HoNoToGroABeMo Day Thirty-One: It Is Done
5 years ago
12:08 PM
Starter Deck Release Preview: Election Season!
Important: Read Disclaimer. Thank you. Technical Note: this post has many images, and may be slow to load on dialup connections. I apologize.
The boys in the back room over at Hasborg are ever-swift to sniff out an opportunity to make a buck by shamelessly exploiting a popular trend in gaming. I was rousted out of my slumbers over the weekend for the pitch: "What if a popular miniature gaming society's election shenanigans were made into a limited edition Collectible Card Game??" I goggled in astonishment. "You're nuts, Hasborg.. we've been to that well too many times for them to buy it this time!" Alas, their generous offer to remodel the kitchens at Casa O'Hara had me caving in point-blimfark.. I can be bought so easily!
So without further delay, here's Hasborg's limited release card game ELECTION SEASON!, postulating on how the antics of gaming societies' board elections would make great fodder for low comedy.
Card Previews
First of all, the goal of the game is to be touching the Secret Circle, otherwise known as the Ring of the Chosen. Inside the Ring, Candidates have the power to issue Secret votes, black balls, Pronouncements, Dark Referendums.
Candidates are the primary role of the players.
The Wizard of Infrastructure wields subtle energies that can effect the entire game.
The Warrior of DystelFinch is a chaos knight with devastating attacks.
Pylum Higher is most effective in the Net War! phase.
Popular Poison Pen has the power of Ancient Lore behind him.
The Knight of Lancaster has many friends, but is he in the thrall of the hideous G.O.R.G.A.? Only the cards will say.
ANY candidate, once he has touched the Ring of the Secret Circle, may have the power to change into the sinister Sorhead, The Candidate with the most power. There can be only ONE Sorhead...
Sorhead has some minions that assist him automatically.
The Mouth of Sorhead can deflect NetWar! attacks and actually takes hit point damage FOR Sorhead when tapped.
Net.Kook transfers some of his life power to Sorhead during NetWar! phases.
Every Candidate has certain tools at his disposal..
The Secret Vote can be devastating, but it can be countered with White Mana.
Beware the Ancient Worm! The Ancient Worm has the Power of LORE. Lore can stymy (tap) a candidate unless it is countered.
The most numerous card in the Starter deck will be Net War!, the most effective way of sabotaging other Candidates. Many players and their minions are very effective in Net War! attacks.
The Dark Coterie can attach to ANY player, if that player is declared Sorhead.
The Bad Moon Rising card works best in conjunction with an Election card.
The Dreaded BLACK BALL will keep a candidate immobile for as long as mana is poured into it.
Any candidate can be sent into EXILE for a certain number of turns, unless they can negotiate with other Candidates to help block the card.
Convention cards help remove discord and increase the postive mana in the game. There were only two of these in the initial release of the game, but a third one was added in the expansion series.
I'm so Above it All.. is a spell that adds chaotic effects to the game, either removing or adding discord.
The Do Nothing Kid adds negative energy to Candidates engaged in Net War!
Another plentiful card, the Really Eventful Meeting card is an artifact that any Candidate may play to dispell the effects of other cards in play.
The hideous G.O.R.G.A. is a competing Candidate (or minion) that lends energy at a price. G.O.R.G.A. may be a candidate in the next release.
The Volunteer Militia (use "Volunteers" or "Staff" interchangeably) provide support for a Candidate. Unfortunately they have a limited life span.
Here are two cards from the Election Phase of the game. Not shown: Dark Referendum, Write In Candidate, EgoManiacs, Stalwart CDs, Candidate Bio Traps, Appealing to the Old Crowd
One of the candidates' greatest dangers is the Membership Election card. Proper play of the election card (only one per deck) is essential for victory.
The extremely rare ELECTION RECALL card can be the bane of a candidate's existence.
So there you have it. No word on the release date of the game yet, but there's talk of a special pre-election printing...
The cards depicted above are meant to be a very broad parody of stereotypes, opinions, fears and anxieties that routinely get expressed in relation to a certain gaming society. In NO way do I intend this posting to be anything but a work of fiction-- it should not be construed as being the opinion of anyone other than myself. So there, Bill, you don't need to call me! :-D
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