Vampire: The Masquerade Rivals Expandable Card Game
Step into the shadows and take command of a powerful coterie of vampires, each vying for dominance over their city. Manipulate mortals, wield political influence, and engage in ruthless conflicts against rival factions under the cover of night. To succeed, you must strategize, forge alliances, and outmaneuver your opponents as you work to advance your sinister agenda.
For this project, I designed two unique cards that enhance the strategic depth of the game by introducing new mechanics and thematic elements inspired by classic folklore and the dark, immersive world of Vampire: The Masquerade.
Violation at the Masquerade
Card Mechanics:
Event - Ongoing; Action - Scheme Influence Conflict
All characters get a -1 shield during the end phase.
If another target player has at least 7 agenda and is either leading or tied for the most agenda, they must burn this card and choose one:
Burn their leader and gain 2 agenda, or
Burn any other character in their coterie and gain 1 agenda.
When a player token is removed from this event, shuffle it back into the city deck.
Design Inspiration:
I wanted to capture the essence of secrecy and tension that defines the masquerade. The design features shattered glass as a visual representation of the masquerade breaking and the consequences that follow. The central figure in the illustration embodies an enigmatic masquerade attendee, evoking a sense of mystery and intrigue.
Enemy of My Enemy
Card Mechanics:
Place no player token on this when revealed.
Search the city deck, then discard pile, then streets for an antagonist. Draw the top card of the monster deck and attach both to this event. (The attachments are considered blank.)
During the end step, this event deals ranged damage equal to the highest stat of the attached monster to the lowest BP character in your coterie. During this attack, characters have a -1 shield. This damage can target Hunter players.
If all antagonists are burned when this enters play, burn this card immediately.
Design Inspiration:
For this design, I drew inspiration from folklore, particularly chilling stories like La Mala Hora and La Llorona, which depict ominous supernatural threats. The art direction includes a looming monster figure, emphasizing the ever-present dangers in the world of Vampire: The Masquerade. By integrating past card designs and horror storytelling elements, I aimed to craft a card that invokes suspense and strategic decision-making.
Final Thoughts
Creating these cards was an exciting challenge, allowing me to merge compelling visual storytelling with intricate game mechanics. By weaving thematic elements of secrecy, power struggles, and supernatural horror, I sought to deepen the player's immersion into the treacherous world of Vampire: The Masquerade Rivals.