Hey folks. Here is the link to the brand-spanking-new Spellfire: The Antigonish Variant rules.
Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. Although I have been playing this version of Spellfire since 2000, this is the first time the rules alterations and changes from standard Spellfire have been codified in an official document.
If you've been curious to try the format, now's the time! Tell me what you think.
-Marc D.
***UPDATE 1! Link to rules now actually works! :) ***
P.S. I have been asked about the Dungeon changes. I do have a post explaining my rationale for each change here. I think these changes make dungeons more fun and less confusing.
***UPDATE 1! Link to rules now actually works! :) ***
P.S. I have been asked about the Dungeon changes. I do have a post explaining my rationale for each change here. I think these changes make dungeons more fun and less confusing.
---> TAV dungeon rules have been endorsed by John Danovich himself, the person responsible for creating the Dungeon card in Spellfire.
***UPDATE 2! Link to the Spellfire Reference Guide, vol.3 is here. ***
***UPDATE 2! Link to the Spellfire Reference Guide, vol.3 is here. ***
How do you handle the card Tithian(301 1st ed) with the TAV rules?I am guessing champions that defend more than once are hard too get rid of in combat without a quick kill method.
ReplyDeleteTithian razes Nibenay immediately. Tithian can't be prevented from razing a realm by Pit Trap (although he's still discarded). Basically if Tithian wins, the realm is flipped immediately. He's still a good card in TAV, but not as great as he is in standard.
DeleteGreat to see these finally released!
ReplyDeleteOne quick question though - the rules mention a Spellfire Reference Guide vol. III. I was unaware of such a book; presumably it was published online somewhere. Where can I get ahold of it?
Yes there is a volume 3, which includes all of the cards made after volume 2. I have a .pdf on my other computer, I forgot where I downloaded it from. Email me at marc.dalesandro@gmail.com and I will write back and attach a copy for you.
DeleteThanks Marc!
DeleteI type a random search into the internet fairly often. Sometimes it has to do with old games that I really liked. Spellfire was one of these games. I am really excited about reading through the variant rules. At one time I made spreadsheets for hundreds of card ideas. Hope to share these with others at some point. Thanks for keeping Spellfire burning!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome! Please keep reading and commenting on the blog, and keep playing Spellfire!
DeleteBeen playing since '94. Damn glad to see that my peers still play as well... Now only if we cpuld all meet up for a tourney, as I'm sure we are all few and far between!
ReplyDeleteThat would be awesome, TCL. I haven't played in a real tournament since 2001. I hear that GenCon has some Spellfire tourneys, but of course they don't play TAV there.
DeleteI left a (long) comment now and unsure if it went through - trying again as a test ;-)
ReplyDeleteThis one worked.
Deletefew questions about gameplay - most appreciate if you can clarify since despite reviewing the rules, still cannot fully understand:
ReplyDelete1. Razed Realms
when are realms discarded vs razed. if a realm is razed on a defender losing the battle, can that razed realm then be attacked, and if the defender loses that battle, is that razed realm then discarded?
2. losing realms effect on discarding Champions
when do i have to discard all champions in my pool - when my last remaining realm is razed or when it is discarded? how does this work in practice in the first few rounds/turns of the game, as in a recent game, we found that with only 1-2 realms on the table, players were constantly at risk of losing their only realm and as a result, having all the champions in their pool discarded.
3. Attacks per turn. Can a player attack once per turn with each champion, such that having many champions in your pool/hand is a key advantage - in certain cases, one can defeat an opponent simply by having many Champions available.
Before I answer, I'd just like to clarify that this blog concerns a variant of Spellfire, not the standard game. I'm not sure if you're playing standard or TAV, so I will give you the answers for both versions.
Delete1) In both standard Spellfire and TAV, a realm is only razed, not discarded, if the defender loses the round. A card has to have a special power to discard a realm (like Cataclysm). Some champions have the ability to attack razed realms, but only if it says so on their card.
2) In both versions of the game, you only have to discard your champions at the end of a turn on which you have no realms in play. Razed realms still count for this purpose. Also, if you can get a realm down before the end of the turn, you don't have to discard your champions. For example if you slap down a Menzoberranzan or a Caer Alison, your champions survive. But if the turn ends and your formation is empty, they are discarded.
3) In standard Spellfire, you are absolutely right. You can "overwhelm" your opponent just by having a ton of attackers. This is one of the reasons TAV was created. In the variant, there is only one attack per turn (unless a champion's special power says otherwise). One attack per turn and one defense adds a lot to the experience, in my opinion.
I hope this was useful to you!
Thanks! And yes, I should have clarified, I was asking about TAV (I've read most of the blog - great stuff!).
ReplyDeleteI've introduced friends to the game recently, and I had mixed up the #1 and #2 that you so helpfully clarified - the result was wholesale carnage: realms were getting razed then discarded and entire pools of champions wiped out! Now I have to convince them to give it another try with the balanced play designed by the correct rules!
Let me know if you're still playing, and how things are going. And thank you for the kind words.
Delete