How to Playtest Inferni: Hope & Fear

We are building Inferni: Hope & Fear to be a game where teamwork and strategy is the heart of winning and losing. It’s no secret we are inspired by the likes of Magic the Gathering, battle royale shooters and amazing indie roguelikes. But to really hone our game design we require passionate players to come, test and provide us with their insight. Do we need to nerf charms? Buff Leather Man? Is Growing Hate OP? You tell me, please!

Over the next weeks and months, as we lead up to Early Access launch (WISHLIST NOW!), we will be inviting players from our official Discord to join us. In this blog I want to provide new playtesters with a quick start guide.

Gameplay Basics

Each player selects a character that has both a unique deck of cards and some charms. Cards are drawn from the deck to the hand and can be played by being dragged onto various targets, while charms give continuous benefits.

When a card is dragged to its target the character begins casting. A cast may be instant or as long as 20 seconds before it becomes a spell and shoots towards its target. On impact, the card’s effect is applied. Cards draw from the deck over time and on casting end up in the graveyard.

Simple huh? Let’s talk about what really matters: How to win a match…

A screenshot from the current Inferni: Hope and Fears prototype.

The Characters

Before each match, players can choose one of five characters to bring to the Arena. They each have unique cards and charms that define their initial strategy:

• The Hunter: The original glass cannon! The Hunter is out to deal lots of damage very quickly, making him a real menace, but lacking healing and defensive spells. You’ll want a supportive teammate for best results.

• The Leather Man: This gimp is a low life. Literally… The leather-clad deviant’s cards and charms focus on benefiting from taking self-inflicted damage and being close to death. You pilot The Leather Man on a razor’s edge, where in his weakest moment’s he’s at his strongest.

• Madame Futura: A mind reader and bender of will. This side show fortune teller can manipulate spells and players, taking control of matches. However, what she has in intellect she lacks in strength, with few ways to deal damage.

• Panacea: A woodland witch with a pantry full of mystical herbs and spices. She is the ultimate team player, able to heal and protect herself and her teammates. But… like Madame Future she is lacking bite.

• Trickster Demon: A hellspawn born on April 1st. This fiery creature loves nothing more than messing with a player's strategy through discard and reshuffle effects. The card advantage makes Trickster Demon great in one-on-one scenarios but weak in general melee of the early game. So it’s all about survival.

One thing that makes Inferni: Hope & Fear so unique is that your starting deck is not fixed!

Drafting Cards

There are three rounds of draft where players can build out their hand and deck to evolve their strategy based on what their enemies and teammates are doing around them.

Here are some cards we think you need to keep an eye out for in draft packs:

• Kill Shot: This one is scary. If it hits you, you’re dead. But it’s slow to cast and travel, leaving its