Codex: Card-Time Strategy – Deluxe Set (2016) Board Game

Codex: Card-Time Strategy – Deluxe Set is a card game released in 2016, designed by David Sirlin. It falls under the categories of Card Game, Fantasy, Fighting, and has a Video Game Theme. The game is designed for 2-5 players, with an optimal player count of 2, and has a runtime of approximately 45 minutes. The game features mechanisms such as Deck Construction, Deck, Bag, and Pool Building, Hand Management, Secret Unit Deployment, Take That, and Variable Player Powers.

Game Components of Codex: Card-Time Strategy – Deluxe Set

Base Set and Expansions: Includes a base set with two factions, expansions with additional factions, and a deluxe box containing all the cards.

Factions and Heroes: 6 colored factions (Red, Green, Black, White, Purple, Blue) and a neutral faction, each with unique themes and heroes. Each hero has 12 associated cards.

Codex: A book of cards from which players build their deck during the game.

Worker Cards: Representing resources, these cards determine the player’s economy each turn.

How To Setup Codex: Card-Time Strategy – Deluxe Set

To set up the game, each player selects their faction (or factions for advanced rules) and shuffles their 10-card starter deck. They set aside three heroes and their worker card. The first player starts with four workers, while the second player starts with five. Each player then draws five cards to begin the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Phases: Each turn consists of five phases – Ready, Upkeep, Main Phase, Discard/Draw Phase, and Tech Phase.

Ready Phase: Reactivate tapped cards.

Upkeep Phase: Activate special abilities and collect resources based on workers.

Main Phase: Play cards, initiate combat, and perform other key actions.

Discard/Draw Phase: Discard the entire hand and draw new cards.

Tech Phase: Add two cards from the codex to the discard pile.

Economy and Heroes: Grow the economy by hiring workers and spend resources to summon heroes, level them up, and build units.

Combat and Patrol Zone: Engage in combat using the patrol zone system, where tech buildings, heroes, and units can be attacked.

Objective: The goal is to destroy the opponent’s base by building an army of units and heroes and managing economy, technology, and information effectively.

Player Experience

Codex offers a dynamic and adaptive gameplay experience, allowing players to adjust their strategy on the fly in response to their opponent’s moves. Unlike traditional card games where the strategy is determined before the game, Codex lets players build their deck and choose their strategy as they play. This flexibility and the asynchronous gameplay make it appealing to fans of both card games and RTS games.

Pros

Customizable and Non-Collectible: No need for continuous purchases of new cards; the game is self-contained.

High Replayability: Different build orders and strategies ensure each game is unique.

Adaptive Strategy: Players can change their strategy mid-game to counter their opponent’s moves.

Less Luck-Based: Compared to other card games, Codex relies less on luck and more on strategic decisions.

Cons

Complex Setup for New Players: While the game itself is not overly complicated, the initial setup and understanding of the mechanics can be daunting for new players.

Time-Consuming Setup: Setting up the codex and choosing heroes can be time-consuming, especially if playing with multiple players.

Personal Thoughts on Codex: Card-Time Strategy – Deluxe Set

Codex: Card-Time Strategy is ideal for players who enjoy the strategic depth of RTS games and the customizable nature of card games. It is particularly suited for those who appreciate the ability to adapt their strategy during gameplay, rather than being locked into a pre-determined plan. The game’s balance between economy, army, and technology makes it appealing to fans of games like Starcraft and Warcraft 3, and its non-collectible nature ensures that it remains a self-contained, endlessly replayable experience.

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