Ximaxian Spellcerat (game)

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[Lionhorse]

I recently came up with an idea to create in Santharia very easy card game, which I wrote bellow. So, read it and tell me what you think of that.    

Game Name: Ximaxian Spellcerat

Overview:
Ximaxian Spellcerat is a simple card game that is played generally in the Magical City of Ximax by the students or children, who are living there. Depending on the region, where this game is played, the name of it can be different. One of these names is "Bard's Spellcerat", because one of the regions, where this game is played, is Bardavos - the City of Artists, where live artists, bards, actors and the like. However this game may be called, it allways will have the word "Spellcerat" in its name, and by hearing this word everyone will recognize exactly this game.

The game involves two players, who are taking the cards from the card deck and placing them on the table. The player, who will place a card with a higher value, has defeated the opposing player’s weaker card - the card that has lesser value. This game is very good for spending some free time and having fun.

The creators of this game were from different tribes and races. One of them was from the orcen tribe of Volek-Oshra, but the other - from the human Centoraurian Men tribe. During the creation of this game, they divided all cards in three different types, so called “branches”, as a result making plant, creature and spell type cards. For each type they made eleven cards, therefore having a card deck, that contains thirty-three cards.

History:
This game has been created by the two students, who were learning at the Ximaxian Academy of Magic, under the inspiration of many mages of high level, herbalists, who were exploring the native flora, and different kind of adventurers, who were telling the tales about the dangerous monsters and creatures, as well as the heroes that live in the Kingdom of Santharia. Therefore, one evening both of them dreamed that they also could cast a powerful spells, summon creatures and even use the plants for their own magical purposes, but differently - by playing a very simple game. Then they began to explore the Magical City by sitting in the Library and reading the books about native flora, fauna, and spells, about whom they received only general overviews, because they were too young to know something more about the high level spells.
 
After gathering enough information and dividing it in three, already mentioned, branches, they came up with an idea that this game should be portable and comfortable enough to play it in any place and time. Simply acting it all, would be too foolish, therefore they invented the cards that were made out of a simple paper, on which they drew the pictures of different kind of spell effects, plants, and creatures. Then they wrote a certain value on each card. After creating the cards, they made rules for this game and began to play it. After the several months, some of the mentors of the Magical City noticed that these two students are playing this game and wanted to try it. Soon the mentors saw that this game can also serve as a teaching tool, to help their students learn spells better, as well as the native flora and fauna.

Some months later, both students, who created this game, were playing it almost every day in the local pub, called The Wasted Wizard. Of course, citizens of the Magical City noticed that and became interested in this game as well. In the outcome, the game became very popular in the Magical City, and, during several years, fame of this game expanded even outside of the City in the other parts of Southern Santharia. One of these parts is the City of Artists - Bardavos, that is situated in the southern part of Santharia - in Brendolan Province. Finest painters of Bardavos drew their own variations of images on these cards, but the rules remained the same. That is why card images can vary widely and these variations of images make this game more interesting. In Bardavos, as well as in the other Provinces of Southern Santharia, the game was brought by the traders, who were travelling from the Magical City and introducing their friends and customers with this game.
 
Equipment:
Two players can play this game at one time.

They need one card deck, in which are all thirty-three cards – in each card type should be eleven cards. If these cards come from Bardavos, then the spell type cards will be substituted with, so called, people type cards. On the people type cards, painters of Bardavos draw famous bards, painters, actors and the like.
 
On each card, in the center, there is a drawing of a plant, spell, creature, or a famous person. At the bottom of the card, in a banner, there is a name of a plant, spell, creature, or a famous person, but on the card's upper left and lower right corners, there is a value of this card (for example, "five"). On the card's upper right and lower left corners there is a small picture that shows the type of the card. If the card is a spell type card, then there will be a picture of a spellbook, if the card is a creature type card, then there will be a picture of a horse head, and if the card is a plant type card, then there will be a picture of a flower. However, if the card has a picture of a human head, then it is a people type card and comes from Bardavos. Of course, these cards can also be recognized by the borders, which are in different colors: for the plant type cards - green, for the creature type cards - dark red, for the spell cards – xazure and for the people type cards - yellow.

