We at Roan Arts like to keep busy, and we’re usually overflowing with ideas for how to occupy our time. Consequently, besides our first game release Hunters: Battle of Arkady which is in the very final stages of preparation before release, we also have several other games in progress. One of these, currently known as Arcane Lore is in the play testing phase. This is where we test the game extensively among ourselves before releasing it to our dedicated volunteers who beta-test the game for us. We’re looking for difficult wording, unclear rules, broken game mechanics, and anything else which may come to mind. We unleash our Gamebreaker (Brad) on it, and he does his level best to bend all the rules until they cry out for mercy, usually by finding the loophole wherein he cannot be beaten.
‘Arcane Lore’ Card Back art
Arcane Lore is a card game that mixes short-term strategy, luck, the desire to beat one’s opponents in as cheesy a way possible, and the idea of epic mage-battles. Players draw cards from the pool in order to cast spells in a variety of ways.
‘Arcane Lore’ Game-play
Each card details it’s uses and effects. Once players have made their selection(s), they are free to cast spells, which other players may counter if they can, creating a “chain” effect.
‘Arcane Lore’ Game-play
The above cards are Frozen Revenge, a Destruction Aura which if cast successfully would have been placed in play in front of the original Player. The blue card, an Arcanics Cantrip, is Flash Counter, which was played by another Player in order to counter the original spell. This was then further countered by yet another Player using the green Genesis Cantrip, Ethereal Spectre to create more havoc. Had the original Player succeeded, their card would have been in play in preparation to dealing Wounds to an opponent, something like the below image.
‘Arcane Lore’ Game-play
Both spell cards are Auras, waiting for their effects to be triggered on another Player (or on oneself, depending on the card). The Wound Cards show how many wounds a Player has already received. After a certain number is reached (determined by number of players and difficulty level), the Player is “killed” and loses the game. The victorious Mage is the one who outlasts all other Opponents.
So, that’s one of the games we’re working on. We’re tweaking cards, tweaking a few rules, even perhaps renaming it. Really, anything can happen between now and release.
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