Cold War [card game]
Over winter break, my wife introduced our kids to the classic card game WAR. They loved the game, but I struggled with the lack of decisions that game presents. So rather than yucking their yum, I put that energy towards designing my own game
To be honest, I mostly used this as an opportunity to practice new art styles on Procreate. I spent a couple weeks worth of my little free time working on these two images—then almost immediately forgot that I was even working on this game once I felt satisfied with my work
COMPONENTS
x1 Standard Poker Deck (Shuffled)
x1 Coin
x2 Players
SETUP
Shuffle the deck.
Set deck in between both players.
Discard the top card face up.
FLIP a COIN
(H) Oldest Player becomes the SPY
(T) Youngest Player becomes the SPY
The player who is the SPY takes the coin.
The player who is not the SPY, is the TARGET
PHASE 1: TARGET
Draw up to two cards, holding one in each hand. The card ranks must be clearly visible to the TARGET, and hidden from the SPY.
While you are the TARGET, you cannot speak. Only communicate with your eyes.
PHASE 2: SPY
Evaluate the top card of the discard pile, then place a bet if the next card will have a higher or lower rank:
(H) Place the coin heads up if you believe the next card’s rank will be HIGHER than the rank of the top card of the discard pile.
(T) Place the coin tails up if you believe the next card’s rank will be LOWER than the rank of the top card of the discard pile.
*At this stage, you may change your decision based on the reaction of the TARGET
Now, slide the coin to the left or right hand side of the discard pile, mirroring which card you want the TARGET to discard
*Once you let go of the coin, your bet is locked!
PHASE 3: TARGET
Once the SPY’s bet has been locked, reveal the selected card, then resolve
RESOLVE: A LOSING BET
If the SPY’s bet was incorrect, players swap roles
(H) If the SPY’s bet was “higher” and the next card was lower; then the TARGET shuffles their remaining card back into the draw deck, and takes the coin. Continue at “PHASE 1”
(T) If the SPY’s bet was lower and the next card was higher; then the TARGET shuffles their remaining card back into the draw deck, and takes the coin. Continue at “PHASE 1”
RESOLVE: A WINNING BET
If the SPY’s bet was correct, the TARGET draws another card, returning their hand to two cards. Continue at “PHASE 2”
RESOLVE: A MATCHING CARD
If the card matches the top card of the discard pile, this triggers a “Cold War”
Discard the top card of the draw deck
(H) If the bet is locked as “higher” and the card is higher; then discard the next top card of the draw deck and check the bet again
(T) If the bet is locked as “lower” and the card is lower; then discard the next top card of the draw deck and check the bet again
Continue this chain of winning bets until a you lose, or an ACE ranked card is discarded
RESOLVE: THE ACE CARD
If at any point an ACE is discarded, this triggers a “DATA BREACH”
The SPY collects the entire discard pile with the ACE at the top
END GAME
After the third data breach has been collected by a SPY, the TARGET shuffles their remaining card back into the deck.
Both players now count up their total cards collected. The player with the most cards is the winner!
If you have any comments, please reach out to me HERE