Despotic is a fantasy themed 2 player spatial-tactical strategy board and card game. In Despotic, players assume the role of gladiator-like parties sent to battle one another for the Emperor's pleasure.
Unlike the abstract game of Chess, Despotic plays fast, adds some luck, probability management, decision limitation, and equalization(handicapping of Chess-Masters). In Despotic, the goal is to destroy your opponent's "King" or to run your opponent out of their 20 Power cards. Losing a Unit requires the removal of Power Cards equal to the Unit's Value. Also, Players remaining in Check must remove 2 Power Cards from their deck.
Initial set-up is like standard Chess, however each Player has 2 decks of cards (20 Movement Cards and 20 Power Cards). Each Player starts with 3 Movement Cards. During a turn, the player can (a) Play 1 card from their hand and resolve its effect, (b) Discard any number of cards from their hand and draw back up to 3 cards (Power and/or Movement Cards), -OR- (c) May remove any number of Dead Cards in their hand from the game, and then may draw and play 1 Power Card for each Dead Card removed. At the end of a turn, the Player draws back up to their hand limit size of 3 cards (from either Power and/or Movement Cards).
Movement Cards allow a corresponding Unit to move as indicated (standard Chess patterns). Power Cards allow non-traditional movement and/or create special effects/abilities in the game.