Drop from the layer above

Individual Work

I discovered The Cards You're Dealt on Itch.io and was immediately drawn to its unique combination of card-based mechanics and grid-based levels. I found its design to be an excellent foundation for exploration. Inspired by this concept, I saw an opportunity to merge it with my passion for Chinese ancient architecture preservation—a theme I’ve always loved. By blending these ideas, I believe I can create a truly compelling and innovative game experience.

When the player arrive at these tiles, he will get a bonus

• Turn-based gameplay: Players use action cards each turn to move, climb, clear obstacles, and search for resources on the grid-based map.

• Falling mechanic: When the player's action cards run out, the current floor collapses, and the player falls to the next level, facing new challenges. All the objects on the current floor will fall down to the next level as well. And these objects will interact with the objects next floor and change the structure of the next level.

• Mini Map: The mini map on the top left of the screen will display the origin level layout of the next level, players will make decisions basing on that and take the falling interactions into consideration.

Common Reward: Choose 1 of 3 cards to add to your deck

Ancient Chinese wooden architecture, such as the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda and Hanging Temple, faces significant preservation challenges. The primary threats include structural instability, as wooden frameworks weaken over time due to weathering, earthquakes, and wind forces. Additionally, wood decay and insect damage, especially from termites, pose a constant risk. For the Hanging Temple, the erosion of the cliff face supporting the structure further endangers its stability. Increased tourist foot traffic also adds stress to these fragile buildings.

Card Types:

• Move: Walk, sprint, jump, etc.

  1. Climb: Traverse gaps, broken railings, and ledges.

  2. Clear Obstacles: Remove fallen beams, collapsed pillars, or debris.

  3. Search: Investigate relics, potentially gaining buffs or new cards.

• Three Attributes (Confucianism（儒）, Buddhism（佛）, Taoism（道）): Each card carries a cultural attribute, influencing card upgrades and interactions.

• Card Fusion: Two identical cards can be merged into a more powerful version when descending to the next floor, improving efficiency and effectiveness.

Daoism Reward

Level Design

Card Reference

Visual Design

ART-3d

Environment Reference

Grid-based tactical maps: Each floor is divided into tiles, requiring strategic movement and decision-making.

• Expanding levels: Each subsequent floor is slightly larger than the previous one, allowing for more exploration.

• Environmental Interactions:

  Falling debris from upper floors can block paths or create new platforms.

  Treasure chests from previous floors may land in accessible locations.

The highest hall:

1. Hall of the Three Teachings—90 meters above ground level

2. The entire complex extends from south to north, facing eastward with its back to the west.

3. Built to harmonize with the terrain, it follows the natural contours of the mountain.

• The first section comprises the ancestral hall.

• The second section is the South Wing, featuring principal halls such as the Pure Yang Palace, the Three Officials Hall, and the Thunder Sound Hall.

• The third section is the North Wing, housing the Four Buddhas Hall, the Three Saints Hall, and the Hall of Three Teachings.

The structures are timber-framed.
Roof eaves exhibit diverse configurations, including single-layer, double-layer, and triple-layer eaves.

Setting: The Hanging Temple is an ancient relic of historical and spiritual significance, once a fusion site of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. It has been abandoned for centuries, now deemed too dangerous to enter.

Prototype

Character Reference

Deck UI

Xuanqing (Dark Azure)


Hex: #3D3B4F


Tone: Cool


Origin: In ancient China, “Xuan” referred to a deep blackish-blue hue, often recorded among the Eight Banner colors of the Qing Dynasty.


Description: A dark bluish-black with a hint of grayish cyan—low in saturation, solemn, and composed.

Zhesè (Ochre Brown)
Hex: #955539


Tone: Warm


Origin: Derived from natural ochre mineral pigments, used in paintings and pottery since the Pre-Qin era.


Description: A reddish-brown with earthy yellow undertones—simple yet weighty, understated yet enduringly appealing.

Skip Button

Organically integrating Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism into a unified whole.
Synthesizing the essence of the Three Teachings, embracing deities from all directions.
Within the Hall of the Three Teachings, the Buddha Shakyamuni sits majestically at the center.
Laozi resides to the Buddha's right, while Confucius is enshrined at the upper left.

The rain hat design needs to be decorated with Bagua elements (cut into eight sides). This is important because the player's perspective will only show the top of the head and back.

Belt and pendant design

Cocoon

In-game perspective

The character of the game is mainly a adventurer with a stylized art style. Ancient Chinese wooden architecture, such as the Yingxian Wooden Pagoda and Hanging Temple, faces significant preservation challenges. The primary threats include structural instability, as wooden frameworks weaken over time.