Davi Figueiredo
Game Designer
Sums
Sums is a card game where players play cards with points and abilities in three columns, the objective of the game is to obtain more points than the opponent in two of the three columns, to do this they use both the points on the cards and their powerful effects.
Solo Project
Details
It is recommended to read the instructions to better understand the details
Card balancing
To ensure that all cards have the same level of utility, the “card value” is calculated by adding the number of points on the card to its ability. This card value is usually around 6.
Has 6 points.
Therefore it reaches the "card value" of 6 naturally
Has 5 points.
The ability to draw a card adds a small increment to the "value of the card" and makes it unique, it is especially advantageous in the early game
Has 4 points.
When choosing a space with a "6" card, it takes 3 points from the opponent and the "card value" of the 4 can potentially become 7
Has 3 points.
When placing another 3 on the board the "card value" becomes 6 and the board is occupied more quickly
Has 2 points.
The only card that does not approach the value of 6, but is still extremely valuable for being able to allocate points in full columns
Has 1 point.
When giving 3 points to two cards the "card value" of 1 becomes 7, but this is not guaranteed, it is still possible to have the "card value" of 4 if it only affects one other card
Has no points.
Can ruin the opponent's field by taking away any card they have played
Game's Learning curve
Sums players go through several learning stages, and although it is the same game, matches between experienced players differ significantly from matches between beginners.
A beginner player is still learning how to play and therefore, the focus of their game is on using the cards in the best way they can. As they learn the best use for each card, the focus of the game shifts. Since Sums has the same deck for both players, they can begin to predict the cards their opponent will play based on reading the board and counting the number of cards in their opponent's hand and deck.
With 9 card spaces and 14 cards in total, it is possible to end the game without playing 5 cards from the deck. However, if a player plays a 3, a 2, or if their opponent plays a 0, the number of cards remaining may vary.
In short, the Sums game is all about strategy, prediction and adaptation, as players progress through their learning journey.