Game Idea: Chinese Elements

03/19/15

The Chinese Elements are really cool:

• Water
• Wood/Tree
• Metal
• Earth
• Fire

Not only is there one extra element than in the boring elements people are normally aware of, but there are two really interesting cycles, which I don't remember the proper names of, but they are basically the cycle of creation and the cycle of destruction.

Cycle of Creation

• Fire comes from Wood
• Wood comes from Water
• Water comes from Metal
• Metal comes from Earth
• Earth comes from Fire

Cycle of Destruction

• Fire melts Metal
• Metal cuts Wood
• Wood/Trees grow from and conquer Earth
• Earth absorbs Water
• Water douses Fire

I think somewhere in this awesome concept there has to be a good game, but I'm having trouble making one. I was thinking of some sort of versus card game, but maybe it can be an area game. Like, given an area to cultivate, make a stable equilibrium or cycle of elements. So, every turn each element on the board creates its element in empty ajacent tiles, and destroys any element it can in ajacent tiles.

I don't know, it's something I'm still thinking about. I need to make some prototypes, I think.