Help! I Have A Crush On My Rival!?: Prompt 12 & 13

(Read the previous prompt here.)

Prompt 12 - The Campaign:

I’ll turn over the card to the right.

Card Draw: 9 of Clubs (black)  I am going to use my last Insight to keep from losing a potential.

Prompt: You and your Rival have to work together on something, but it goes poorly. You get in each other’s way, perhaps you even deliberately sabotage one another. How does it go wrong?

*  *  *

The Game Board held an impromptu meeting the last Saturday of October. After most of the players had arrived for the day, Elaine asked everyone to stop playing and join her and Art near the rear corner of the store.  I saw an empty seat next to Gwen and took the opportunity to sit next to her. She smiled, fine with my choice. 

“We have had many good and thoughtful recommendations for our featured game at this year’s Holiday Bowl,” Elaine announced. “While the Board and I have been able to whittle the options down, we still have four great options.  This year, we have decided to leave the choice up to the entire group.”

Being on the board myself, none of this was new information.  I guess technically, I could have been standing with Elaine and Art, but I had nothing in particular to add to the announcement, and I wasn’t about to pass up on the opportunity to sit next to Gwen.

Elaine went on to list the four games that were up for consideration.  It was no real surprise that two of the options were Andromeda Factions and Wyvern’s Retreat.  The third game being considered was Passage to Fly, an aviation themed game where each player runs an airline, and establish routes around the globe.  The goal is to earn the most points based on how many airports to which you travel and the types of flights you offer.  Passage was an old standard, but well-loved and a great tournament choice.  The final game was Mediterrania, a resource-management, worker-placement game set in a mildly futuristic version of the Mediterranean Sea area. Of course, the gameplay was very common, nearly every area of the globe has been used as a setting for a worker placement game. This particular title, however, was released only this past year and still on everyone’s hot list, which is why it made the cut.

“We have decided to hold a vote,” Elaine said after listing the four games.  “Starting next week, each contributor is encouraged to campaign for their game.  Tell people about your game, play it with them, maybe even set up a mini tournament.  Whatever you want, in order to convince others that your game should be featured in the Bowl. The campaign will continue for three weeks.  Then, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, we will hold a secret ballot where everyone will have an opportunity to vote.  The game with the most votes will be this year’s Holiday Bowl game.”

“And remember,” Art cut in. “This is supposed to be a friendly competition, and we are one big, gamer family.  These are all good games, so while informed critiques and comparisons are encouraged, I don’t want to hear anyone belittling someone for choosing a particular game, or worse, speak bad about that person. Is that clear?”

That seemed a bit strong, considering our group, but I was pretty sure Art was looking at me, as if I was the focus of this warning. C’mon, dude.  That hurts.

“You knew about this, didn’t you?” Gwen asked when the meeting was done.

“The vote?  Yes. In fact, I may have suggested it.”

Gwen looked at me suspiciously.  “Really?  That doesn’t sound like you.”

“Art and Elaine were leaning toward Andromeda Factions, but I thought it might look bad if they picked a game suggested by one of the Board members. So, I suggested if they held a vote, everyone would think it was a fair decision.”  Okay, maybe my game wasn’t really being considered any more than the others, but I thought it would sound better than the truth: a vote was probably the only way my game would be chosen.

Gwen held out her hand. “Then may the best person win.”

I looked at it for a moment.  It was only a handshake, but it was still holding her hand.  I took the offered hand and did my best to keep my hand from trembling.

“Agreed!”

*     *     *

The next Saturday morning, I arrived at the “Dice & Deck” ready to hit the campaign trail. My plan was to hand out a bunch of booster card packs to promote the game. My reality, however, was that I simply didn’t have the money for that many cards. Besides, Art would probably consider it a bribe and disqualify me.  Instead, I printed out some flyers to hand out that listed the highlights of the game and give me an opportunity to answer any questions.

Almost immediately, I saw that Gwen was taking this seriously.  All over the gaming section of the store were hung letter-sized posters printed on glossy paper.  In the middle was a black and white intricate drawing of a dragon or wyvern, with the words “VOTE FOR WYVERN’S RETREAT” surrounding it in thick, black, handwritten letters.  I had seen some of Gwen artwork in the past on notebooks she would bring with her or draw on the fly using scraps of paper.  She was good, but hers was more of a cartoonish style.  This wyvern drawing was more realistic with a lot of fine detail.  Then I noticed the signature just below the picture: Fisher.  Ah!  This was her brother’s work. <Using the oracle at rpssolo.com - Is Gwen a good artist? (50/50): Yes, but . . . she had her brother draw the wyvern for the poster.>

Gwen’s posters may have been more eye-catching than my flyers, but I still felt confident as I started handing them out and talking to people. However, as the morning went on, I began to understand why Gwen thought the card game’s interest was too niche. I first talked to group members who liked to play trading card games and they were very supportive. But as I reached out to others, they were less enthusiastic.  Either they didn’t play enough trading card games to be competitive or, if they did enjoy TCGs, it wouldn’t be their first choice for the tournament, especially if they weren’t familiar with Andromeda Factions and it’s nuances to begin with. Even Wayne wouldn’t commit. He was much more interested in the new game Mediterrania.

