(A.) SETUP

Learn how to prepare the Cards for play

This is where the fun begins.

Follow these steps to Setup the game:

1. Open the Box & Take the Cards out of the Box

2. Separate the Cards base-off back-of-card-markings

3. Shuffle all Decks separately and place in reach of all Players

4. Move through all "RED" sections to learn how to play

5. If Combat or Ghost Deck runs out re-shuffle it. Fate Deck most likely won't run out

(B.) CHARACTER SELECTION

Learn what Characters are & their differences

Choose your warrior; they may have already chosen you.

The Player needs a Character to portray themselves as:

1. Each Player chooses a "Living Character" & the respected "Spirit/Ghost Character"

2. Characters have Immunities that give them advantages over gameplay events

3. Each Player takes an HP Card (tan-side for living, grey-side for ghost, (6) Hearts total) and slides the "Tab" in between the Living Character & Spirit/Ghost Card (used to represent Player & their Health count)

(2.) COMBAT HAND

Learn what Your play Hand is called

This Hand will be your Characters skillset.

Let's Begin by setting up the Combat Hand:

1.  Deal (6) random Combat Deck Cards face-down to each Player

2. The hand formed is called the Combat Hand (the play cards involving action of the player)

3.  Every Player will always have (6) Cards in hand before & after a Player's turn starts/ends

(4.) TURN PHASES

Learn How to Play on Your Turn

Friendships are coming to an end; only blades will remain.

Choose which Player will start; play proceeds clockwise:

1. The starting Player will draw (+1) top card of the Combat Deck (Remember to always draw (+1) from the Combat Deck on the Start of Your Turn)

• They will keep this Card hidden in their Combat Hand; like the other Cards

• Whomever Turn it's on is called the "Attacker"

• The Player may now begin to play their Cards in sequence of a Turn Phase:

2. The Utility Phase is played first after drawing:

• It is optional to play Utility Cards, if you want to save them you can

• Play as many Utility Cards as you'd like

3. The Combat Phase will be played in which the Attack-type Cards will be used against Opponent(s)

• It is optional to Attack, you may hold off attacking if you choose

• You may play any number of Attack-type Cards; (1) at a time, at any Opponent(s) during Combat Phase

4. The final Phase is the Discard Phase in which you may discard up to (3) Combat Hand Cards

• It is optional to Discard, but doing so ends your turn and you may re-up back to (6) total Combat Hand Cards

5. All Players must re-up to (6) Combat Hand Cards (redraw) once the turn ends, or discard until only (6) are in Hand

• Proceed to the next Player's Turn clockwise

• The next Player becomes the "Attacker"

(6.) COMBAT DUEILING

Learn how to interact with Opponents

Let's see who has the keenest blade.

Combat Dueling involves a Player(Attacker) playing an Attack-type Card against an Opponent(Defender), & They respond with a Reflect-type or Block-type Card. 

This is called a Combat Duel & is a back and forth interaction:

1. Attack Cards - Starts Combat Duel (Deal Damage)

2. Reflect Cards - Continues Combat Duel (Reflect Damage back)

3. Block Cards - Resolves Combat Duel (Nullify Damage)

• Only (1) Card can be played at a time, no stacking Cards

• Play as many Cards as you like in a Turn, in correct sequence & appropriation

• Combat Type refers to "attack/reflect/block-type"

There are 2 different ways Combat Duels can go once the Attacker plays an Attack Card at an Opponent(Defender):

1. Defender plays an appropriate Tier Rank of a Block Card; Resolves Combat Duel

• a) The Attacker may continue to play an Attack Card at that same Opponent, or 

• b) The Attacker may play an Attack Card at a different Opponent, or

• c) The Attacker may end the Combat Phase of their Turn & proceed to the next Phase of their Turn (Discard Phase)

2. Defender plays an appropriate Tier Rank of a Reflect Card; Continues Combat Duel

• a) Attacker must play a Reflect Card of appropriate Tier Rank (Reflecting the Damage back), or

• b) Attacker must play a Block Card of appropriate Tier Rank (Nullifying Damage) to which the Defender may:

  • a) Play an Attack Card at the Attacker (Starts Combat Duel), or

  • b) Not choose to play any Cards (Resolves Combat Duel)

The Attacker always retains the choice to continue playing after Combat Duel(s) is resolved.

Combat Duels must be Resolved from Block Cards, or (6.) Player takes the Damage; Losing HP.

(8.) FATE DECK DRAWING

Learn why & when Players draw from the Fate Deck

Will my victory reward me? or bring me loss...

Players draw from the Fate Deck when they deal Damage to an Opponent that receives the Damage.

