Seeker's Quest - LDS Game

A New Card in a New Set!

2022-10-16T17:16:00.003-07:00

I have some very exciting news to share!

We have been working diligently on the next set of Seeker's Quest cards! A Book of Mormon set! This set will be called "The Title of Liberty" and it will be based on all of the exciting missionary and battle stories from Mosiah through Alma, and on past Helaman into 4 Nephi when Christ himself comes to America!

We've contracted out a lot of the images and here is a spoiler/sample of some of the new cards, one at a time:

Verse: BoM, Alma 17:34

Text: “And he.. stood to contend with those who stood by the waters of Sebus; and they were in number not a few”

Verse Rule: None
Sacrifice Cost: 1
Markers: Strength, Righteous Character: Ammon
Icons: (S)(H)

I always loved this story as a kid. It was cool and exciting, and I think the artist her has captured the excitement and danger of Ammon defending the King's sheep.

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Card of the week: Fasting and Service

2017-06-07T07:52:00.000-07:00

Verse: OT, Isaiah 58:6

Text: “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens...”

Verse Rule: ABILITY: Add (S)(S) if you sacrificed another Fasting verse to play this verse.
Sacrifice Cost: 2
Markers: Life, Fasting
Icons: (L)

When I first made this card, I thought about a couple of other scriptures. One is in Matthew 6:16. It says, “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”

Another is: D&C 59:14-15. That one says this: “Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.

“ And inasmuch as ye do these things with thanksgiving, with cheerful hearts and countenances, not with much laughter, for this is sin, but with a glad heart and a cheerful countenance—”

The whole point of fasting is that it should be a joyful gift. Part of making it a joyful gift is doing service while fasting. Give up your own food and comfort, and take care of someone else’s needs. That includes, obviously, a generous fast offering, but it can also be more direct service and gifts of time and effort.

This verse is also in the fasting deck that I made and offer. The idea of the deck is to have 3 copies of each other fasting verse, and other verses that help return verses from the discard. In that way, you can accelerate your own icons to complete books and receive blessings!

This verse may be found in the Learning Game set, the Fasting Deck, and the Scripture Mastery Set!

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Card of the week: Future Perfect

2017-05-23T08:35:00.000-07:00

Verse: GConf April 2017, Dieter F Uchtdorf, Sun AM Sess

Text: “God knows you perfectly. He loves you perfectly. He knows what your future holds.”

Verse Rule: DISCARD 2: Seek any verse, then end your turn.
Sacrifice Cost: 2
Markers: Faith
Icons: FF

This “verse” is one of the Latter-Day voices set, and the text is taken from General Conference of April 2017. I loved hearing this reassuring quote in conference. It’s a chance to look forward into the future with faith that Heavenly Father loves me and has all prepared for me. While I still need to my part, it’s good to know that the path is there.

With that in mind, I made this verse able to reach “into the future” and pull forward another verse from your deck. This allows you to pull one of the verses needed for a combo to your hand.

This is an amazing ability, so I had to make sure that it had some limitations. First of all, It’s a DISCARD 2 rule. That means that you’ll have to discard a total of three verses to be able to seek one. Second, you’ll end your turn immediately after the play, so you’ll have to wait a turn to be able to use the verse you just drew.

All of that means that it’s a Power Verse. It’s a great one to include in just about an combo-based deck!

This verse may be found in the Latter Day Voices Booster Pack!

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Card of the Week - The City on the Hill

2017-05-16T12:52:00.001-07:00

Verse: Matthew 5:14

Text: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”

Verse Rule: Unique, ALSO, ABILITY: When you play any other verse, you may set another chosen verse into the same chapter.
Sacrifice Cost: 3
Markers: Pearl
Icons: Pearl

This scripture is a great one, where Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, tells his followers to go out and do good, and flavor the world (verse 13) or light it up (verse 15,16). The point is summed up in verse 16, to “glorify your Father which is in Heaven”. It’s interesting that we increase God’s glory by serving his children.

This card is a powerful one, that can really speed up your chapter-building. You play it, and from that point on, you set a verse every time you play a verse. That can accelerate things quickly.

To keep things from getting too out of hand, however, we made it unique, so that it can’t be played again. So, if your opponent plays it, close out the chapter it’s in as soon as you can, or play something that removes verses from the tabletop!

This verse may be found in the Scripture Mastery Set!

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Card of the week: Show Me My Weakness

2017-05-07T08:58:00.000-07:00

Verse: Ether 12:27

Text: “And if men come unto me, I will show unto them their weakness.”