Desperate for more support, I searched for new blood.  That was how I ended up talking to two complete strangers in the comic book aisles.  Despite them having never once come to play games, (in fact, I never found out if they had any interest in board games at all) I told them all about the group and how much fun we have every Saturday.  I ended by handing them a flyer and inviting them to join the tournament.  They politely thanked me and moved down the aisle, grateful, I suspect, to have escaped my uncomfortable sales pitch.

I started to walk back to the rest of the group when I heard familiar voices from just around the corner of the comic book rack, out of eyesight.

“Are you sure it’s okay?” I heard Gwen ask.

“Absolutely,” Morgan affirmed. “You know you can count on me.  All you had to do was ask.”

“I thought so, but I didn’t want to assume.”

“Don’t be silly.  It’s fine,” Morgan assured her friend.

“Okay, and I’ll be sure you are paid. I just might not have the money for a couple of weeks.”

“You know, you don’t really have to pay me.”

“Thanks, but a promise is a promise.”

“And I appreciated it, but I’d do anything for you, Gwen.  Besides, I’m sure it will be fun.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Was Gwen buying votes, the exact thing I was afraid Art would think about me? I always thought Gwen was fair.  I couldn’t believe she would do this to me, and just when we were becoming friends.  Surprisingly, I was less mad and more hurt.  Maybe she wasn’t the person I thought . . . or hoped she was.

Still in my thoughts, I stepped out of the comic aisle and nearly collided with Morgan.  She took a step back and held up her hand, stopping me before I could say a word.

“Don’t even think about it, Lance. I’m already voting for Gwen.”

She took off before I could respond, leaving me standing with my last few flyers. In a dejected whisper, I responded anyway.

“I know.”

*     *     *

Prompt 13 - The Reveal:

I’m choosing the card above my location.

Card Draw: 10 of Clubs (black) Lose 1 potential.

Prompt: You’ve drastically misunderstood a neutral or perhaps even friendly action your Rival took, and will not realize it for some time. How? What made you misjudge them? Did they go about any of it the wrong way?

This is an interesting prompt for a journaling game, as it requires the author to have knowledge of a situation that they simply don’t have, especially since the prompt states you won’t realize it for some time.  This can be handled a number of ways (flashback to an earlier misunderstanding, a delayed journal post, etc.), but I’m just going to make it a continuation of the previous scene. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I’ve always expected this event to follow the classic Hallmark Movie 1 hour and 45 minute misunderstanding trope.

*     *     *

I plopped myself down in an empty seat at a table where Wayne, Erik, and a much younger boy, Aaron sat playing some train-themed game.

“Man, you look like you just lost your best friend,” Wayne remarked.

Wayne

“Is the game campaign going that poorly?” Erik asked.

“No,” I answered. “I mean, yeah. What do you expect when even your friends don’t want to vote for you?.” I cast an accusatory glance at Wayne, who self-consciously dropped his eyes. “But that’s not it.  I just heard Gwen talking to Morgan.”

“Morgan’s going to vote for Wyvern’s Retreat,” Wayne stated matter-of-factly.  “So, what?  We all knew that.”

“It’s not that she’s voting for Gwen,” I said.  “It’s why she’s voting for Gwen.  Gwen agreed to pay Morgan in exchange for her vote.”

“See!” Erik exclaimed.  “I told you she’d screw you over somehow! But I never expected bribery.”

“Are you sure?” Wayne asked.  “That doesn’t sound like Gwen.”

“Maybe,” Erik agreed, but quickly resumed the hunt for blood. “But you heard her!  Didn’t you, Lance?”

“Yes.  She told Morgan she wouldn’t have the money till later, but not to worry.  She would get paid.”

“I don’t know.  I’m still not convinced,” Wayne said. “Maybe I can ask Morgan.  She and I are close.”

“Dreams don’t count,” Erik said, suggesting the relationship was just wishful thinking on Wayne’s part.

“Don’t,” I told Wayne. “I don’t want them to think I was spying on them.”

“You’re at least going to tell Elaine and Art, aren’t you.” Erik asked.

“I don’t think so.  I don’t want Gwen to get in trouble.  It’s just a game.”

Suddenly, Wayne’s eyes widened in understanding. 

