Last year when I was between contracts, I had some time on my hands and lots of creative energy. One day I had a major geekout and designed most of a card game along with my buddy Alan. We based it off the first two books only. Then I forgot about it for ten freakin’ months because I got a new contract and had a book to write.
While rummaging around in my files recently, I ran across the game and decided to finish designing it so that my time from ten months ago wouldn’t be wasted. Now you can download it for free, mess around, and see if it’s any fun. If you’re so inclined, you can send me some feedback, help me tighten it up, and if people dig it, then maybe we can get some real cards printed up with some original art. (Right now the art is extremely temporary.)
The cards are on five PDF files; the files are standard 81/2 x 11″ paper. You’ll need to print only one copy of sheet #1, but most likely you’ll need 4 copies each of sheets 2-5. There’s also a set of instructions as a Word file. You’ll probably need some dice handy, and some scissors to cut out your makeshift cards. If you wanted to get all fancy, you could print them out on cardstock.
PLAYTESTING & FEEDBACK
If you’d like to just play, go ahead! Please do! If you’d like to contribute a bit to improving the game and leave me some feedback, there’s a spiffy way to do it. Follow this link to The Ranting Dragon forums, read what you see there, and join the site. If you’ve never been to The Ranting Dragon, it’s seriously one of the best SF/F review sites out there. Worth joining and jabbering along with people. Once you’re signed up there, you can leave me your suggestions, and that’s where I’ll post updates on new versions, etc.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
I’m not a professional game designer. I like beer and dogs and writing stories, so if I’ve made some really stupid mistakes, you can blame it on one of those. Also, Alan and I tried really hard to keep this first version confined to the creatures, gods, and events of HOUNDED and HEXED. If there is sufficient interest, we’ll expand the game with cards from HAMMERED, but for now, try to keep suggestions for new cards and mechanics to things that happened in the first two books. The files are below! I really do hope you have a great time with them!
GAME FILES
IDC Card Sheet 1
IDC card sheet 4
IDC Cards Sheet 5
IDC card game rules