Verse Rule: You may reveal 2 other chosen verses with a sacrifice cost of 0 or 1 instead of sacrificing to play this verse.
Sacrifice Cost: 1
Markers: Trials
Icons: Faith Trials

Here's a Book of Mormon verse this week!
This verse goes on to assure us that when we humble ourselves, our weaknesses turn into strengths. This is one that has helped me many times throughout my life as I’ve faced my own weaknesses and challenges.

In game, this one allows you to drop a card for free, which can be a nice move in the play phase. That’s especially if you’re about to close out a book and receive some verses from your blessing stack!

This verse may be found in the Learning Game set and the Scripture Mastery Set!

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Latter Day Voices, New Verses for April Conference!

2017-04-04T09:08:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of new verses for the "Latter Day Voices" set, from this past General Conference.

This first one is from my favorite talk, about how we should celebrate the diverse group that the church is. I love to listen Elder Holland. He always gives me hope.

This other one is from the Priesthood session. It was about serving in your church callings.

Be sure to like us on Facebook!

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Verse Database: Looking Deep

2016-06-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

Verse Database: Looking Deep
ID: PRO-SM-014 BSC SM2014 Learning

Verse: OT, 1 Samuel 16:7

Text: “...For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

Verse Rule: EFFECT: Look at the top five verses of a chosen player's deck. Restack them on his/her deck in any order.
Sacrifice Cost: 2
Markers: Faith
Icons: F

It was kind of tricky finding an image for this one, but I’m really pleased with the one I found. It’s a pic of a person’s chest, or heart, but it’s not a drawing or an abstraction, but includes the dress and style of the person as well. We look at the face, the shirt, the suit, but God looks past that.

Combos, tips: It’s actually a pretty powerful effect. You get to “look deeper”. In play, that means that you can know what’s coming, or you can bury an opponent’s good verse, or bring less valuable ones to the front.
Rulings:
Errata:

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Verse Database: Joshua's Stand

2016-06-01T10:24:00.000-07:00

Verse Database: Joshua's Stand
ID: PRO-SM-013 BSC SM2014 Learning

Verse: OT, Joshua 24:15

Text: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Verse Rule: EFFECT: Seek: "Serve/Service/Servant"
Sacrifice Cost: 1
Markers: Strength
Icons: S F T

This is another really good seek verse. It could play really well in a preconstructed deck, as long as you make sure there are a lot of “service” texts available, like Helping Man, Helping God, or Which to Serve?

Combos, tips:
Rulings:
Errata: Verse Rule previously read: EFFECT: Keyword: "Serve/Service/Servant"

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Verse Database: Know the Law

2016-06-01T10:11:00.003-07:00

Verse Database: Know the Law
ID: PRO-SM-012 BSC SMLegacy Learning

Verse: OT, Joshua 1:8

Text: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth”

Verse Rule: EFFECT: You may search your deck for another chosen verse with a "Law" Marker, and add it to your hand.
Sacrifice Cost: 1
Markers: Strength, Wisdom, Law
Icons: S W

The early books of the Old Testament are often referred to as “The Law and The Prophets”. This verse is one of the great Prophets, Joshua, declaring the importance of the Law.

Many years and lives later, the Law would become twisted and overly important, and Jesus would fulfil the law and teach its deeper meaning.

Combos, tips: This verse could be an important part of a Law deck, allowing you to seek another Law verse. See: Love Thy Neighbor, The Ninth Commandment, others
Rulings:
Errata:

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Verse Database: Choose Wisely

2016-06-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

Verse Database: Choose Wisely
ID: PRO-SM-011 BSC SMLegacy Learning

Verse: OT, Deuteronomy 7:4

Text: “For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you”

Verse Rule: ABILITY: If this verse is in a non-Trials chapter, any opponent with a verse in that chapter must discard a chosen verse from his/her hand in his/her end phase.
Sacrifice Cost: 2
Markers: Trials
Icons: T

This verse was a little bit difficult to express in game terms. I finally decided that it would cause ongoing troubles in the form of the discard.

Combos, tips:
Rulings:
Errata:

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Verse Database: Love Thy Neighbor

2016-05-30T20:46:00.000-07:00

Verse Database: Love Thy Neighbor
ID: PRO-SM-010 BSC SM Legacy

Verse: OT, Leviticus 19:18

Text: “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself:”

Verse Rule: During your turn, you may give this verse from your hand to another chosen player's hand. You may then set one chosen verse from your hand.
Sacrifice Cost: 1
Markers: Strength, Law
Icons: S L

In the making of the game, we tried to a number of things that would make Seeker’s Quest be both cooperative and competitive. We wanted to reward actions that benefited your opponents by giving you benefit as well. This verse is an example of that.

