After the last playtest I’m trying out the following things:
- Removing Curses entirely from the game
- Updating the global prophecies so that they don’t force you into specific Disciplines
- Changing the end of turn “draw a card” to “draw up to your hand size”. Going to try hand size of 5.
Live Playtest Notes
It might be cleaner for Dark Deeds to only have one threshold. We can award 1 point per stored card on uncomplete Dark Deeds at the end of the game.
I feel like I’m getting a bit of AP with the hand I currently have. With the Global Prophecies currently awarding one stored card for Necromancy, and another for a Power 2 card, I’m really incentivized to play a Necromancy Power 2 card last. This might be a fun choice, but it could also make people freeze because they’re trying to play the “perfect” hand too much.
I forgot to Scheme again. Dan had an idea to have a round tracker, and make deed drawing part of that. Have everybody do it at once woudld make it easier to remember I think.
Blood Magic’s Start of Turn effect at level 2 is currently: Discard a card => draw a card. This might be better placed after the drawing up to hand phase.
The card Constricted Heart lets you force a player to discard a card. With the hand size drawing, this doesn’t feel as powerful. It should be a random card, or two cards.
I really like the hand size drawing. It might become a problem with advancing high level Disciplines, because you can discard three 1 Power cards and it’s not really a bad thing. I could perhaps limit how many cards you can discard to advance a Discipline.
Cruel Focus should just say “Initiate 2 Dark Deeds”.
Possessed Focus has mismatched Disciplines.
I think Black Devil should be cut. As a Free Action it’s too limiting to other players.
I still feel like the game needs more simple cards. “Initiate a Dark Deed. *Blood Magic 2+*: Store this card on the same Prophecy.” I might make one for each of the Disciplines and do like 5 copies of each.
Insidious Charm is cool but is too strong. Maybe it should be a random card.
Dan’s Feedback
He likes the Global Prophecies in the middle. Adds replayability. Icons would be good to help legibility.
If all Prophecies are End of Turn effects, just add a new Prophecy Phase where you do the Prophecy steps.
There was confusion about the Dark Deeds having both a low and a high breakpoint on the Dark Deeds.
He’d like more chain reactions.
Disciplines might take too long to come online.
He didn’t notice or “miss” the removal of Curses. Neither did I, so I think they’re gone.
Disciplines could be more rewarding when you advance them.