Arcomage (Game)

Arcomage

GAME » on 2000

A standalone release of the card-based mini-game from the seventh and eighth installments of the Might and Magic series of RPGs. Similar to games like Magic: The Gathering, draw and play cards to build up defenses, deliver damage, and alter resources.

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Overview

Arcomage, also known as Arcomage: A Multiplayer Fantasy Card Game, is a digital card game developed by New World Computing and published by 3DO for the PC (Platform) in 2000.

Originally an optional mini-game in the studio's high-fantasy RPGs Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor and Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer, Arcomage is a dueling card game similar to real-life collectible card games like Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh!. Along with a computerized opponent, the game supports networked multiplayer.

In a match of Arcomage, each player has a deck of specialized cards they draw-and-discard, and must take turns spending resources to play cards from their hands in order to build up their defenses, attack their opponent, and affect resource generation (Quarry for red Brick-cost cards, Magic for blue Gem-cost cards, and Dungeon for green Recruit-cost cards). Depending on the chosen rules, players are tasked with either destroying the opponent's Tower, growing their own Tower to a certain point, or acquiring a certain amount of one type of resource.

While the game has not seen an official successor, there are unofficial recreations and spiritual successors of the game, such as the browser-based game [https:/arcomage.github.io Arcomage HD].

Gameplay

Arcomage is a dueling card game similar to tabletop collectible card games like Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh!, with both players trying to complete their objective first, usually involving either destroying the opposing Tower, building up their Tower to a certain threshold, or stockpiling a resource to another threshold.

In the games this is originally from, most aspects of the game are based on the tavern the player was challenging, including the starting and victory conditions. In this game, those aspects are fully customizable, with each tavern ruleset included as options.

By default, both players have a hand size of five (not including the card that was drawn). During each turn, players draw a card into their hand and must either play a card from their hand (spending the requisite resource cost) or discard a card (ignoring the effects and resource cost). Some cards allow the player to "Play Again", at which they repeat the turn.

Unlike other draw-and-discard games of the type, players have no deck nor discard piles to manage, instead receiving any of the 101 cards at random for each draw.

Wall & Tower

Each player has a base Tower and a defensive Wall, both of differing heights (or "levels"). Incoming damage is usually first applied to the Wall and then, when the Wall is destroyed, the remainder is applied to the Tower. Some cards damage the Tower directly, regardless of Wall height. If the Tower is destroyed, that player automatically loses the game.

Cards can be used to build the Tower and/or Wall to a higher height. If one player's Tower is built above the game's customizable threshold, they automatically win the game.

Cards & Resources

Each of the game's cards come in one of three color-coded types, each making use of one of three resources:

Brick cards, colored red, tend to be used for reinforcing Walls. These make use of "bricks", which are generated each turn based on the level of the player's Quarry.
Gem cards, colored blue, tend to be used for reinforcing Towers. These make use of "gems", which are generated each turn based on the level of the player's Magic.
Recruit cards, colored green, tend to be used for inflicting damage. These make use of "recruits", which are generated each turn based on the level of the player's Dungeon.

Each resource generator (Quarry, Magic, and Dungeon) adds their level's worth of resources (Bricks, Gems, and Recruits) per turn, and their levels can be buffed or nerfed with card effects. In addition, if one player manages to accrue a certain amount of one resource, they automatically win the game.

Custom Rules

Players can change various aspects about the game, which applies to both players equally:

The starting conditions, including the Tower Level (default 20), the Wall Level (default 5), the Quarry, Magic, and Dungeon Levels (default 2 for each), and the Brick, Gem, and Recruit Quantities (default 5 for each).
The victory conditions for both the Tower Level (default 50) and the Resource Quantities (default 100).
The hand size of each player (default 5).

Each ruleset from both Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor and Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer are also selectable for play.

Original Release

The card game was originally developed by developed by Stickman Games (Company) for New World Computing's fantasy RPG Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor. An optional mini-game, found in almost every Inn in the game, the player could take a break from the main game to play the innkeeper at Arcomage in order to win a bit of money. A certain side-quest which points the player towards the deck of Arcomage cards they need in order to play the game will ask them to beat every innkeeper in the world at Arcomage for a reward. The card game was well-received by fans of the series and thus made a return in the game's sequel: Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer. The game was expanded with additional cards.

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