Conditional Combat Cards

My last topic was about "Design by storytelling"

vekn.net/index.php/forum/30-expansion-sets-a-card-ideas/9850-design-by-storytelling

This is a tangent of that. My card idea in that thread was
Rubble
1

Strike: burn location attached to the opposing minion.
Only usable in a combat resulting from an action to burn a location. Strike: Burn the location and put this card on the opposing minion. Burn this card instead of untapping the minion.

The concept a combat card that is conditional. In this case it effectively completes the intended action in the resulting combat. Fair? Hard to say without playtesting, but it does take setup, and it takes a strike that isn't dealing damage to carry out.

Now lets apply this to other card ideas: I'm going to list a couple examples below, I'm not going to elaborate on the evolution of the ideas.

What it boils down to is that you can make a card like this for every discipline, and for a variety of action types. I think it's an interesting mechanic that might work, given enough tweaking and playtesting. In addition, it would be good for a large base set where we want to give something to every discipline, and will add more elements to building a deck concept.

I have more ideas down this line, maybe I will post them later, but how does it work as a concept? Think it's too good for clans without much stealth? Think it gives too much advantage to combat decks? Will it make decks with large vampires more viable without relying on multi-action strategies?

Relay
1

Only usable in a combat in which this vampire was attempting a political action. Before range.
Place this card on another vampire you control. That vampire burns this card during the next referendum for 2 votes.
As above, and move the political action with this card. That vampire may play the political action as if from your hand.

With Benefits

Only usable in a combat in which this vampire was attempting to bleed. Only usable at close range, before strikes are chosen.
Put this card on the opposing minion. That minion gets -1 intercept against the this minion.
As above, with Strike: combat ends.

Wraithly Revenge
1

Only usable in a combat in which this vampire was attempting to recruit an ally or retainer. Use before range is determined.
Remove the ally or retainer from the game to deal X damage during strike resolution, where X is it's blood or pool cost.
As above, with an optional press.

IMHO all the cards are way too strong, especially the superior versions. No way.

Interesting ideas, nice concept.
I like these one's more than your location burning card.
I do agree with Joscha thought that as written they are too strong. See my suggested modifications below.

direwolf wrote: Relay
1

Only usable in a combat in which this vampire was attempting a political action. Before range.
Place this card on another vampire you control. That vampire burns this card during the next referendum for 2 votes.
As above, and move the political action with this card. That vampire may play the political action as if from your hand.

The basic is possibly fair if it were limited to 1 per combat, the superior is too strong.
I'm also not sure about the card name. I'd prefer something that evokes the idea of a political activist who is being violently oppressed, can't think of a good alternate name for it right now though.


Relay

Only usable before range during the first round of a combat where this vampire was blocked while attempting to perform a political action. Only one Relay may be played each combat.
Place this card on this acting vampire. This vampire may burn this card during the referendum of a political action to get 2 additional votes.
As above but place this card on any vampire you control who does not already have a Relay.

direwolf wrote: With Benefits

Only usable in a combat in which this vampire was attempting to bleed. Only usable at close range, before strikes are chosen.
Put this card on the opposing minion. That minion gets -1 intercept against the this minion.
As above, with Strike: combat ends.

This is too strong as written.
I would change it to a) require a strike and b) be temporary.

With Benefits

Only usable in a combat in which this vampire was attempting to bleed. Only usable at close range.
Strike: hand strike and put this card on the opposing minion. The striking vampire may burn this card while acting to give this minion -1 intercept.
Strike: combat ends and put this card on the opposing minion as above.


Also, note the wording. The phrase 'this minion' always refers to the minion that the card is on. See Unholy Penance.

direwolf wrote: Wraithly Revenge
1

Only usable in a combat in which this vampire was attempting to recruit an ally or retainer. Use before range is determined.
Remove the ally or retainer from the game to deal X damage during strike resolution, where X is it's blood or pool cost.
As above, with an optional press.

Should be a strike, and possibly should be only usable first round.
Removing the ally from the game is harsh as it means the card does not work well with existing Necromancy ally deck archetypes.
My suggestion would be:

Wraithly Revenge
1

Only usable in a combat in which this vampire was blocked while attempting to recruit an ally or retainer. Only one Wraithly Revenge may be played each combat.
Strike: ranged; X damage where X is the printed blood or pool cost of that ally or retainer.
As above, with an optional press, only usable to end combat.

Joscha wrote: IMHO all the cards are way too strong, especially the superior versions. No way.

Too good?

I dunno man.... I agree the presence version is like, outlandishly overpowered, but all the others would never make the cut in my decks.

Potence "only usable in a combat resulting from an action to destroy a location"
So... I first have to actually play destroy location tech. Then I have to get blocked. Then I have to have no other useful strike. I'll stick to Signpost/Grapple thank you.

Auspex "only usable when blocking a political action". So first my prey or predator need to play political actions. Then I need to want to block those. Then I can play the card, without actually having a votedeck and the guy I got the card from *is* playing one.

The idea of conditional cards is not neccesarily bad, but they would likely never see play because they are that - conditional. Any card that is deadweight in your hand in every other game will simply never see play.

oh SHOOT i forgot an important part of the presence card. I intended it to have a burn clause.

I was tired last night... but yeah the point is to discuss the concepts, not necessarily nitpick the details.