1
Variants and Fan Cards / New Card Type in 2nd Stage of Testing: Avatars
« on: October 10, 2017, 10:40:48 pm »
Greetings Dominion Folks. Though its my first time posting here, I have been designing fan cards for various games over the years, & thought I should take a crack at making something for Dominion.
My friend broke out his old boxes & we started playing again recently, & I noticed that the game lacks an element that most would deem unnecessary, though in my opinion could add flavor to more casual games.
Though the game is admittedly about the kingdoms, I wanted to add a "face" to the game, sort of a rudder by which to guide the theme of your build choices.
The first drafts were priced lower, but my friend said to raise the costs, stating they were too good for the cost of the card. That's where i could use some help is with the pricing of the cards, any feedback would be appreciated.
-Rules for Avatars:
Avatars, are cards used to represent the player & each is unique. Each player chooses one Avatar before the game starts, the player who goes first chooses his Avatar first.
Avatars are placed upside down (or face down) next to the players deck. Avatars cannot be activated without paying the Avatars buy cost, which counts as a buy. Once bought, the Avatar is turned back upside (Face up) & it is now active (since Avatars can only be activated during the buy phase, & their actions can only be used during the action phase, their non-static actions cannot be used the turn they are activated). Avatars are permanent once activated, & never get placed in a players deck.
Avatars have one static ability (always active, usually adding victory points in some fashion), & three active abilities. Avatars can only use one of their active abilities on each of your turns during the Action Phase.
I know the guidelines frown on using "permanents," but the avatar design was inspired by the old Vanguard cards, and the people that have tested them so far have no complaints, & in fact like them & think that they offer some new flavor to a game that we enjoy playing.
-Example Avatars:
Merchant Prince: Cost (5)
Avatar
Static Ability: +1 to your total VP for every 3 Gold or Platinum in your deck.
Ability1: +1 Buy.
Ability2: +1 Card, discard a card.
Ability3: Choose one: add a treasure token to Merchant Prince, or, remove any treasure tokens on Merchant Prince & gain $1 for each token removed this way.
Voodoo Priestess: Cost (5)
Avatar
Static Ability: +1 to your total VP for every 5 curses in each of your opponents decks.
Ability1: +1 Action.
Ability2: +1 Card.
Ability3: +1 Buy.
Bulgrim: Cost [8] [Prototype costed 6]
Avatar
Static Ability: +1 to your total VP for every 4 Action cards in your deck.
Ability1: Choose one: +1 Action, or +1 Card.
Ability2: +$1 for each Action card in your Discard pile.
Ability3: Reveal cards from your deck until you reveal an Action card. Discard any other cards & play the Action card.
Does Bulgrim do too much for a 6 cost card? At the cost of 8 he rarely got used at all, & even when activated they only get one action per turn. What do you think?
My friend broke out his old boxes & we started playing again recently, & I noticed that the game lacks an element that most would deem unnecessary, though in my opinion could add flavor to more casual games.
Though the game is admittedly about the kingdoms, I wanted to add a "face" to the game, sort of a rudder by which to guide the theme of your build choices.
The first drafts were priced lower, but my friend said to raise the costs, stating they were too good for the cost of the card. That's where i could use some help is with the pricing of the cards, any feedback would be appreciated.
-Rules for Avatars:
Avatars, are cards used to represent the player & each is unique. Each player chooses one Avatar before the game starts, the player who goes first chooses his Avatar first.
Avatars are placed upside down (or face down) next to the players deck. Avatars cannot be activated without paying the Avatars buy cost, which counts as a buy. Once bought, the Avatar is turned back upside (Face up) & it is now active (since Avatars can only be activated during the buy phase, & their actions can only be used during the action phase, their non-static actions cannot be used the turn they are activated). Avatars are permanent once activated, & never get placed in a players deck.
Avatars have one static ability (always active, usually adding victory points in some fashion), & three active abilities. Avatars can only use one of their active abilities on each of your turns during the Action Phase.
I know the guidelines frown on using "permanents," but the avatar design was inspired by the old Vanguard cards, and the people that have tested them so far have no complaints, & in fact like them & think that they offer some new flavor to a game that we enjoy playing.
-Example Avatars:
Merchant Prince: Cost (5)
Avatar
Static Ability: +1 to your total VP for every 3 Gold or Platinum in your deck.
Ability1: +1 Buy.
Ability2: +1 Card, discard a card.
Ability3: Choose one: add a treasure token to Merchant Prince, or, remove any treasure tokens on Merchant Prince & gain $1 for each token removed this way.
Voodoo Priestess: Cost (5)
Avatar
Static Ability: +1 to your total VP for every 5 curses in each of your opponents decks.
Ability1: +1 Action.
Ability2: +1 Card.
Ability3: +1 Buy.
Bulgrim: Cost [8] [Prototype costed 6]
Avatar
Static Ability: +1 to your total VP for every 4 Action cards in your deck.
Ability1: Choose one: +1 Action, or +1 Card.
Ability2: +$1 for each Action card in your Discard pile.
Ability3: Reveal cards from your deck until you reveal an Action card. Discard any other cards & play the Action card.
Does Bulgrim do too much for a 6 cost card? At the cost of 8 he rarely got used at all, & even when activated they only get one action per turn. What do you think?