Slumdog Deckbuilder

“This is the kind of card game story I’ve wanted to read for a long time…" Will Wight, author of Cradle

Build your deck. Prepare for battle. Change the world.

Born in the slums of Domstadt, City of Cards, Hick has known only poverty. The only way to make life better for himself and his family is to play the magical card game that is the lifeblood of the city; earn new cards, learn how to use them, build deeper bonds with the folkloric monsters contained within.

Hick’s dreams are shattered, however, when he is targetted by the religious fanatics who run the city, and is forced to compete in the secret, high-stakes world of the underground card circuit. Hick must struggle to keep his identity secret as he builds his deck, unlocks the power of the cards, and takes his first steps toward becoming a legendary card player.


Genre: Fantasy

"A lot of authors have tried to build card-based magic systems, and a lot of them are incredibly fun, but one part they so often miss? The actual card games. Benedict Patrick's Card Mage has the actual card games, and they're a ridiculous amount of fun. I felt the same joy I did watching a certain card game anime on Saturday morning cartoons as a kid, and I genuinely wish I could play Card Mage's game." - John Bierce

"This is the kind of card game story I've wanted to read for a long time." - Will Wight