 Cards did not have a shared card back and featured opaque scratch-off circles. Left: Front of card with scratch-off circles Right: Card back with miscellany. | |
| Designers | Steve Jackson |
|---|---|
| Publishers | Merlin Publishing |
| Years active | 1993 |
| Players | 2 |
| Setup time | >1 min |
| Playing time | 1-5 min |
BattleCards was a fantasy-themed card game published in 1993 byMerlin Publishing. The game features a unique "Scratch and Slay" system created bySteve Jackson. The cards came in 10 cardbooster packs which included warrior cards, spell cards, advanced combat cards, quest cards, and treasure cards. The game was published in both theUK and theUnited States with a number of differences between the two releases.
The game debuted atGen Con 1993 (exactly same time asMagic: The Gathering saw public release) and was marketed as atrading card game.[citation needed] On rare occasions, it is debated whether the game counts as the world's first CCG along withMagic. However, the game is not played with a deck and there is no collectibility involved. The Scrye guide acknowledges the limited playability of the game as "use them once and they're worthless" which strictly disqualifies it as acollectible card game.[1]Darwin Bromley ofMayfair Games noted that the scratch-offs would crack when shuffled, and once scratched off "you had to either play the game or collect it." "You couldn't have your cake and eat it too."[2]
Each warrior card has 25 scratch-off dots around its border. These are separated into 3 Life dots, 1 Purse dot, 4 Head dots, 6 Arm dots, 6 Leg dots, and 5 Body dots. Underneath each head, arm, leg, and body dot is either nothing or a red blood drop. Underneath each life dot is either nothing or a red skull. Underneath the purse dot is a number.
To play, each player selects one warrior card. Then, one player is randomly determined to go first, such as with a coin flip. Then, the first player scratches one of the head, arm, leg, or body dots off. If a red blood drop is revealed, that player scratches off again. Otherwise, the other player goes. Each time a red blood drop is revealed, that player scratches off again. After the second blood drop is revealed and after any further blood drops, that player scratches off a life dot. If a red skull is revealed, that player wins.
Players could collect the Purse from a card after scratching off the purse dot on a card. The purse from several cards could be collected and sent in with the Trading Post card for special Silver Foiled Treasure cards. However, this offer expired in 1994.