Games - Shadowfist

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	Games - Shadowfist

Shadowfist is a collectable card game that was created by Robin Laws and Jose Garcia and released in 1995. It shares the same background as the Feng Shui role-playing game, which was also created by Laws and Garcia and released the following year. It represents the height of multiplayer asymmetrical strategic game design, and stands on the shoulders of games such as Cosmic Encounter, Dune by Avalon Hill, Magic: The Gathering and its direct predecessor, On The Edge.

Shadowfist was primarily inspired by Hong Kong action and wuxia films of the late 1980's and 1990's, and by action films in general. In the game various factions from across time battle for control of the world's Feng Shui sites in a conflict known as the "Secret War." Time travel takes place through an alternate dimension known as the Netherworld which opens to various junctures.. The current open junctures are A.D. 78. 1859, 1935, 2005, and 2065.

Factions

There are currently nine factions involved in the secret war. (with a 10th on the way!)

The Eaters of the Lotus are a cabal of evil eunuch sorcerers from ancient China who have usurped power in the Imperial court using black magic and demons.
The Architects of the Flesh are scientists from the future who have figured out how to combine magic and technology into a perverse new form of science called Arcanotechnology, which they use to convert captured demons into creatures known as abominations.
The Dragons are a rag-tag collection of mavericks and heroes from across time who've banded together to fight against evil and tyranny in the name of freedom and justice.
The Guiding Hand are a secret society composed of monks, revolutionaries, and martial artists who seek to drive all foreign influences out of China in 1859 and extend their vision of a world based on neo-Confucian principles across time.
The Ascended are animals who achieved human form long ago and who now control the world both in 1859 and 2005 from the heart of a vast conspiracy.
The Jammers are a loose organization of rebels, malcontents, anarchists, and cyborg monkeys. Originally from 2065, they believe that the only way to free humanity from tyranny and oppression is through the destruction of every feng shui site in existence.
The Four Monarchs are two brothers and two sisters who once ruled the world in an alternate timeline. Their version of reality was erased by the Ascended, forcing them into exile in the Netherworld.
The Seven Masters are a group of legendary warrior-monks who live in isolation and practice a philosophy of non-intervention, except in the most dire of situations.
The Purists are former scientists from the Architects of the Flesh who secretly took up the study of magic and combined it with their scientific knowledge to create a new and unusual form of sorcery known as Paradox Magic. Having recently lost their stronghold in the future, they've quietly re-established themselves in 1935.

In Shadowfist, power comes from attunement to natural and man-made places that have good chi, known as "feng shui sites." The concept is essentially a turbo-injected version of the traditional practice of Chinese Geomancy known as feng shui. The goal of the game is to be the first player to control a certain number of feng shui sites (usually five). The final feng shui site must be taken from an opponent. Shadowfist was originally published by Daedelus Games, and is currently published by Z-man Games who brought the game back into publication in 2000.

What's good about Shadowfist?

Multiplayer - the game is especially well suited to three or more players, in contrast to Magic the Gathering.
No eliminations - all players have a stake in the game until a player takes the final feng shui site for victory.
Dynamic play - card flow is a very important aspect to the game, the more cards a player can play, typically the better they are doing in the game. This prevents turtling issues.
Unique Backstory

Critical Shift - The latest set due out in 2006.

A new starter and booster core set reprinting the best cards from Standard edition all the way to and including 7 Masters vs the Underworld. Also included will be around 75 new cards. This will be the best opportunity for new players to experience one of the oldest CCGs still being printed and supported today.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Shadowfist ]

Games - Shadowfist

Factions

What's good about Shadowfist?

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