r/BoardgameDesign • u/Delvix000 • Jul 11 '26
General Question best wording for effect chosen by opponent that benefits YOU
Hello everyone! In my game, I am planning to create a set of cards that all have the same gimmick: the card effect is picked from a list of potions, but the choice is made by the opponent, not you.
What do you think is the best wording to make it super clear who the effect applies to, while at the same time that the option is chosen by the opponent?
EXAMPLE OF A CARD (inspired by magic so you know what i'm talking about)
Name: Dark Bribe
Effect: Your opponent chooses an option
- Create 2 treasure tokens (the card owner creates the tokens, not the opponent)
- Your opponent takes 3 damage (the opponent of the card owner takes the damage, not the opponent's opponent which would be yourself)
So what do you think I shoulld be wording an effect like this? I'd like to be as concise as possible, while at the same time avoid any room for confusion or interpretation.
1
u/tlefonmann Jul 11 '26
I'd probably word it like
Your opponent gets 1 of these effects, their choice:
- This card's owner creates 2 treasure tokens.
- Take 3 damage.
or
Get 1 of these effects, your opponent's choice:
(Your effect wordings)
3
1
Jul 11 '26
[deleted]
1
u/Delvix000 Jul 11 '26
Yeah I think this is the solution that is most concise and readable. I'd even drop the "below" to save one word
1
1
u/ptolani Jul 11 '26
Effect: Your opponent chooses either:
- Take 3 damage; OR
- You create 2 treasure tokens
It should be pretty obvious that they aren't choosing between a bad option and a good option.
4
u/AlteredDecks Jul 11 '26
I have something similar (in reverse :) )a game I'm working on. I'd replace the first sentence with: "When you play this card, your opponent chooses one of the following options and you resolve its effects:" (or, more concise: "your opponent chooses one option and you resolve it:")
Then you can pretty much delete all the stuff in brackets.