Line Choice Trading Card Game

1. Truck Card Guidelines

Trucks are the core of the deck. They must follow the Stat Range Proposal to prevent "Power Creep."

• Stat Ceiling: No non-Unique truck should exceed a combined total of 15 (Articulation + Torque) without external Part buffs.

• Momentum Logic:

  • Low Cost (1-2): "Daily Drivers." High Articulation (5+) to survive Green Trails, but needs Parts to clear anything higher.

  • Mid Cost (3-5): "Weekend Warriors." Balanced stats. Usually includes one keyword like [Lockers] (Spend 1 Momentum for +2 Torque this turn).

  • High Cost (6+): "Dedicated Rigs." Low Articulation but massive Torque (8+). High risk of Technical Failure.

• The "Unique" Exception: Only one Unique card per deck. These can break the 15-stat ceiling but must cost 10 Momentum to play.
   

2. Obstacle Card Guidelines

Obstacles define the "Trail" (the field of play). They are categorized by their Difficulty Rating (DR).
 

Trail Type Difficulty Rating (DR) Elevation Points (EP)Special Rules

Green1 – 3 |1 - 2 EP No Technical Failure checks.

Blue4 – 7 | 3 - 5 EP Standard Technical Failure rules apply.

Black Diamond 8 – 11 | 6 - 8 EP [Body Damage]: If you fail to clear, discard 1 attached Part.

The Summit12+ |10+ EP [Total Loss]: If you fail to clear, discard the Truck.
 

3. Part & Support Card Guidelines

Parts are permanent attachments; Support cards are one-time effects.

• Tires & Suspension: Focus on Articulation (+1 to +3).

• Engine & Gearing: Focus on Torque (+1 to +3).

• Recovery Gear (Winch/Traction Boards): These should not buff stats. Instead, they provide "Insurance," such as: "Negate a 'Stuck' status once per game."

• Line Choice Cards (Tactics): These must be high-risk/high-reward.

  • Example: "Full Send"—Gain +5 Torque, but the Truck is discarded at the end of the phase regardless of success.

4. Keywords & Mechanics

To keep the game simple yet tactical, use these standard keywords on cards:

• [Lockers]: Spend Momentum for a temporary Torque boost.

• [Spotter]: Allows a second Truck to add 50% of its Torque to the active Truck's attempt.

• [Redline]: A state where a player has no cards left in their deck (Lose condition).

• [Bypass]: Move an Obstacle to the bottom of the deck and draw a new one; costs 5 Momentum.

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In Line Choice TCG, Torque serves as your primary "Attack" or "Power" stat. It represents the mechanical force your vehicle can apply to overcome the physical challenges of the trail.

Here is how it functions within the game mechanics:

1. Overcoming Obstacles

The primary use of Torque is to clear Obstacle Cards. Every Obstacle has a Difficulty Rating (DR).

• To "clear" an obstacle and earn Elevation Points (EP), your Truck’s total Torque (Base Torque + Part Buffs + Support Bonuses) must be equal to or higher than the Obstacle's DR.

• If your Torque is lower than the DR, your truck becomes Stuck and cannot return to the Garage until rescued.

2. Risk and "Technical Failures"

When you commit high Torque to tackle difficult obstacles (like Black Diamond or The Summit), you trigger a risk check:

• The Roll: When attacking high-tier obstacles, you roll a die or flip a coin.

• Failure: Rolling a 1 (or Tails) results in a "Snap a Shaft." Your truck loses all Torque for one turn, usually resulting in a failed attempt or becoming Stuck.

• Success: Rolling a 6 (or Heads) represents a "Clean Line," allowing you to gain double EP.

3. Boosting Torque

Since higher-tier obstacles require massive Torque (often 8–12+), players must use the Momentum resource system to boost this stat:

• [Lockers] Ability: Many Tier 2 and Tier 3 trucks allow you to spend Momentum to gain a temporary Torque boost for that turn.

• Line Choice Cards: Tactical cards like "Full Send" can double your Torque for a single phase, though they often come with the risk of discarding the truck afterward.

4. Strategic Archetypes

• Tier 3 (Rock Bouncers): These are built specifically for Torque. They have lower Articulation (stability), meaning they are more likely to suffer a Technical Failure, but they are the only rigs that can naturally hit the 10+ Torque needed for late-game wins.

