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[emtzalex]

For Week 65, I'm introducing a new type of landscape, Characters. In a game, each Character used is particular to one player.

Here are the rules for Characters:

• In games using Characters, each player starts with 20 Character Points (CP).
• Before the first turn, each player is dealt 3 Characters (face down), choosing one and returning the other 2 (still face down) to the box. Players do not reveal their Character until each player has chosen.
• During the game, Characters are either Tired or Ready; you can only use your Character's abilities when they are ready.
• Characters start Tired. This can be indicated by the landscape being face down (although anyone can check to see what it does if it is) or with some sort of token.
• A player's Character becomes Ready when they shuffle their deck.
• During a player's Action phase, they may use one of their Character's abilities by spending an Action and the required number of CP.
• Some abilities cause a Character to Tire; they cannot then use more abilities until they become Ready again.
• If the ability does not cause a character to Tire, and the player has more Actions, they may use another ability that turn.
• In the set these are in, there may be a way to gain additional CP, but they won't always be available in games using Characters (see the follow-up post for more on this).
• I have made a couple of examples for the follow-up post.

The task is simple:

Design a Character.

In doing so, feel free to include any additional cards/landscapes (official or fan made) you want to support your Character's design, and feel free to use any official or fan mechanics in the design.

I have made this TEMPLATE for you to use.

My main judging criteria is whether I would be excited to see the design in a Kingdom. Important factors for me are:

• balance -- is the Character useful, but not overpowering (both in general and in a variety of Kingdoms);
• playability -- the Character is fun to play and works in more than one type of deck;
• simplicity -- this doesn't always mean fewer words; a card with lots of text that, once you understand it, can be easily and intuitively be played is better than one with four lines of text that is hard to understand;
• topicality -- the Character uses the mechanic in an interesting way;

The deadline for submissions will be 17:00 UTC / 1:00 p.m. Eastern/Forum time on Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Please let me know if you have any questions.

[emtzalex]

Examples

Here is a very basic example.

Henry V • 5CP • Character 5CP: +1 Card per Action card you have in play. +1 Action. Tire.

Henry V is a simple Character with a single ability. He costs 5 CP to gain, and leaves you with 5 CP to non-terminally draw a card for each Action card you have in play. Note that he tires after the drawing is resolved, so if it triggers a shuffle it will not ready him. Here's a slightly more complicated one:

Ahab • 10CP • Character 2CP: +1 Buy. +$2. 5CP: Trash the top card of your deck. If it's the White Whale, +10VP. Tire. Heritage: White Whale

White Whale • $2 • Action - Aquatic - Victory - Heritage +1 Buy Discard a card. 1VP

Ahab has two abilities: one of which provides a terminal Silver +Buy, but which doesn't Tire him. The other offers you the chance to get a ton of VP, but only if you can collide it with the Heritage card it adds being on top of your deck.

I am not saying these are good examples. They are examples.


On getting additional CP

I do envision these being part of a larger set. Sometimes, just playing cards in the set will be enough to trigger the inclusion of Characters (like Shelters or Platinum/Colony). However, the set will also include some Kingdom cards that can give players additional CP. My first thought on those was to give them the type "Tutor" but that's very much undecided.

In the context of those cards, getting a single point of CP will be roughly as difficult as gaining a Loot was in Plunder (maybe a bit harder; I don't think there'll be a Sack of Character Treasure or a Charactering event). Here is roughly the power level I had in mind:

Remote Academy • $4 • Action - Duration - Tutor Skip your next turn. When you do, +4CP and Ready your Character.		Books of Wisdom • $5 • Treasure - Tutor Discard 3 cards (revealed). +$1 per Treasure discarded. If you discarded an Action card, a Treasure, and a Victory card, +2CP.

Even if there is sometimes a way to get additional CP, there will be at least some games in which Characters are used with no way to get additional CP. However, in some cases their might be, so having a Character cost 16 CP and their ability cost 1 CP is not always going to be the same as having a Character cost 4 CP and having their ability also cost 4 CP.


On Characters being Tired / Ready

As previously mentioned, a player's Characters starts a game Tired, and become Ready when that player shuffles their deck. Some Character abilities cause the Character to Tire, which again requires the player to wait for a shuffle to use their abilities again.

There are a couple of reasons for this. First, Characters start Tired so their abilities can't be used as part of the opening, which alleviates some of the issues with mechanics like this potentially messing with the opening. Also, having an ability cause a Character to Tire makes it more like a traditional Kingdom card, in that after you use it, you have to wait for a shuffle to use it again.

[czzzz]

I just want to clarify: the Character "gaining" cost is just to balance how much CP you start with, essentially?

[emtzalex]

I just want to clarify: the Character "gaining" cost is just to balance how much CP you start with, essentially?

Yes. That's exactly right.

[segura]

The idea is that if you don't have enough CPs, you can only reveal some cards and get some benefits. Perhaps there is a better wording to clarify this.