Erik, on the other hand, just seemed puzzled. “What are you talking about?  Cheating aside, I can’t believe you, of all the people here, will just let her win.  You can’t stand . . . Ouch!  What the heck, Wayne!”

I felt a brush against my leg as Wayne kicked Erik under the table.

“Erik, don’t be a lunkhead!” Wayne barked.  “Can’t you see it’s not about the game? It’s about Gwen.”

“What do you mean Gw . . .  Oh!”  Erik stared at me, astonished. 

Wayne had a rare look of sympathy. 

Aaron . . . well, I think we all forgot about Aaron.

So the cat was out of the bag.  Everyone knew.  Well, at least everyone that mattered.

“I couldn't care less what game we play at the Bowl,” I said. “In fact, I’ve had fun playing Wyvern with Gwen these past couple of weeks. We’ve actually been getting along. In fact, I thought we might be friends. But now this.  It hurts to think she could be so underhanded.”

“I’m still not sure if she was, Lance,” Wayne said.  “I mean, she never offered Erik or me money for our votes.” He looked to Erik for confirmation.

“Nope, not me,” he agreed.

“You’re going to have to talk to her,” Wayne told me.

“I can’t do that.  She might not want to talk to me anymore if I accuse her of cheating.”

“But I thought you said she was cheating?” Erik pointed out.

“I did. But maybe I’m wrong. But if she did, then . . . uh . . .  I don’t know.  I don’t know.” I gave up in frustration.

Wayne sat back in his chair.  “Pal, I’m afraid this is going to be a tough one. You either chance it by asking her or let the uncertainty gnaw at you.  You were better off when you hated each other.  And you!”  Wayne directed this to Aaron, who sat up at attention.  “Not a word about this to anyone.  If I even hear you mention Lance’s or Gwen’s name to another person, I’m going to tell everyone you pocket your aces!”

Aaron stared back, uncomprehending.

“I’m going to tell everyone you are a cheater!” Wayne explained in no uncertain terms.

Aaron’s eyes grew wide in fear.  No gamer wanted anyone to think he was a cheater. 

“N-No, Sir!” the kid stammered.  “Not a word.”  He even pulled his thumb and forefinger across his mouth in the old “zip your lip” pantomime.

Then, as though our conversation never took place, Wayne got back to business.

“Now, we have a game to finish.  You can watch if you want, Lance, but please, no advice.  Who’s turn is it?”

As Wayne looked to others for an answer, I stood up, left the rest of my flyers on the table, and headed for the door.

(Read the next promt here.)

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Help! I Have A Crush On My Rival!?: Prompt 7 & 8

(Read the previous prompt here.)

PROMPT 7: THE INQUIRY

I’m not sure if I should draw the card above or to the right of my current location. Based on a roll of the die, I draw the card above.

Card Draw: Jack of Spades [Black Royal] Gain 1 Insight

Prompt: A peer who generally respects your Rival more than you makes a sneering remark about how your Rival’s focus on you is dulling their edge. They can’t imagine why your Rival is putting in so much effort over you.

Hmmm!  This one will require some creativity since no mutual interest has been expressed publicly, or even privately.  Still, I have an idea that is not exactly how the prompt reads, but honors the spirit of the prompt.

Using the Oracle at RPGSolo: Did Erik see me walk over to Gwen at the Frozen Feast? (50/50) No

*  *  *

“What’s up with you two?”

“Huh?” I was jolted back to reality by Erik’s question.  I was taking some time between games to catch up on sorting some used comics for the store. My mind had drifted while examining the various covers and I didn’t notice my friend approaching. “Up with who?”

“You and Gwen.”

What did Erik know?  For that matter, what could he know? There’s nothing to know.

“Ummm, nothing?” I stammered.  “Why . . . why would you ask that?”

“I just beat her in a game of Ramen, Go!” he explained.  “And not just beat her, I wiped up the table with her.”

“Way to go!” I congratulated. “That’s not an easy task.”

“Thanks, but Gwen wasn’t herself.  At least she wasn’t playing like herself.  She seemed distracted and barely had her mind on the game.  She kept looking at something. When I turned to see what it was, do you know what I saw her looking at?”

After a moment, I realized Erik was waiting for me to answer his rhetorical question.

“No idea. What was she looking at?”

“You, dude!  You!”

My face went warm.  I was sure I was blushing, but I still tried my best to hide my reaction.

“I . . . uh . . . have no idea why she would be looking at me?  Are you sure it was me?”

“Absolutely sure. And I’m as stumped as you.  You two aren’t exactly buddy-buddy?  When’s the last time you even thought about gaming with her.”

“Never.”

“See?” Erik agreed.  “Wait a minute! I heard she’s been talking to Art and Elaine about playing Wyvern’s Retreat for the Holiday Bowl.  Do you think she’s trying to come with a more convincing argument against you? Or maybe she’s just worried the Board will choose your game because you’re a member?”

