Calin says, "Paw, I had an idea for a new game."

Calin says, "Though I don't know how the mechanics would work yet."

Paw asks, "So it's more of a story thing right now?"

Calin says, "Sort of."

Calin says, "Card/board game, not computer."

Paw says, "Okay. Whatcha got?"

Calin says, "Each player plays the part of a manipulator. A person who can use their various skills to eliminate their opponents."

Calin says, "Think Highlander. A bunch of people with some sort of special powers, who in the end have to kill each other to the last man."

Calin says, "But in the mean time, they may ensconce themselves into governments or armies or whatever."

Calin says, "A key element is that each player will not know exactly what resources his opponents have."

Calin says, "Imagine Magic/Swami, but we can't see each other's cards until we go to attack."

Calin says, "You can get clues though."

Calin says, "If I have an agent in your city, he may give me info about the gathering of troops there or whatever."

Paw says, "Interesting."

Paw says, "Here's a first stab:"

Calin says, "Are you sort of getting the atmosphere I'm going for?"

Paw says, "You have a gameboard that represents various areas where you can put resources."

Paw says, "And you can put investments face down on the part of the board you want."

Paw says, "So your opponent knows you've invested in Wall Street, but he doesn't know what you invested with."

Calin says, "Right."

Calin says, "Unless he sends in an agent to eat your tasty fruit."

Paw says, "Could be you're trying to make money there. Could be you're trying to take down Wall Street."

Calin says, "Ah, good."

Calin says, "I hadn't figure out what else other than military forces you might use."

Paw nods.

Paw says, "Entertainment industry or simply Media."

Calin says, "Huh?"

Paw says, "That's a serious force."

Calin nods.

Calin says, "Right. A force to gain support of people."

Paw says, "Media, Military, Business, Government, Technology"

Paw says, "Religion, Drugs, "

Calin says, "So each location on the map has a list of resources."

Paw says, "Probably should keep the list short."

Calin nods.

Paw says, "Hm... Interesting."

Paw says, "So maybe the card you put face-down specifies one of those forces. And each location can support 2 or 3 of those forces?"

Calin says, "Hmm."

Paw says, "So the opponent doesn't know if you're investing in Military or Technology."

Calin nods.

Paw says, "And the idea is to build the SuperWeapon or whatever out of various investitures..."

Calin says, "Right. Like a *craft game, first you build up some basic resources."

Paw says, "You have a few Goal cards you can attempt. Each requiring time invested in certain fronts."

Calin says, "Then you use them to build better things."

Paw says, "And on your turn you can put X tokens on the cards you have on the board."

Calin says, "And ultimately, when you're ready, you bring the culmination of all your efforts to bear in destroying your opponents."

Paw says, "And when you have all the right resources... yeah."

Paw says, "And maybe there are some things that are action cards that can use resources too."

Calin nods.

Paw says, "And maybe some of them will work with both Media or Technology... and since your dude is collecting tokens in LA, he is either one. So you can take some of his tokens to power this action card without having to reveal which industry he works in ."

Calin says, "Ah, nice."

Paw says, "But if you take tokens from the dude in San Francisco, you have to show that he's a Tech dude."

Paw says, "Then your guy is outed and you have to take him back into you your hand."

Paw says, "Or maybe it's like Liar's Dice..."

Paw says, "And you don't reveal it unless your opponent calls you on it."

Calin nods. "So the trick would be to send in 'attacks' to force your opponent to reveal his agents, thus ruining their work."

Paw says, "yeah."

Calin says, "I don't think I'd prefer the bluffing part."

Paw says, "But maybe the attacks only work on two types of industries. So you may be taking a chance if you send in an attack that doesn't work on both. Because your opponent could respond by taking his money and running, if you choose the wrong type."

Calin says, "Right."

Paw says, "Hope you're taking notes."

Paw says, "Not to say I'm a genius, but that I'm not taking notes on this, as I am at work."

Calin says, "Not yet, but the muck keeps logs. This game is still in the 'heating up' stage. Eventually it will boil down to something useful, but for now it's best to throw in as many ingredients as possible."

Calin says, "So when you get an agent, you have to decide whether to use him to gather tokens, or to thwart opponents."

Calin says, "Or perhaps both - you send him out to gather tokens, which buff him up. And then you can use the tokens to power other cards, or use the buffed up agent to take out other agents."

Paw says, "How do you choose before placing him?"

Paw says, "Maybe he's a different kind of agent for thwarting and gathering?"

Calin says, "I was thinking you wouldn't choose before placing him."

Paw says, "Which would make him awesome as an agent in a city where he can do both."

Calin says, "But once placed, he could be used for either."

Paw says, "Except he'd be more vulnerable to attack."

Paw says, "Ah."

Paw says, "I was thinking we'd need different card backs for each player, but not if you automatically got one resource token on a card you play into an area."

Paw says, "That way, each player has their own color of resource tokens."

Calin nods.