The vanilla shift exists to not make this not too crazy and automatic in the opening. Sure, you can gain some Horses and get a load of Villagers to not care about terminality for quite some time but no Coffers to ramp.

I feel pretty lost about the power level and chose 3 plays from a "normal" hand on the fly without any benchmark or deeper idea behind it.

[BryGuy]

Attila • 5CP • Character
2CP: Discard a Treasure card for +2 Actions and +1 Buy.
3CP: Discard a Victory card for +1 Card and +1 Action.
+1CP for each Copper in play after the third.

I like to create opposing forces. Here the first ability opposes the third ability.
This Character would be useful in Kingdoms where "+2 Actions" and "+Buys" are deficient. It also helps filter Victory cards - useful in every Kingdom.
I like the idea of allowing more CP if a hurtle is achieved. This Character may be a reasonable choice in a Kingdom where trashing is almost nonexistent - like what seams about one-third of my real-life games.

[segura]

Attila • 5CP • Character
2CP: Discard a Treasure card for +2 Actions and +1 Buy. 3CP: Discard a Victory card for +1 Card and +1 Action.+1CP for each Copper in play after the third.

You might want to clarify whether both options or only one is available per play.
I think that regaining CPs is a cool idea and the trade-off between trashing and Attila is cool in theory but I guess that you need a larger incentive.

[BryGuy]

Attila • 5CP • Character
2CP: Discard a Treasure card for +2 Actions and +1 Buy. 3CP: Discard a Victory card for +1 Card and +1 Action. +1CP for each Copper in play after the third.

You might want to clarify whether both options or only one is available per play.
I think that regaining CPs is a cool idea and the trade-off between trashing and Attila is cool in theory but I guess that you need a larger incentive.

Here are the rules for Characters:...

• During a player's Action phase, they may use one of their Character's abilities by spending an Action and the required number of CP.
• If the ability does not cause a character to Tire, and the player has more Actions, they may use another ability that turn.

Oh, i need to clarify? I thought each ability used an Action and if a player had sufficient actions, then they could use an ability not already used that turn.  [/list]

[segura]

Sorry, my mistake.

[BryGuy]

Here is how this could be improved (proposed):

Here are the rules for Characters:

• Setup: Before the first turn, each player is dealt three Characters (face down), choosing one and returning the other two (still face down) to the box. Players do not reveal their Character until each player has chosen.
• The CP listed in the top-left corner is the amount that the Character costs to gain. Each Character is unique and the costs vary.
• In games using Characters, each player starts with 20 Character Points (CP) and 20 is the maximum a player can have at any time. A D20 can track this.
• During the game, Characters are either Tired or Ready; you can only use your Character's abilities when they are Ready.
• Characters start Tired. This is indicated by the landscape being face down - although anyone can review the Character.
• A player's Character becomes Ready after they shuffle their deck.
• During a player's Action phase, they may use one of their Character's abilities by spending an Action and the required CP.
• Some abilities cause a Character to Tire; they cannot then use more abilities until they become Ready again.
• If the ability does not cause a character to Tire, and the player has more Actions, they may use another ability that turn.

[fika monster]

Stupid question, but i dont get what the top left blue circle is? Is that the cost of using the character ability or is it A numbering thing?

Or is the cost the one mentioned in the Character action description??

[fika monster]

My entry: I didnt understand how exactly the formatting and cost and such works.
Edit: Joanne de arc costs 4 to pick.
Also changed the wording, and added "victory card from your hand" as to make clear that you can play a victory card from the supply

Joanne De Arc - Character
Costs 4 character points to pick
Costs 2 character points to use, and tires

spend 2 character points: Play a Victory card from your hand as an Command-Action: Play a non-Command Action card from the Supply costing up to $2 more than it, leaving it there. Tire.

No longer shall Estates be junk cards after the first shuffle! They are infused with the holy spirit, and you may perform miracles with the estates such as making them become a temporary smithy, or turning into a chapell to trash the other 2 useless estates.

But be careful! Thou only has 10 uses of this miracle. Perhaps thou wishes to turn your province into a hireling or Kingscourt? If so, then spending it frivously is ill adviced

[emtzalex]

Stupid question, but i dont get what the top left blue circle is? Is that the cost of using the character ability or is it A numbering thing?

Or is the cost the one mentioned in the Character action description??

That is the cost (in Character Points) to take the Character at the start of the game. Different Characters cost different amounts.

My entry: I didnt understand how exactly the formatting and cost and such works.

If you use the TEMPLATE I made, the blue Character Point circle is set as the Custom Icon. You can use it by using the Section symbol:

§

(like you use $ for the coin  icon). So to set a cost at 2CP, you would use:

§2

As I explained above, the cost in the top left is the cost to take the card at the beginning of the game. Let me know if that makes sense.

[faust]

I feel like this could be a cool mechanic, but there is a bit of a disconnect for me here.

