Card Types: Events (Incantations and Inventions)

   

This post is the second in a series explaining the various card types of the Devacurse collectable card game.  Today event cards go under the microscope.  These cards harness the powers of advanced technology and mystical power to augment your forces or decimate those of your opponent.

Read on to learn how to wield the powers of science and sorcery!

Event cards come in two varieties:  incantations and inventions.

Incantations:

Incantations harness the forces of magic.  Incantations can only be played during the acting player’s turn during the Construction loop (phase), unless they are marked with a flash symbol, in which case they can be played at any time – even during an opponent’s turn.  Flash incantations therefore carry a powerful element of surprise that can be turned to great strategic effect.

Here is an example incantation card:

Asateehun, artwork by Sangsan Sornsena

Incantation cards have the following traits:

Anatomy of an incantation event card

  Blessing Cost:  

The blessing cost is in the upper left-hand corner. 

A number value indicates a blessing cost that can be paid with either unaligned blessing points or blessing points of any elemental alignment. 

Elemental symbols indicate blessing point costs that must be paid for with blessings of matching elemental alignment.

Example:  This card has a 2, which can be paid with blessings or any or no elemental alignment, and one metal icon, which can only be paid with one metal blessing.  Both costs must be paid to activate this incantation. 

  Name:  

The name of the incantation is along the upper right border.  This card’s name is Asateehun.

 Set Icon:  

This symbol in the upper right-hand corner shows the set this card was published in.  Asateehun was published in the Half Blood Deal base set.

The set icon also indicates the rarity of the card for collectors.  Gold = rare, Silver = uncommon, and Bronze (red) = common.  Asateehun’s bronze set icon indicates it is common.

  Subtype and Event symbol:  

The event subtype and event symbol are displayed below the artwork.  This event has the subtype “Magic” and the incantation symbol.  

  Effect:  

The text below the subtype bar describes what effect this event has on the game when a Deva uses it.

Asateehun’s effect is to destroy one target enemy soldier card.

  Incantation symbol:  

The symbol found in the lower left-hand corner of an event card identifies it as either an incantation or an invention.  Asateehun has the spell ball symbol indicating it is an incantation.

  Incantation symbol with flash icon:  

Some incantations have an exclamation point over the spell ball icon.  These “Flash” incantations can be played at any time, even during an opponent’s turn.

Inventions:

Where incantations have an immediate effect, inventions tend to be more preparative, enhancing your forces and enabling new tactics using the power of technology.  Many inventions are special weapons or pieces of equipment you can use to outfit your soldiers and heroes.  Other inventions are locations that confer special abilities or enhancements to your campaign.  Inventions can only be played during the acting player’s turn during the Construction loop (phase).

Here is an example invention card:

Pakkinichakuha, artwork by Wenich Mitsanthear.

Invention cards have the following traits:

Anatomy of an invention event card

  Blessing Cost:  

The blessing cost is in the upper left-hand corner. 

A number value indicates a blessing cost that can be paid with either unaligned blessing points or blessing points of any elemental alignment. 

Elemental symbols indicate blessing point costs that must be paid for with blessings of matching elemental alignment.

Example:  This card has a 2, which can be paid with blessings or any or no elemental alignment, and one water icon, which can only be paid with one water blessing.  Both costs must be paid to activate this invention. 

 Name:  

The name of the invention is along the upper right border.  This card’s name is Pakkinichakuha.

  Set icon:

This symbol in the upper right-hand corner shows the set this card was published in.  Pakkinichakuha was published in the Half Blood Deal base set.

The set icon also indicates the rarity of the card for collectors.  Gold = rare, Silver = uncommon, and Bronze (red) = common.  Pakkinichakuha’s gold set icon indicates it is rare.

   Event Subtype and Event Symbol:  

The event subtype and event symbol are displayed below the artwork.  This event has the subtype “Location” and the invention symbol.  

  Effect:

The text below the subtype bar describes what effect this event has on the game when a Deva uses it.  

Pakkinichakuha has the following effect:  All heroes and soldiers of your opponent enter the battlefield in rest mode.

  Flavor text:

The last line of text describes the unit or character’s role in the fictional world of Devacurse.

  Invention symbol:  

The symbol found in the lower left-hand corner of an event card identifies it as either an incantation or an invention.  Pakkinichakuha has the turning gears symbol indicating it is an invention.

Some inventions, like this one, have a number value printed on top of the gear symbol.  This number is a turn counter, indicating that once activated, the effect lasts for this number of turn spirals (rounds).  

Once activated, Pakkinichakuha’s special effect lasts two turn spirals.

Discarding Events:

Both incantations and inventions are ultimately discarded to the cenotaph pile, so just as with vanquished soldier cards, event cards can be recycled to summon heroes.

Incantation events are discarded to the cenotaph pile as soon as they are used.

Invention events are equipped to soldiers, heroes, or placed on the table.  They are discarded to the cenotaph pile when they are destroyed.

Explore posts in the same categories: Card Types, Rules, Terms