War of the Woods

War of the Woods is a fast-paced, 2-player head-to-head combat card game with an extended Rock-Paper-Scissors mechanic. Players step into the shoes of opposing commanders, deploying warrior lineups to outsmart, counter, and outscore their rival across a best-of-three duel.

In each match, both players start with a hand of 5 cards and simultaneously reveal their warriors card-by-card along a central Resolve Order track. Timing and card placement are critical: positional effects like SWAP and JOSTLE immediately shift warrior line-ups, while strategic status powers like SUPREME allow tied units to hold their ground.

Once all cards are deployed, combat is resolved through a multi-faction counter cycle:
Knight slays Archer
Archer ambushes Rogue
Rogue assassinates Mage
Mage overcomes Knight

Support units stand their ground, turning into victors if an adjacent ally wins.

Defeated and tied units are flipped face-down, leaving only the surviving victors to tally their strength points. Between matches, the defeated commander leads a drafting phase—pruning cards from both hands and drafting fresh reinforcements from the 18-card deck to turn the tide in the next fight.