Magic Words Board Game

Concept

Scrabble-like word game where the words you play represent spells. Point values of letters are similar to Scrabble. Each player draws a character card from a deck of fantasy character classes. Characters have hit points, abilities, modifiers, and possibly even debuffs. Game has no board and tiles are hexagonal with interlocking edges. Words can be played vertical and diagonal.

Ideas

Laser cut/etched or 3D printed, hexagonal, interlocking (magnetic?) tiles, runic lettering
200 tiles, letter distribution similar to Super Scrabble
Entire game stored in felt bag or slide-top wooden box; includes one D20
Character cards list Class name, brief description, hit points (HP), and Action Points (AP), and Abilities
- Hit points vary from character to character based on archetype; no more than 120 HP per character
- Certain words or types of words can heal a player (Sorcery), some Instants can heal; heals can exceed 120 HP
Ability Points
- Most abilities cost AP; some are triggered or require an alternative cost
- Certain words or types of words can increase AP
- Abilities can be blocked or negated
- Some abilities allow players to temporarily hold more than 7 tiles in their hand
- Ability Types
  - Instant (resolves immediately)
  - Passive (constant throughout game, resolves after Opponent's Main Phase Instants)
  - Enchantment (resolves at end of Combat Phase)
  - Sorcery (resolves at end of Combat Phase)
Magic Words
- Each character has a magic word related to their class. When played it has a major impact on the game. These words should also be statistically improbable to draw on the first turn. Can't be more than 7 letters long.
- example: Sword (Fighter's word scores are tripled for the rest of the game)

Gameplay

Setup

Players track HP, AP, and stats on paper
Players draw character card
Players draw 7 tiles each
Players roll D20; player closest to 20 takes 1st turn

Beginning Phase

"At beginning of your turn" abilities/statuses resolve
Current player draws enough tiles to have 7
"At beginning of your draw step" abilities/statuses resolve

Main Phase

Instants declared at any time; cost paid Optional, Current player has priority
Instants resolve
Opponent's Passive Abilities Resolve if available
Sorceries declared; cost paid Optional

Combat Phase

Instants declared at any time; cost paid Optional, Current player has priority
Instants resolve
Current player plays a word if possible
Other player plays a word if possible; word may be used to block incoming damage based on point value Blocking word can block some or all damage
Damage resolves Excess damage applies
Sorceries resolve

End Phase

Instants declared at any time; cost paid Optional, Current player has priority
Instants resolve
Current player discards tiles down to maximum hand size
Opponent's passive abilities become active
Current player passes turn
Return to Beginning Phase

Character Classes

Barbarian

HP: 120
AP: 25
Description: A fierce warrior who relies on brute-strength in battle.
Abilities
- Frenzied Attack: Enter a battle-rage for an all out attack. Double your word score (Cost: 10AP, Type: Instant)
- ~~Reckless Attack: Attack without concern for your safety. Cannot be blocked (Cost: 10AP, Type: Instant)~~
- Desperate Rage: If you are within 10HP of death you immediately deal 20HP of damage during Opponent's Main Phase. Cannot be blocked (Cost: N/A, Type: Passive)
- Gather Strength: Dig deep to summon your strength. You gain ~~5AP~~ 10AP, but you cannot attack or block this turn (Cost: N/A, Type: Sorcery)
Magic Word: Furious (Barbarian immediately deals 40 damage to Opponent)

Bard

HP: 80
AP: 20
Description: An inspiring magician whose power echoes the music of creation.
Abilities
- Vicious Mockery: You unleash a string of insults laced with subtle magic at your Opponent. Deals 10 damage to Opponent (Cost: 10AP, Type: Instant)
- Song of Rest: You play a restful song that heals you. You gain 8HP (Cost: 15AP, Type: Sorcery)
- Font of Inspiration: You keep a lighthearted, childhood tune in your heart. At beginning of your turn roll a d20; gain that much AP (Cost: N/A, Type: Passive)
Magic Word: Lyrical (Bard plays a discordant song that removes all opponent's AP)

Cleric/Paladin

HP: 100
AP:
Description: A holy warrior wielding divine magic.
Abilities
Magic Word: Prayer (Paladin prays to the light and gains 30HP)

Druid

HP: 80
AP:
Description: A priest of the forest, wielding the powers of nature.
Abilities
Magic Word: Antler (Druid becomes a relentless Stag. His damage cannot be blocked for the rest of the game)

Fighter

HP: 100
AP:
Description: A Master of Combat, skilled with a variety of weapons and armor.
Abilities
Magic Word: Sword (Fighter's word scores are tripled for the rest of the game)

Monk

HP: 80
AP:
Description: A Master of martial arts, harnessing the power of the body in pursuit of spiritual perfection.
Abilities
Magic Word:

Rogue/Thief

HP: 80
AP:
Description:
Abilities
Magic Word:

Wizard

HP: 60
AP: 45
Description: A scholarly magic-user capable of manipulating reality.
Abilities
- Magic Missile: Fire 3 glowing darts of magical force. Triple your word score (Cost: 10AP, Type: Instant)
- Fireball: Launch a fireball at your Opponent. Deals 10 damage to Opponent (Cost: 10AP, Type: Sorcery)
- Sleep: Cast a spell of Sleep on your Opponent. Opponent cannot attack, block, or cast during their next turn (Cost: 20AP, Type: Sorcery) ~~(Cost: 15AP, Type: Sorcery)~~
- Dispel: Negate the effects of Opponent's Abilities or Magic Word. Cannot negate passive abilities *(Cost: 15AP, Type: Instant)
- Absorbing Shield: You absorb attacks and convert them to mana If you did not play a word last turn convert incoming damage to AP (Cost: N/A, Type: Passive)
Magic Word: Arcane (Wizard gains 30HP and AP)

Necromancer

HP: 80
AP:
Description: A wielder of dark magic derived from death itself.
Abilities
Magic Word:

Reference Material

Super Scrabble Letter Distribution
- Set is composed of 200 tiles instead of the standard 100:
  - 4 blank tiles (scoring 0 points)
  - 1 point: E ×24, A ×16, O ×15, T ×15, I ×13, N ×13, R ×13, S ×10, L ×7, U ×7
  - 2 points: D ×8, G ×5
  - 3 points: C ×6, M ×6, B ×4, P ×4
  - 4 points: H ×5, F ×4, W ×4, Y ×4, V ×3
  - 5 points: K ×2
  - 8 points: J ×2, X ×2
  - 10 points: Q ×2, Z ×2
DnD Classes: https://www.dndbeyond.com/classes
DnD Spells: http://dnd5e.wikidot.com/spells:wizard-core
Interlocking Tiles

Probability of drawing a magic word on turn 1
SWORD
P("sword" on the first turn) = P(s) * P(w) * P(o) * P(r) * P(d)

P(s) = 10 / 200 (assuming there are 200 tiles in the bag)
P(w) = 4 / 200
P(o) = 15 / 200
P(r) = 13 / 200
P(d) = 8 / 200

P("sword" on the first turn) = (10/200) * (4/200) * (15/200) * (13/200) * (8/200)
P("sword" on the first turn) = 0.000000195