Gnostica!

[mattlistener]

Gnostica is an overhaul of Zarcana -- a spiffy territory-based war game played with Tarot cards and Icehouse pieces. I'd been excited about Zarcana for a while when I discovered it a year or so ago, but lost interest after a while when games got to be too similar. Primarily, it was that it's very costly (turn-wise) to slow down another player, yet difficult to catch up to one who has taken a solid lead.

The original developers liked Z enough and were eventually bothered enough by its imperfections that they spent vast amounts of energy playtesting all the different things it could be. What emerged -- Gnostica -- is more intuitive, interactive, balanced, and easier to learn (unless you imprinted on Zarcana already).

The rules are presented with a system of symbols-in-circles that can be added to the Tarot cards that make it easy to identify a card's suit, special functions, and value (count the circles). So, tonight I added colored garage sale dots to my Zarcana tarot deck, drew on the symbols (with Brandi's help on the swords), and now I'm ready to roll!

Anyone want to play?

Comments

[treacle-well.livejournal.com]

I love Gnostica and haven't had nearly enough chances to play it--especially recently. So count me in if you want to get a game together.

[queue.livejournal.com]

Me too and me too -- and me too. And me too.

Ditto

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

And I need to learn it well enough by Lunacon to be able to teach it. :) (Assuming I ever get a reply from them!)

[bitty.livejournal.com]

I'd like to learn one of these days...

[mattlistener.livejournal.com]

I'd be happy to teach you! I'll keep it with me at future gaming things.