Cactus Game Design Message Boards

Hagar was created primarily to work with Ishmael (who doesn't have a card image yet, but sets himself aside to accomplish something). However, she is useful anytime you have characters set aside. As long as you have a card in your hand with the same brigade, you can return the character up to 50% faster (Assuming you block with Hagar every turn). (Note that characters only return from set aside in preparation phase so this doesn't allow you to get the Feasts back any faster)

I struggled with whether to make Hagar (and Ishmael) a Hero or Evil Character and in the end settled on Evil Character because there's no confirmation in the Bible that she followed God.

I don't know whether she'll fit entirely into the current Genesis Egyptian theme (given that she doesn't band or create Lost Souls) but she draws if Ishmael is in battle (and he can band to her) and I think themes that rely on set aside can benefit from her ability for sure.

In hindsight, I might make her a Hero/EC (like the new King), but I wanted to post another preview card for the set and this is the only one I had (other than the ones Daniel has already posted).

Comments/thoughts/concerns are always welcome.

Hmm, it shows correctly for me.

Is that better?

Highly under-powered imo. I couldn't see her ever getting use unless Ishmael's band were CBN.

I'm not absolutely sure I like that Hagar and Ishmael are evil characters. What did they do wrong? Hagar was essentially raped, impregnated, and left to die with her child. God personally comforted her and promised to create a great nation from her son.

pretty under-powered, unless there's some kind of a theme around this kind of ability to make it worth while.  its a cool ability that i've wanted to see for a while, but in a EC its not nearly enough to include her

Quote from: BubbleBoy on May 23, 2013, 02:09:56 PM

I'm not absolutely sure I like that Hagar and Ishmael are evil characters. What did they do wrong? Hagar was essentially raped, impregnated, and left to die with her child. God personally comforted her and promised to create a great nation from her son.

Hagar is an "evil" character in the same way TAS is an evil character. Ishmael and his descendants were enemies of Isaac and his descendants, so Ishmael is an evil character in the same way Esau is.

I don't really like that Esau is an evil character either. But I suppose it's more of a problem with the title "evil character" than a problem with their role in the game. It's an automatic verbal condemnation. But that's off-topic.

As to the card itself, I agree it's underpowered. There are so few situations where reducing set-aside stay would be useful that it would probably be balanced to have it reduce down to one turn. It would still be a niche card.

Joab could fall under the same category as King Saul. He was David's general,killed Abner because Abner killed his brother in combat.(Abner had begged Joab's brother not to fight him,the brother wouldn't listen) Obeyed David's order to kill Bathsheba's husband and supported the wrong king later. Solomon had him executed for treason.

now thats better, makes cards like gathering, training in righteousness, built on a rock,  and passover prep more viable

I like it. Hagar is one of those characters that makes me think "Why hasn't she been made yet?"

One thing, though: She becomes good when she's visited by an angel, doesn't she? What if she could convert to a blue brigade hero if there is a silver brigade hero in battle (or something better than that. I could think of anything good.)

Updated card image in original post, thanks Daniel!