NETWORK KING - THE OFFICIAL TCG OF BUSINESS
RULES
Network King is a symmetric collectible trading card game played in competition between two industry professionals. Each player constructs a deck of business cards from their favorite industry contacts. You take the role of co-founders seeking to take a majority stake in a game company through strategic hiring. Research shows a strong link between skill at the game and fiscal as well as romantic success.
How to Business
- At the start of the game, each founder draws 5 cards from their contact list (minimum 10 cards each)
- A turn consists of "hiring" a card to any one of 3 "studios." Name your studios as you hire to them (e.g. declare "I hire Gabe Newell to Tokyo Studio as an Artist."). Arrange each studio as a column of cards, with a space separating your hires and your opponent's.
- As you hire someone, you may choose to either lay off an opponent's card of the same profession at the same studio OR use the effect of your new hire's profession (see next section). You don't have to do either if you want.
- Cards are played vertically & laid off cards are turned horizontal
- Play continues until no cards remain in hand
Scoring
- At the end of the game, each co-founder counts the vowels on their remaining hires at each studio.
- If your count is higher than your opponent's, you control the studio.
- In the event of a tie (including a studio with no active hires), the starting player claims the studio.
- Whoever controls more studios is declared majority owner of the company and winner of the game.
Professions
| Profession | Effect |
|---|---|
| Business | Draw any card from your deck, then place a card from your hand on the bottom of your deck. |
| Design/Writing | Relocate any card on the board to a different studio. |
| Programming/QA | Lay off this card to lay off any 2 cards in the same studio. |
| Art | Rehire a card in this studio. |
| Sound | Lay off this card to pass your next turn. |
| * | * |
| No Name | Lay off every hire on both sides of the studio. |
| No Profession | Mimic an the effect of any profession in this studio. |
FAQ
Q: How do I determine what kind of profession my hire has?
A: If multiple professions would apply, then declare one as you hire them. For example, someone who lists their title as "Creative" could be in any profession except Business. If no profession is listed on the card, their profession is "No Profession."
Q: One of my contacts has their name and profession on different sides of the card. What do I do?
A: Play them name side up, but show the profession to your opponent as you hire them.
Q: My cards are double-sided, so my opponent can see my cards!
A: That's not a question.
Q: Am I required to play this game if I'm attending GDC?
Yes.
Q: Why do programmers lay people off? Why does having no name destroy a studio?
A: This is how jobs will work in the future.
Q: Thank you for answering my questions. I love you
A: That's not a question either.