Let's make crappy games with AI

I created a simple cosmic horror board game that uses a deck of cards! I may have used the term "Fields of Fire" in the prompt. I then had the AI format it in BBcode . It's kind of weak, but does give me some ideas. Ideas that I will never follow up on, because that would require sustained concentration.


VOID STALKERS

A Game of Survival Horror in Deep Space

In the suffocating darkness between stars, they hunt. You are the last survivors of the research vessel Hermes, desperately searching for escape pods while nightmarish creatures stalk you through the ship's twisted corridors. Every shadow hides death. Every decision may be your last.

COMPONENTS

• Standard 52-card playing deck
• 5 six-sided dice
• Pencil and paper for each player
• 30-60 minutes to play

OVERVIEW

One player controls the Void Stalkers, alien predators that have infiltrated the ship. The other 1-3 players control the Survivors, crew members trying to escape. The game unfolds on a map created during play, with cards representing locations and resources, while dice determine the outcome of actions and encounters.

SETUP

1. Separate the Deck:

• Remove all face cards (Jacks, Queens, Kings)
• Set aside the four Aces
• Shuffle the remaining number cards (2-10) to form the Location Deck

2. Assign Roles:

• One player becomes the Void Master (controlling the Stalkers)
• Other players become Survivors

3. Create Starting Zone:

• Place the Ace of Hearts face-up in the center of the table
• This is the Medical Bay where Survivors begin

4. Survivor Setup:

• Each Survivor draws one face card as their character
• Hearts = Medic (can heal)
• Diamonds = Engineer (can repair)
• Clubs = Security (better in combat)
• Spades = Navigator (better at movement)
• Each Survivor starts with 10 Health and 5 Oxygen

5. Void Master Setup:

• Void Master takes the remaining face cards as their Stalker Pool
• Each face card represents a different type of Stalker:
  • Jacks: Hunters (fast moving scouts)
  • Queens: Dreamers (psychic attackers)
  • Kings: Harvesters (powerful brutes)

GAMEPLAY

Turn Structure

Play proceeds in rounds, with Survivors taking their turns first, followed by the Void Master.

Survivor Turn

Each Survivor may perform 2 actions per turn:

1. Move: Explore a new location or move to an adjacent revealed location
2. Search: Look for supplies at current location
3. Use Item: Activate a found item for its effect
4. Rest: Recover 1d6 Health (cannot exceed starting value)
5. Attack: Attempt to damage a Stalker at your location
6. Repair: Attempt to fix a damaged system
7. Share: Give an item to another Survivor at your location

Void Master Turn

The Void Master has more fluid actions, based on a growing pool of "Shadow Points":

• Begin game with 3 Shadow Points
• Gain 1 additional Shadow Point each round
• Gain 1 Shadow Point whenever a Survivor takes damage

Actions and costs:

1. Spawn Stalker (3 Points): Place a Jack in a dark location
2. Move Stalker (1 Point): Move a Stalker to an adjacent location
3. Evolve Stalker (2 Points): Upgrade a Jack to a Queen or a Queen to a King
4. Attack (1 Point): Attack a Survivor in same location as a Stalker
5. Corrupt Location (2 Points): Turn a location dark
6. Shadow Veil (3 Points): No Survivors can Search next round

MOVEMENT & EXPLORATION

When a Survivor explores a new location:

1. Draw a card from the Location Deck
2. Place it adjacent to an existing location
3. Consult the Location Table to determine what is found

Location Table (Card Value)

• 2-3: Dark Corridor (always starts "dark")
• 4-5: Storage Room (can search twice)
• 6-7: Standard Corridor
• 8: Control Room (can repair systems here)
• 9: Power Node (can restore ship power here)
• 10: Escape Pod Bay (potential escape point)
• Ace: Special Location (Ace of Spades: Bridge, Ace of Clubs: Armory, Ace of Diamonds: Engineering)

Location States

Locations can exist in two states:

• Lit: Normal function
• Dark: Stalkers can spawn here and move more quickly; Survivors suffer -1 on all dice rolls

COMBAT

When a Survivor attacks a Stalker:

1. Roll three dice
2. Need at least two dice showing 4+ to hit
3. Security Survivors hit on 3+
4. Dark locations impose -1 penalty to all dice

Damage based on Stalker type:

• Jacks take 1 hit to defeat
• Queens take 2 hits to defeat
• Kings take 3 hits to defeat

When a Stalker attacks a Survivor:

1. Void Master rolls based on Stalker type:

• Jack: 3 dice, hits on 4+
• Queen: 4 dice, hits on 3+
• King: 5 dice, hits on 3+