• Tier 1 (Stock): These have very low Torque (1-3) and are designed to "farm" easy Green Trails where the DR is low, avoiding the need for high-power maneuvers.
  
  
  Articulation
  
  In the Line Choice TCG, Articulation acts as your vehicle's Stability or Defensive stat. While Torque is used to overcome obstacles, Articulation is what keeps your truck upright and functional when things get technical.
  
  Here is how it is used mechanically:
  
   Stability against "Technical Failures"
   

• When you attempt to clear Blue or Black Diamond obstacles, you are often required to roll for a Technical Failure.

• High Articulation trucks (like Tier 1 and Tier 2 rigs) are "stable." In future card expansions, certain Articulation thresholds can allow you to ignore or re-roll a "Snap a Shaft" result.

• Low Articulation trucks (like Tier 3 Rock Bouncers) are powerful but "stiff," making them much more likely to fail these checks if they don't have the right Part Cards attached.
  
  
  2. Resistance to "The Stuck"
   

• If your truck becomes Stuck, Articulation represents its ability to find traction and work its way out.

• Some Support Cards allow a "Self-Recovery" check. You compare your Articulation stat against the Obstacle’s Difficulty. If your Articulation is high enough, you can return to the Garage without needing a Winch or a "Bump" from another player.
  
  
  3. Protecting Parts (Body Damage)
   

• On Black Diamond trails, failing an obstacle results in [Body Damage], which forces you to discard an attached Part.

• Rigs with an Articulation stat of 8 or higher can often "absorb" the damage, allowing you to keep your Parts attached even if you fail the Torque check to clear the line.
  
  
  4. Synergy with Tires & Suspension
   

• Articulation is the primary stat modified by Tire Cards (like 40" Stickies).

• Since the Re-gearing card I designed earlier gives you a -1 Articulation penalty, you must balance your build with high-articulation suspension parts to ensure your truck doesn't become too "stiff" to survive the trail.
  
  
  Strategy: The "Built Not Bought" Combo
   

• How to build a "Technical Crawler" archetype:

• The Base: Start with a Tier 2: Trail Built rig (Base Articulation: 7).

• The Buff: Attach Long Travel Suspension. Your Articulation is now 11 (Off the charts!).

• The Synergy: Even if your Torque is low and you get Stuck, your high Articulation ensures you can stay on the trail without losing your expensive parts to [Body Damage].
  
   

• In the Line Choice TCG, Articulation serves as your safety net. While Torque determines if you can move forward, Articulation determines if you do so without breaking your rig.

• Here is the mechanical breakdown of how Articulation interacts with Technical Failures:
  
  
  1. The Stability Threshold
   

• When attempting Blue (Difficulty 4–7) or Black Diamond (Difficulty 8–11) obstacles, you are forced to check for a Technical Failure (the "Snap a Shaft" rule).

• The Check: You must roll a d6. On a 1, you suffer a failure and lose all Torque for the turn.

• Articulation Resistance: If your Truck’s Articulation is equal to or higher than the Obstacle's Difficulty Rating (DR), you gain [Stability].

• Effect: You may re-roll a failed Technical Failure check once per turn.
  
  
  2. High-Risk vs. Low-Risk Tiers
   

• The relationship between Articulation and failure creates two distinct playstyles based on the Character Tiers:

• High Articulation (Tier 1 & 2): These rigs usually have Articulation in the 6–8 range. They can "walk" over Blue trails with almost zero risk because their stability matches the trail's difficulty, essentially nullifying the chance of a "Snap a Shaft" result.

• Low Articulation (Tier 3): Rock Bouncers have massive Torque but lower Articulation (5–7 range). When they hit a Black Diamond trail (DR 10), they cannot meet the Stability Threshold. They must "Full Send," meaning they have no safety net—if they roll a 1, the high torque causes a mechanical failure immediately.
  
  
  3. Absorbing [Body Damage]
   

• On Black Diamond trails, even if you pass your Technical Failure roll, you might still fail the Torque check.

• The Fail: If your Torque < Obstacle DR, you are Stuck.

• Articulation Save: If your Articulation is 8 or higher, your suspension "soaks up" the bad line. You still become Stuck, but you do not suffer [Body Damage] (you don't have to discard an attached Part Card).