the draw in a round where there are already 2
That's a good idea.

Thanks for your thoughts.

DarkDream

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Tue, 08/07/2018 - 20:59
#4
let-off studios
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Ooof!

Sorry I must have misread your request...! :)

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