There’s a constant debate in the gaming world: should games be all about skill, or is a little bit of luck a good thing? Chess is the ultimate test of pure strategy—there’s no randomness, just you and your opponent thinking several moves ahead. But let’s be honest, that can make it really frustrating if you’re playing against someone who’s way better than you. If you're new to chess, you’re probably going to lose. A lot. And if you're playing against the same people over and over (like your friends or family), the outcome can start to feel pretty predictable. That’s not much fun for either player.
With Sylvan Tactics, we wanted to shake things up a bit. We took the deep, strategic core of chess and mixed in some extra layers—like a card system and multiple-move turns—to keep every game feeling fresh while still rewarding smart play.
Breaking Free from Chess Fatigue
Since Sylvan Tactics is played on a chessboard, it still has that familiar tactical feel. But unlike regular chess, you’re not just stuck following the same opening strategies and memorized play patterns. The introduction of cards means that every match unfolds a little differently, and experienced players can’t just rely on memorization of optimal strategies to dominate every game. Even if you’re playing against a chess master, a well-timed card play or an unexpected tactical move can completely change the flow of the game. This helps level the playing field while still encouraging strategic thinking.
The Role of Controlled Randomness
Now, don’t worry—we didn’t just throw in a bunch of random dice rolls to shake things up. We wanted to introduce just enough randomness to make things exciting, without taking away from the importance of skill. That’s why we designed our card system with a few key features:
The Draft Row – Instead of being stuck with whatever card you blindly draw, you get to choose from a selection of 5 face up cards that form the draft row. If none of the options in the draft row fit your current strategy you can instead draw from the randomized draw deck. This makes drawing a random card a gamble. “Will I draw something better than the available 5 cards in the draft row?” If you take that gamble and get a “bad” card, now you feel like you made a poor strategic choice rather than feeling like the game is just punishing you randomly.
Mulligans – Nobody likes getting stuck with a terrible starting hand. That’s why you can redo your opening draw once for free, so you never feel like you lost before the game even started.
Alternate Uses – Every card in your hand has value. If you don’t like a particular card’s effect, you can turn it into a Sigil (a resource) to power up other plays. No dead draws. No wasted turns.
Non-Card Actions – Every action in the game costs the same resource (Sigils), so if you don’t feel like you have the right cards to play during your turn, you can instead use your resources to move, attack, or play a new Pawn to the board. Then you can hope for a better card draw (or pick something from the draft row) during your next turn. Your resources are never wasted.
These mechanics keep the game engaging without making it feel unfair. You still need to plan ahead, but you’re not completely doomed by bad luck.
Dynamic Decision-Making: More Than Just One Move at a Time
Another way Sylvan Tactics keeps things interesting is by letting you make multiple moves per turn—a huge departure from classic chess. This means you can chain together actions, reposition pieces in unexpected ways, and create big momentum swings that keep both players engaged.
For experienced players, this means more opportunities for clever plays and mind games. For newer players, it provides more ways to turn the tide of battle, even against a stronger opponent. The result? A game where both players are constantly thinking on their feet, instead of just watching a slow, inevitable defeat play out.
Of course this is balanced by the resource system. Since moves and attacks cost the same resource as playing new cards, you will have less to spend on powerful cards during your turn if you choose to move and attack aggressively.
A Game That Stays Fresh
At its core, Sylvan Tactics is about keeping strategy exciting. Chess purists can still enjoy the familiar movement rules, while fans of card games will love the ever-changing possibilities introduced by the deck. In our playtesting we usually only get through about half of the 90+ unique cards, so you might play some games without seeing the same cards twice. The mix of skill and controlled randomness means every match feels different, and no one is locked into a predetermined outcome before the game even starts.
So, whether you're a tactical mastermind or just someone who wants a more engaging way to play on a chessboard, Sylvan Tactics was designed for you.
Want to see how it plays for yourself? Follow us on Bluesky, Instagram, and Discord for updates, development insights, and upcoming opportunities to try out Sylvan Tactics!