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Rootjam 2023 Augury Enclave's itch.io pageResults
Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
Use of this year's theme | #8 | 3.784 | 4.000 |
Clarity of Rules/Mechanics | #12 | 2.949 | 3.118 |
Creativity/Uniqueness | #14 | 3.728 | 3.941 |
Ranked from 17 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Includes Law of Root?
Yes
Includes PnP?
Yes
Includes TTS files?
No
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Comments
I really love the ideas behind this faction! I like the stacking of buildings and the ability to influence the main deck (I don't think I have seen much of that before). I am curious about the reasoning behind the distribution of the omens track, I feel like having all the points at the end might skew the faction's vision a little bit but I do like the multiple ways of getting points. Does the omen track only score the points when revealed or is it recurring like the other symbols?
I was also a little confused by the pyramid step since I only see the base and caps on the right side of the board. And, the last question, are the pyramids connected to which favors are able to be taken? I felt that they were connected since I saw them in the same box.
Good question about the omens track. Yes, the points are only when revealed, like sympathy. I actually put a lot of thoughts into back-loading those points at the end. Here's my thought process:
Cursed players have a decision to make: Do they get rid of the curse with a Favor, or give the Augurs an Omen? Using an Omen means the Augurs improve their engine, but a Favor can be used against you specifically, so you know it's going to mess you up later. Putting in the points at the end of the track means that in the end game, it's a completely different calculation. Suddenly it's not "Whatever they get one more action", it's "Oh shoot this could put them in range to win next turn". So basically it's a way to heavily incentive paying with a Favor (or holding on to the curse). This also gives the Augurs more policing power / increases entanglement towards the end of the game, which I think is a fun dynamic.
Pyramid steps are sort of like strongholds. They don't cover anything on the board, they just chill in your supply until you build them. It's sort of like an action tax for getting a pyramid knocked over.
Pyramids and favors aren't connected at all, they just ended up in the same place on the faction board. I guess if I keep working on this I can give them their own box to make that more clear.
Makes sense! I think having those separate will be more clear for the future.
I LOVE your use of the stacking theme! If this ever reaches printing, I reeeeeally wanna see the pyramid step and cap be slightly smaller in size so they make actual pyramids on the board!
I also really love the cursing of other players, but I think it can lead to a few questions when interacting with certain factions. For example, if the birds ONLY have two curse cards in hand and HAVE to place a card in the decree, do they end up placing a curse in the decree that does nothing? Or do they forgo that step, or even draw an extra card as part of that little comeback mechanic they have? Just a thought, and I'm sure you have considered it!
Overall really like the thematics and think it would add a pretty villainous role to the faction when you sit down and play!
For the curse cards, I did consider some of these complications. I have a mini "law of root" document attached that goes over the complications with curse cards.
My ruling was that curse cards cannot be placed into special zones like the Decree / the Retinue, since curse cards don't have a suit so they couldn't be used to do anything. (And in the Eyrie case they would immediately turmoil). I didn't consider the case with the Eyrie where they MUST place a card and have only curses in hand. I think in this case it would make sense that they would have to use the discard mechanism to replace a curse with a real card, so that they would have something to put in the decree.
oh sorry didnt see a mini law of root, looks like you've really put thought into it! Love the faction, thanks for clearing that up :D