“Buckshot Roulette” is a game by Mike Klubnika and it focuses on a game of Russian Roulette with a shotgun. It has been received very well by players on Steam, a popular online video game store. But what if it was a card game?
“Shell Shock” is a card game that my friend Aaron Albright and I have been working on for the past month or so for a contest being hosted by Hasbro. It takes inspiration from “Buckshot Roulette” and has a relatively simple gameplay loop, but players will need to rely on their memory and gut feelings in order to come out on top.
While “Buckshot Roulette” has only a live and blank shell, “Shell Shock” has over a dozen types of shells and about ten items all with art by us. Some examples of shells include the cupid shell which protects the target from being targeted on the next turn, the shrapnel shell which hits the target and a random player and the shock shell, after which the game is named.
When starting a round, each player is dealt five shell cards and two item cards. They choose two shell cards and play one face up and one face down. Other players should try to memorize what has been played to improve their chances of making an educated guess when firing. Then, two extra blank shells are loaded into the deck and it is all shuffled. The possession of the gun goes to a random player in a toss-up, where the gun is spun and whoever it lands on gets it. Then, the first turn begins.
On their turn, players may shoot either themselves or an opponent. Depending on what they think or know is on the top of the deck, they will act accordingly. If a player shoots themself and does not take damage, then they are able to go again. If they shoot an opponent, they lose possession of the gun. For example, if a player thinks a blank is on top, they should shoot themself.
Players may also use one item per shot on their turn. Items vary from a kevlar vest that reduces damage taken to a magnet that steals the shotgun during a toss-up. These items are dealt randomly to players and there are eight in total. There are two of each item included in the game.
This game is not yet fully finished, but we may be willing to potentially provide decks to those who are interested once it is. For more information, please email us. Also email us if you have any ideas for new cards, or want to learn more. You can reach us at [email protected] and [email protected].
