One of the cooler mechanics introduced into Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game, in my opinion, was the cycle of the Day and Night trait. This mechanic came to us originally in the Dreamlands cycle of Asylum Packs, and it proved to be rather popular with players. Though it seemed to be a hit among the community we’ve not seen much of it since then, that is until now according to Fantasy Flight Games.
The company has just posted a preview for Terror in Venice – the new deluxe expansion for Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game. This new expansion is bringing Day and Night back to the forefront of the game, and it’s doing so with ferocity. Players will be excited to see the mechanic return as it represents the “shifting states of power” amongst the narrow streets and dark canals of the “City of Water”.
Cards with either the Day or Night trait change the current “time” of the game, which is an overall effect that doesn’t really do anything by itself. The power in this mechanic, however, is that when the time changes other cards can and will become more powerful, and some cards can only be played during a specific time. Let’s take a look at how Day and Night works:
Day is usually associated with the investigators in Call of Cthulhu. These are the fearless individuals who stand and fight against the invaders of our world. In Terror in Venice, the whole idea is that the Day effects would protect them from all the creatures that lurk in the shadows. With the light comes safety, especially on the streets of Venice. Cards like The Church Operative make it harder for opponents to remove your important characters from play while the sun is in the sky, while cards like Desperate Search can help with card advantage while it’s still light outside.
On the other hand, Night empowers the game’s beings of mythos. Once the sun sets, cards like the Poleman become much deadlier by gaining icons of additional abilities. Some cards have the opportunity to tell their own stories, especially when it comes to cards like At Night They Roam. This card allows its controller to gain control of any insane character, but as long as it’s Night they will instead gain control of all insane characters and be able to bend them to their will.
The return of the Day and Night traits will definitely bring more playability to Call of Cthulhu: The Card Game. I believe this mechanic is one of the best in the game, and players will have to really work out their strategies in order to stay on top of the Story Phase. Playing your cards correctly can really make your deck something terrifying, whether it’s against the beings of the night or the powerful investigators of our world.