Bay 12 Games Forum

While I can't possibly give a perfect, or even comprehensive, description of all balance factors, I can give you the very basics.

A 0-Rad Critter with no abilities can have a total of 50 Strength+Vitality 'Potential'. Each additional Rad is worth about 25 Potential, meaning a 2-Rad Critter can have a total of 100.

Adding abilities to a card can be thought of as 'costing' some of their Potential. Some have flat costs, some have scaling costs, and some may have negative 'costs'. In all cases I reserve the right to tweak their costs if necessary (eg if a combination of abilities on the same card has a greater impact than those two abilities separately, I will take that into account).

Stickys and Tricks Potential is harder to nail down, since they don't have S+V to compare. As a very rough guideline, Stickys have 80% of the Potential of Critters, whereas Tricks have 120%.

...at least, this is the idea going in. This is based on the balancing guidelines of CYOGTCG, but maybe it'll turn out that some types of cards are far more powerful than intended, requiring the entire scale to be adjusted. We'll see.

Immutable X: This card is immune to non-combat effects (that is, it doesn't prevent damage dealt in regular combat) from cards costing X Rads or less. It cannot be affected or targeted. Immutable applies in all zones (deck, hand, discard, board, maybe others), to all cards (in the given price bracket). A card with X in the cost is treated as whatever was paid for it by Immutable.

Quickplay: This card does not count towards your plays-per-turn limit (which is normally one).

Again, these are bad cards. You can design cards that are strictly better than these cards. These are here so that if you want to make, eg, a card that requires a weak Critter to be sacrificed, you don't have to worry about designing a weak critter first. Nor do you need to spend designs on a basic generator, damage trick, etc.

Each card has several elements. Most of them are self-explanatory, and just looking at the Starter Cards should clue you in to all the relevant stuff.

Name: Every card must have a unique name. And it shouldn't be so long it runs off the card. Other than that, the name isn't relevant (by default).
Cost: Every card has a Cost value, even if it is zero. More Radical cards will cost some amount of Rads, the default resource currency. 
Image: Every card has an image, which is 210x120 pixels.
Type: Every card is either a Critter, Sticky, or Trick.
  Critter: Critters are cards that persist on the field, and have a Vitality stat that determines how much damage they can take, as well as a Strength stat that determines how much damage they deal. By default, these can attack and block (see Attacks section of DIYCCG RULES), but specific cards may override this.
  Sticky: Sticky cards persist on the field, but do not have a Vitality stat, and thus cannot be attacked. They may have a condition that causes them to leave play in some other way. Generally speaking, they will have some continuous or repeating effect. As Stickys (this is the official plural) are harder to get rid of than Critters, they will usually have less powerful effects.
  Trick: Tricks are cards that do not persist on the field. They are played, but immediately move to the Discard Pile (by default). Thus, they can have more powerful but one-off effects.
Subtypes: Cards can have subtypes, but what those subtypes do, if anything, is not established by these rules. Power-balance-wise, each card can have one subtype 'for free', but more than one counts as a buff.
Effect: Most cards will have some effect described on them, although this is not technically required. Almost anything is possible here, although more extreme effects will likely come with significant Rad costs and/or drawbacks. In the extreme case that you propose something impossible, I'll let you know.
Flavour Text: Entirely optional, a little bit of spice to give cards more personality than raw mechanics can.
Strength-Vitality: Critters have their Strength and Vitality listed here. Like any proper imitator of an existing card game, every value is a multiple of 10 for no godsdamned reason. Stickys and Tricks do not have this.
Rarity: Cards may be Common, Rare, or Unique. This determines how many copies may be in a deck. 6 Commons, 3 Rares, 1 Unique.
Colour: Lastly, the background of a Card can be various colours. See COLOURS for details.

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If you need inspiration, glancing at the many many cards in the CYOGTCG Card Repository could give some ideas (note that not all those cards would work/make sense in this game).

The first six players who enter the game each create a Colour when doing so (one not already in use). They get to describe what the nature of their Colour is (which I may modify for balance). Players and teams may design cards of any Colour in the game, not just their signature Colour. Multicoloured cards are possible, but will need to abide by the nature of all their Colours.

A Colour has a theme- a guiding aesthetic that should be adhered to when making cards of that Colour. The image, name, and flavour text should match the theme, whilst the mechanical side of things should at least try not to be too jarring in combination.

A Colour has mechanics- strengths, weaknesses, custom rules, etc. These should be balanced...ish. I'll make changes as necessary to render all Colours be roughly equally valuable, and to have any custom rules be compatible with the base rules and each other.

All the starter cards are Grey. The nature of Grey cards is being bland, monochrome (theme), and weak (mechanics). De facto you cannot create a multicoloured card using Grey, as being multicoloured would itself be too interesting. Also, you probably shouldn't make Grey cards to begin with.

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These are the player-designed colours- their themes, mechanics, and some examples of upsides and downsides. Not all cards of a colour need to match all (or any) of the listed upsides and downsides- like I said, they're examples. So long as a reasonable argument can be made for an effect fitting the mechanical philosophy of a colour, it'll probably be allowed.

Green
Theme: Mutant hordes
Mechanics: Cards care about rads being generated. Very critter-focused.
  Upsides: Cards grow stronger when rads are generated. High strength, better damage output. Flexible.
  Downsides: Low vitality. Cards function poorly unless rads are generated. Vulnerable. Not a lot of Trick potential.


White
Theme: Waifus
Mechanics: White cares about other colours. Making a multicolor card with White intensifies the other colour's effect, both upsides and downsides.
  Upsides: Pure White cards could bolster other White cards (waifu synergy). They may benefit from the presence of other colours on the board.
  Downsides: Alternatively, some pure White cards could negatively affect other White cards (waifu jealousy). They may be weaker than average if there are few other colours present.


Yellow
Theme: Energy
Mechanics: Yellow Cards revolve around generating resources and using resources. Tend to have damaging effects, or be able to recur or alter cards.
  Upsides: Better at generating resources (Rads, drawing cards, counters). Suitable for Tricks that deal damage to Critters or players, or that change how other cards function.
  Downsides: Require upkeep costs. Worse at Critters. May cause friendly fire (damage to owner/friendly Critters). Volatile.


Red
Theme: 19th century imperialism
Mechanics: Cards can generate the Tea resource, or consume it for benefits. Many cards generate Rebellion, and will defect to the opponent if it exceeds a threshold. Prefers the use of Critter tokens. 
  Upsides: Can easily create Critter tokens. Consuming Tea can have powerful effects. May cause opponent's cards to Rebel.
  Downsides: Function poorly without Tea. Non-token Critters not so good at combat. Rebellion.


Pink
Theme: Heart
Mechanics: Anything kind, caring, and "working together". Pink does not do big, tough heavy hitters, but cards that boost each other with the Power of Friendship!
  Upsides: Weaken/restrict opponent/enemy Critters. Strengthen/protect owner/friendly Critters. Synergise well.
  Downsides: Bad at or incapable of attacking/causing damage. Gives benefits to the opponent. Ineffective alone.


Black
Theme: Steel
Mechanics: 'Immutable' cards that provide resistance against being affected by other cards. Bulky critters that are difficult to remove from the field.
  Upsides: Resistant to other card's negative effects. High Vitality. Works well with defensive tactics. Good at big Critters.
  Downsides: Resistant to other card's positive effects. Low Strength. Slow/clunky effects. Bad at small Critters.

