Cactus Game Design Message Boards

Territory Class Character

Spoiler (hover to show)

Territory Class characters have abilities that activate when placed in battle in the same way
as all other characters. The abilities also activate each time the character is placed in a
territory. Territory Class character abilities that are active outside of battle are active while
the character remains in the territory. Territory Class characters are distinguished by a tan
icon with a tent and palm trees below the icon box.

Territory Class Enhancement

Spoiler (hover to show)

Territory Class Enhancements can be played in battle in the same way as normal
Enhancements, or they can be played on a character in your territory during your Preparation
or Discard Phase. If played outside of battle, they are discarded when their abilities are
complete, unless otherwise specified. Territory Class Enhancements are distinguished by a
tan icon with a tent and palm trees below the icon box.

Warrior (Class Character)

Spoiler (hover to show)

This is a special kind of character marked by a shield icon on the left side of the card. A
warrior-class character may hold one weapon-class Enhancement outside of battle. Warrior-class
characters are referred to as “warriors” in abilities.

Weapon (Class Enhancement)

Spoiler (hover to show)

This is a special kind of Enhancement marked by a shield icon on the left side of the card.
Weapon-class Enhancements may be held by warrior-class characters outside of battle, and
may be equipped to a warrior-class character during a player’s Preparation or Discard Phases.
Weapon-class Enhancements are referred to as “weapons” in abilities.

The special ability on a weapon-class Enhancement only activates in battle. Outside of battle,
weapon-class Enhancements follow the same rules as held cards by following their bearers to
any location in which they are moved, except when the holding character is captured, in
which case the weapon-class Enhancement is discarded.

During battle, weapon-class Enhancements can also be played using the rules of initiative.
During battle resolution, when Enhancements are normally discarded, a warrior-class
character’s controller may decide to keep one weapon-class Enhancement on the warrior-class
character.

Dual-Alignment

Spoiler (hover to show)

Dual-alignment cards have two different alignments. Most dual-alignment cards are dual icon
cards.

Dual-alignment cards count as their face value alignment for deck building. If face value is
both alignments, if neutral is not one of them, the card is counted as neutral, otherwise the
card is counted as the other alignment.

Dual Icon

Spoiler (hover to show)

Dual icon cards have two identities, which are associated with separate card icons. The icons
can be different icons in the same icon box, or in separate icon boxes (they may be the same
or different icons). A dual icon card may indicate that the face value is one identity with a
trigger or ability to change to the other identity, or it may be both identities at face value and
only becomes one identity when put on the playing surface.

A dual icon card can be targeted by it's face value identity(ies) while at face value, but it is
only targeted by the identities that match the specified card type and/or alignment of the
targeting ability. Once put on the playing surface, a dual icon card can only be targeted by
the active identity or as a dual icon card. Targeting a card as a dual icon card can be in
general or the name of a dual icon card with its identities (see Covenant or Curse), and can
use all or part of either or both identities.

I think this will simplify things for the game. (The announcement above)

I am curious why the warrior/weapon class icons and TC are not depicted on both sides though. In a separate thread it sounded like it was 100% decided that this is how it would be, and when the symbol applies to just one side that it will be noted in the identifier.

The reason I ask is because it seems like relying on the identifier uses valuable limited space that might need to be used for something else. It also seems like having the WC/TC symbol on both sides would help eliminate confusion the same as splitting up the icons.

Any information that can be shared about why it was decided against printing them this way would be appreciated.

Thanks

If you can find it could you link to the thread where you got the impression it was 100% decided we were making a change?

Quote from: Watchman492 on April 17, 2018, 08:32:04 AM

Personally I hope more cards like Fifth Seal / Justice Seekers, which has the TC symbol on both sides, are printed for clarity’s sake.

We've discussed that. It isn't going to happen. One icon applies to both sides unless otherwise noted. Sorry.

Quote from: kariusvega on April 18, 2018, 09:05:55 PM

Quote from: GreatGray on April 18, 2018, 09:02:27 PM

This is a pretty good change to see; however, should the word "Curse" be put in the identifier for immediate simplicity going forward? With all of the old curses, the snake in the icon box was super helpful to distinguish between curse, covenant, and neutral artifact. With other cards that reference curses like Balaam, new players might not realize that an artifact icon with another evil enhancement icon is a curse. It would just look to them like another artifact. Older players I know will probably not care, but younger players are going to question what is or isn't a curse because of the Grail Icon.

Quote from: Watchman492 on April 18, 2018, 09:15:23 PM

Quote from: goalieking87 on April 18, 2018, 09:12:41 PM

Quote from: kariusvega on April 18, 2018, 09:05:55 PM

Quote from: GreatGray on April 18, 2018, 09:02:27 PM

This is a pretty good change to see; however, should the word "Curse" be put in the identifier for immediate simplicity going forward? With all of the old curses, the snake in the icon box was super helpful to distinguish between curse, covenant, and neutral artifact. With other cards that reference curses like Balaam, new players might not realize that an artifact icon with another evil enhancement icon is a curse. It would just look to them like another artifact. Older players I know will probably not care, but younger players are going to question what is or isn't a curse because of the Grail Icon.

Same with Covenants.

 

The class symbol applies to the entire card, not one alignment or the other, unless it's specified in the identifier. The need to specify that only one side gets to use the class icon is a rare exception so it doesn't limit card design all that much.

When discussing the current overhaul of dual card types this was talked about. One drawback is that King Abijam, The Roman Jailer, Joab and King Saul would take a hit if we made the change now.

There are also feelings that it clutters up the card face too much. We could shrink the icons to compensate for that. It just didn't seem entirely necessary given that the system we currently have in place works.

This is an attempt to communicate the reasons others didn't go with using icons on both sides, not my personal feelings.

My preference is that we would have always used the icon on each side it applies and I'm in favor of the change now.

IMO putting class icons on both sides would be a step backwards after getting the special ability off the artwork.