The Summoning
Necromancy-Based Card Game
The Summoning was developed at USC with a team of four students in my Game Design class. After testing a few core mechanics we chose ones we liked, which we then expanded to turn into this game. Throughout the project we continued to run many playtests as we incrementally changed rules to ensure our game provided a fun experience.
The first prototype was made with just normal poker cards and plastic beads, but I was lucky enough to have a great artist who I worked closely with to get a great look for the game. By the last playtest, we had a complete set of custom cards.
Though the core mechanics focus mostly on luck, the real fun of the game consists of the intricacies of the interpersonal relationships caused by who you decide to attack, and who you make your friends. The rules of the game create a very circular style of gameplay because there is a shared resource which fills up faster as a player gets stronger. This aspect of the shared resource allows for weaker players to come back when it seemed they were going to lose.
We also created an undead state so that no participant ever stops playing until there is an absolute winner; and to accent the importance of choosing your attacks carefully, continuing the dynamics of the interpersonal relationships. Playtesters found the undead state to be "one of the coolest parts". It helped to alieviate the frustration of losing because it offered them a chance for revival while also giving them the opportunity to impact the game, weakening players and, in some cases, choosing the victor.
