Geomancy

Defend the countryside from invaders using your environment! Geomancy is unstable, though, so be careful not to destroy your sources of magic!

This page for the Ludum Dare 49 submission. For the latest updates on this project check out: https://robotinker.itch.io/geomancy-gx

Speed up combat animations in the pause menu.

Controls

Arrow keys, X and Z

When placing terrain, Z places and X cancels the action

Enter/Return: pause

It's a turn-based thing on a grid like Advance Wars or Into the Breach, but you control your character with cards like in Slay the Spire or Gloomhaven.

A card's cost is in the bottom left corner of each card. Example: 2 red dots and 1 blue dot means that you need to be standing next to 2 fields and 1 pond to use the card. When used, you'll roll the slot machine on each of those pieces of terrain. Hovering over the card will show you exactly which pieces of terrain will be rolled for the attack.

I had wanted to introduce attack cards slowly as the game progresses, but I ran out of time for an upgrade system so you just start with all cards. Might be overwhelming, so sorry in advance! First thing on my post-jam to-dos is to put in a card unlock system. 

Your magic resources come from the environment a la Last Airbender, and using terrain can degrade or destroy it via a slot machine mechanic. The symbols in the slot machine of each piece of terrain act as a health bar when attacked by enemies. If you destroy the terrain when using an ability it supercharges your attack/heal, so you might find yourself doing it intentionally. There's also a Pokemon-style elemental rock-paper-scissors going on.

For any curious folks, all attacks do the same amount of damage - the only difference is their attack pattern and element. Elements affect how much damage an attack does to the enemy, who also has an element (fire, water, grass just like Pokemon). Rolling a gold on the slot machine or destroying terrain supercharges your attack, so attacks that cost more have more opportunities for damage boosts.