Modes of Magical Showdown

Well, you know the basics of how to fight, let's get into some detail on how to use that beatdown knowledge! So, what is this game about? Well, putting it plainly, these:

Lookit the shiny thing!

These are 'Motes'. As in 'motes of energy', but don't worry about that. Point is, it is paramount that you collect these. These are your currency in this game, and all modes will involve you getting some one way or another- but those details can come a little later. You want Motes. In many ways, Motes are how you win.

Now, how do you GET Motes? Objectives.

It's you and your squad's task to accomplish whatever objective you've signed up for today. You do that, you win the match, you get Motes. Simple in theory, harder in practice. So, just what are 'Objectives'?

Those are the game modes! Each mode has a different Objective, with a different win condition. While beating your opponents up will certainly be useful, you can only win by accomplishing the Objective. And that can vary quite a bit. First of all, these are the general descriptions for the Objectives:

Takedown

This is basically the big one. Every team is presented with a high-value NPC enemy target. There's only one on the field at the time, and WHERE it is isn't always the same place twice. You also don't get to know where it is BEFORE the match starts- that's right, you have to find your mark before taking it down, after all!

So! There are two steps to this, and two ways you can score. First, be the one to deliver the killing blow- you're awarded a point and a cash reward for your team if your team are the ones to land the killing blow! Secondly, you still need proof that they're dead- and they'll always leave something behind. It's your task to grab the proof, and return the ‘marker’ that the target drops upon death to your specific base for another point. Keep in mind, however...any serious impact will result in the proof being dropped- and meaning that someone can abscond with the fruits of your hard work to get a point! And if that wasn't enough, carrying the proof will prevent special moves from being executed; you have to be careful with your cargo, after all! If you try anyway, it'll be dropped upon using a special move. So once you've taken down the target and gotten the proof, move quickly, move carefully, and make sure you've got backup to keep the vultures off you!

Whoever has the most points, OR the predetermined number of points when time runs out wins!

Scavenger

Ooh, this here's a fun one. A real scramble! There are a number of NPC enemies on the field, as well as high-value items. No loose Motes here! You have to find enemies, or Treasures- enemies give fixed amounts of currency, while Treasures give out much higher amounts- IF you can hold onto them by the time the game ends. You kill another player, and that causes them to lose a fixed amount of their currency, and up to two Treasures which opponents can pick up. Be warned, however- there are finite amounts of Treasures, AND finite amounts of enemies, which means that when all the enemies are dead, and all the Treasures are claimed, there's only one more recourse... It's a scramble to make yourselves, quite literally, the Most Valuable Team!

The winner is the one with the most currency when time is up, and you bank that amount all for yourself!

Marked Target

This one's a little different, and it's for people who like to live...dangerously. For one, THIS mode is taken solo. That's right, no team to back you up here! A specific player is Marked for a bounty via a very notable icon over their head. Those who are not Marked have the Objective to kill the Marked Target...but the Marked Target's Objective is to kill all of their pursuers! That's right, up to 11 other players all trying to dogpile one! As an equalizer against the horde of opponents, however, the Marked Target is given much higher health, speed, and damage than normal. The Marked Target gains money for killing the Pursuers, and there are no respawns in this mode, so watch out! The Marked Target is changed after the time runs out, the Marked Target is killed, or everyone else is killed. After a set amount of time, the game is over, and only the winners bag the cash- with the Marked Target getting quite the hefty bonus in comparison if they survive.

Those are some examples of the modes we have in mind and are preparing to introduce into the Showdown. Look forwards to more news soon!