“Yeah, maybe that’s it,” I said, relieved that Erik was assuming antagonism and hoped he would move onto another subject.

“Whatever it is, you better be careful, Lance, or she’s going to push Andromeda Factions out of the running. Hey, how long till you're done with those comics?”

“I don’t know?  Another ten minutes?”

“Wayne is setting up a game of Gem Squares. I’ll have him wait for you if you want to play.”

“Sure.  I’ll be there in a moment.”

*      *     *

PROMPT 8: THE IMPENETRABLE EXTERMO TENT

I’ll draw the card to the right.

Card Draw: The Second Joker!  Well, that stinks, I’m not ready for this story to end.  Thankfully, the developer caters to the player and encourages them to play in a way that is the most enjoyable and fun for them.  Therefore, the rules specifically state that if the second joker is drawn before you are ready to end the game, “it’s not cheating to shuffle the second joker and the remaining card around and keep going.”  Before I even started, I decided that if I found the second Joker before at least half the cards were drawn, I would reshuffle the remainder and continue.

Second Card Draw: Ace of Clubs (black)  Lose 1 potential

Prompt: It’s possible your Rival has a kind of honor, but whatever that is doesn’t preclude them from pulling an absolutely underhanded stunt this time. How does this sour your feelings?

I have a great idea for this scene and one that would not alter the current attitudes between the characters.  For that reason, I will use one of my “Insight” points and not lose the potential.  I am still at 2 potential.  Per the rules, since I used my Insight, I may choose to skip this prompt, but of course, I’m not.  I think I’m going to have fun writing this scene.

*  *  *

I really wish Erik hadn’t told me anything.  Despite my meeting with Gwen on Wednesday night, I hadn’t thought too much about her this morning.  Sure, we “agreed” to play a game today, but I’m sure she was only being friendly; a way to end our talk without it sounding so final.  That morning, when she never asked me to play, instead of taking the initiative and possibly being rejected, I just put it out of my mind.

But when Erik said she kept looking at me, I had to wonder why?  Was she wanting to play a game?  Or was she afraid I was going to blab about her secret?  Whatever it was, I had to be careful or else Erik might sense I was thinking about something other than our game. Or worse, he might see me glancing over at Gwen.

I wonder what he would think?  He only knows us as rivals.  And for very good reason.  He remembers what happened at that Turf Wars Tournament, and how she infuriated me that day. 

*  *  *

Gwen had been coming to Saturday Game Days for about six months and I was still very much into the Turf Wars trading card game, the game I played with Gwen on her first day there.  Every couple of weeks,  I’d buy a booster pack or two, and that past week I hit the jackpot.  “Impenetrable ExtermoTent.” A super rare card that everyone wanted but no one could find.  Playing it could devastate your opponent's game, causing them to play catch up for the next several turns.  And if you could pair it with “Penetrating Gas” -- which I already owned -- the game was practically over.

If anyone at the “Dice & Deck” did not know I had the “E-Tent,” as it was more commonly known as, I don’t know what they were doing. I was very proud to show it off, drawing “oohs” and “ahs” from everyone. Kids who didn’t even know me had no choice but to listen as I told them about my good fortune. And yes, I even showed it to Gwen, who acted unimpressed, as though it was the fifth one she saw that day. What did she know? She preferred board games.

The card became a permanent fixture in my deck, and I played it with great success over the next several weeks.  The regional Turf Wars tournament was fast approaching, and I wanted to be ready.

The Saturday of the tournament finally arrived. Never before had I approached the check-in table with more confidence than I had that day.  As part of the process, a game monitor reviewed your deck to make sure it met the tournament’s required size and make-up and didn’t contain any illegal cards.  As my deck was being reviewed, Gwen was checking in next to me.

“You probably should’ve stayed home, Gwen,” I told her.  “I’m pretty sure we know who’s going to win this tournament.” Arrogant and prideful.  That was me.

“You?” she questioned, as if she didn’t know I was talking about myself.  “We’ll see.”

The monitor handed my deck back to me. I wished Gwen good luck -- again, dripping with sarcasm-- before heading off to prepare for my first match.

The tournament followed the typical double-elimination format.  It consisted of four rounds, and once you lost two matches, you were out.  After the fourth round, the player with the best win-loss record was declared the winner.  In the case of a tie -- which happened often -- secondary statistics of the final game were used to determine a winner, such as the number of insects lost.

My first match was against a boy several years younger than me.  I think he only came to the store to play in the tournament because I didn’t recognize him from the normal Saturday morning crowd. I won the game quickly and never had a chance to draw my “E-Tent” card.  No worries.  I was sure I would have ample opportunity later.

