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Mystic Portal
Adventure
Role: Game Designer
Platform(s): Board Game
Development Time: 3 Weeks
Genre(s): Prototype(s) – Adventure, Role-playing, Board game, Fantasy
Mode(s): Multiplayer
Release: October 2022
Theme and Setting
Mystic Portal is a competitive fantasy board game where players begin as humans trapped in a cursed dimension. Their only hope of escape lies in reaching the mysterious portal at the center of the board—but monstrous NPCs (Vampires, Werewolves, and Witches) threaten to transform or kill them.
As the game unfolds, players may be turned into monsters themselves, gaining new powers and objectives. Strategy, alliances, chance, and timing all play crucial roles in a dynamic experience that evolves each round. Only one human can escape. Will it be you?
Core Gameplay
Player Roles:
Start as Humans
Can be transformed into: Vampires (by Vampire NPCs or other Vampires)
Werewolves (by Werewolf NPCs or other Werewolves)
Witches (by Witch NPCs or other Witches)
Win Condition:
Be the first Human to enter the central portal on the board.
Basic Movement:
Players roll a single six-sided die (1d6) to move.
Monster Interactions:
Vampires kill Humans (bite) or fight them via dice challenge (the highest number wins)
Werewolves can kill Vampires (bite off head)
Humans can fight and kill both, but only on their turn
Combat Tie-Breaking: Players roll a die, one chooses even, the other odd
Outcome:
Loser is killed and transformed
Respawn at nearest NPC of their kind
Lose a turn
Curing & Reverting:
Vampires: Use Cure Disease Potion
Werewolves: Must kill a Witch
Turned players revert to Human and can pursue portal victory
Ascendent Cards (Chance Cards):
Drawn when landing on specific board tiles, examples include:
Skip next player’s turn
Move forward/backward spaces
Transform into a monster
Re-roll next die result
Instant cure
Respawn Rules:
Monsters: Respawn at nearest NPC of their kind
Humans: Respawn at nearest Witch location
All respawns cost 1 turn
Player Count & Equipment:
Players: 4–6
Components:1 Game Board with Portal and NPC zones
6 Player Tokens
1 Standard 6-sided Die
40 Ascendent Cards
Potion Tokens / Witch Markers
NPC Monster Miniatures or Tiles
Key Strategic Elements:
Balance between curing yourself and sabotaging others
Risk management when nearing monsters or the portal
Alliance dynamics—especially via Witches' power to transform by group decision
Concept Development:
Created the game’s core premise, theme, and unique transformation mechanics.
Game Systems:
Designed player roles (Humans, Vampires, Werewolves, Witches) and their rules of engagement.
Developed combat rules, cure mechanics, and special interactions with dice challenges.
Board Layout & Flow:
Designed the prototype board structure with NPC zones, the central portal, and Ascendent Card spots.
Card Design:
Crafted a balanced mix of positive and negative effects for Ascendent Cards to add unpredictability.
Balancing:
Iteratively refined mechanics to ensure fair play, especially around transformation and respawn rules.
Player Experience:
Focused on pacing, thematic immersion, and strategic depth for 4–6 players.
Prototype Production:
Assembled a playable prototype with placeholder artwork, rulebook, and test materials.
Results:
Delivered a complete, functional board game prototype within 3 weeks.
Successfully conducted playtests that demonstrated high engagement and emergent storytelling through player transformation mechanics.
Received positive feedback on originality and replayability, especially due to the evolving roles of players and social dynamics.