Cactus Game Design Message Boards

Hi, everyone!

I want your opinion on something. So, obviously, this varies from opponent to opponent, but what are your opinions of swapping sections of the board?

Basically, I'm considering swapping the LoB with the Fotress area and possibly the Artiface pile. So, the Lost Souls would be on the side and the Artifacts and Forts would be on the bottom.

What do you think of this? And do you think it would be a problem at Nationals?

Hey! I've heard of people switching up the game board in their play groups. The example that comes to mind is the "California Style", or "California Arrangement", which sounds like was popularly used by many players in California in Redemption's earlier days (perhaps still today as well).

http://www.redemptionca.com/Tips/variations/Variations.htm

As far as at the National tournament, I doubt that you'd be allowed to use an alternate arrangement, as your opponents would probably be confused and thus put at a disadvantage.

*speaking as someone who judged nationals* Typically, alternate arrangements are allowed, given that no official arrangement currently exists.

...which sounds like was popularly used by many players in California in Redemption's earlier days (perhaps still today as well).

http://www.redemptionca.com/Tips/variations/Variations.htm
...

For what it's worth... the link you posted is a significantly older version of California Style, I think that version was from Warriors days. Note this is so old Bryon didn't include a place for forts!

What we eventually ended up with was...

Evil Characters on the left with lost souls and sites bellow Evil Characters. Deck and Discard in the middle. Good Characters on the right.

Art pile, Forts and Land of Redemption were placed in a vertical row to the right of the Good Characters. Set Aside area when in use would be in this same area.

Very similar to what was posted but just adjusted a little.

I always felt the California style when used correctly was much much clearer than the official setup. Things are a bit more spread out and less cluttered. With the official setup once you get more than a few characters and neutral cards out your territory kind of turns in to a humungous blob, which gets even more cluttered when the battle phase starts.

As Bryon mentions in the link it is also very clear where the field of battle is. When you move a hero forward to rescue it is attacking your opponents left side where his Evil cards are and vice verse when you are attacked.

Quote from: Gabe on September 12, 2018, 10:51:30 PM

Quote from: Red on September 12, 2018, 10:10:47 PM

*speaking as someone who judged nationals* Typically, alternate arrangements are allowed, given that no official arrangement currently exists.

There's been an insert in (almost?) every starter deck that shows the official layout.

I assumed that since it isn't enforced, that the insert was a guideline. Oops. My bad, thanks Gabe!

I don't think this is "official" in the legally mandated sense that a host/judge should* punish someone for not using it.

*I originally used the word "can" instead of "should" but then I realized a Redemption judge can--even staying within the rules--penalize people for pretty much any reason they want.