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Hecatomb (card game)
Encyclopedia
Hecatomb was a collectible card game
created by Wizards of the Coast
, makers of the popular Magic: The Gathering
card game. The base set of 144 cards was released on August 18, 2005 at the annual Gen Con
Indy. The game is unique in its use of five-sided, stackable cards made of durable plastic as opposed to conventional paper. The original concept for the game is credited to Paul Barclay, Brandon Bozzi, Mike Elliott, Aaron Forsythe, and Robert Gutschera.
The first expansion, Last Hallow's Eve, was released on October 28, 2005, adding another 144 cards to the game. The expected theme of the expansion was the superstitions and myths about Halloween
, but it turned out to be more of the same themes from the base set.
The second expansion, Blanket of Lies, came out on February 24, 2006 and added 72 cards. Its theme is that of extraterrestrial
invasion. This was the last Hecatomb expansion released.
On May 24, 2006, Hecatomb was discontinued. One of the game's designers has unofficially cited the rising cost of oil
(used in the manufacture of the plastic
cards) as part of the reason for the discontinuation.
. Other endbringers have the same goal and you must battle for the right to bring about armageddon
. The person who ends the world gains power and moves on to another world to repeat the process.
The key new game mechanic in Hecatomb is the way abominations are constructed. Abominations are made up of from one to five minion cards, with the minions being stacked on top of each other. Each new minion is rotated as it is played onto an existing abomination. Because of the way the cards are constructed, with five sides and four transparent edges, the cards underneath can continue to be seen, and hence an abomination is a combination of all of their strengths and powers. Bonuses or special effects can be triggered when a minion of the correct color is played on top of the stack (based on the exposed trigger color of the minion which was previously on top).
When abominations fight each other, damage is dealt from the top to the bottom of the minion stack. It is thus possible to have an abomination be reduced in size without being completely killed by having its upper minions destroyed. This adds additional strategy considerations when building up abominations, as one can somewhat protect weaker minions by placing stronger minions above them.
Another mechanic which differs from Magic: The Gathering is the way in which any card can be played as a mana card, alleviating the need to have a certain percentage of cards which do nothing more than power other cards. This mechanic is also used in the Call of Cthulhu Collectible Card Game
.
Additionally, all cards have a doom type associated with them, represented both by card color and a small icon. This dooms are: Corruption, Deceit, Destruction, and Greed.
to the stories of H. P. Lovecraft
, though some are generic creations of the designers of the game. Many cards are of the Lovecraftian ("Outsiders") and Aztec
myth ("Aztecals") varieties.
Collectible card game
thumb|Players and their decksA collectible card game , also called a trading card game or customizable card game, is a game played using specially designed sets of playing cards...
created by Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
, makers of the popular Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
card game. The base set of 144 cards was released on August 18, 2005 at the annual Gen Con
Gen Con
Gen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming conventions in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, board games, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, non-collectible...
Indy. The game is unique in its use of five-sided, stackable cards made of durable plastic as opposed to conventional paper. The original concept for the game is credited to Paul Barclay, Brandon Bozzi, Mike Elliott, Aaron Forsythe, and Robert Gutschera.
Products and availability
The game was available for purchase in comic and hobby game oriented stores across the United States and internationally (but only in English), sold in Starter sets of 40 random cards (MSRP $12.99) and Booster packs of 13 additional cards (MSRP $4.99).The first expansion, Last Hallow's Eve, was released on October 28, 2005, adding another 144 cards to the game. The expected theme of the expansion was the superstitions and myths about Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
, but it turned out to be more of the same themes from the base set.
The second expansion, Blanket of Lies, came out on February 24, 2006 and added 72 cards. Its theme is that of extraterrestrial
Extraterrestrial life in popular culture
In popular cultures, "extraterrestrials" are life forms — especially intelligent life forms— that are of extraterrestrial origin .-Historical ideas:-Pre-modern:...
invasion. This was the last Hecatomb expansion released.
On May 24, 2006, Hecatomb was discontinued. One of the game's designers has unofficially cited the rising cost of oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
(used in the manufacture of the plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
cards) as part of the reason for the discontinuation.
Goal of the game
In the game, you play a powerful person called an endbringer. An endbringer's goal is to destroy the world by using creatures called abominations to reap the souls of others until he has enough power to bring about the apocalypseApocalypse
An Apocalypse is a disclosure of something hidden from the majority of mankind in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e. the veil to be lifted. The Apocalypse of John is the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament...
. Other endbringers have the same goal and you must battle for the right to bring about armageddon
Armageddon
Armageddon is, according to the Bible, the site of a battle during the end times, variously interpreted as either a literal or symbolic location...
. The person who ends the world gains power and moves on to another world to repeat the process.
Mechanics
Hecatomb shares a number of mechanics with Magic: The Gathering, including the concept of "tapping" mana cards to play other cards of the same color from, and the way attacking and blocking works (with unblocked attacks moving the attacker closer to victory).The key new game mechanic in Hecatomb is the way abominations are constructed. Abominations are made up of from one to five minion cards, with the minions being stacked on top of each other. Each new minion is rotated as it is played onto an existing abomination. Because of the way the cards are constructed, with five sides and four transparent edges, the cards underneath can continue to be seen, and hence an abomination is a combination of all of their strengths and powers. Bonuses or special effects can be triggered when a minion of the correct color is played on top of the stack (based on the exposed trigger color of the minion which was previously on top).
When abominations fight each other, damage is dealt from the top to the bottom of the minion stack. It is thus possible to have an abomination be reduced in size without being completely killed by having its upper minions destroyed. This adds additional strategy considerations when building up abominations, as one can somewhat protect weaker minions by placing stronger minions above them.
Another mechanic which differs from Magic: The Gathering is the way in which any card can be played as a mana card, alleviating the need to have a certain percentage of cards which do nothing more than power other cards. This mechanic is also used in the Call of Cthulhu Collectible Card Game
Call of Cthulhu Collectible Card Game
The Call of Cthulhu Collectible Card Game or Call of Cthulhu Living Card Game is a collectible card game marketed by Fantasy Flight Games. It is based on the fiction of the Cthulhu Mythos, primarily the writings of H. P. Lovecraft and Chaosium's Call of Cthulhu role-playing game...
.
Card types
Hecatomb features four different types of cards:- Minions - The hideous creatures of the game. Minions are stitched together to form abominations, which are then used to reap souls or defend against enemy reaping attempts.
- Fates - Occurrences. Fates represent curses, tricks, or other events. Fates have a one-time effect, after which they are discarded.
- Relics - Objects which have strange magical or technological powers. Relics have a continuing effect on the game world and stay in play until destroyed.
- Gods - Powerful deities from beyond, summoned to assist friendly forces or hinder the opposition. Gods typically have both a one-time effect and a continuous effect. Gods remain in play until destroyed, or until replaced with another god.
Additionally, all cards have a doom type associated with them, represented both by card color and a small icon. This dooms are: Corruption, Deceit, Destruction, and Greed.
Card sources
The cards in Hecatomb draw from a variety of sources from ancient mythMythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
to the stories of H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
, though some are generic creations of the designers of the game. Many cards are of the Lovecraftian ("Outsiders") and Aztec
Aztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
myth ("Aztecals") varieties.