My next match wasn’t quite as easy.  My opponent was Morgan, and she played her ladybug deck with great skill. It wasn’t until I was able to combine my Spider with “Intricate Web” and knock out her last insect.  The game took much longer than the first, but still, I had not yet drawn my prized possession.

Unfortunately, for my third game, I was paired with the winner of the last Turf Wars tournament.  He usually played at the “Card Cave”, a game store across town, but still had an infamous reputation at the “Dice & Deck.”  Regardless of what cards I may have had in my deck, I knew this one would be hard to win. And I was right.  I may not have been defeated immediately, but I still lost with well over half my deck undrawn. 

However, despite the loss, I relished seeing Gwen get up from her match two tables down, defeated for the second time and out of the tournament.  Our eyes met.  I smiled victoriously, having outlasted her.  She glared back at me with a sneer that ever so slowly turned up into a wicked grin.

She’s crazy, I thought, and turned away.

However, what I found more curious than Gwen's enigmatic smile was the fact that, in three matches, I still had not seen my “Impenetrable ExtermoTent.” I revealed “Penetrating Gas” a couple of times but was never able to complete the devastating combination. 

Going into the final match with one loss, I knew I had no chance of winning the entire tournament; a tournament won with anything less than a perfect win record was unheard of. But I still wanted that final win. I didn't want to be officially eliminated.

My opponent was Mark Mitchel.  He hung out at the “Dice & Deck” often enough, but he mostly came to compete in the tournaments.  It was no surprise he had made it to the end and even less of a surprise that so far he was undefeated that day.  We were evenly matched and our game turned into an epic battle.  He squashed my centipede.  I snuffed his dung beetle.  He repelled me with “Mint Sprigs.” I washed him away with “Hose Spray.” 

Neither one of us truly had the advantage. The match came down to the final few draws of our decks.  I was down to my last card.  If this card didn’t win it for me, I would have nothing left to draw on my next turn and would have lost.  But that didn’t concern me.  I had laid out “Penetrating Gas” several turns ago and only needed the “E-Tent” to win.  With just one card left in my deck, it could only be the “E-Tent”, and I was sure Mark wouldn’t be able to defend against it.

I smiled confidently and stared right at him as I flipped my final card face up. Mark watched as I did . . . but didn’t flinch. Confused, I looked down and saw . . . “Cookie Crumb.”

Cookie Crumb!? That was the weakest power-up I had in my deck!  What happened to my “Impenetrable Extermo Tent?” I frantically began looking around to see if it had fallen while Mark made his final play, winning the match and remaining undefeated.

I picked up my discard deck and feverishly thumbed through it, looking for my lost card.  I knew I hadn’t played it, but maybe it was stuck behind another.  No luck.  Next, I opened my backpack and began rummaging through it.  No “E-Tent.”  Helplessly, I scanned the room, hoping beyond hope I would find my rare treasure sitting on a table or lying on the floor. 

“I think you dropped this.”

I turned to see Gwen.  Her hand was extended toward me, holding the missing card. I quickly snatched it back, a mixture of confusion and relief running through my body.

“You dropped it when you were checking it,” Gwen explained.  “I knew you didn’t want to lose it, so I kept it safe for you.”

Realization struck me at once.  That little . . . witch had it the whole time.  That’s why she was smiling earlier and why she was smiling now!  She knew I was counting on it to win.

I wanted to yell.

I wanted to scream!

I . . . I . . .

I spat right in Gwen’s face!

===============

(Read the next prompt here.)

Help! I Have A Crush On My Rival!?: Introduction and Prompt 1

INTRODUCTION:

If I haven't mentioned it already 😉, I've been distracted from my main role-playing game by a journaling game.  I am now far enough along in that game to start making posts.  If you're just here to read a good story, feel free to skip down to Prompt 1 and avoid all this background stuff. However, if you want to know why I became interested in this game and learn some of its mechanics, please read on.

The game I'm playing is Help! I Have A Crush On My Rival?! I think the reason I found this game so compelling is nostalgia. When I was in high school and discovering my enjoyment of creative writing, I wrote a lot of “crush” stories. Of course, they typically had a twist or involved bizarre circumstances: a murdered cheerleader; a demon unleashed into the world; a boy trapped in a coma because he preferred his dream world to the real one; chasing an evil warlord across time in a Highlander rip-off; or dead characters living in purgatory. I didn't have a successful dating life back then (frankly, I had no dating life) and maybe those stories were my chance to live the relationships I longed to have. (Considering the subject matter I previously listed, I must've had some real strange ideas about what would make the perfect date. 😳)

Today, I'm happily married to my “Crush,” having a great life, and wouldn't want to be with anyone else. Even so, I have a certain affinity for stories that explore new relationships.  Perhaps that is why I find Hallmark movies and other rom-coms more enjoyable to watch than many other men. Though my reasons for writing - not just demented romances, but all kinds of stories - might have changed over the years, I still love to imagine and document what another life might be like, whether it's a young woman developing her skills as a thief, new partners surviving in a post-apocalyptic Pennsylvania, a clown hunting giant chickens, a band of mercenaries exploring a mysterious island, or a young man beginning to have some curious feelings about their greatest gaming opponent.

