Arcomage

Arcomage is a computerized card game produced by The 3DO Company. It originated as a minigame in Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor and Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer, in which it was used to gamble for in-game money or to complete a quest to win games in every tavern. 3DO later released it as a stand-alone game in 2000. In the stand-alone version a single player can play against a computer opponent or two players can play via a LAN or TCP/IP connection. Arcomage uses the fantasy themes of the game in which it is set.

Arcomage
Developer(s)New World Computing
Publisher(s)The 3DO Company
SeriesMight and Magic
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release1999 (M&M VII)
2000 (M&M VIII)
2000 (stand-alone)
Genre(s)Card game
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

Arcomage was developed by Stickman Games. The game was sold to 3DO.

Gameplay

Arcomage takes the form of a tabletop game, in which there are two players, each with a deck of cards, a "tower" and a "wall", as well as several other variables that determine whether they win or lose, and what cards they can play. As Might and Magic is a single-player game, one would always play against an AI opponent - making the game relatively easy to win.

Players take it in turns to:

  • Draw the appropriate number of cards to complete their 6-part deck (one or more cards would have been played or discarded during their previous turn)
  • Either play or discard a card, depending on their options - in some cases discard will be the only option available, as the player might not have the appropriate number of "gems", "bricks" or "recruits".
  • If their chosen card allows it, play again and/or choose a card to discard.

Every tavern has its different victory conditions, so players must adapt their styles for different situations. A game could end in one of the following ways:

  • A player's tower has been reduced to 0
  • A player's tower has achieved a "height" of X (value depends on Tavern)
  • A player accumulates X amount of resources (value depends on Tavern)

As well as having a "Tower", "Wall" and Deck of Cards, each player also has:

  • "Quarry" - controls how many "bricks" are gained each turn
  • "Bricks" - spent on brick cards
  • "Magic" - controls how many "gems" are gained each turn
  • "Gems" - spent on gem cards
  • "Dungeon" - controls how many "recruits" are gained each turn
  • "Recruits" - spent on recruit cards

Arcomage employs a wide range of cards, each with their own name, effects and picture. Several cards were added to the original deck in Might and Magic VIII. Examples include:

  • Faerie (recruit card): 2 damage (to enemy tower/wall); play Again. Cost: 1 recruit.
  • Portcullis (brick card): +5 wall; +1 dungeon. Cost: 9 bricks.
  • Sanctuary (gem card): + 10 tower; +5 wall; gain 5 recruits. Cost: 15 gems.

References
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.