Introducing RingCraft: A Boxing Board Game in Development

Working on the first character card for Inga. Modelled after Ingemar Johansson.(Proxy Far Art is, of course, of Cammy by American5000)

Why create this game?

Deep within our quarantine this spring, I decided to dust off an old game I had outlined a couple years ago. 

I enjoy games that abstract the experience of boxing in either a digital or analog medium, but I noticed almost all of them focus on punching, and very few emphasize the importance of stance, movement, and positioning.

This is the hope of RingCraft: Put good “Ring Generalship” on a pedestal.

Gimme some specs!?

Playtime: 15-30 minutes

Players: 2-4

Age Range: 8+

Release Date: 2021?

So with that:

The Rules: Welcome to RingCraft Boxing!

(For those familiar with either X-wing or BattleCon, this will be very easy to grasp)

In this game, we are witnessing boxers attempting to out-maneuver each other and deliver crushing blows. Yes, attempting to knock each other out, but also trying to impress the judges. 

We face-off in a 5x5 ring. Boxers occupy a single square, and may face one of 8 directions (Orthogonal + Diagonal).

Boxers may move in 5-8 directions (depending on character), as well as turn 45 degrees.

Boxers, depending on character, have a certain set of attacks that might include: A Jab, haymaker, left hook and uppercut. Each attack has an attack area.

Each turn is called an Exchange. Players choose two cards, and decide the order, with the first movement on top. This is their resolution order. Players reveal the top card first, then the reveal the second card.

When revealed, movements are played first, then attacks. Boxers do not change their orientation unless they turn. If both boxers would occupy the same space, neither moves. 

Boxers start at a certain HP (Health Points) total. When a player gets hit, subtract the power of the punch from their life total. If both boxers are in the area of damage of each other’s punches, both punches land. Placement is important!

Each round consists of 6 Exchanges. Each exchange contains 2 Actions. At the end of the round, the player that dealt the most damage wins the round. If it’s a tie, it’s a draw round. 

Each player has a number of Bursts or Reacts they may use at any point in the bout. Bursts allow players to use one extra action for that one exchange. Reacts allow players to choose which of their two cards they play first in the exchange (after the opponent plays their first card). If both players use a react, resolve the Exchange normally. 

A player may not use a Burst and React in the same exchange. 

Between rounds, both players rest and recover a certain amount of HP. 

The second and third rounds pass the same way, six exchanges each!

If by the end of the third round, if no one has been brought to zero, the player that has won more rounds wins. If there’s a draw, there's a draw (just like real boxing)!

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If you’d like to follow development of this game, check us out at: https://www.instagram.com/boxing.boardgame/