For the Week 28 I am going to challenge you all to design a card shaped thing that interacts with a mechanic I came up with back in
Week 24: the Fish pile. This is a non-Supply pile (like Horses) of a mix of cards in a random order (like Ruins). Unlike any other pile it remains face-down and the Fish all can either remain in your deck or be returned to its pile for some effect. For tracking purposes there is a Pile Marker that I mocked up below. I also have the contents of the Fish pile below as well.
Fish Pile MarkerFish Pile: 4 of each, total of 28 cards Freshwater Eel - $2* Action - Attack - Fish +1 Coffers You may return this to the bottom of its pile. If you do, choose one: Each other player gains a Curse; or +3 Villagers. Otherwise, +1 Action. (This is not in the Supply.) | Northern Pike - $2* Action - Attack - Fish +1 Action You may return this to the bottom of its pile. If you do, +1 Card and each other player discards down to 3 cards in hand. Otherwise, +1 Coffers. (This is not in the Supply.) | European Perch - $2* Action - Attack - Fish +1 Coffers You may return this to the bottom of its pile. If you do, you may play an Action card from your hand twice. Otherwise, +1 Action. (This is not in the Supply.) | Brown Trout - $2* Action - Attack - Fish +1 Action You may return this to the bottom of its pile. If you do, +1 Card and gain a Spoils. Otherwise, +1 Coffers. (This is not in the Supply.) |
Atlantic Cod - $2* Action - Attack - Fish +1 Coffers You may return this to the bottom of its pile. If you do, gain a card onto your deck costing up to $4. Otherwise, +1 Action. (This is not in the Supply.) | Atlantic Salmon - $2* Action - Attack - Fish +1 Action You may return this to the bottom of its pile. If you do, +3 Cards, then discard 2 cards. Otherwise, +1 Coffers. (This is not in the Supply.) | Common Carp - $2* Action - Attack - Fish +1 Action You may return this to the bottom of its pile. If you do, trash up to 2 cards from your hand, then +1 Card. Otherwise, +1 Coffers. (This is not in the Supply.) | |
The design challenge is to design a card shaped thing that interacts with the Fish pile in some way. You can add to, remove cards from, or completely revamp the Fish pile if you want. I just ask that you notate how you are modifying it and that you try to keep the spirit of the Fish pile intact. I welcome critiques of the pile/mechanic as currently designed, so if you have any I appreciate it. I want this to be as fun as possible, so if you want to use other fan mechanics, go for it. I just caution going overboard with mechanics when the Fish pile adds a fair amount of complexity already.
I will be judging based on my own preferences, but I will try to be as fair as I can. Factors I try to look at are simplicity of design, thought provoking design/mechanics, flavorful name/concept, and balance/playability. None of that is very distinct, but I don't really want to inhibit your designs and creativity.
I will try to give a 24 hour warning a week from right now and then close it the following day. It will be in the middle of a work week, so there may be some delays in judging, but I will try to have it out by the start of that weekend. Have fun!
Edit: I have a small update for this mechanic that is optional, but should address some concerns that may arise.
Shuffle the Fish
Landscape Card
When you gain this, reveal this and gain a Fish.
When you gain, Exile, reveal, or trash this, shuffle this into the Fish pile.
"Shuffle the Fish" is a landscape oriented card shuffled into the Fish pile. When it is gained, you first gain a Fish (to replace it) and then you shuffle it into the Fish pile. This should semi regularly randomize the Fish pile to prevent card counting or other possible concerns. There is a potential accountability issue as the player who gains this has to show he did and not actually put it into their deck, but that can't really be avoided. It may be a bit of a jank solution, but I hope this alleviates problems with the face down randomized pile characteristics.