Hello. I was possessed by an idea for a 2v1 format and typed up a ruleset for it. It ended up being a little more extensive than I thought it'd be. Sadly I only have one friend irl who plays the tcg with me, and I'm really a super casual who just has nostalgia for the IP.
Anyway, the premise for this ruleset is to have a 2 vs 1 or 2 deck vs 1 deck game mode, while maintaining as much of the base cards use as possible. It probably will hit some hiccups with newer decks and more complex interactions but it should work well with older decks.
I have added an additional layer of customization in the form of custom engines for the game to give it an even greater "Boss Raid" feel that may even power up underpowered deck.
I just thought it'd be cool to make a structure that allows for the emergence of narrative in a match with friends and maybe even recreate anime-like moments.
For those who are ok with reading and are interested and like ttrpgs, this may be a fun and frustrating afternoon.
I will place below the ruleset and link some printables for play testing. At the bottom of there will also be a survey to help iron out some kinks, should I choose to return to this project
I'd be delighted if even a single group of friends try this out.
Thanks
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AB vs C Format.
This is a ruleset for a 2 vs 1 mode of the Digimon TCG. (Or a 2 deck vs 1 deck mode where 1 player may operate 2 decks against 1)
Set Up:
Three 50 Card decks
Custom Memory Gauge for C side player
(20->0->10)
Regular Memory Gauge for Players A and B
(10->0->10)
Turn Indicator
(Physical Object)
A and B each start with 5 cards in hand, 5 cards in security, and a standard memory gauge.
C starts with 5 cards in hand, 10 cards in security, and the custom memory gauge.
C side also gets :
Draw phase - Draw 2
(instead of the standard 1)
Memory gaining and setting effects from your Tamers and Options are doubled (i.e. “If you have 2 or less, set your memory to 3.” becomes “if you have 4 or less, set your memory to 6”)
AB vs C Format Rules :
Turn order A>B>C>B>A>C>A>B>C...
Start of game all gauges are set to 0
Collaborator A starts the game with possession of Turn Indicator displayed on their field. Upon completion of turn by passing 0 memory, the turn Indicator is passed to the next player following established turn order.
AB side does not draw on turn one.
At the end of AB turns, C gains memory equal to the sum of the memory passed by opponents as tracked on their memory gauges
C gets to draw on turn one, but does not get to go first.
At the end of C turns both opponents gain memory equal to C side passed memory.
When C turn starts AB side sets their memory gauges to 0.
When AB turns start C side sets gauge to 0.
Memory gain for non-turn players.
AB collaborators can only gain memory from card effects on C turns. Non-Turn C can gain memory from both AB turns.
At the start of any player's turn, they gain the memory passed by their opponent adding to the memory gained off turn.
Card Effect Modifications :
AB side effect targeting- Collaborators A and B's effects that target opponents in standard play can only affect C side.
If an effect targeting the opponents relies on a trigger condition counting total cards in security or trash, if the condition is met on AB side the effect can be triggered against C side.
AB side <All turns> effects that track game state conditions (such as "when security stacks are added or removed from, or when digimon/tokens are deleted) AB Collaborators cannot track each other's fields for effect activation and only consider A -> C fields or B -> C Fields respectively. (Unless explicitly stated.)
AB side <All turns> effects can only trigger on AC turns and BC turns respectively.
AB side counter effects can only be triggered when C targets A or B respectively.
- Exceptions- AB side may activate <Blocker> and <Guard> in response to C side attacks and effects targeting either Collaborator.
Effects that count the total number of security cards, cards in the hand, or cards in trash; only consider the total number of security cards on AB side and C side respectively.
For all effects counting total hand size, AB and C hands are counted separately for effect activation.
C side effect targeting - for effects that target opponent elements ( namely digimon, lingering Options, security, and Tamers) in standard play, C side may choose individual elements to target controlled by either Collaborator as if they were a single opponent.
C side effect exception - effects that trash from opponents hand or deck apply to both Collaborators.