Help! I Have A Crush On My Rival?! by Dice Problems is available on itch.io, and is based on the Carta game system.  Carta games are role-playing games that require a standard deck of playing cards.  The game “board” is made by arranging a certain number of random cards in a pattern, typically a grid.  A card is revealed and matched with a corresponding prompt for that card, which explains what happens to your character or how the game proceeds.  The game continues as the player moves from one adjoining card to another, following their prompts.  The game is over once they reveal the designated “end game” card or are eliminated in the process.  The developer using this system sets the theme and goal of the game, and may tweak and/or add new mechanics.

In the case of Help! I Have A Crush On My Rival!? its theme should be obvious. Also, it pairs the Carta mechanics with the task of creating a journal.  Each card prompt describes a situation or event for you to write about as you move the story along.  One of the mechanics this game uses is “Potential,” a scoring system that determines how successful an outcome your story will have.  When you turn over a red card, you gain Potential.  A black card looses you Potential.  Once you’ve revealed both Jokers, the game ends and you have to complete your story in a manner that reflects your amount of Potential.  There are a few other mechanics that can assist your character, but I will discuss those whenever they occur in the game.

Now, disclaimer upon disclaimer:

Help! is available on Itch.io as a “Name Your Own Price” game.  This means that while donations to the developer are encouraged, the game is fully available for free.  For that reason, I feel comfortable sharing the full wording of each prompt so the reader can fully appreciate how it influenced the story.  If you are interested in playing the game or reading it for yourself, I encourage you to download your own copy and donate, if that is something you feel led to do.

My story is not meant to be a deep, serious work of literature.  It’s a fun, casual game. As such, expect it to be full of romance and rom-com tropes.  I’m not looking to rework the genre or necessarily do something unique, different, or game-changing.

With the exception of a few classic games, all the titles I have used are original and, to the best of my knowledge, not real games (at least at the time of this writing).  That being said, while the titles are original, descriptions of each title’s gameplay might resemble, or outright mimic, a real, existing game.

The board and game progress is being tracked, and the cards were “shuffled” in Google Sheets. Screenshots will be included to monitor my progress.  If you have any questions or comments about how or why I am using this method, feel free to email me at tevsnextidea@gmail.com or leave a comment.

For graphics, I have decided I was going to use AI generated images for this story.  The main online tools I used were the generators that can be found at perchance.org. Whenever a different AI tool was used, it will be noted. Any edits or cleanup were done by me using GIMP.

While the images are generated, the text is not.  All the writing is a product of my own creativity, as directed by the prompts, with occasional help from an oracle or random name generator, here and there.

Thank you for bearing with me.  Now let’s get to the game.

*     *     *

PROMPT 1: THE DICE & DECK

Before you even flip a card, the game asks you to answer the first prompt.

Prompt: You’ve been thinking about your Rival a lot. They’ve always gotten under your skin,  But something has been different recently. You’ve started to think you could like this person, despite yourself. What incident gave you this hint of possibility? How do you feel?

*  *  * 

Gwen Anders!  What is she doing here? 

It’s the monthly game tournament at the “Dice & Deck,” and the featured game is  Australia: The Northern Territory.  I thought Gwen didn’t like worker placement/resource gathering games.  Honestly, they’re not my first choice either, but I was sure that, at the very least, I could compete without have to worry about playing against her!

But I’m ahead of myself.  Maybe I should rewind this story several years.

My name is Lance Walsh and I live with my family in Winter Shores. I’ve grown up on Family Game Night, where my parents, sister, and I would play games like Clue, Monopoly, Sorry, and Uno.  Party games were fun, but as I got older,, about the time I was a freshman in high school, I discovered games that were more complex, strategic, and involved.  However, after trying a few at home, it was clear that they would never be accepted into the regular rotation of games.  Even at school, finding opponents among my friends was difficult.  So when I heard that there was a group of like-minded individuals who met every Saturday at the “Dice & Deck” comic store for the sole purpose of learning, playing, and competing in all sorts of games, I knew I had found my home away from home.

I thought I had a vast knowledge of games, and that was true at home and at school.  However, after my first weekend, I realized my knowledge was basically infantile.  Over the next several months I was introduced to all kinds of different games: board games such as worker placement, roads and rails, deck builders, war games, area control, and resource management; boardless games such as social deduction and role-playing; and what would become my personal favorite, trading card games.

