🌌Welcome to Starcore!
Build Networks. Command the Grid. Destroy the Enemy Commander.
🎯 What Is StarCore?
StarCore is a tactical trading card game where every card occupies real space on an 8×3 Grid battlefield. Your cards connect through Links to share resources, attach Modules to enhance abilities, and battle for position.
Your Commander is your King. When it falls, you lose.
No life totals. No abstract zones. Just pure tactical warfare on a living battlefield.
⚡ Three Core Systems
🔗 The Network
Cards connect via Links to form Resource Networks. Four resource types (Matter, Energy, Life, Signal) flow from Cores through connected cards. Break the chain, and units lose power.
🪐 The Grid
8 Lanes × 3 Rows = 24 Tiles of tactical space. Position determines targeting, adjacency creates combos, and range defines your reach. Every placement matters.
⚙️ The Queue
All effects resolve through a last-in, first-out system. Play Utilities to respond during your opponent's turn. Master timing, control the game.
🎮 How to Play
Your Turn (5 Phases)
Orders Step - Move units, reposition forces
Build Phase - Generate resources, deploy cards (up to 2 per turn)
Combat Phase - Attack enemy units and Commanders
Cleanup Phase - Resolve end-of-turn effects
Draw Phase - Draw 2 cards
Victory Conditions
Primary: Destroy the enemy Commander
Secondary: Opponent cannot draw required cards
Game Length: 15-25 minutes (1v1 Duel)
🏗️ Card Types
Commander
Your King - lose this, lose the game
On Grid (your choice)
Unit
Combatants that attack and defend
On Grid tiles
Module
Attachments that enhance Units
Attached to Ports (not on Grid)
Utility
Instant responses and counters
Resolves via Queue (never on Grid)
Order
Tactical movement commands
Played during Orders Step only
🎨 The Four Factions
🧠 Neurals: Post-human AI. Control, hijacking, network optimization.
🌿 Stellari: Ancient bio-entities. Healing, recursion, growth over time.
⚡ Sparkforge: Reckless innovators. High risk, explosive power, dice mechanics.
🔥 Dragoons: Dragon-blooded warriors. Pierce attacks, honor-bound precision.
Mix factions freely. Your deck is your doctrine.
🎮 Game Formats
⚔️ Duel (1v1)
Classic Commander vs Commander. Fast, tactical, perfect for learning.
🤝 Command Link (Team Play)
2v2: Team introduction format
3v3: Flagship competitive/esports format ⭐
5v5: Grand tournament showcase format
Shared Grids. Shared resources. Coordinated tactics.
🚀 Getting Started
New Players
📖 Learn the Basics - Turn structure and core rules
🗺️ Understand the Grid - Position and adjacency
⚡ Master Resources - Network building and economy
🎴 Build Your First Deck - 80 cards, 1 Commander
Experienced Players
🔗 Links, Ports & Stacks - Advanced modularity
📊 Keywords Reference - All 145 keywords
🎯 Card Interactions - Queue system deep dive
🏆 Competitive Formats - Tournament rules
💡 Design Philosophy
Fun First
Simple rules, infinite depth. 15-minute learn curve with years of mastery.
Balance Always
Playtesting drives all decisions. Every card, every mechanic validated through play.
Technology Enabled
Built for digital TCG from day one. Physical and digital designed together.
Business Focused
Serious commercial product with IP protection, customer feedback loops, and sustainable monetization.
📚 Documentation
Version: 2.0 Last Updated: October 14, 2025 Status: Ready for Playtesting
All documentation maintained in GitBook with strict version control. Every system fully specified before implementation.
🎯 Current Status
✅ Complete
Core game mechanics (Grid, Resources, Combat)
Card anatomy and types
Keywords (145 across 3 tiers)
Conditions (40 status effects)
Triggers (timing indicators)
Sequences (propagation patterns)
Game formats (1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 5v5)
🚧 In Development
Card generation system
Digital implementation
Playtesting framework
Balance validation
🌟 Join the Ranks
StarCore is where strategy meets space. Where every Link matters. Where every move reshapes the battlefield.
Ready to command?
Start with Gameplay Basics →
"From the death of a star came the age of the StarCore. What they called destiny was, in truth, design."
StarCore™ - A tactical trading card game by visionary founders with 20+ years product leadership experience at Intuit and Verint. Built as a serious business, designed for competitive play, enabled by cutting-edge technology.
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