Instead of building a character sheet with a set of powers and attribute/ability values, I'd like the players to use a prescribed restricted list of cards.
Story would be about 30% of the game, as in narration of the events going on that the characters react to and engage with. About another 30% will be vary from either chatting/planning/discussing with NPCS and the players' characters, or encounter-style combat and traps. The other 40% will be the what's left over. So we'll have a pretty good divide of events and people to motivate action/reaction, with speech and action.
These are the card systems I know just enough to make the story and a few dozen concepts work. Bear in mind, we're not actually following the course of a card game's format. If you're familiar with the card mechanics of these games, you'll see the games progress as open open-ended big game, so radical home-rules are used to ensure there is growth and not rinse and repeat actions. So many cards that stay in a zone or area will remain there, even after certain foes and obstacles are beaten.
The systems I am most inclined to use are listed in order of their preference.
- WoW TCG (not hearthstone)
- Warlord: Saga of the Storm
- Magic the Gathering
Knowledge of these card games is optional, however, if you are new to them, you will be expected to have a desire to learn enough about the systems to functionally use your character and make informed decisions. You don't need full knowledge, or near it, and for this reason I will have a learning curve that is brisk, but not steep.
So, the plot is rather humble, I don't like starting with long-term campaigns on RPoL. I prefer smaller more easily finished stories, at least to start with.
Simply the story is three-fold. A female fallen-angel tyrant has claimed a fort in the name of divine right, and has thrown out the benevolent Duke and claimed his daughter as her bride. The Duke has been a generous but peaceful ruler, and this appearance of a sinister angel has him unequipped to marshal a sufficient force to reclaim his throne and daughter.
That's where you come in. You could be one of the Duke's more capable men or women, a mercenary, or a wandering warlord that works for a more intangible reward, such as glory, honor, or nobility.
To be clear I'll be heavily restricted your card choices. If you're new, I'll put the choices in plain speak as they manifest from a narrative perspective. If you know the card index, you'll have less than a set's amount (and certainly from older and assorted sets) of cards to browse and choose from.
This isn't about a perfect deck, but similar to a draft. It is an RPG though, and the rules for the conduct and advancement of the game will be altered to allow the card to essentially make it diceless, and for players and GM alike, to dictate both intention and outcome with each card play. If you destroy a foe of lesser value, one that doesn't outright claim victory, then you should post the manner of attack, and also the manner of death the foe suffers.
Is anyone interested?!
A side note: I will be willing to make custom art for a few cards, and even rename them, but it's labor intensive, so mostly you have to use your imagination with the vast majority of cards with stock images and name and text. It can manifest grossly different than the name and image implies. Only the impact will remain the same. :)