• Fate Cards are a mix of Low-High Value Point Cards & Loss Cards

• They are drawn at random from the Fate Deck

• They must be drawn upon Damage dealt & received; no delaying Fate Card draw

• This is why they're called "Fate" Cards; Players are subjugated to "Fate"

Players draw (x) amount of Cards from the Fate Deck per Damage dealt & received:

• If -1HP is dealt and received, the Player that dealt the Damage may draw (1) top-card from the Fate Deck

• If -2HP is dealt and received, the Player that dealt the Damage may draw (2) top-cards from the Fate Deck

The drawn Fate Cards are placed face-up, visible to all Players, in the Fate Hand (9.)

(10.) POINT CARD GAIN

Learn what Point Cards are & what they do

Am I, Chosen to Rule? Oh Fate grant me Lordship.

Point Cards are the reward system, & the way of keeping track of the point score:

• They are gained randomly through the Fate Deck

• They are displayed always face-up in the Fate Hand

• They are used to keep track of which Player is closes to winning

• The Lower values are more common

• The Higher values are less common

• These Cards can be cycled between Players; (12.) through Players stealing Fate Cards

• They are conquered strongholds; by blade of your Samurai for thematic sense

(12.) CHARACTER IMMUNITIES

Learn what Immunities do & why they make the Character special

Every Warrior that rises from the ash; has a reason.

Characters all have unique Immunities; reflecting their Lore, & this gives them special advantage over certain outcomes:

• Immunities are displayed on the back of the Character Card

• Immunities are a passive counter-effect to certain events

Character Immunities can predetermine certain gameplay advantages

1. The Dishonored

• Immune from Opponents stealing their Fate Hand Cards

• This means that they are still susceptible to all other effects or events

• But never need worry of their gained Fate Cards being stolen

2. The Shadow

• Immune to Masters Sight & Bandits Levy being used against them

• This means that they are still susceptible to all other effects or events

• But never need worry of Opponents using Sight or Theft Cards against them

3. The Unknown

• Immune to all Loss Health Fate Cards; whether drawn from the Fate Deck or being stolen from an Opponent

• This means that they are still susceptible to all other effects or events

• But never need worry that they will Lose HP due to those Loss Fate Cards

4. The Rouge

• Immune to all Loss Point Fate Cards; whether drawn from the Fate Deck or being stolen from an Opponent

• This means that they are still susceptible to all other effects or events

• But never need worry that they will Lose Points due to those Loss Fate Cards

5. The Empress

• Immune to all Loss Fate Cards; whether drawn from the Fate Deck or being stolen from an Opponent

• This means that they are still susceptible to all other effects or events

• But never need worry that they will Lose Points or HP due to those Loss Fate Cards

(14.) STACKING UTILITY CARDS

Learn how to stack Utility-type Cards

Restrictions? not in this game!

Stacking means using Utility-type Cards, of the same kind, with each other in the same turn:

• Stacking Heal-type Cards allows you to heal total (+) value of Hearts

• Stacking War Insight Cards allows you to see (x) Fate Deck Cards

• Stacking Masters Sight Cards allows you to see (x) Opponents Combat Hands

• Stacking Rebuild Sanction Cards allows you to gain (x) Point Cards

• ETC. ETC. ETC.

There is no limit to how many Utility-type Cards can be played in the same turn!

(15.) COMBOING UTILITY CARDS

Learn how to combo Utility-type Cards

UNLIMITED POWER!!!

Comboing means using Utility-type Cards, of different types, in effects of each other in the same turn:

• Theft finesse

• Player plays Bandits Levy, steals War Insight, Player plays the stolen "War Insight"

• Fate Lucrative

• Player plays War Insight, sees low value Point Card & shuffles into Fate Deck, then Plays Rebuild Sanction to discover a higher value Point Card

• etc.

• Combo as many Utility-type Cards as you like

There is no limit to how many Utility-type Cards can be played, especially stolen ones, in the same turn!

(17.) GHOST DECK CARDS

Learn what Ghost Cards do

The Dark arts give unnatural abilities.

Ghost Cards are played just like Combat Deck Cards, but now you have more powerful plays to make & advantages:

• Tier 4 Combat advantage

• Powerful Utility Cards

• etc.

(19.) BLESSING/CURSING PLAYERS

Learn what to do with the remainder of Cards

Influence the game.

Players can purchase Tokens to "give" to other Players:

• Bless/Curse Fate Hand Cards as themselves

• Fate Hand Blessings - Give Point cards sideways (0 value) for 1 full round; then upright on Spirit’s next turn (Full Value). 

• Cursed Point Cards forces equal/next higher Point Card of victim to be discarded immediately to Fate Discard Pile. 

• Remaining COMBAT HAND is used to purchase Blessings/Curses

• Players choose to accept Blessings; Players cannot decline Curses

• No limit to Blesses/Curses given in Spirit turn

• No more Cards = Elimination