Ironwood is a rules-light, highly asymmetric, card-driven tactical game for 1-2 players. Each round, you and your opponent alternate playing a total of 3 of your faction-specific cards for their action effects. These effects include positioning your warbands, initiating combat, extracting crystals, bestowing temporary passive effects, and many more. When combat occurs, you will use the same cards for their combat values instead, in a simultaneous bid to gain combat bonuses, inflict and fend off casualties, and augment the Dominance value of your warbands to win the combat. Ironwood also features a solo mode against either the Ironclad or the Woodwalkers.
Each faction is operated by their faction specific deck of 30+ unique action cards. On your turn, select a card from your hand and resolve its action to progress towards your victory.
However, when a player launches a battle, you will use the same cards in your hand to fight your opponent. Instead of resolving the action on the card, you and your opponent simultaneously bid a card for their combat values.
Each of the factions play and feel dramatically distinct thanks to the faction specific decks, the unique win conditions and the completely different playstyles.
The Ironclad represent the established, defensive faction that prefers long-term development. The Woodwalkers have limited access to crystals, and as a result their more aggressive playstyle is focused on sabotage, looting and surprise attacks.
As the Commander of the Ironclad, your primary goal is to lay down the foundations of your Forges, and once you have collected enough crystals, build these Forges on the foundations.
As the Chieftain of the Woodwalkers, your mission is to locate your people’s ancient Totems, and secure them in the outer forests, beyond the Ironclads’ reach.