You can use whatever means of deck-simulation you prefer, so long as you don't cheat, obviously. We'll take it on trust. If you are convinced that your opponent is cheating, I could technically do a thing where I shuffle both players' decks and tell them what cards they've drawn, but that would be the nuclear option (pun intended).
The way I shuffle decks is with a spreadsheet. How does that work? Like this: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1D3TqPAPoPlvsQS5Oxg6HqvxhPWb5P5dgMEbTdNwjbFg/edit?usp=sharing
If the explanation (on the second page) isn't clear enough, let me know and I'll try to improve it.

EDIT: a1s informed me about a Discord bot that can manage custom decks, so that is now the recommended method of shuffling. As an added bonus, this eliminates the risk of cheating, since I can see the private channel in which you shuffle your deck and draw cards.

Demon (Choosing a name will be one of the first choices in the game): The diabolical leader of your faction, a being of immense power. There is very little they cannot do. Needless to say, they are Unique.

Mundane Units:
Cultist Spears: Being equipped with only a rusty dagger, a makeshift spear, and a wooden shield, combined with their lack of training, mean these are not elite warriors- they'd lose a one-on-one fight with a real soldier-, but they're cheap and plentiful. Like regular cultists, their dedication makes them more resilient mentally than civilians. Unit Size: ~50 Common

Cultist Archers: Cultists who have some experience with a bow are valuable assets in combat, harassing the enemy from a distance. They aren't sharpshooters, and their bows are designed for hunting, not piercing armour, but they're better than nothing. Like regular cultists, their dedication makes them more resilient mentally than civilians. Unit Size: ~25 Common

Acolytes: Cultists who have begun their exploration of the magical arts, studying under their demonic patron. They can cast any Common spells (unless noted otherwise). Their physical strength leaves something to be desired, but their mental fortitude is even greater than regular cultists. Unit Size: ~25 Uncommon

Cultist Missionaries: Cultists with a modicum of charisma and subtlety, sent forth as emissaries of their eldritch master. Unarmed and untrained, they serve no role in combat. Unit Size: ~10 Common

Summoned/Mutated Units:
You don't start with anything in this category. Feel free to ask whether a proposal is viable, at least until you have a grasp of difficulty.

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Spells/Rituals:
Magic Missile: Known by many names, the simple technique of blasting your opponent with raw Mana/Good/Evil is a tried and true method of making things go away. Efficacy increases with caster's mental might, and decreases with the target's. Common

Novice Ward: A very simple magic barrier that will reduce the impact of attacks both mundane and mystical. Won't last long, but can be useful in a pinch. Common

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Infiltration Techniques:
Proselytise: Cultists go forth and spread the Evil word, finding those sympathetic to their cause and slowly winning them over. Not the fastest way of gaining converts, but it keeps the cult growing. Common

Each turn consists of four phases. Design, Revision, Strategy, and Battle.

In the Design Phase, you... design stuff, be that a new creature to summon, spell to cast, or ritual to perform (or something else). I will roll dice to determine how well your design does. Depending on how ambitious your design is- and how much relevant experience you already have- there may be penalties (or bonuses) to the roll. You get two designs each turn.

The Revision Phase is similar. You take an existing design, and make a (small) modification to it. This might be the design created in the Design Phase, or a pre-existing one. You might be trying to fix a bug, or add a new feature, or make a new thing that is closely related to it. You get one revision each turn (except for the first two turns, when you get two).

In the Strategy Phase, you will make any decisions necessary about how/where to deploy your forces (deploying Unique units, primarily). There may be other decisions to make in this phase also.

Finally, you do not have to do anything in the Battle Phase except read. There will be a post in this thread describing the designs created, the battles that took place (both military conflict and the infiltration of human kingdoms), and anything else relevant. Then the next turn begins with a new Design Phase.

Each turn represents one month.

DESIGNS
You can design a number of different things, not just weapons. In fact, weapons aren't especially high on your list of priorities. You can design monsters to summon/mutate, spells to cast, rituals(/other actions) for your cultists to perform, and... anything else that makes sense. You can always ask me if you aren't sure about a design, and I can tell you if it isn't within the scope of the game before you waste a design on it.
By default, you get two designs each design phase. These are voted for simultaneously, then rolled for simultaneously (you will not be able to use experience from one to aid in the other).
Designs will be rolled for using 2d4. Higher is better. See the 2d4 results spoiler for details.


Example designs:
Ghouls: By infusing starving humans with Evil we shall mutate them into ravenous Ghouls, near-mindless creatures that feast on corpses, and will use their claws and sharp teeth to create some if no pre-existing corpses can be found. They should have slightly enhanced strength and regeneration.
This should provide us with cheap fodder to throw into combat, or use to terrify villagers.

Holy Lightning: Invoking a holy word to the heavens, a blast of righteous energy descends upon the foe, smiting the evildoer. We can teach this to our Lightmages, or the Angel herself can use it.

Infiltrate Government: Our cultists will be trained in the basics of espionage, and learn how to work their way into the lower levels of government, thereby paving the way for our eventual takeover, whilst siphoning state resources to aid our cause.


High-Effort Projects: If you have a particularly ambitious design, that you suspect might normally be too difficult, but you still think is worth pursuing, you can designate it a High-Effort Project. This means spending both design actions on it. This will make the design one level easier (eg a Very Hard design becomes Hard), and it will be rolled for using best-2-of-4d4 (ie, I roll 4 four-sided dice, and use the sum of the two highest).

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REVISIONS
A revision is not a design. These are generally for fixing bugs or adding minor new features. You can 'design' new things with a revision, but only very small things- a minor spell in a field you already understand quite well, for example.
By default, you get one revision each revision phase. For the first two turns, you will receive an extra revision.
Revisions are rolled for using 2d4, just like designs.


Example revisions:
Armoured Ghouls: Take your common or garden Ghoul, and nail iron plates directly onto its skin. It's fine, they can't feel pain. Or rather, they can, but nobody cares. This should solve the problem of their Sacrosanct Archers taking out our Ghouls before they can reach the fight.

Holy Lightning Targeting Fix: By projecting a magical lightning rod above the intended target, we shall prevent the bolt from straying and hitting the wrong people.

Copious Embezzlement: A small new trick in our spies' arsenal, they will learn how to 'cook the books' such that no one notices a few sacks of gold here and there disappearing, providing our cult with the resources they need. We have already infiltrated the government, so this should only require a little effort.


Emergency Fixes: Sometimes, one revision just isn't cutting it. You have too many things to fix- they don't need to be made perfect, just have the worst bugs ironed out. In this case, you can split one revision into two revisions- "Emergency Fixes". This will make both one level harder (eg an Easy revision becomes Normal), and they will be rolled using worst-2-of-3d4 (ie, I roll 3 four-sided dice, and use the sum of the two lowest).

[Patch]: A revision that is purely focused on bugfixing can receive a [Patch] status (initially called [Fix], but that made it sound like it was related to Emergency Fixes). A [Patch] will never backfire. It can still fail if you get a 2 or lower, but even a Buggy Mess will result in some improvement.
If a revision is attempting to fix bugs and add features, it will be treated as a normal revision (ie, a Buggy Mess probably won't fix the bug, or will replace the old bug with a different one)(even in this case, a revision can't make a thing objectively worse- you won't forget how to make the original version). Creative bugfixes are fine- I also would rather not see "Just Fix Problem" as revisions. If you are unsure whether a creative bugfix crosses the line into new feature, ask me.