2. Each success deals 1 damage to the Survivor
3. If a Survivor reaches 0 Health, they are captured (see Sacrifice rules)

SEARCHING

When a Survivor searches:

1. Draw a card from the Location Deck
2. Don't place it; instead check its value for what you find
3. Record the item on your character sheet
4. Return the card to the bottom of the Location Deck

Item Table (Card Value)

• 2-3: Nothing (empty container)
• 4: Stim Pack (restore 1d6 Health)
• 5: Oxygen Tank (restore full Oxygen)
• 6: Flare (turn a Dark location Lit)
• 7: Weapon (get +1 on Attack rolls)
• 8: Repair Kit (automatic success on one repair action)
• 9: Motion Sensor (peek at top card of Location Deck)
• 10: Emergency Beacon (can call for help from Bridge)

SHIP SYSTEMS

The ship has 4 critical systems, represented by the four Aces:

• Hearts (Medical): If repaired, all Survivors heal 1d6 Health
• Diamonds (Engineering): If repaired, restore 3 random Dark locations to Lit
• Clubs (Security): If repaired, all Survivors get +1 on Attack rolls for 3 rounds
• Spades (Navigation): If repaired, reveals location of nearest Escape Pod

To repair a system:

1. Be at the corresponding Ace location
2. Spend a Repair action
3. Roll 4 dice; need at least 3 showing 4+ (Engineers need only 2 successes)

OXYGEN

• Each Survivor starts with 5 Oxygen
• Lose 1 Oxygen when entering a Dark location
• If Oxygen reaches 0, lose 1 Health each turn until restored
• Can find Oxygen Tanks while Searching

WINNING THE GAME

Survivors Win By:

1. Escaping via Escape Pod (requires finding and activating one)
2. Calling for rescue from the Bridge (requires Emergency Beacon)
3. Destroying all Stalkers (very difficult)

Void Master Wins By:

1. Capturing all Survivors
2. Corrupting all major ship systems (all Aces become Dark)
3. Survivors run out of Oxygen and Health

SELF-SACRIFICE

When a Survivor reaches 0 Health, they are not eliminated immediately. Instead:

1. They are "captured" and the Void Master gains 3 Shadow Points
2. On their next turn, they may choose to self-destruct rather than be converted
3. To self-destruct, roll all 5 dice
4. If the total is 20+, the Survivor's heroic sacrifice:

• Destroys all Stalkers at their location
• Restores 3 Health to all other Survivors
• Provides a permanent +1 to all rolls for the remaining Survivors
• Their sacrifice will be remembered among the stars

THEMATIC ENCOUNTER TABLE

When a Stalker and Survivor meet in the same location, roll 1d6:

1. The Whispering Dark: "Its thoughts invaded yours, terrible visions of cosmic hunger." Survivor loses 1d6 Health and must flee to an adjacent location.

2. Shadow Dance: "You glimpse it only in fragments, as if reality itself bends around its form." Both Stalker and Survivor roll 3 dice; highest total deals 1 damage.

3. Cold Recognition: "Something in its eyes knows you, has always known you." Survivor is paralyzed for 1 turn unless they discard an item.

4. Void Echo: "Its scream resonates at frequencies that rattle your bones and cloud your thoughts." All Survivors at this location lose 1 Oxygen.

5. Hunting Ritual: "It toys with you, savoring your fear like fine wine." Stalker does not attack but gains +2 on its next attack.

6. Merciful Shadows: "For a moment, the darkness offers respite." Nothing happens; the Stalker moves to an adjacent location.

MAP CREATION

As the game progresses, you'll create a map of the ship using the cards. Here's how to arrange them:

Each card represents a location with the following properties:

• Card value determines the location type
• Card suit can influence events at that location
• Cards should be arranged in a grid pattern with space between them
• Mark dark locations with pencil shading on paper or by turning the card sideways

QUICK REFERENCE

Survivor Actions (2 per turn):

Move, Search, Use Item, Rest, Attack, Repair, Share

Void Master Actions (Shadow Point cost):

Spawn Stalker (3), Move Stalker (1), Evolve Stalker (2)
Attack (1), Corrupt Location (2), Shadow Veil (3)

Attack Success Thresholds:

Survivors need dice showing 4+ (3+ for Security)
Stalkers: Jacks 4+, Queens/Kings 3+

Health & Oxygen:

Start with 10 Health, 5 Oxygen
0 Health = Captured
0 Oxygen = Lose 1 Health per turn

I just need to generate some AI art and some STL files for printing the miniatures, then create the Kickstarter page.