Combos, tips:
Rulings:
Errata:

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Verse Database: God and Moses

2016-05-30T20:37:00.003-07:00

Verse Database: God and Moses
ID: PRO-SM-009 BSC Learning SM Legacy

Verse: OT, Exodus 33:11

Text: “And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend”

Verse Rule: EFFECT: Seek: "Man/Men"
Sacrifice Cost: 1
Markers: Histories
Icons: H L

We, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints believe that God has always spoken with prophets. He did so in ancient days, and he does again, now.

Combos, tips: This is a great verse to use to fetch up The Work of God or The Glory of God. If you have both of these in a chapter, you can close it up as a book, regardless of the icons. Having a verse like this one to get those two verses into your hand can speed up that process!
Rulings:
Errata: Revised, verse rule previously read: EFFECT: Keyword: "Man/Men"

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Verse Database: The Ninth Commandment

2016-05-30T20:29:00.000-07:00

Verse Database: The Ninth Commandment
ID: PRO-SM-008 BSC SM2014 Learning

Verse: OT, Exodus 20:16

Text: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

Verse Rule:
Sacrifice Cost: 1
Markers: Strength, Law
Icons: S T

Here’s another verse from the 10 Commandments. It’s a Law verse, because, of course, Moses is The Lawgiver. There are other verses (like Know the Law) that let you seek or set Law verses, so it could be a good basis for a deck!

Combos, tips:
Rulings:
Errata:

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Verse Database: The Sixth Commandment

2016-05-30T08:51:00.001-07:00

Verse Database: The Sixth Commandment
ID: PRO-SM-007 BSC SM2014

Verse: OT, Exodus 20:13

Text: “Thou shalt not kill”

Verse Rule: DISCARD:Negate the effect of a chosen verse that removes one verse from the tabletop. OR, ABILITY: No verse effect can remove a “Law” verse from the table
Sacrifice Cost: 2
Markers: Strength, Law
Icons: S

This verse’s rule keeps an opponent from “killing” one of your key verses. This would be a good one for a Law deck, with a lot of the other 10 Commandments.

Combos, tips:
Rulings:
Errata:

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Verse Database: The Fifth Commandment

2016-05-30T08:47:00.001-07:00

Verse Database: The Fifth Commandment
ID: PRO-SM-006 BSC SM2014 Learning

Verse: OT, Exodus 20:12

Text: “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land”

Verse Rule:
Sacrifice Cost: 1
Markers: Life, Law
Icons: S L

I usually quote this one at my kids. Most of the time, one of my sons is getting ornery at me, and talking back, and I’ll say, “Honour thy father and thy mother...” then I pause and get more menacing... “That thy days may be LONG in the land the Lord thy God giveth thee.”

It usually doesn’t work, but I think it’s funny.

Combos, tips:
Rulings:
Errata:

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Verse Database: A Holy Nation

2016-05-29T14:11:00.001-07:00

Verse Database: A Holy Nation
ID: PRO-SM-005 BSC SM2014 Learning

Verse: OT, Exodus 19:6

Text: “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.”

Verse Rule: EFFECT: You may set another chosen Priesthood verse from your hand
Sacrifice Cost: 1
Markers: Life, Priesthood
Icons: S L

As The Lord was instituting his law with Moses, he clearly saw a need for organization. He established those that were authorized to act in His name. This has always been through the Priesthood.

There are a number of verses with the Priesthood marker. If you’re building a deck and using this verse, have a few more of them, and several copies each. That way, when you play this verse, you’ll likely have one in your hand to drop.

Combos, tips:
Rulings:
Errata:

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Verse Database: A Peculiar Treasure

2016-05-29T14:05:00.000-07:00

Verse Database: A Peculiar Treasure ID: PRO-SM-004 BSC SM2014 Learning Verse: OT, Exodus 19:5 Text: “...ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: ” Verse Rule: EFFECT: Draw a verse Sacrifice Cost: 1 Markers: Life Icons: L Those that believe have always been a bit peculiar from those around them. In this verse The Lord describes them as a “Peculiar Treasure”. So, if you play this verse, you can draw another verse. Combos, tips: Rulings: Errata: Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Verse Database: Joseph's Temptation

2016-05-29T13:56:00.002-07:00

Verse Database: Joseph's Temptation
ID: PRO-SM-003 BSC SM2014 Learning

Verse: OT, Genesis 39:9

Text: “Thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

Verse Rule:
Sacrifice Cost: 1
Markers: Trials
Icons: H TT

This is a great story. The art for the card came from a classic painting of Joseph running and Potiphar’s wife grabbing his cloak. Not only was the temptation a trial for Joseph, but it started his time in prison, another trial! In play, this verse will give you two Trials icons for only a 1-drop sacrifice cost.