There is one more thing that players should need - some kind of a playing surface. It can be a table, a floor, ground or the like.

Game Setup:
Before the game starts, one of the players should take a coin, and they both should decide which side of a coin will be theirs. After that, the player, who has a coin has to flip it up. In this coin flipping the winner is the player whose side of a coin landed on the playing surface. Then the player, who won a coin flipping, has to take the card deck, shuffle it, and place it on the table in the face down position. Then both players sit down opposite each other and take the cards from the top of the deck. The player, who won the coin flipping, has to take first six cards and after that the same must do the opposing player, but the opposing player can take only five cards. Then the player, who has six cards in his/her hand, has to make his/her first move. During the game, the players can take only one card from the card deck and only in their turns.

Rules:
1.) After taking the cards, the player, who has to make a first move, has to select one card from his/her hand and place it on the table.
2.) Then the opposing player should do the same, but his/her placed card must have bigger or equal value than the card, which was placed by the first player.

3.) When a card is being defeated, it should be removed from the game along with the card, that defeated the weaker card, and both cards should be placed in the other spot on the playing surface, that is called a discard pile.

When the card's value is bigger or equal to the opposing card's value, then the player, who placed the card with a bigger or equal value, has to reduce the lower or equal card's value from his/her card's value, and difference count in his/her score points. For example, the first player places a card, whose value is "four", after that the opposing player places a card, whose value is "seven". The opposing player has defeated the first player's card and reduces "four" from "seven" (seven minus four equals three), as result gaining three score points.

If the values of the opposing cards are equal, then both cards are defeated and none of the players gain any score points. If the opposing player can't defeat the other player's card, because he/she has no cards with bigger or equal value in his/her hand, then the opposing player has to reduce his/her score points by the same value that is written on the other player's card, but the other player has to add the same amount to his/her own score points. In this case the player who put the card on the playing surface should take it back - the card should not be placed in the discard pile. The lower valued card of any type cannot defeat the higher valued card of any type.

4.) After all counting, the next turn is for the opposing player and he/she, before making the move, must take one card from the top of the card deck. Then the opposing player has to select one card from his/her hand and place it on the table.

5.) After that the first player should do the same. Then both players should compare the values of the cards and see which card is stronger. Again, counting should be done.

So the game continues until both players use up all the cards in the card deck. The player, who got more score points and who has used all of the cards in his/her hand, after using out all other cards, that are in the card deck, is the winner.

[Ta`lia of the Seven Jewels]

I'm sure this will be a nice entry when finished - but I'm a bit disappointed - where is the magic? I at least expected, that the pictures only showed up when laid down or something like this, or that they are conjured and that the more difficult spells are more difficult to imagine... anything.

So, why magical? Or have I read too hastily and missed something?

[Artimidor Federkiel]

Well, I guess "magic" as of yet is only used as a category amongst others in this game, and the potential that magic could have in this card game isn't really utilized.

So basically the idea is nice, but could use refinement. E.g. you could try to use the several schools of magic (the four elemental schools) and make a card game out of it that helps to learn the various spells, and the levels of these spells (would equal the numbers). Because if Ximaxian students created this game the game could be magic only. That would require four branches, though, but I don't know if three branches are a necessity.

The game could also have a better name methinks, as "Ximaxian magic cards game" sounds a bit bland, especially if magic in it is somewhat limited. Some passages like the Overview could also be more precise or get more (Overview) into history and importance and stuff, so it's kept a bit too simplistic.

Also: How about some sort of "jokers" in the game, cards that can beat any others? Not sure if that would be a good idea, one would need to play the game to see how one can improve it, and what's a good idea and what not.