Having premiered in my first Arms Race, Battle for Aljadid, the 2d4 system is no longer uncommon amongst ARs. Nevertheless, I will explain how it works. 2d4 gives results between 2 and 8, with 5 being average and most likely, and the extremes less likely.
For a design of Normal difficulty, the results are thus:

Roll (probability): Result
2 (1/16): Utter failure. You get nothing except the knowledge of what not to do. (Note: you do gain some experience, which may make the design easier in future)
3 (1/8): Buggy mess. Whilst you managed to make something, it isn't really usable.
4 (3/16): Below average. It works. Not especially well, but it works.
5 (1/4): Average. You get what you asked for, more or less.
6 (3/16): Above average. It works, and somewhat better than might be expected. Not a lot better, mind.
7 (1/8): Superior craftsmanship. It does its job and it does it perfectly. Its performance is exceptional and it is as reliable as clockwork.
8 (1/16): Unexpected boon. Not only does it work, but it does things you never even expected it to. If no 'bonus features' make sense, then you just get experience with some related field. (Getting higher than an 8 has the same result)

Designs of other difficulties modify the roll value like so: Trivial (+2), Easy (+1), Normal (+0), Hard (-1), Very Hard (-2), Ludicrous (-3). Designs harder than Ludicrous are Impossible, and will never yield a successful product (though they will yield experience).

Also note that the results above are guidelines. Results may not exactly match, but the 'value' will be the same, roughly.

PS: If you're curious about the odds for High Effort & Emergency Fix rolls, anydice to the rescue: https://anydice.com/program/285f4

This game will not deal with resource-based expense levels. Instead, things have a rarity that indicates how plentiful they are on the battlefield. Rarity is not (significantly) randomised, but is based on the complexity/cost of the thing in question, and cannot be lowered without reducing the complexity/cost. (ie, a revision that just says "We make X cheaper" is not always viable)
Note that rarity is measured on a 'unit' level, not necessarily an 'individual' level; a unit of hastily-summoned zombies may consist of 100 individual undead, a unit of militia might be 50 individual soldiers, and some units may consist of only a single individual. It is possible to increase the numbers in a unit somewhat, but don't go crazy with it.

The levels of rarity are:
Common: The bulk of your forces.
Uncommon: Five times rarer than Common things.
Rare: Five times rarer than Uncommon things.
Unique: Only one exists.

Note that the scale of the war will escalate over time, but the ratios will remain relatively constant- ie, the first few turns may involve small skirmishes of a few hundred soldiers, while the endgame may involve colossal conflicts of tens of thousands, but there will be five times more common units than uncommon ones in both the tens-of-thousands strong army and the hundreds strong one.

Initially, there will only be one decision to make in this phase: where to deploy your Avatar (see spoiler below for details). As the game progresses, you may develop other Unique units who can only be deployed to one front at a time, in which case you will have to decide where to deploy them in this phase as well.

Other decisions may also come up in this phase, which I will explain when they arise.

While the cost of units is abstracted, you may nevertheless deal with income and expenditures, in the form of Tokens. They represent a surplus of resources (of various kinds) that you can spend to improve designs/revisions (or for other things that may arise). There are a few kinds of Tokens:
-Wealth Tokens: The most common, acquired as spoils of war/tribute, or through business ventures (be they fair or foul). Useful for bribing mortals, or acquiring various materials from sympathetic merchants.
-Tome Tokens: Secret knowledge, acquired from ancient ruins or uncovered through meticulous study. Helpful when developing exotic magic or training experienced mages.
-Connection Tokens: Political connections in the mortal kingdoms- acquired by friendship, alliances, blackmail, etc. Mostly useful for political work, but creative uses may arise as well.
-Mythical Tokens: One-of-a-kind resources; purest unobtanium, the lifeblood of an elder dragon, a sane Arms Race GM. Using one of these provides an extra Design action, the product of which is always Unique.

Any number of Tokens may be spent on a design/revision (please indicate what they are being used for). If you aren't sure how many a project needs, you can ask me for an estimate.

Your base is a village deep in the wilderness, where the forces of Good/Evil are strong. Your goal is to get to your rival in their base, which, coincidentally, is also deep in the wilderness, steeped in Evil/Good. Between you lie the kingdoms of man. Four kingdoms, to be precise. None of them are in a great state. Two of them are ruled by weak, malleable fools, who will easily fall under your influence- although their military is formidable, and unfortunately loyal. The other two are ruled by more resolute and competent leaders, but their military is in shambles, allowing your forces to march through their land all-but unopposed. Naturally, they will require different approaches. The kingdoms with weak armies are considered 'Combat' lanes; the kingdoms with weak leaders are considered 'Influence' lanes.

COMBAT
The two combat-oriented lanes work like a normal Arms Race. Each has three zones ("Provinces") arranged linearly, and the front line will move one way or another based on who wins combat that turn. Each province has different terrain, which will influence combat- you might win in a mountainous province, but lose in a coastal province. If you manage to push the front line all the way to your rival's base, you will have the opportunity to attack it directly- which, if successful, will win you the game.
Combat outcomes are determined by me, by comparing the arsenals of each team, considering the various interactions, and then putting them together to reach a conclusion. Combat results will be reported in this thread.
Control of each province is measured out of 8 sections, and each turn will see the front line move 1-4 sections depending on the margin of victory (with 2 being the standard). Winning by 2 or more sections grants the victor a Wealth Token.
Each side starts with the province closest to them completely controlled, and half the central province.

INFLUENCE
The two influence-oriented lanes involve a lot more subtlety than a normal Arms Race. Like the combat lanes, each has three linear provinces, but unlike the combat lanes, the 'front line' is a much looser concept, and your spies/recruiters/whatever can act in all three zones at once. Each province has different terrain, but more importantly, they all have different political situations, making certain types of infiltration more or less useful. As you gain control over a province, you will be able to use its resources to influence adjacent provinces, and once you dominate all three, you will be able to take over the kingdom, and bring both your own forces and the kingdom's army to assault your rival's base.
Infiltration outcomes are determined by me, similarly to combat- taking into account all infiltration techniques and equipment available to each team (you generally do not need to direct the use of non-Unique items). There is also a slight random aspect to infiltration, as mortals engage in their own politicking. There will be a report in this thread about things both sides are aware of, with a few hidden details reported only in the team threads.
Influence over each province is measured on a five-point scale, and is mostly non-competitive. That is, both sides can be at 4/5 Influence in a province. Only one side can be at 5/5, however. Influencing the adjacent provinces is easier; influencing a province when you have little control over an adjacent one is harder. Furthermore, higher levels of Influence are harder to attain than lower levels (going from 1/5 to 2/5 is easier than going from 2/5 to 3/5).

Angel/Demon (Choosing a name will be one of the first choices in the game): The benevolent/diabolical leader of your faction, a being of immense power. There is very little they cannot do. Needless to say, they are Unique.

