Havoc! The Combat Card Game

wonderful game! realistic rpg combat and quick game play. a one-on-one fight will take about 20 minutes. easy to use to supplement standard rpg combat systems. and extraordinary art!

Kickstarter!

I used to game a lot many years ago, and have always had continued interest. I remember some complex RPGs that had great (but arguably complex) hand to hand combat systems, that I loved (think old School C&S).

In the intervening years, I've watched from the sidelines the development of board games, card games, and combinations of both. I've been mildly jealous of the gaming going on in the world knowing that I haven't been able to commit the time to learning new things, and jumping in again with both feet.

That ended about two years ago with a full stop.

I was presented with the opportunity of helping play test this game. This was a refreshing take on the remembrance of a complex hand to hand combat system and making it elegant and effortless, while retaining the feel of combat. The thrill, the concern, the tactics, the rage, the fear...thinking 'How am I going to survive this?!' Yes, even better, this was the system used for the upcoming RPG based on this.

What.a.ride.

It was like discovering gaming all over again, with the opportunity to provide input and hopefully help improve the experience and the balance of it all.

If you love RPGs, and you love a thorough, real combat experience, you really need to consider Havoc! (and the additional things coming).

Ever feel like the old "I roll, you roll" RPG combat model left something to be desired? This. This is the game to be desired. A hardy medieval combat simulation that leaves you feeling the grit and gristle of blow-by-blow battle. I played it and felt like I had just been in an episode of Game of Thrones...

OK so I'm biased. I like everything about this game because if I didn't I just changed it. My first published game design.

Backed on Kickstarter. Played several games at a recent con. Quick-playing highly realistic card game depicting fantasy/medieval melee combat. Just enough luck to be beginner-friendly but still very much a skill game.

I've always loved weapons fighting. As a teen I did padded weapons fighting. As an adult I got into fencing, kendo, FMA, and HEMA. I also appreciate a good fight in action cinema. There's a primal energy in watching characters in Vikings or Game of Thrones try to kill each other. Same goes for a lot of martial arts cinema.

So I've always found the turn-based nature of RPGs and board games tedious. To me there's no fun in games where you just take turns trying to roll better than someone else. There's no strategy. No tactics. And the drama of trying to roll better than someone else only lasts for so long.

This is where Havoc is different. The play test was a blast. You have to balance the situation you are in in order to defeat your opponent. While luck plays a factor (just like in real life weapons sparring of any type), the tactics you choose often balances out that luck. That different weapons have different characteristics prompt different strategies is exciting and challenging.

For example, half-swording is a thing in Havoc. If you know anything about HEMA you know how awesome this is!

Tip: to get an education on what real world combat is like, try spears (or any pole-arm) against swords. If you've not ever done any sparring the results will surprise you.