I’m not ashamed to say that I pretty much sucked those first few months. I lost most games. I was eliminated in the first round of the few tournaments I played.  But I wasn’t deterred, and before too long I found myself winning more games than I lost, at least of the titles I played regularly.  I was even able to make it through the first round of the tournaments I entered. I continued to improve until by my sophomore year in school, I was one of the top players in my age range and able to hold my own against the college aged kids and adults. Nothing was going to stand in my way of a promising gaming future at the “Dice & Deck.”

That was, until Gwen Anders walked through the door.

It was just after Christmas break when this girl I had never seen before visited the store.  She appeared to be about my age (I later found out she was also a high school sophomore) and instantly drew everyone’s attention.  I may have been because she was a girl -- a rarity at the time, since over 80 percent of the players were male -- but if so, I wasn’t sure why.  She wore a plain, white t-shirt and jeans and her auburn hair that was cut short. Think Molly Ringwald from Sixteen Candles, but not as girly. In fact, she was much a tomboy, unshed baby fat making her a little pudgy. As for the other boys in the group, if any were hoping for more than just a game, they would soon find out that they would be out of luck. Gwen was looking for competition, and nothing else.

Trying to be friendly, I reached out to her the first day. I asked if she wanted to play a game of Turf Wars, a deck battling game that I was rather good at. I wouldn’t have been surprised if she refused -- the game was about battling lawn insects --- but she agreed. Gwen admitted to me that she had never played Turf Wars, however, it was clear she knew the basics of this type of card game. I won, but Gwen had caught on fast and it wasn’t the cakewalk I expected it to be.

She returned the next week, we played again.  This time, however, she won.  Actually, that’s not exactly correct.  You could say she annihilated me, winning in a mere five rounds.  I was impressed and told her so, especially since I had been victorious the previous week.

“You must’ve had beginner’s luck,” she announced, then walked away to find another opponent.

I must’ve had beginners luck!?  Me!  Who did she think she was, calling me a beginner?  She didn’t even know the game.  I’ve been playing for the last three months. The arrogance!

Turns out, she wasn’t just blowing smoke.  Over the next couple of months, regardless of the game, Gwen either beat me easily, or, in the few instances I was able to squeak out a victory, it was thanks to a lucky roll of the dice or draw of a card.  In other words, unless the game involved some random mechanic, she couldn’t lose.

It all culminated in our first tournament together.  As usual, I felt confident going into the tournament.  It had been months since I failed to make to at least the semi-final round.  However, by the luck of the draw, Gwen and I were seated at the same table. Needless to say, she knocked me out of the tournament in the first round. She didn’t even have the courtesy to say, “Good game.” She just smirked at me as I left the table dejected.

After that, I adopted a new strategy when it came playing against Gwen: avoid doing so as much as I could!  That turned out to be rather easy, as she was interested in playing RPG themed board games, while I preferred the trading card variety.  We happily maintained that relationship -- members of the same group but living separate lives -- for the remainder of our sophomore year and all of our junior year.  However, when our senior year rolled around, our rivalry blossomed.

The Saturday gaming group at the “Dice & Deck” wasn’t just a random group of like individuals coming together every week to play games. Okay, maybe it was, but this seemingly random group did have some organization, and overseeing it was the “Game Board.”  It was our board of directors, but for games.  Get it?  “Game Board?”  Anyway, the Game Board consisted of anywhere from three to five members who would organize the group and plan out the various tournaments throughout the year.  The biggest and most anticipated tournament was the end-of-the-year Holiday Bowl, where one game would be picked and everyone would participate, hoping to be crowned to Champion of the Year!

While there was no age limit to be a Board member, no one younger than a college junior  had ever held the position.  However, if you were a long-time, regular Saturday gamer, the Game Board took your opinions seriously. If one was lucky, they may have some sway with the Board over what games were played at the various events.  By the time I was a high school senior, I was hoping to have earned some of that sway.

Over the past year, I made it a point to build friendships with several of the Board Members. Bowl recommendations didn't bein until October. But that didn't keep me from making it known that I was hoping to play a trading card game in the year end tournament.  Gwen, who had also been around for a while,  must have had a similar idea, because he spent a lot if time talking to the board, as well. There was a big difference berween us, however. We both may have had the Board's ear, but Gwen had the influence!  They didn’t just listen to her, but, in my opinion  went out of their way to make sure that the Holiday Bowl would decided by playing her suggestion, a war-themed board game, 1945: War in Europe.

The tournament was a disaster, at least for me.  I was outed in the first round and, not surprisingly, Gwen made it to the final table.  even One of the older members took the top prize, but it didn't change Gwen's bragging to me for the next several weeks.  It was all too clear, as long as Gwen was around, my tournament success would be effectively limited.