Mundane Units:
Cultist Spears: Being equipped with only a rusty dagger, a makeshift spear, and a wooden shield, combined with their lack of training, mean these are not elite warriors- they'd lose a one-on-one fight with a real soldier-, but they're cheap and plentiful. Like regular cultists, their dedication makes them more resilient mentally than civilians. Unit Size: ~50 Common

Cultist Archers: Cultists who have some experience with a bow are valuable assets in combat, harassing the enemy from a distance. They aren't sharpshooters, and their bows are designed for hunting, not piercing armour, but they're better than nothing. Like regular cultists, their dedication makes them more resilient mentally than civilians. Unit Size: ~25 Common

Acolytes: Cultists who have begun their exploration of the magical arts, studying under their angelic/demonic patron. They can cast any Common spells (unless noted otherwise). Their physical strength leaves something to be desired, but their mental fortitude is even greater than regular cultists. Unit Size: ~25 Uncommon

Cultist Missionaries: Cultists with a modicum of charisma and subtlety, sent forth as emissaries of their eldritch master. Unarmed and untrained, they serve no role in combat. Unit Size: ~10 Common

Summoned/Mutated Units:
You don't start with anything in this category. Feel free to ask whether a proposal is viable, at least until you have a grasp of difficulty.

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Spells/Rituals:
Magic Missile: Known by many names, the simple technique of blasting your opponent with raw Mana/Good/Evil is a tried and true method of making things go away. Efficacy increases with caster's mental might, and decreases with the target's. Common

Novice Ward: A very simple magic barrier that will reduce the impact of attacks both mundane and mystical. Won't last long, but can be useful in a pinch. Common

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Infiltration Techniques:
Proselytise: Cultists go forth and spread the Good/Evil word, finding those sympathetic to their cause and slowly winning them over. Not the fastest way of gaining converts, but it keeps the cult growing. Common

The map will be created after the start of the game, based on what sort of environment the two teams decide to start in.

Can I join the game?
Yes. Always yes. You can join the game at any point. You will have 3 Guineas and nothing else.

How do I make money?
Buy a ship, send it to a destination, it brings back resources, you sell the resources. At least, that's the basic method for earning money.

How do I buy a ship?
Get 10 Guineas, somehow, and let me know you are buying a ship by bolding the action and preceding it with ACTACTACT. Something like this:
"ACTACTACT: On behalf of the shareholders, I buy a new ship to be named "Lucky Trout", which will initially sail the Nearsouthlands trade route."
Only one player is required to post this (not every shareholder). I will take it on trust that you have obtained the requisite funds, and add the Lucky Trout to the ship registry. It will automatically ply the indicated route until you change it, or it is damaged/sunk.

I don't have 10 Guineas!
No. You don't. This is intentional. The idea is to force you to cooperate with others in order to afford a ship. The simplest way of doing this is to draft a contract wherein each player gets shares according to how much they invested in the ship.

What should a contract look like?
That is entirely up to you. Lazy Fair means there are no rules- so long you are spending Guineas that actually exist (to me, the GM- if you want to pay other players with Guinea futures, you do you), you can make your contracts as simple or as complicated as you like.
I think creating contracts and debating the form they should take is part of the fun. Try not to get hoodwinked into signing a contract that lets another player steal your money- because that's not against the rules, so I won't stop them!
(To clarify, breaking the letter of a contract is not allowed, only the spirit. If you want to steal money, you'll need to create a contract to trick people, you can't just sign a contract and then not follow it)

What are the odds of a ship sinking?
Ah, well. That's for me to know and you to find out.
Speaking of, if a ship is damaged, I will let you know the cost of repairs. Figure out how to pay for the repairs (or decide not to repair her), and let me know what you (and your fellow shareholders) intend to do. If you do nothing, she will sit in the harbour waiting. 

What's the goal of the game?
Freeform. I think the goal is to get as rich as possible, and/or amass prestige. You may be able to buy Pointless But Prestigious Trinkets at some point to show off your ability to spend money for no reason- I guess you could compete to see who can collect the most? But if you have another goal in mind, you do you. Lazy fair!

What happens if I go bankrupt?
If you manage to go bankrupt, the Crown will usually* wipe away your debts (confiscating and auctioning any assets you have left), and give you 3 Guineas to start afresh. However, the Crown will also assign you 1 Permanent Shame (which you must include in your assets going forward).
*If you try to abuse this system, the Crown will have you arrested and put in debtors prison.

What if I think Player X is cheating?
I never trusted that guy. Well, first, check with the player that they didn't just make a mistake. If that doesn't work, let me know by bolding the accusation. It would help me if you included the relevant evidence. I really hope this doesn't come up.

How should I round guineas?
Not at all. At least when dealing with me. If you have 0.4999g, I won’t pretend that is 0.5g. For that matter, if you have 0.501 and give me 0.5, you’ll have 0.001 left.

I have more questions?
I don't think that's a question? But if you do have more questions, ask away. I will update this FAQ as needed.

Demon: The diabolical leader of your faction, a being of immense power. There is very little they cannot do. Needless to say, they are Unique. Their Power is currently 20.

Mundane Units:
Armed Cultists: Being equipped with only a rusty dagger, a spear, and a wooden shield, combined with their lack of training, mean these are not elite warriors- they'd lose a one-on-one fight with a real soldier-, but they're cheap and plentiful. Like regular cultists, their dedication makes them more resilient mentally than civilians. Common

Cultist Archers: Cultists who have some experience with a bow are valuable assets in combat, harassing the enemy from a distance. They aren't sharpshooters, and their bows are designed for hunting, not piercing armour, but they're better than nothing. Like regular cultists, their dedication makes them more resilient mentally than civilians. Uncommon

Acolytes: Cultists who have begun their exploration of the magical arts, studying under the Demon. They can cast any Common spells (unless noted otherwise). Their physical strength leaves something to be desired, but their mental fortitude is even greater than regular cultists. There are not many Acolytes in a unit. Uncommon

Summoned/Mutated Units:
You don't start with anything in this category. Feel free to ask whether a proposal is viable, at least until you have a grasp of difficulty.

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Spells/Rituals:
Magic Missile: Known by many names, the simple technique of blasting your opponent with raw Magic/Good/Evil is a tried and true method of making things go away. Efficacy increases with caster's mental might, and decreases with the target's. Common

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Infiltration Techniques:
Proselytise: Cultists go forth and spread the Evil word, finding those sympathetic to their cause and slowly winning them over. Not the fastest way of gaining converts, as baseline cultists are not expert missionaries, but it keeps the cult growing.

Each turn consists of four phases. Design, Revision, Strategy, and Battle.

In the Design Phase, you... design stuff, be that a new creature to summon, spell to cast, or ritual to perform (or something else). I will roll dice to determine how well your design does. Depending on how ambitious your design is- and how much relevant experience you already have- there may be penalties (or bonuses) to the roll. NOTE: You get two designs each turn.

The Revision Phase is similar. You take an existing design, and make a (small) modification to it. This might be the design created in the Design Phase, or a pre-existing one. You might be trying to fix a bug, or add a new feature, or make a new thing that is closely related to it. NOTE: You get get two revisions each turn.

In the Strategy Phase, you will make any decisions necessary about how/where to deploy your forces (deploying Unique units, primarily). There may be other decisions to make in this phase also.