C side counter/Blast timing - C side may counter/blast against each individual Collaborator, but effects may target either Collaborator or both Collaborators if effect allow is multi targeted.
Effects that compare security sizes consider the total Security cards on both sides.
Effects that compare hand size add the hand counts on the AB side against the C side.
"For the turn" and “until the end of the turn” effects duration treat AB side turns as a singular turn.
Counter/Blast Timing - follow turn order C action > A counter > B > Counter or C action > B counter > A counter depending on turn cycle.
<Special event>
A or B Collaborator is defeated, but the other remains. The defeated may play from their hand or trash a level 4 or Lower digimon to their field without paying the cost and without activating <On play> effects, or triggering digimon effects that activate when other digimon are played. This digimon gains <rush> for the turn.
-Defeated Collaborator game state- If Collaborator is defeated by the rules of the game. Digimon on their field persist, their Tamers and option cards are placed in the trash. Remaining cards in hand and Security (if defeated by rules like deck-out) are placed in their trash. The remaining Collaborator gains control of the remaining digimon the AB side fields. Additionally they may now use all the digimon on the AB fields to attack, block, suspend, as digivolution ( and DNA if possible) base, and as fuel to trigger effects requiring the deletion or removal of digimon on their side of the field.
All cards removed from fields can only be returned to parts of the board (i.e. deck, trash, and security) from the deck that played them.
For effects that would place a card on the field into the effecting Collaborator's, deck, where the remaining Collaborator chooses to trigger such an effect using the defeated Collaborator's remaining cards on the field, the card is placed in the trash and the remaining Collaborator adds a card from their trash to the bottom of their deck instead. If the card would be placed in defeated Collaborator's security, place it in the trash and the remaining Collaborator may add the top card of their deck as their top security card. If the card would be added to the hand, place it in the trash, and the remaining Collaborator draws a card from their deck.
- unique scenarios -
If AB side Collaborator A would trigger an effect that compares security stacks where AB has more security than C, but A has less than B, and the effect requires that security be removed from "the player with the most security cards" A still must effect the removal as the activator of the effect.
If AB side Collaborator A would trigger an effect that compares security stacks where B has more security than C, but A no security, and the effect requires that security be removed from "the player with the most security cards" Collaborator B may opt to remove from their security the card specified for A to complete the effect.
If AB side Collaborator A would trigger an effect that compares hand sizes where AB has more cards than C, but A has less than B, and the effect requires that cards be discarded from "the player with the most cards in hand" A still must discard a card as the activator of the effect.
If AB side Collaborator A would trigger an effect that compares hand sizes where B has more cards than C, but A no cards in hand, and the effect requires that cards be discarded from "the player with the most cards in hand" Collaborator B may opt to discard a card for A to then complete the effect activation.
AB vs C. Custom Cards Expansion:
Custom card #1 : 0 to 8 pieces (optional up to 4 per AB Collaborator)
"Generic Tamer" Play Cost 3 [white] <Start of Game> declare a color and trait, this card and all copies of it under your control becomes of the color and trait declared for the rest of the game.
<Start of main> gain 1 memory.
<Opponent's turn><Once per turn>when one of your Collaborator's digimon is deleted. Give any digimon on the AB side of the field <Blocker>.
<security> play this card without paying the cost.
Custom card #2 : 2 pieces (one per AB Collaborator)
"AB Collaborator" Cost 0 [white] <All turns><Trash>place this card under one of your Tamers. That tamer gains the following effects.
<All turns> When this tamer would leave the battle area other than by your own effects, by trashing your top security card, it does not leave.
<Your turn><Once per turn>1 of your played non token digimon gains <rush>
<Your turn><Once per turn > you may pay this tamer's play cost to activate their <On play> effect.
<Your turn><Once per turn> by adding one of your level 3 digimon under this tamer, it may digivolve into a level 5 digimon in the hand by paying its digivolution cost and ignoring digivolution requirements.
