Fate’s Edge

In the smoky heart of The Veiled Coin, where whispers trade faster than coin and danger brews stronger than ale, the game of Fate’s Edge is played with sharpened nerves and sharper instincts. Beneath dim lanternlight and the scent of old wood and spilt spirits, patrons gather around scarred tables to lay their fortunes on a deck of Tarot cards. It’s a game where coin buys survival and every card flipped feels like a heartbeat skipped. Here, you don't just gamble gold—you gamble fate itself, and only one walks away richer while the others count their losses in silence.

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Players: 2–6
Deck: Standard 78-card Tarot deck (Major and Minor Arcana)
Setting: A game of cunning, intuition, and risk. In the smoke-filled corners of The Veiled Coin, only one walks away with the pot.

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Goal of the Game

Be the last player remaining with any credits. Everyone else loses everything.

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Setup

• Each player starts by buying into the game with 100 credits.
• Shuffle the full Tarot deck and place it in the center (called The Weave).
• Deal 2 cards face down to each player—this is their Veil.
• Leave space in the center for the Thread (shared cards).

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Game Flow

Each round consists of 5 phases:

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1. Ante

• All players put 10 credits into the pot to stay in the round.
• Players may choose to fold and sit out the round (they keep their remaining coins, but can't win the pot).

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2. Draw Phase

• Each remaining player draws 1 card from the Weave and adds it to their Veil (they now have 3 cards total).

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3. Reveal the Thread

• Each player reveals one card, placing it into the Thread. These are shared cards, influencing scoring and effects.

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4. Wager Phase

• Starting with the dealer, players may:
• Raise (add 10–30 credits to the pot)
• Call (match the highest raise)
• Fold (forfeit the round)

Note: No bluffing—players don’t speak, they only act.

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5. Resolution

• Players reveal their Veil cards.
• Scoring:

Minor Arcana

• Card Value = Number (Ace = 1, King = 14)
• Suits can add modifiers:
• Wands = +2 if any Wand is in the Thread
• Cups = +3 if another player revealed any Cup in their Veil
• Swords = -2 to opponents if you have 2 or more
• Pentacles = +1 for every 10 credits you currently hold (does not count those in the pot)

Major Arcana

• Each is worth 20 points
• Some have effects:
• Death = When revealed in a player's veil, all other players discard 1 random card from their Veil
• The Devil = When revealed in a player's veil, Steal 10 credits from each opponent still in the round
• The Fool = 0 or 25 points (declared at reveal)
• Total score = sum of both Veil cards + bonuses from the Thread

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Winning the Round

• Highest total score wins the pot.
• If tied, the player with the most Major Arcana wins.
• If still tied, split the pot.

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Elimination

• A player is eliminated when they run out of credits.
• The game continues until only one player remains.