Finally, you do not have to do anything in the Battle Phase except read. There will be a post in this thread describing the designs created, the battles that took place (both physical combat and the infiltration of human kingdoms), and anything else relevant. Then the next turn begins with a new Design Phase.
Each turn represents one month.

You can design a number of different things, not just weapons. In fact, weapons aren't especially high on your list of priorities. You can design monsters to summon/mutate, spells to cast, rituals(/other actions) for your cultists to perform, and... anything else that makes sense. You can always ask me if you aren't sure about a design, and I can tell you if it isn't within the scope of the game before you waste a design on it.
By default, you get two designs each design phase. These are voted for simultaneously, then rolled for simultaneously (you will not be able to use experience from one to aid in the other).
Designs will be rolled for using 2d4. Higher is better. See the 2d4 results spoiler for details.


Example designs:
Ghouls: By infusing starving humans with Evil we shall mutate them into ravenous Ghouls, near-mindless creatures that feast on corpses, and will use their claws and sharp teeth to create some if no pre-existing corpses can be found. They should have slightly enhanced strength and regeneration.
This should be a fairly simple mutation, providing us with cheap fodder to throw into combat, or use to terrify villagers.

Holy Lightning: Invoking a holy word to the heavens, a blast of righteous energy descends upon the foe, smiting the evildoer. We can teach this to our Lightmages, or the Angel herself can use it.

Infiltrate Government: Our cultists will be trained in the basics of espionage, and learn how to work their way into the lower levels of government, thereby paving the way for our eventual takeover, whilst siphoning state resources to aid our cause.


High-Effort Projects: If you have a particularly ambitious design, that you suspect might normally be too difficult, but you still think is worth pursuing, you can designate it a High-Effort project. This means spending both design actions on it. This will make the design one level easier (eg a Very Hard design becomes Hard), and it will be rolled for using best-2-of-3d4 (ie, I roll 3 four-sided dice, and use the sum of the two highest).

Remember that a revision is not a design. These are generally for fixing bugs or adding minor new features. You can 'design' new things with a revision, but only very small things- a minor spell in a field you already understand quite well, for example.
By default, you get two revisions each revision phase. These are voted for simultaneously, then rolled for simultaneously (you will not be able to use experience from one to aid in the other).
Revisions are rolled for using 2d4, just like designs.


Example revisions:
Armoured Ghouls: Take your common or garden Ghoul, and nail iron plates directly onto its skin. It's fine, they can't feel pain. Or rather, they can, but nobody cares. This should solve the problem of their Sacrosanct Archers taking out our Ghouls before they can reach the fight.

Holy Lightning Targeting Fix: By projecting a magical lightning rod above the intended target, we shall prevent the bolt from straying and hitting the wrong people.

Copious Embezzlement: A small new trick in our spies' arsenal, they will learn how to 'cook the books' such that no one notices a few sacks of gold here and there disappearing, providing our cult with the resources they need. We have already infiltrated the government, so this should only require a little effort.

First used in my previous Arms Race, Battle for Aljadid, the 2d4 system is no longer uncommon amongst ARs. Nevertheless, I will explain how it works. 2d4 gives results between 2 and 8, with 5 being average and most likely, and the extremes less likely.
For a design of Normal difficulty, the results are thus:

Roll (probability): Result
2 (1/16): Utter failure. You get nothing except the knowledge of what not to do. (Note: you do gain some experience, which may make the design easier in future)
3 (1/8): Buggy mess. Whilst you managed to make something, it isn't really usable.
4 (3/16): Below average. It works. Not especially well, but it works.
5 (1/4): Average. You get what you asked for, more or less.
6 (3/16): Above average. It works, and somewhat better than might be expected. Not a lot better, mind.
7 (1/8): Superior craftsmanship. It does its job and it does it perfectly. Its performance is exceptional and it is as reliable as clockwork.
8 (1/16): Unexpected boon. Not only does it work, but it does things you never even expected it to. If no 'bonus features' make sense, then you just get experience with some related field. (Getting higher than an 8 has the same result)

Designs of other difficulties modify the roll value like so: Trivial (+2), Easy (+1), Normal (+0), Hard (-1), Very Hard (-2), Ludicrous (-3). Designs harder than Ludicrous are Impossible, and will never yield a successful product.

Also note that the results above are guidelines. Results may not exactly match, but the 'value' will be the same, roughly.

*Said experience may or may not make the design possible. I'll let you know at the time.

Initially, there will only be one decision to make in this phase: where to deploy your Avatar (see spoiler below for details). As the game progresses, you may develop Unique units who can only be deployed to one front at a time, in which case you will have to decide where to deploy them at this point as well.

There are four 'lanes' to deploy things in. Two combat lanes, and two influence lanes. Not all units can be deployed to both types, although your Avatar at least can be (being equally qualified in fighting and infiltration).

This game will not deal with resources. Instead, things have a rarity that indicates how plentiful they are on the battlefield. Rarity is not (significantly) randomised, but is based on the complexity/cost of the thing in question, and cannot be lowered without reducing the complexity/cost. (ie, a revision that just says "We make X cheaper" is not always viable)
Note that rarity is measured on a 'unit' level, not necessarily an 'individual' level; a unit of hastily-summoned zombies may consist of 100 individual undead, a unit of militia might be only 50 individual soldiers, and some units may consist of only a single individual. It is possible to increase the numbers in a unit somewhat, but don't go crazy with it.

The levels of rarity are:
Common: The bulk of your forces.
Uncommon: Five times rarer than Common things.
Rare: Five times rarer than Uncommon things.
Unique: One one exists, and must be deployed in the strategy phase.

Note that the scale of the war will escalate over time, but the ratios will remain relatively constant- ie, the first few turns may involve small skirmishes of a few hundred soldiers, while the endgame may involve colossal conflicts of tens of thousands, but there will be five times more common troops than uncommon ones in both the tens-of-thousands strong army and the hundreds strong one.

Your base is a village deep in the wilderness, where the forces of Good/Evil are strong. Your goal is to get to your rival in their base, which, coincidentally, is also deep in the wilderness, steeped in Evil/Good. Between you lie the kingdoms of man. Four kingdoms, to be precise. None of them are in a great state. Two of them are ruled by weak, malleable fools, who will easily fall under your influence- although their military is formidable, and unfortunately loyal. The other two are ruled by more resolute and competent leaders, but their military is in shambles, allowing your forces to march through their land all-but unopposed. Naturally, they will require different approaches. The kingdoms with weak armies are considered 'combat' lanes; the kingdoms with weak leaders are considered 'influence' lanes.

The two combat-oriented lanes work like a normal Arms Race. Each has three zones ("Provinces") arranged linearly, and the front line will move one way or another based on who wins combat that turn. Each province has different terrain, which will influence combat- you might win in a mountainous province, but lose in a coastal province. If you manage to push the front line all the way to your rival's base, you will have the opportunity to attack it directly- which, if successful, will win you the game.
Combat outcomes are determined by me, by comparing the arsenals of each team, considering the various interactions, and then putting them together to reach a conclusion. Combat results will be reported in this thread.
Control of each province is measured out of 4 sections, and victory may move the front line 1-2 sections depending on the margin of victory. Each side starts with the province closest to them completely controlled, and half the central province. 

