Virisa: Thematic Elements

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Mechanics | Thematic Elements | Story Content | Skeleton

A sketch of thematic beats as I work out general design principles.

• Merfolk vs. Humans (possibly other humanoids?)
• Toxic atmospheric conditions
  • "Airlock" mechanic -- using Rooms from Duskmourn. "FOG" side punishing scientists for attack and/or block, "SCIENCE" side punishing Merfolk (possibly using hierarchy mechanic).
  • Adapting to the environment (either by gaining the Merfolk type [enchantment? counter? is "creature type counter" too weird?] or through protective artifacts)
  • Cards can care about unlocking Fog or Air
• Exalted Counters
  • Hierarchy matters (designating creature as "in charge of" or "responsible for" other creatures on your side)
  • Hierarchy changes (something you do to your own creatures)
  • Majors benefit from other creatures having exalted, or from attacking alone. Minors give exalted.
• Taking control of creatures (related to hierarchy? Merfolk toxins induce chemical dependency, grows harder to resist, not sure how to model)
  • Current idea: Bloomburrow gift mechanics
• Living/nonliving distinction (i.e., land creatures and artifact creatures aren't vulnerable to Merfolk toxins and I think the scientists have Vehicle mechs; not sure where enchantments fall on this spectrum since the RP this is based on was pure sci-fi)
• I need SOME kind of Mount thing for the biomech idea, at least.
• Larva tokens: 0/1 Merfolk Leeches (merfolk type might be OP), can't block, something like https://scryfall.com/card/tznr/11/goblin-construct where the opponent is punished for having them.
• The mage-scientists are taking biochemical samples; torn on Blood vs. Treasure tokens.
• Each faction has all five colors, each with its own contrast:

Color	Merfolk	Mage-scientists
	Groups and obligations	Rules and structure
	Adaptation and control	Knowledge and progress
	Hunger and stealth	Exploitation and greed
	Passion and treachery	Energy and violence
	Nature and strength	Expansion and growth

• Realizing I think I want "ally colors matter" and "enemy colors matter" to be themes? They're not explicitly mechanicized, but the Merfolk are "ally colors" and the mage-scientists are "enemy colors".

Color Pair	Draft archetype
	[name pending]: tap or control opponents' creatures while building up an exalted force of your own.
	Diversity Hiring: combine exalted synergies to create a united research staff that can send weak creatures in first to buy time for the strong.
	Aquatic Ambush: bounce/removal? Flash? Atmospheres?
	Toxic Shock: use Atmosphere mechanics to control the board and keep out creatures, while using instants to biochemically eliminate threats.
	Breeding Frenzy: make opponents' creatures betray them, whether you're giving them
	Corporate Growth: amass and sacrifice Treasure, big mana for big effects?
	Chemical Power: generate Treasures to buff your creatures and send them rampaging
	exalted-focused and armybuilding with vehicle subtheme, most fighty scientists (red atmospheres)
	Hybrid Mutations: giving out exalted counters, using them to create hierarchies, benefit from having both scientists and merfolk?
	[no clue yet]