<Collaborator’s turn><Opponent's turn><Once per turn> when your Collaborator would delete a digimon by their own effect, by deleting one of your digimon, that digimon gains the effect <Trash> play this digimon without paying the cost and without activating <On play> effects.
<Your turn><Once per turn> if your Collaborator has no security cards, by trashing your top security card, they add their top trashed card to their security.
<Inherited > (while this card is a digivolution card) Gain
<Alliance><Blocker>
<All turns> +2000dp
<End of your turn>, this digimon may digivolve into a digimon in the hand or trash for the cost reduced by 1.
<On deletion><Once per turn> pick one of the following effects.
- If you do not have a tamer, play a tamer from your hand or this digimon's digivolution cards. Then you may play a level 3 digimon of the same color as the tamer played by this effect. The digimOn played by this effect is immune to opponent's effects until the end of your next turn.
- Give one of your other digimon <Guard> for the turn.
Custom Card #3 : 1 piece (C side only)
"C Overlord" Special Cost 0 [white] <All turns><trash><hand> play this card onto the field
<Your turn>
You may play a level 6 or higher Digimon by paying half its play cost rounding up to the nearest whole value and by adding from your hand or field a level 5, level 4, and Level 3 digimon as its bottom digivolution cards ignoring its digivolution requirements and <On play> effects.
While you have a level 6 or higher digimon, place this card as its bottom digivolution card and gain the following effects.
<All turns>
- Cards cannot be trashed from this digimon's digivolution cards by opponents effects
- When Security 4 or less +4000DP
- When this digimon would leave the battle area, trash 1 security, it doesn't leave and becomes immune to all effects and gains blocker for the turn.
- When your effects would cause this digimon to drop below level 6. Play this card from its digivolution cards.
<Main>
<Once per turn > Cost 5 - Activate this digimon's <On play> or <when digivolving effects> add 2 to play cost for every card in your security.
<Once per turn > Cost 4 - if both opponents have one or more security and None of your other Digimon have attacked. Trash both opponents' top security. For each card trashed, this digimon loses DP equal to the combined DP of trashed Digimon until the end of your opponents' turns. None of your other digimon can check security for the turn.
<Once per game> Shuffle your trash into your deck, then trash your top 4 cards. If this effect trashed a level 6 or higher digimon your opponents may add the card from the top of their deck as their top security. If this effect also trashed a Tamer, your opponents may add their top two instead.
<End of your turn>
- Add 1 sacrifice counter to all your Tamers, digimon with Tamers in their digivolution cards, and level 6 or higher digimon other than this one.
-Delete all your Digimon and Tamers with 2 or more sacrifice counters including in their digivolution cards. If this effect deletes or trashes digimon or a tamer, add your top card to the top of your security stack. If this effect trashed both, add the top 2.
Custom counter: Sacrifice counter : as needed by C side.
Custom Cards AB side :
Set Up :
If playing with the custom expansion, select a tamer from the deck, and place it in the battle area.
If there are no Tamers in the deck, choose 1 card in deck to remove from play and use
custom card #1 “Generic Tamer”
Additionally, you may remove up to 3 other cards in your deck from play and replace them with copies of "Generic Tamer".
Under your first tamer, place custom card #2 “AB Collaborator”
Then set memory to 0 and draw 5 and set 5 security cards.
Custom Cards C side :
Set up
Place Custom card #3 "C Overlord" on the field. Then draw 5 cards in hand, set 10 security cards, set memory to 0
Effects triggered when cards are added to or removed from security cannot be triggered by AB vs C custom card effects.
Test Play Feedback link
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQjFC0G3-dMcRqq7J_xl_ku4TxBpuZrDBPJDOb4ILBoVYd7A/viewform?usp=publish-editor
Printables
Rules:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sq7qZnc4LfI_ELPO_QIAXA2vfXDOiM-b/view?usp=drivesdk
Pieces:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tQqRgIG9ahJBSb3X_kByNj8Q9MbW2wGT/view?usp=drivesdk
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FmOm6VMG2fgYZvFxETc7jgvwhK2iW71-/view?usp=drivesdk