The two influence-oriented lanes involve a lot more subtlety than a normal Arms Race. Like the combat lanes, each has three linear provinces, but unlike the combat lanes, the 'front line' is a much looser concept, and your spies/recruiters/whatever can act in all three zones at once. Each province has different terrain, but more importantly, they all have different political situations, making certain types of infiltration more or less useful. If you manage to take complete control over a province, you will be able to use its resources to influence adjacent provinces, and once you control all three, you will be able to take over the kingdom, and bring both your own forces and the kingdom's army to assault your rival's base.
Infiltration outcomes are determined by me, similarly to combat- taking into account all infiltration techniques and equipment available to each team (you do not need to direct the use of non-Unique items). However, there is also a slight random aspect to infiltration, as mortals engage in their own politicking. There will be a report in this thread about any visible changes in the political landscape, with any hidden results reported in the faction threads.
Influence over each province is measured out of 5 sections. Each side starts with one influence section in the province closest to them, with the rest 'neutral'. Influencing the adjacent provinces is easier; influencing a province when you have little control over an adjacent one is harder. 

It is possible for advances in one lane to aid in another: sufficient influence may allow for soldiers to be swayed to join your ranks, bolstering your forces in the combat lanes; conversely, the spoils of war may be used to 'grease the wheels' in the influence lanes.

Angel/Demon (Choosing a name will be one of the first choices in the game): The benevolent/diabolical leader of your faction, a being of immense power. There is very little they cannot do. Needless to say, they are Unique. Their Power is currently 20.

Mundane Units:
Armed Cultists: Being equipped with only a rusty dagger, a spear, and a wooden shield, combined with their lack of training, mean these are not elite warriors- they'd lose a one-on-one fight with a real soldier-, but they're cheap and plentiful. Like regular cultists, their dedication makes them more resilient mentally than civilians. Common

Cultist Archers: Cultists who have some experience with a bow are valuable assets in combat, harassing the enemy from a distance. They aren't sharpshooters, and their bows are designed for hunting, not piercing armour, but they're better than nothing. Like regular cultists, their dedication makes them more resilient mentally than civilians. Uncommon

Acolytes: Cultists who have begun their exploration of the magical arts, studying under their patron. They can cast any Common spells (unless noted otherwise). Their physical strength leaves something to be desired, but their mental fortitude is even greater than regular cultists. There are not many Acolytes in a unit. Uncommon

Summoned/Mutated Units:
You don't start with anything in this category. Feel free to ask whether a proposal is viable, at least until you have a grasp of difficulty.

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Spells/Rituals:
Magic Missile: Known by many names, the simple technique of blasting your opponent with raw Magic/Good/Evil is a tried and true method of making things go away. Efficacy increases with caster's mental might, and decreases with the target's. Common

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Infiltration Techniques:
Proselytise: Cultists go forth and spread the Good/Evil word, finding those sympathetic to their cause and slowly winning them over. Not the fastest way of gaining converts, as baseline cultists are not expert missionaries, but it keeps the cult growing.

Note: the map was created after the start of the game, based on where the two teams chose to establish their base.

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Map Key:

The Haunted Jungle: Long, long ago, the great jungle of the west was home to a thriving civilisation. Somehow, this civilisation managed to avoid becoming victim to the wars between Good and Evil; perhaps by chance, perhaps by divine intervention, or perhaps its heyday was before the withdrawal of the gods, before Angels and Demons came to power. However, it was not to last. The foolish mortals meddled with things best left un-meddled, rejected the gods, and attempted to forge their own path. Then came a Demon, whose armies laid waste to their cities. An Angel emerged to combat the Demon, yet in her righteous crusade she razed cities that had been corrupted by Evil. The growing conflict attracted more Demons, more Angels, and the war ground the once mighty civilisation into dust. The capital survived the longest, yet the inhabitants knew there was no hope, and abandoned it. Eventually, having completely depopulated the region, the Demons and Angels alike weakened, some moving on to greener pastures, others slain by their opponents, others still falling into hibernation for untold aeons. For centuries, the region remained bereft of human life, as the after-effects of the war haunted the slowly-recovering jungles; wild monsters, former battlefields still emanating mutation-levels of Good/Evil, and of course a pervasive sense of danger. However, humans are an intrepid lot, and eventually, they made their way back, repopulating the outer edges first, slowly working their way in.

      The Forgotten City: Once one of the most advanced cities in the world, the ruins of the ancient empire's capital can still be seen, overgrown and half-buried though they may be, clinging to the slopes of a smouldering volcano. When first re-discovered, the explorers were astonished to find the ruins filled with treasures, both mundane and magical, and made their way out of the jungle weighed down by sacks of loot. This triggered a gold-rush, with scavengers poring over the ruins, seizing everything of potential value, excavating buried chambers once the surface was picked clean. Eventually, however, the party was over, the ruins having been torn apart in a frenzy of greed, and the scavengers departed. Most of them, anyway. Some remained, as did the folks who had established a village in the ruins which had supplied the scavengers with basic necessities. Many considered the location- so far removed from civilisation- a poor place to settle, yet the soil was good, the climate comfortable, and the various deadly jungle beasts weren't so bad once you got to know them. The village did alright for itself, occasionally visited by scholars wishing to study the ruins, or a hopeful treasure hunter thinking to find something the scavengers had missed, or people who wanted to get as far away from legal consequences as possible. Everything was just fine, until a new Demon arose in the vicinity, and made of the villagers his first cultists, and the village his base of operations.
      The Forgotten City lies in the middle of dense jungle, on the slopes of an active (though relatively harmless) volcano. Having once been the capital of an empire, it is not especially hard to get to, for though the imperial roads are long overgrown and buried, there are plentiful natural pathways that said roads once followed. A defensive perimeter would likely be drawn up within the ruins, leading to the majority of fighting taking place amongst the tumbled remnants of ancient buildings- a formidable challenge for any attacking force to overcome, when combined with the fortifications the Demon's followers have established.   

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The Kingdom of Darrin: The King of Darrin is famously reclusive, and more concerned with temples than armies. In fairness, the alliance with the neighbouring kingdom of Lesimor secures the southern border, while the north is guarded by the Imerian Mountains. As a result, the kingdom is littered with abandoned forts, though even the smallest village will have a stone shrine, and the priesthood is quite powerful.

      Rice Terraces: The sweltering jungle breaks before the land rises into the Imerian Mountains. Here, the citizens of Darrin have sculpted the terrain over the centuries, converting the rising hills into stepped terraces, where rice is grown (primarily, although other crops are also cultivated) to feed many hungry mouths. There are flatter areas where terracing is unnecessary, steeper areas where terracing is impossible, and roads that meander through the terraces to connect the many towns and villages in the region- but anyone serious about fighting here is going to have to prepare to get wet feet whilst clambering up and down through the flooded fields.

      Mountain Passes: The capital of Darrin is precariously situated in the Imerian Mountains; very defensible, but somewhat remote. Whilst there are valleys between the mountains, a key element of fighting in this region is control over the mountain passes that are the only (feasible) means of moving an army from one valley to another. During the winter, the northern passes are frequently blocked by snow, though the southernmost passes are usually traversable year-round. The widest passes through the mountains lead directly to the capital, and offer a fairly quick route through the peaks... but these are overlooked by the king's beloved monasteries, fortified and garrisoned to ensure that pilgrims may pass in peace. Capturing these monasteries would be useful, but would also mean facing the wrath of Darrin's military.