You say that gaining CP would eventually be as difficult as gaining a Loot, but on the examples provided for how CP might be used, their power level is more akin to a Favor token. These are two very different valuations, and I'm not sure whether the goal is to have
- CP be on a power level comparable with Loot; or
- CP be on a power level comparable to the provided examples (Henry V/Ahab).

Because I sure would much rather gain 5 Loots than use Henry V once. Hell, I would probably prefer gaining one Loot over using Henry V once.

[emtzalex]

I feel like this could be a cool mechanic, but there is a bit of a disconnect for me here.

You say that gaining CP would eventually be as difficult as gaining a Loot, but on the examples provided for how CP might be used, their power level is more akin to a Favor token. These are two very different valuations, and I'm not sure whether the goal is to have
- CP be on a power level comparable with Loot; or
- CP be on a power level comparable to the provided examples (Henry V/Ahab).

Because I sure would much rather gain 5 Loots than use Henry V once. Hell, I would probably prefer gaining one Loot over using Henry V once.

But you start with 10-16 CP, and those initially CP are what you are mainly meant to use. At most, you start with 5 Favors, and only when Importer is in the game.

[faust]

I feel like this could be a cool mechanic, but there is a bit of a disconnect for me here.

You say that gaining CP would eventually be as difficult as gaining a Loot, but on the examples provided for how CP might be used, their power level is more akin to a Favor token. These are two very different valuations, and I'm not sure whether the goal is to have
- CP be on a power level comparable with Loot; or
- CP be on a power level comparable to the provided examples (Henry V/Ahab).

Because I sure would much rather gain 5 Loots than use Henry V once. Hell, I would probably prefer gaining one Loot over using Henry V once.

But you start with 10-16 CP, and those initially CP are what you are mainly meant to use. At most, you start with 5 Favors, and only when Importer is in the game.

I mean, I know. This doesn't answer my question though.

[emtzalex]

24 Hour Warning

Hey. Sorry I sort of lost track of this, and forgot to post it yesterday. I'll extend the contest deadline to 24 hours from now. Here are the submissions I have so far (please let me know if I have missed any):

• Charlemagne by segura
• Attila by BryGuy
• Joanne De Arc by fika monster

[emtzalex]

I feel like this could be a cool mechanic, but there is a bit of a disconnect for me here.

You say that gaining CP would eventually be as difficult as gaining a Loot, but on the examples provided for how CP might be used, their power level is more akin to a Favor token. These are two very different valuations, and I'm not sure whether the goal is to have
- CP be on a power level comparable with Loot; or
- CP be on a power level comparable to the provided examples (Henry V/Ahab).

Because I sure would much rather gain 5 Loots than use Henry V once. Hell, I would probably prefer gaining one Loot over using Henry V once.

But you start with 10-16 CP, and those initially CP are what you are mainly meant to use. At most, you start with 5 Favors, and only when Importer is in the game.

I mean, I know. This doesn't answer my question though.

Yeah, sorry. This whole idea is still pretty new, and I definitely haven't figured out all of the details. The examples I posted are also just very rough ideas for what I am thinking, and I haven't really adjusted them for balance (or even decided the overall balance for how strong these should be).

I guess my thinking re: extra CP is that the primary strategic choice you have to make with these (other than picking the one that works best for the particular game) is using the limited number of CP you have. So, for example, with Ahab you can (a) get 5 Woodcutters; (b) hunt for the White While twice; or (c) hunt once, and get 2 Woodcutters. Getting extra CP potentially interferes with that, so my thinking was to make it a high burden. What I didn't want (although maybe I should) is for these to be single-player Allies (where your use of them primarily depends on you getting Favors).

You make the good point that that may well just lead to players not bothering to get the cards that give extra CP, in which case I should probably either (a) not have such cards at all; or (b) make these into single-player Allies. It's a good point and definitely something to consider.

[czzzz]

I'm not gonna pretend like I know how to balance a Character card, haha, I have little frame of reference.
But the idea is you can use him as a splitter whenever, but you're not really getting your CP's worth; or you can use him as like a super Artisan, but only once per shuffle. You can use the +Actions part first and then Artisan something, but you can only use that combo twice and you're done.

[emtzalex]

CONTEST CLOSED

Here are the submissions I have. Please let me know if I have missed any or if you've updated yours:

• Charlemagne by segura
• Attila by BryGuy
• Joanne De Arc by fika monster
• Kaladin by czzzz

I will try to get through the judging tonight/tomorrow.

[emtzalex]

Sorry, I got tied up with family stuff this weekend. Should have this done by tomorrow.

[BryGuy]

Hello?

[BryGuy]

Hello?

[emtzalex]

Sorry I've disappeared. I've been completely slammed at work for a couple of weeks straight. I will come back for the judging, but for now I will announce the winner so there can be another contest:

Winner:
Joanne De Arc by fika monster

Runner-up:
Kaladin by czzzz

I will try to do the actual judging (and provide feedback) when I'm able.

[czzzz]

Not trying to rush anything. Do we wanna wait more for fika monster or should I put up a contest?