PoxNora
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| PoxNora | |
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| Developer(s) | Octopi, Inc., FUN Technologies Company |
| Designer(s) | Dan Kopycienski, Arthur Griffith, Justin Felker |
| Platform(s) | Java |
| Release date |  August 1, 2006 |
| Genre(s) | turn-based strategy, collectible card game |
| Mode(s) | two-player |
PoxNora: Battlefield of the Immortals is a multiplayer online game that combines a collectible card game with a turn-based strategy game. PoxNora was originally launched via Java Web Start through a browser and can be played on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. The game is free to play with "Sample Battlegroups" and players can purchase additional game pieces, called "runes", and build their own strategies. The game currently includes more than 500 runes.
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[edit] Gameplay
Players build decks, called "BattleGroups", on PoxNora's website. A Battlegroup consists of twenty runes in any combination of spells, relics, equipment and champions. The game is launched via Java Web Start and players enter one of three game lobbies where they can chat or enter games. Games consist of two players, though matches against AI "bots" are possible now with the release of the "Path to Conquest" Expansion.
Each player's Battlegroup is shuffled (like a deck of cards) and (in standard settings) players reveal two runes per turn (except the first turn, when three are revealed and the second player's first turn, in which four runes are revealed). The game is played on one of 8 different square, "tiled" maps with various obstacles, fonts, and a Shrine representing each player. To win, you need to be the first to destroy your opponent's Shrine.
Players accumulate Nora (magical energy) each turn and can use it to cast spells, deploy champions, place relics, or use equipment. When a champion rune is played, it appears on the game map and can be moved around, just like any other tactical roleplaying game. Champion movement is limited by their Action Points (AP), which they regenerate at the start of your turn. Champions gain Champion Points (CP) as they participate in battles. You can spend CP to improve or add to your champion's abilities. Tokens can be used to reset a champion's spent CP, as well as to provide bonus CP.
The game is free for trial play, but to be able to upgrade runes, create your own custom BattleGroups, or to trade for other runes it is necessary to purchase your own runes. $3 US buys a pack of 10 runes. $25 US buys a pack of 100 runes. Many players also purchase a premium subscription, which costs $5 US per month. The premium subscription gives access to Premium Campaigns, store discounts, Beta testing, and a few "Limited Edition" runes that otherwise do not appear in purchased packs.
You can even trade your runes with other players from around the world to get better runes or to make a better deck. There are several "rune shops" in the Trader forum that can give players a good idea of what their runes are worth. For an automated approximation of rune values, see the fan site PoxShop. It is important to do some research before you trade, as there can be some dishonest traders.
[edit] Factions
PoxNora's world is split among eight factions. Each rune belongs to a particular faction. Players receive bonuses if their Battlegroups have at least 10 runes of a given faction and a greater bonus if all 20 runes are from the same faction. An additional Shrine Bonus is activated by having 10 runes of a faction. In the case of 2 factions with 10 runes in your BattleGroup, the faction with the greatest Nora cost total rules the shrine.
[edit] Forglar Swamp
The telepathic Firk, the Salaman and agile Boghoppers fill the Forglar Swamp, a place where creatures inhabit water as well as land.
Faction bonus: +4/+8 Nora per turn.
Shrine bonus: All friendly Champions heal 1 HP per turn while inside this Shrine's deployment zone. The four spaces adjacent to this Shrine which are closest to the enemy Shrine are water.
[edit] Forsaken Wastes
A faction of necromancers, the Forsaken Wastes has an unending army of undead.
Faction bonus: Champions can be redeployed in 30%/60% fewer turns.
Shrine bonus: This Shrine's deployment zone becomes a Dead Magic zone: spells cast by the opposing player may not be targeted within this area.
[edit] Ironfist Stronghold
The Ironfist Stronghold is a well-defended mountain kingdom inhabited by dwarves and barbarians.
Faction bonus: Damage to controlled champions from spells is reduced by 3/6
Shrine bonus: All friendly Champions regain an extra AP each turn while in your deployment zone.
[edit] K'thir Forest
The people of K'thir Forest are elves and garu (man-bears), and are known for being in touch with nature.
Faction bonus: +1/+2 speed (SPD) to your Champions.
Shrine bonus: All friendly Champions have mobility, allowing them to disengage from combat for free while inside this Shrine's deployment zone.
[edit] Savage Tundra
The frigid tundras of PoxNora are home to the Jakei, a blue-skinned people at home in the snow, as well as the Lonx and all manner of frozen beasts.
Faction bonus: +5/+10 hitpoints (HP) to your Champions.
Shrine bonus: All friendly Champions have +1 DMG while inside this Shrine's deployment zone.
[edit] Shattered Peaks
These jagged peaks full of crags are home to Cyclops and the cruel Voil, but most noticeably the Moga and their dominating G'hern.
Faction bonus: +6%/+12% Nora when you deploy a champion.
Shrine bonus: Whenever a friendly Champion is deployed within this Shrine's deployment zone, it gains 2 AP.
[edit] Sundered Lands
The desolate Sundered Lands are home to the Draksar, and the Skeezick, both forms of Dragonkin.
Faction bonus: +7/+14 DEF to your Champions.
Shrine bonus: All friendly Champions have +5 ATK while inside this Shrine's deployment zone.
[edit] The Underdepths
The Underdepths is a dark, hot place filled with Bok demons and the fallen Nefari Deep Elves.
Faction bonus: +2/+5 damage (DMG) for your Champions.
Shrine bonus: All enemy Champions in this Shrine's deployment zone take 1 Fire damage each round.
[edit] Expansion: The Savage Tundra
Octopi, Inc. released PoxNora's first expansion on 25 October 2006. The expansion, consisting of approximately 70 new runes, introduced the Savage Tundra faction. This brought the total rune count to almost 250.[1]
[edit] Expansion: The Shattered Peaks
Octopi, Inc. released PoxNora's second expansion January 2, 2007[2]. This expansion added close to 100 runes, introduced the 8th and final faction, the Tribes of the Shattered Peaks, and added additional changes and improvements to gameplay mechanics.
[edit] Expansion: Drums of War
Octopi, Inc. released PoxNora's third expansion on May 9, 2007. This expansion introduced premium user accounts, heroes, "King of the Hill" and "Capture the Flag" modes, a spectator mode, 80 new runes (10 per faction), and a faction ranking system where players could influence the game's future storyline.
[edit] Expansion: Skeezick Rebellion
Octopi, Inc. released PoxNora's fourth expansion on August 29, 2007. This expansion introduced 80 new runes, diplomat runes, and a rune crafter.
[edit] Expansion: Grimlic's Descent
Was released on Wednesday December 12, 2007. It added an exotic rune for each faction.
[edit] Expansion: Path To Conquest
Was released on Wednesday May 21, 2008. This expansion introduced the new single-player campaign modes, which come in three types: Free, Premium (available only to Premium members), and Purchasable. These campaigns offer rare rewards for completion; each campaign has several difficulty levels that yield rewards based on the difficulty completed. This expansion also introduced many new runes, as well as the "Sand" terrain type. The rune crafter that was previously available only to Premium Members became available to everyone.