      Dusty Plains: The Imerian Mountains drop with dramatic suddenness into wide plains, which being in the shadow of the mountains receive little rainfall. Here the only obstacle is distance and dehydration; marching through the plains during the dry season- which lasts for most of the year- means carefully rationing water as one travels from village to village. Traditionally the plains have been dominated by cavalry, although there are some fortified watering holes along the main routes that are essential to moving large forces between Darrin's capital and the desert.
      

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The Kingdom of Lesimor: The King of Lesimor is... let me check my notes here... currently King Annatha IV. No, wait, sorry, that was last week. See, Lesimor's succession is a complete mess; in the past decade there have been seven dynasties on the throne. Anyone can become king in Lesimor, provided they are rich, well-connected, and willing to engage in some high-intensity politicking. The army, however, is almost completely independent, having taken on the task of keeping the kingdom safe, regardless of the chaos in the halls of politics.

      Scholarly Towers: Despite the lack of governmental stability- or perhaps precisely because of the lack of oversight- scholars still flock to the western part of the kingdom, where a multitude of academic institutions make their home. Almost every town in the region has a wizard's tower in it, and literacy amongst the peasantry is remarkably high, due to the surplus of intellectuals looking to earn a few coins by teaching classes to the masses. The region's main city is dominated by two universities, which are engaged in a bitter rivalry. The resident intellectuals are naturally curious creatures, always willing to give new ideas a shot, with little regard for consequences.

      Lawless Capital: The capital of Lesimor bridges the river Lesi as it flows south, a great sprawling metropolis of brick and tile. In the great palaces, noblemen scheme and barter, with literally dozens seeking the throne at any time. Actual ruling of the city (and the country) is an afterthought. As a result, the sprawling metropolis is, to coin a phrase, a wretched hive of scum and villainy, where all manner of criminal may be found, engaged in their own brand of politics. There are, of course, opportunities aplenty for those who would exploit this chaos... but at the same time, the common people cry out for a saviour, and may flock to the banner of one seeking to restore order.

      Fortified Frontier: To the east of Lesimor, a threat looms. Darrin and Xa-Nam may not recognise it, but the generals of Lesimor remember- the nomads that live beyond the eastern desert have unified before, crossed the desert, and invaded civilised lands- and they may yet do so again. Sure, they are divided right now, embroiled in internal conflict, with no indication of them uniting, but you never know with nomads. So they make ready, just in case. The hills that mark the desert's edge are covered in fortifications, large stretches blocked off by towering walls, with more built every day. A permanent army is stationed in the region, training tirelessly in preparation for the inevitable. Of course, this comes at a cost, and the peasantry of the region grumble of high taxes and forced conscription. Absentee nobles do little to help, while paranoid military commanders ever seek new ways to protect the nation.

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The Kingdom of Xa-Nam: Claiming rulership over the length of the Xa river, from its origins in the western jungle to its mouth in the eastern delta, the Queen of Xa-Nam is generally regarded as a wise, benevolent ruler. The river provides prosperity to the kingdom, resulting in a content populace who pay their taxes with minimal complaints. Said taxes are lavishly spent on projects that further improve the population's lot, a harmonious cycle that will surely never be disrupted. Warfare, being harmful to the people's wellbeing, is not high on the Queen's list of priorities, however, and the forts her ancestors built often stand empty.

      Light Jungle: The great jungle is mostly untamed these days, as many still fear to delve too deeply into the sylvan labyrinth. However, not everyone is so superstitious, and with each passing year the boundaries of civilisation spread a little further; trees felled to make way for farms, roads, and villages; forgotten paths charted once again. Still, the region is dominated by jungles, with the roads forced to wind their way around hills and swamps, and villages often isolated by miles of verdant canopy.

      River Crossings: The Xa river winds its way slowly through bountiful grasslands towards the sea, with dozens of tributaries great and small joining it as it goes. As a result, getting to the capital of Xa-Nam means crossing many, many rivers, a process which would be fairly simple if one could use the large, well-made bridges the kingdom has built over the years. These, however, are one of the few areas where the Queen has been convinced not to cut military spending, as these bridges are of critical strategic importance- meaning the main bridges are all guarded by the kingdom's armies, disinclined to let other armed forces pass. Dislodging them is possible, but it may be easier to find alternative crossings, less well guarded.

      River Delta: The Xa is joined by one final tributary, the river that flows through the eastern desert, before splitting into many streams and flowing into the Tranquil Sea. The sprawling delta is hard to navigate on foot, and so most travel happens by boat. Ferries go from island to island, while barges navigate the larger channels. The land is lush, with vast stretches of reeds along the banks, but away from the delta, the desert dominates, as rainfall is uncommon.

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The Kingdom of Dolgoth: The King of Dolgoth is not widely loved by the population. The feeling is mutual, for the king does not consider himself a native to these lands. His ancestors conquered the kingdom just over of a century ago, handing out land and titles to their countrymen, keeping the population in check with imported soldiers and mercenaries. The rift has not grown any narrower in the past years, as the king has continued to favour foreigners over natives, and engaged in brutal suppression to keep their rebellious tendencies in check. His sizeable armies, mostly well-paid mercenaries, obey his orders without question, generally secluding themselves from the rest of society.

      Wartorn Wastes: Dolgoth is at war with their south-western neighbour, and has been for many years. The conflict is nominally regarding some religious disagreement, but was clearly started by the king's father in order to expand his domain. Unfortunately for him, the southern realm proved a capable foe, and the frontline has shifted up and down the coast for years, devastating the land. Bands of deserters raid and pillage, in contrast to bands of loyal soldiers, who pillage and raid instead. The populace tires of war, and even the king's countrymen, the nobility of the region, are beginning to feel the effects of the unending conflict.

      Ostentatious Capital: Far removed from the raging conflict to the west, the capital of Dolgoth is a glittering beacon of what hard work, honour, and temperance can get you: namely, conquered by an aggressive foreign invader, such that their lazy, treacherous, avaricious king and his fawning cronies can lounge in your palaces, growing fat while you toil in the fields. Yes, Dolgoth's capital appears to be paradise on earth, all polished marble and festive banners, while watchmen in shining breastplates keep the streets safe for all- but in truth, the appearance is only maintained for the pleasure of the upper classes, who live in the lap of luxury while the common man pays exorbitant taxes. Yet even the upper classes are not content. For all their silks and spices, there is an emptiness in their lives, a yearning for something more... though what that may be eludes them.

      Trade City: Situated on a series of islands in the Tranquil Sea is the source of Dolgoth's wealth, and the foothold from which the king's ancestors launched their invasion of the mainland. Here, merchants from around the world come to partake in the products of Darrin, Lesimor, Xa-Nam, and Dolgoth, and pay a pretty penny to do so. Hundreds of ships crowd the many natural harbours of the islands, with every seaside town competing to attract the most ships. None can truly compare with the largest city in the region, whose grand harbour is a forest of masts year-round, with warehouses galore filled to the brim with luxuries of all kinds. However, all this wealth attracts trouble, and here it comes in the form of merchants- big and small- chaffing under the oppressive rule of the local nobility, some openly musing of a more egalitarian form of government.

