If you haven't been geeking out over Keyforge, then you haven't been paying attention, as this Unique Deck Game generates yet more hype ahead of its release.

Here at Beasts of War, we take a closer look at a recent interview with designer Richard Garfield by Fantasy Flight Games.

In the center of the universe hangs the Crucible, an artificial planet built from pieces of the countless worlds scattered throughout the stars. Here, in KeyForge, the ethereal Archons clash in fierce battles, leading teams assembled from the Crucible’s diverse inhabitants as they race to gather the mysterious substance known as Æmber. By collecting enough of this precious material, Archons can forge the three keys necessary to unlock the Crucible’s hidden Vaults, absorbing their ultimate knowledge and power!

Keyforge is a Unique Deck Game from designer Richard Garfield and Fantasy Flight Games.  There are no deck-builders or boosters; instead, players must use the cards at their disposal to the best of their ability.

No card in any two decks are the same, a feature which FFG have been scrupulous about, according to Garfield;

The algorithm for deck construction generates so many deck possibilities and so many possible names that the chances of a duplicate are infinitesimal. The main challenge with that, from a game design perspective, was ensuring that the game was flexible enough to be varied and playable with a wide range of decks.

FFG goes one step beyond my "infinitesimal" chances of a duplicate and actually checks each new deck against previously generated decks to make that chance zero.

Decks are designed to be played "straight out of the box", and are divided into different rarities and Houses: Brobnar, Dis, Logos, Shadows, Sanctum, Untamed, and Mars.

The rarity mechanic is also interesting.  There are, of course, common, uncommon, and rare cards.  However, there is also a maverick option.  This is when a card from another house which has, in its maverick iteration, appeared in a different house, sometimes covering a weakness of that house.

However, rare does not mean powerful and, while each deck can expect approximately three rare cards, these will not necessarily be strong cards to play.  As Garfield states;

With a UDG you can have a House with, for example, a few big creatures but predominantly small creatures. The House will have the character you would expect—mostly small creatures with some exceptions. This makes designing Houses feel much more like designing characters rather than simply dividing up powers between factions.

This Unique design will make strategy a much more individual experience, and Keyforge a stand-out game.  And that visibility is also reflected in the artwork style - there is a pop neo-futurism to the design which is both endearing and in-keeping with the overall humour of the game style.

We've spoken about Keyforge previously on the Weekender, and I have to say we're all pretty excited for the release in the final quarter of 2018.  Until then, this interview with Garfield has been a wonderful teaser.  You can pre-order your copy from the Fantasy Flight Games website.

Based on what you know so far, what Keyforge House do you desire for your deck?