Combos, tips:
Rulings:
Errata:

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Verse Database: Man and Wife

2016-05-29T13:50:00.000-07:00

Verse Database: Man and Wife
ID: PRO-SM-002 BSC SM2014 Learning

Verse: OT, Genesis 2:24

Text: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

Verse Rule:
Sacrifice Cost: 1
Markers: Histories
Icons: H L

Combos, tips:
Rulings:
Errata:

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Verse Database: The First Man

2016-05-29T13:47:00.000-07:00

Verse Database: The First Man
ID: PRO-SM-001 BSC SM2014

Verse: OT, Genesis 1:27

Text: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

Verse Rule: DISCARD: Set up to two chosen verses from your hand
Sacrifice Cost: 2
Markers: Histories, Event
Icons: HH L

This one is based on the idea that God created Adam and Eve. In like manner, you get to set two verses into a chapter. It’s a good way to get a few additional icons into a chapter without a lot of cost!

The cool thing about this is that you can do it in a gap, even in an opponent’s turn. Is he or she about to close up a book that you have no verses in? Drop a couple! Maybe he or she has more icons in it than you do. You can even it up or surpass, and get the extra blessing!

Or maybe your opponent ends his turn, and you’re about to start with too many verses in your hand! Yikes! You don’t want to add those to your blessing stack. In the gap between turns, discard this one, set two more, and suddenly you’ve dropped three verses from your hand, and you’re under the 7-verse limit!

Combos, tips:
Rulings:
Errata:

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Title of Liberty Playtesting is Underway!

2016-05-26T11:30:00.001-07:00

I've been very excited! The first four playtest games of Seeker's Quest - Title of Liberty have been quite successful and very revealing! The first tests have been using only TOL verses in randomized decks. Once I feel that the set is functional, consistent, and unbroken, then we'll do some testing with mixed decks (including verses from the Scripture Mastery set).

Since there's not as many draw or seek verses in this set, the play is very different. Also, a lot of the verse rules play well within specific stories, so I think they cater to preconstructed decks moreso than the SM set. All of that tends to lend itself to play that's more focused on icons and books than on combos so far.

We'll see how that plays out once we get into testing with precon decks. I'm particularly interested in how a battle deck will play out. I'm a bit afraid that it might be broken in a precon deck. We'll have to see! That's what platesting is for, right?

If anyone is interested in cutting out some cards and trying it at home, I'd sure appreciate it! Contact me at mrkhmusic@yahoo.com, or leave a comment below, and I'll set you up!

In the meantime, at the left, click to follow our facebook page!

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Doom and Redemption!

2016-05-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

So, this week, I was all excited to start working on the Title of Liberty cardset, printing them out and getting them cut and sleeved, ready for playtesting. By the way, if you want to help playtest, just email me!

Then my son and I were talking about decks from the Scripture Mastery set, and he started wondering out loud if he could make a One-Turn-Kill deck. In Yu-Gi-Oh, that's where you kill off your opponent in, obviously, one turn. In this case, it would be a One-Turn-Win, since nobody dies in Seeker's Quest.

I thought, No way. It can't happen. I've set all of the verses where you receive blessings to have high sacrifice costs. But he thought that he could get enough draw verses going to overcome that. I was still skeptical, but I was, honestly, scared.

Well, to shorten the long story, he did it. It was a wicked deck, filled with verses that allowed him to draw blessings, and verses that allowed him to draw verses, both from his deck and the discard. Three games in a row, he won before I even got a chance to freeplay my first verse.

In the game design world, this is known as "Breaking the Game". I would have been thrilled if we had discovered this in the early playtesting phases of making the game. Instead, it came to light after the cards were designed and already available to the public! Yikes!

Seriously, I was quite dejected.

But, soon after, I regrouped, and he and I started talking about ways to "nerf" the verses in question.

Let me explain that. In his video/online gaming circles, if a game company makes a facet of a game weaker or harder to use, it has been "nerfed". To understand this word, think of a real sword, and next to it, a Nerf sword. That should clear up any confusion.

So, we had to nerf the blessing draw verses, and we did that by setting it up so that after receiving the blessing, you end your turn. That way, the other guy gets to play. We also nerfed the verse draws, so that they're not so many, or for greater cost. And, the few verses that pull from the discard, like "Judgement Day" don't pull quite so many, so easily.

