The Starting Line-up

Click or scroll down for information regarding the free game offer.

We have play tested three different ways to build a Mage’s starting line-up of 5 spell cards.

Choose All: 

Lay out spell cards #1 thru #8 face up and choose the 5 spell cards with which you want to begin the game.  Place the remaining 3 cards face down underneath spell card #9, The Librarian’s Bench in any order.

I would choose spells #1 thru #5. I designed the game with those 5 spells in mind. It can played with only those 5 spells - the first four, actually. If playing basketball you usually start your best 5 players so this may actually be the most appropriate format to use.

Choose Some: 

Using numbered spell cards, the mage shuffles and deals two groups of four cards from spells 1 though 8 then examines and selects one card group to comprise a starting line-up. One additional card is drawn at random from the other group and added to the line-up. Shuffle and place the remaining 3 cards face down underneath spell card #9, The Librarian’s Bench.

This is the format included in the email package of rules. Always choose the card group with Elforticus*. I think. I prefer this format because it allows you to make the conscious decision to not choose Elforticus - and suffer the consequences.

Choose None:

Shuffle spell cards #1 thru #8 and deal out 5 cards face up. Shuffle and place the remaining 3 cards face down underneath spell card #9, The Librarian’s Bench.

I believe the mage should have access to Elforticus*  from the beginning of the game. For that reason I am not convinced this is a viable format to use when constructing a starting line-up unless you’re looking to handicap a better on-court shooter. One player could get to choose all, the other could choose none.

*Formerly Forticus - changed it because play testers were struggling to make the initial connection to elves)