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The Blessed Desert: East of the Xa Basin lies the Blessed Desert. A favoured destination for hermits, would-be-prophets, and other seekers of divine inspiration, the dessicated hills and shifting sands, though somewhat sparsely populated by living things, nevertheless have a comforting feel to them. It has been speculated that the gods have a special interest in the desert, which has protected the region from hardship. Though not untouched by war, armies always pass through the region without incident, never fighting on the supposedly blessed sands, never raiding the few settlements that eke out an existence there. Plagues avoid the region like... well, an even worse plague. The weather, harsh though it is, is reliable, and the river and oases never run dry. And there is a living to be made there; a few mines, a handful of arable areas, and a quiet but profitable trade route between east and west. Those who live there generally manage their own affairs, finding no need for kings or princes, and- out of deference to the region's holy nature- the neighbouring kings and princes leave them alone.

      The Angel's Village: Deep within the Blessed Desert, the solitary river that cuts through the parched wastes tumbles over a waterfall and into a certain valley. Sheltered, cooled by the flowing river, it is the perfect place for a village. Naturally one arose, surrounded by a handful of fields and orchards. Well-situated, traders would pass through the village as they crossed the desert, providing a small but fairly reliable source of extra income. This quiet, modest village prospered, and the villagers were content. Until, one fateful day, news arrived: a rogue nobleman from some distant land had landed to the south with a small force of mercenaries, and was headed north, plundering settlements along the river. This was unheard of, and the villagers were, quite naturally, panicking. Some suggested abandoning the village entirely. Others prayed to the gods. And perhaps, in a way, those prayers were answered, although not by the gods. An Angel emerged, and brought the village under her benevolent protection, uniting them into a makeshift militia, which she personally led against the defiling invaders. Following a literally miraculous victory, she quickly inducted the villagers as her first cultists, and made the village her base of operations.
      The Angel's Village, situated deep within the desert, is not so easy to reach, although it is somewhat hard to defend. Anyone hoping to assault the base would have to trek through the desert for days, harassed by angelic forces- it being rather difficult to evade detection on the approach-, before reaching the valley, where the Angel's followers have constructed fortifications, forcing the tired, sun-scorched army to assault prepared positions, as maintaining an extended siege would be infeasible, given the difficulty of supplying an army there (the angelic defenders, meanwhile, would have access to stockpiles of food and supplies).

Trivial actions are free, and one can perform however many one wishes in a turn. This includes manifesting in dreams or visions, talking to priests, talking to other gods, etc. Basically, talking is a free action.

Simple actions are likewise free, but one can only perform a limited number in a turn, equal to your strength (more on that later). This includes manifesting in reality for a brief period in a mortal vessel (an hour or two, during which time you can do whatever), physically interacting with the world in small ways (pushing a rock off a cliff, tripping up a horse- basically, if you could do it whilst manifested as a mortal you can do it this way without manifesting), other simple things, or drawing on a source of power (more on that later).

Everything beyond that costs Divine Energy. Costs are not strictly linear; spending 1 DE will have very weak effects (creating an artefact with no/very limited powers, smiting (instantly killing) a single humanoid being), whilst spending 2 will be more than twice as effective (creating an artefact with substantial magical power, smiting half a dozen humanoid beings or the equivalent thereof). 3 will let you create living beings (of an existing species). 4 will let you create a new mundane non-sapient species (or several minor related ones), 5 a new sapient or magical species. If you want to know how much a given action would cost, ask me (I used the creation of living beings as examples, but obviously you can do almost anything).
Why, then, would you ever use smaller actions? Ah, well. The more energy you use at once, the more the fabric of reality is weakened, and the more visible you become to the Eldritch Threat. Spending 1 at a time will not register a blip; 2-3 will only be noticed by Eldritch Beings in the local area, 4-5 will begin to attract the attention of all Eldritch Beings (although they may choose not to act), 6-7 will draw the direct attention of the Eldritch Threat itself, and 8+ is an excellent way to cause the Eldritch Threat to come after you immediately (which may, in some cases, be desirable, if you believe you have the strength to face it, allowing you to weaken it).

Of note, the cost of an action need not necessarily correlate to the significance of the outcome. A whisper in the right mortal's dream might lead to them founding a continent-spanning empire, and whilst smiting things is a pretty surefire way of killing something, it may be less cost-effective than manifesting as a mortal and hitting them with a sword.

All gods start with a strength of 3 and a stockpile of 9 energy. Each turn, you receive energy equal to your strength. Note that stockpiling energy to an excessive degree will have negative consequences- but below 10 is always safe.

The fraction of the Divine Shard within you is enough to sustain you at strength 3. Increasing your strength requires that most precious of things, Belief. Only sapient beings with free will can produce Belief. The more worshippers you have, and the more fervent they are, the more Belief you receive, and the stronger you get.

There is another way of obtaining Divine Energy, which is drawing on a source of power. At the start of the game, there is only one source of power you can draw upon... the Eldritch Threat. However, alternative sources of power may come into existence. Using a Simple Action to draw on a source will give you 1 DE... which may come at a cost, of course.

Gods are pretty hard to kill. However, they can be injured. Gods may attack one another directly, provided they have access to each other (creating sub-dimensions to hide in would be possible, for instance, requiring an attacker to first find a way in), in which case their relative combat skills will be considered, and damage dealt out accordingly. Manifested gods may also be 'killed', causing 1 point of damage. And, of course, the Eldritch Threat may attack a god, dealing damage if they cannot defend themselves adequately.
If a god takes more damage in a turn than they have strength, they will be injured, all stockpiled Divine Energy will be given to their attacker(s), and they will be unable to act the following turn (the Divine Energy they would've earned is also given to their attacker(s)).
If all the gods are injured at the same time, the Eldritch Threat will consume them (and the world).

The Eldritch Threat is an indescribable thing, that lurks outside the protective influence of the sun, but can send fractions of itself to your world to cause mayhem. These Eldritch Beings are things of pure chaos & hatred, and will generally not be negotiable with. They are not alive, so if you for some reason want to be a pacifist you need not feel guilty about smiting them.

The Eldritch Threat will grow stronger over time, but can be weakened as well. It could be enticed into attempting a large invasion, the defeat of which could leave it temporarily fazed, or one could even attack it directly (not recommended). Barriers and wardings may be set up to hold it and its extensions at bay. Most crucially, the mortal inhabitants of the world may be empowered to fight back against the Eldritch Beings themselves- it would be pretty tricky, not to mention tiresome, for the gods to take care of every little Eldritch Being that popped into existence.
At the start of the game, the Eldritch Threat is fairly weak, and even DE 6 or 7 actions can be undertaken relatively safely (in the sense that only a few beings of unspeakable horror will manifest and attempt to devour the world, rather than hundreds or thousands).
 
As mentioned above, the Eldritch Threat can be used as a source of power. The Eldritch Threat is not really a thinking being, but rather a collection of weird energy, so it will not (indeed, can not) object to some of its power being siphoned off by the gods (or anyone else). It will, however, notice, and may use the conduit that draws the power as a way of slipping Eldritch Beings into the world.

Initial signups will be limited to 7 players. Maybe, if things go smoothly, one or two more could be added.
Applications should contain the following:

Name:
Sphere:
Appearance:
Description:

Which should be fairly self-explanatory.