Path of the Necromancer Deathmatch (Free-for-All)

Setup

• Players: 3-4 players.
• Health: Each player starts with 40 health.
• Deck Construction:
  • Each player builds a 40-card deck following standard deck-building rules:
    • Common (Green Square): Up to 4 copies per deck.
    • Rare (Blue Triangle): Up to 3 copies per deck.
    • Epic (Purple Diamond): Up to 2 copies per deck.
    • Legendary (Orange Circle): 1 copy per deck​.
• Lifeforce: Each player starts with 10 Lifeforce and gains 5 Lifeforce at the beginning of their Resource Phase (maximum of 10).
• Starting Hand: Each player draws 6 cards and may mulligan once by discarding any number of cards and redrawing an equal amount​​.
• Determine First Player: A coin flip, dice roll, or mutual agreement determines the first player. Turns proceed clockwise around the table.

Turn Structure

Each player’s turn follows the standard phases:

1. Start Phase: Resolve start-of-turn effects.
2. Resource Phase: Gain 5 Lifeforce (up to a maximum of 10).
3. Draw Phase: Draw 1 card.
4. Main Phase: Play cards, activate abilities, summon minions, and attack.
   • Players can target any other player or their minions. You may attack multiple opponents or focus on one.
   • Minions can attack any opponent’s minions or directly attack other players’ heroes.
5. End Phase: Resolve end-of-turn effects, and discard down to 10 cards if necessary, gaining 1 Lifeforce for each discarded card​​.

Combat Mechanics

• Attacking: You can attack any opponent’s Hero or minions on their battlefield. You declare your attacks during your Main Phase and target opponents of your choice.
• Defending: When attacked, a player may use their minions to defend their Hero, similar to the standard game rules. Players must strategically decide how to defend against incoming attacks from multiple opponents​​.
• Piercing Damage: If a minion’s attack exceeds a target’s defense, the excess damage is dealt to the opponent’s Hero unless the minion is immune to piercing damage​.

Area of Effect (AoE) Mechanics

• AoE Cards: Cards that affect multiple targets, such as Hellfire or Shadow Nova, apply their effects to all applicable opponents. For instance, if an AoE spell damages all enemy minions, it affects all enemy players’ minions on the battlefield​​.
• AoE spells do not distinguish between opponents, so strategic timing is crucial to avoid leaving yourself open to retaliation.

Simultaneous Deaths and Resolution

• When AoE spells or other simultaneous effects cause multiple minions or magics to die across different players:
  1. Active Player’s Effects Resolve First: The active player resolves their effects first, one by one from left to right.
  2. Opponents’ Effects Next: Once the active player resolves their deaths, each opponent resolves their own effects in clockwise order, from left to right on their field.
  3. State Updates: After each minion’s death is resolved, update the game state before resolving the next effect.

Victory Conditions

• Last Player Standing: The game continues until all players except one have their Heroes reduced to 0 health. The last player standing wins the Deathmatch.
• Deck Exhaustion: If a player runs out of cards and cannot draw, that player is eliminated. The game continues until only one player remains​​.

Additional Considerations for Deathmatch Mode

Deathmatch (Free-for-All)

1. Communication and Alliances:
   • In a Free-for-All Deathmatch, players are free to negotiate temporary alliances to gang up on a stronger player or divide the battlefield. However, these alliances are purely tactical and non-binding, meaning betrayal is always an option. You might ally with a player for a few rounds, only to strike at them once the advantage swings in your favor. This dynamic adds a layer of diplomacy and manipulation to the game, where your words can be as powerful as your cards.
2. Focus Fire:
   • Targeting a single opponent to weaken them early on can be a strong strategy, particularly if they pose a significant threat to your victory. However, in Deathmatch, focusing your firepower on one player may leave you vulnerable to the other participants. If you focus too much attention on one player, the remaining players could gang up on you in return, creating a delicate balance of offensive and defensive play.
3. Scalability Beyond 4 Players:

Deathmatch can accommodate more than four players, turning it into a truly epic multiplayer experience. With 5, 6, or even more players, the battlefield becomes chaotic, with shifting alliances and multiple targets. However, keep in mind that larger games will extend the match duration significantly, as players will need to manage multiple threats and plan for an ever-changing game state. Be prepared for long and intense sessions, where endurance and adaptability become key to survival.