That meant that I had to rework the graphics of the verses, and re-upload them into The Game Crafter's website. It took me a while to do all that, but it's done, now. Anyone who buys any of the Seeker's Quest products (Full games, boosters, or pre-con decks) will all contain the new versions of the verses.

There are a few of you who have bought the game already, and for you, if you contact me, and tell me which game set you bought, I'll make up a special booster with the right cards and get it sent off to you.

Here are a few of the "new" verses:

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

The Title of Liberty

2016-04-15T22:06:00.002-07:00

I'm really excited!

I've been working on a first draft of a whole new set of Seeker's Quest verses!

This set is tentatively titled "The Title of Liberty" and will cover the books of Alma, Helaman, 3rd Nephi, and maybe 4th Nephi as well.

There are some fun new mechanics! One is called "Battle". When a battle is activated, your opponent puts verses from his/her deck into his/her discard. If that happens enough, you can cripple your opponents. Remember, unlike Magic, or Yu-Gi-Oh, having an empty deck doesn't lose you the game. However, with nothing to draw, you're out of resources, and it will be difficult to carry on!

Another mechanic is the "Cross Reference". A cross reference verse will mention another verse. If you have that referenced verse in your hand when you trigger the Cross Reference effect, you can set it immediately.

We're also exploring the markers, with some new ones, like Righteous and Unrighteous Characters, and Locations. The "Wartime" marker boost the Battle effect.

So, what does all this mean?

Well, first I have to finish the first draft of the verses. I'm making them all on a big spreadsheet. Then, when I've got them done (I'm shooting for about 125 finished cards), then I'll flow the spreadsheet into a form and print out some prototype cards. These are the ugly ones, without graphics. Then, I'll tediously cut them apart and sleeve them.

Then the real work begins! Playtesting! We'll test the set in isolation, meaning using randomized decks only of the new set. We may find some problems that we'll have to fix. Then, we'll mix the new verses in with the original Scripture Mastery set, and test that mix, using random decks. Finally, we'll make some decks and test those against each other, using both sets.

If you're interested in playtesting, just let me know by emailing me at mrkhmusic@yahoo.com, and we'll get you in on the party!

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

2016-04-03T19:40:00.001-07:00

Card of the week: Who Are You?

Verse: GConf Apr 2016, Thomas S Monson, Pst Sess

Text: “You are a child of promise. You are a man of might. You are a son of God.”

Verse Rule: EFFECT: Draw a Verse
Sacrifice Cost: 1
Markers: Priesthood, Wisdom
Icons: W, L

In recent years, I’ve had a lot of fun creating a booster of verses with quotes from conference talks. I’ve posted them from time to time here to show, but until last week, they weren’t available for purchase. Now they are! https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-voices-of-the-latter-days-boosters

This verse is from our most recent Priesthood session. It’s quite an inspirational line. It’s good to remember where we came from and who we are. The inspiration is played out in drawing another verse.

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.

Card of the week: Write Our Stories

2015-11-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

Verse: BoM, 2 Nephi 25:23

Text: “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ.”

Verse Rule: DISCARD: Mastery
Sacrifice Cost: 1
Markers: Histories
Icons: W, H, L

In Evangelical Christian theological circles, it’s often believed that Mormons are not Christian. Whether or not that’s true depends on what you mean by “Christian”. I don’t see how someone can look at this verse, or another one close to it, in verse 25, and think that we’re not Christian.

In reality, it simply means that even though we all strive to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, if I don’t believe the same things about Jesus that you do, then you can label me “not a true Christian”.

Oh, well...

The verse rules of this card were actually inspired by a mechanic from Magic: the Gathering. In that game, if someone plays a card that you don’t like, and you have a card with the “counter” ability, you can make your opponent’s play fizzle, and his card is discarded.

It’s a way to either keep your opponent from getting too much traction, or to prevent the play of a really powerful card.

In Seeker’s Quest, however, we do that with a twist: The DISCARD: Mastery mechanic! It’s a DISCARD ability, so you can trigger it in someone else’s turn, when they play something. That also means that you have to discard your verse, so you can’t go doing it over and over, unless you have more verses with the ability. “Mastery” means that your opponent has to be able to quote the text of the verse he’s attempting to play in order to successfully play it!

It means that when you’re about to make a key play, you’ll want to read over your verses in case someone goes all Mastery on you!

Seeker’s Quest! It’s the most fun you can have with your scriptures! To get the game, and get in on the fun, go to https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/seeker-s-quest-scripture-mastery-set

Mark has a lifelong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (the Mormon Church). Mark also has other sites and blogs, including MarkHansenMusic.com and his Dutch Oven blog.