Arcomage

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Arcomage
Developer(s)	New World Computing
Publisher(s)	The 3DO Company
Series	Might and Magic
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Release	1999 (M&M VII) 2000 (M&M VIII) 2000 (stand-alone)
Genre(s)	Card game
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multiplayer

Arcomage is a computerized card game produced by The 3DO Company. It originated as a minigame in Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor and Might and Magic VIII: Day of the Destroyer, in which it was used to gamble for in-game money or to complete a quest to win games in every tavern. 3DO later released it as a stand-alone game in 2000. In the stand-alone version a single player can play against a computer opponent or two players can play via a LAN or TCP/IP connection. Arcomage uses the fantasy themes of the game in which it is set.

Arcomage was developed by Stickman Games. The game was sold to 3DO.

Gameplay[]

Arcomage takes the form of a tabletop game, in which there are two players, each with a deck of cards, a "tower" and a "wall", as well as several other variables that determine whether they win or lose, and what cards they can play. As Might and Magic is a single-player game, one would always play against an AI opponent - making the game relatively easy to win.

Players take it in turns to:

• Draw the appropriate number of cards to complete their 6-part deck (one or more cards would have been played or discarded during their previous turn)
• Either play or discard a card, depending on their options - in some cases discard will be the only option available, as the player might not have the appropriate number of "gems", "bricks" or "recruits".
• If their chosen card allows it, play again and/or choose a card to discard.

Every tavern has its different victory conditions, so players must adapt their styles for different situations. A game could end in one of the following ways:

• A player's tower has been reduced to 0
• A player's tower has achieved a "height" of X (value depends on Tavern)
• A player accumulates X amount of resources (value depends on Tavern)

As well as having a "Tower", "Wall" and Deck of Cards, each player also has:

• "Quarry" - controls how many "bricks" are gained each turn
• "Bricks" - spent on brick cards
• "Magic" - controls how many "gems" are gained each turn
• "Gems" - spent on gem cards
• "Dungeon" - controls how many "recruits" are gained each turn
• "Recruits" - spent on recruit cards

Arcomage employs a wide range of cards, each with their own name, effects and picture. Several cards were added to the original deck in Might and Magic VIII. Examples include:

• Faerie (recruit card): 2 damage (to enemy tower/wall); play Again. Cost: 1 recruit.
• Portcullis (brick card): +5 wall; +1 dungeon. Cost: 9 bricks.
• Sanctuary (gem card): + 10 tower; +5 wall; gain 5 recruits. Cost: 15 gems.