P.S. You seem to have a problem with swallowing a good deal of articles and smaller words in your entry, Lionhorse... Just some examples:

This is a simple card game that is played generally in the Magical City of Ximax between students or children, who are living there. The game involves two players, who take cards from one main card deck and place them on the table - one who will place a card with a bigger value, "defeat" the opponent's weaker card or the card that has lesser value. This game is good for spending some free time and have fun.

Make sure to read your sentences again, as it's all throughout the entry, sometimes a sentence becomes hard to understand for the readers if it isn't complete.

[Lionhorse]

Talia, "magic", because in this game there are spell type cards. 

Alright!!! About naming I had really no idea, therefore I wrote the first thing that came up to my mind!!! I know, current name is just too blend.    Maybe someone can help me with naming of this game?

Artimidor, I don't know... I think it would be nice if there would be only three, my already mentioned, branches, because if it will be only magic, the game might be too boring or not so attractive to the citizens of Bardavos and Magical City, because, normally, citizens of both Cities might think that this game had invented only for mages and those who posses magic abilities.

Well... if I would be a common citizen in Magical City or in Bardavos I would certainly think so. Beside, mages have to know not only spells, but creatures and plants as well. Mages - the same wizards, wise men and women who know much more than only spells. I really don't know what to say... I like your idea, Artimidor, but I'm not sure about it. Maybe someone can dissipate my doubts. (?)

About "jokers"... I haven't finished my game's entry, but I already can tell that each branch contain 1 most powerful card and, if some player collects all 3 cards in his or hers hand, he or she automatically win the game.

About my speech... yes I know, I have terrible English.    That is because I haven't been here for so long time, and I haven't used English for so long as well... so... I hope you understood my point!!! 

[Artimidor Federkiel]

Well, you know, maybe other people saw that the Ximaxian scholars were playing such a magic only game and they adapted the game in other parts of the country to their needs, because they saw that the game had more potential than just learning about magical spells. Just an idea

[Lionhorse]

You know, Artimidor, this can be a fact in History section!!!    What do you think?

[Artimidor Federkiel]

Well, sure

[Lionhorse]

ENTRY has been finished!!!    Ready for comments, suggestions and grammar correction!!! 

By the way... later I'll try to make all of those cards and add it to the entry.

[Aaron Silverleaf]

Very clever idea. I would play the game any day.

They saw how mages are practicing their spells and therefore, one evening both students thought that they also could cast powerful spells but differently - by playing a very simple game. Therefore, they began to research Magical City by sitting in Library and reading books about spells, about which they received only general overviews, because they were too young to know something more about high level spells./quote]

That was the only mistake I could see.

[Lionhorse]

Thanks, Aaron, for correcting me!!!   

By the way, how do you like the prototype of the card, that is added to my entry?

[Aaron Silverleaf]

Thats just as I imagined  the cards looking like.   

[Lionhorse]

WOW!!! It's great to here that.   I didn't expected such answer.

[Artimidor Federkiel]

I spot a lot more articles gone missing than Aaron... To quote just some of the first sentences:

However, after some months both students made their game suitable not only for those who learn in the Magic Academy, but also for the citizens of City itself.

History.
Two students who were learning in the Ximaxian Academy of Magic created the game..

Make sure to read the entry again, slowly, and I bet you find a lot more to fix

[Lionhorse]

Alright, I have fixed some of the articles and hope that entry is correct now. Though I'm not sure!!! 

ENTRY EDITED!!!

Aaron's edit - yellow
Artimidor's edit - orange
My edit - lime green

[Bard Judith]

I hate to put a damper on this, but you do know about the Game of Four Houses, right?  I'm surprised Art didn't say something already, as he is the only one in existence to have an actual set of them...

http://www.santharia.com/games/game_of_four_houses.htm

Not that there can't be more than one card game, but there are already cards sorted by the four elements, AND the picture you chose to mock up your sample card is already included in my set.  Perhaps try for something a bit different?

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