Lucky for me, however, Gwen had ambitions for her future that could not be accommodated by our small local college.  After high school, she left for a larger university a few states away.  What was more important, however, was that her presence would no longer haunt me from across the game board. Except for the occasional weekend here and there when she returned home on break, Gwen was gone from the “Dice & Deck” forever, and I could begin to regain dominance over my fellow gamers.

Too much?  Okay, maybe I just wouldn't lose as much.

Unlike Gwen, I had no real direction in my life. I stayed in Winter Shores and enrolled in the local community college. But, while my career plans may have stagnated, my gaming goals continued to increase. In addition to playing games, I made it a point to befriend the members of the Board and help out wherever I could.  When they needed someone to set up for tournaments, I was there.  If new players needed help be introduced into the group, I made sure they found a good mentor or opponent. I’d pick up snacks, make posters, anything that benefitted Saturday Game Day..

Then, about six months ago, at the start of my second and final year of community college, it happened!  I was officially asked to join the Game Board as an official member.  They had lost a couple of members this past year and were down to only two: Elaine, who was in her thirties and considered the mother of the group, even though several of the regulars were older than her, and Art, who was in his last year of college and only been on the Board himself for a little over a year.  I eagerly jumped in, but bade my time before making my recommendations for this year’s Holiday Bowl.  I didn’t want to sound desperate, after all.

After graduating from college, I spent more time at the “Dice & Deck” than was probably healthy.  In fact, I spent so much time, I was offered a job.  The game store was pretty much my home and the Saturday group my family.  Summer was nearly over and plans for the Bowl would begin soon. I was living my best life . . .

Until she came back!

Gwen Anders returned in early August.  She had grown a bit over the past two years, having trimmed up from her pudgy high school look.  Instead of her old tomboy haircut, her auburn hair was much longer and tied it back in a ponytail.  She still wore jeans and t-shirts, which usually featured a game logo, but she added a black leather jacket to her ensemble, even though the weather was still warm.

I expected her to stick around for a couple of weeks, play a few games with the group for old time’s sake, then head back to college.  Except she didn’t.  I don’t know why she didn’t go back, but I certainly wasn’t going to ask her.  I didn’t relish the idea of my rival’s return, but as long as I didn’t have to play against her, it might be okay.  And if ever we met in a tournament, I had to have improved the past two years. Hadn’t I? Regardless, I was cordial to Gwen when I had to be and avoided her otherwise.

Which brings us to where the story began, Gwen surprising me by participating in the Australia: The Northern Territory tournament. I’m happy to say, Gwen did not knock me out the tournament this time! However, that was because I was eliminated in the second round without ever being say at her table.  How did Gwen do?  I think that’s best left a mystery.

Eventually, the first Saturday in October rolled around, and I was eager to get to the “Dice & Deck” early.  This was the day the Board officially began discussing plans for the end of the year Holiday Bowl. This is what I’d been waiting for, the day I would officially present my pitch for Andromeda Factions, a sci-fi themed trading card game that I discovered last year.  I'd discussed the game a time or two with Elaine and Art, and not sensing any objections from them, I believed I had a great chance of convincing them to feature Factions at this year's final tournament. 

I arrived at the store ten minutes after it had opened. There were only a few cars in the parking lot, but I did see Art's and rushed in to speak with him before the other's began to arrive. I headed to the back of the store where the gaming tables were located and saw that Art wasn't alone.  I nearly gasped when I realized it was Gwen!

I thought this couldn't be good, and my fears were confirmed when I got close and could hear their conversation. Gwen was asking Art to consider Wyvern's Retreat for the Bowl.  Please, not another board game. And certainly not hers!

“Art,” I interrupted.  “I was hoping we could talk before everyone starts arriving?”

Art held up a hand to cut me off.  “Sure, Lance.  I'll be with you as soon as I'm done with Gwen.”

To Gwen, he said, “Thanks for the suggestion. It's early yet, but I'll be sure to have Elaine talk to you. That might also be a good time for her and I to talk to ou about something elsa we've been discussing. The Game Board has grown thin this past year, but the number of people coming to play every week is increasing.  Elaine and I really want to build the Board back up to five members again, and since it looks like you'll be staying in Winter Shores for a while, we were hoping to get your thoughts about becoming a Board member yourself.”

I was shocked! Did I hear right. Elaine and Art were offering Gwen a position on the Board. I was puzzled. I'm on the Board. Why didn't they ask me? Then I got angry. Gwen's hasn't been around for two years. What right did she have suddenly getting a say in the group’s business?

But then, I felt something totally unexpected.  I was a little jealous. Not because of Art's invitation to Gwen, or even the possibility that he would choose her game over mine.

No. My jealousy came from the simple fact that Art was getting to talk to Gwen.

(Read next prompt here.)