Card game designer David Sirlin (Yomi, Puzzle Strike) has announced plans to release a new card game inspired by real-time-strategy computer games (RTS) called Codex, expected in November.

In Codex, each player begins with a book of cards representing traditional fantasy elements, such as heroes and magic spells.  Over the course of the game, they use the cards in their book to build a CCG-style deck in a manner similar to deck-building games.  In order to make use of their cards, the players must also invest resources in constructing "tech buildings," that allow access to stronger heroes and units, using a mechanic similar to RTS games like Starcraft.  The tactical element of RTS games is represented through card play, with units acting as patrollers to defend the player’s resources or as attackers to destroy enemy units and tech buildings.

Starter set

Codex will be produced in two versions.  The $25.00 MSRP Starter Set includes cards for two heroes, two player game boards, two starter decks, and the tokens and markers needed for two players to play the game.  The larger Core Set, with a $50.00 MSRP, offers six heroes and decks, two large game boards, two card binders, and the tokens and markers needed for two players.

Codex is not a collectible game, and the cards in each set are fixed, not random.

Core set

The designer is funding the project through Kickstarter, and has collected $174,293 worth of pledged support from 840 backers (an average of $207 per backer) as of February 23.  The Kickstarter does not have a retailer pledge level, but distribution into the trade will be handled by Game Salute.

Future expansion sets are planned to support the line, along with branded card sleeves.