In the flavorful realms of BattleSauce, Evolutionary Traits, or Evos, are the defining natural abilities of your character’s Protein (or race). These traits are shaped by the environment, culture, and the Age in which your games take place. Whether you’re crafting a Protein for the prehistoric Age of Teeth and Stone or the horror-filled, high-tech Age of Illumination, here’s how to create Evos that are as Saucy and over the top as the game itself.
Evolutionary Traits, or Evos, are the natural abilities a Protein develops as they grow through gameplay. Proteins evolve by accumulating card values to count Calories and acquire new skills - as outlined in the Protein Pack chapter. Every Protein has ten available evolutions to choose from as they advance. Collaborate with your SauceBoss when homebrewing evolutions. All official BattleSauce games will include playable Evos and Trades.
The type of Evo your character undergoes depends on the species of Protein (human, animal, robot, etc.) and the Age in which you play. The more peculiar or bizarre the Age, the more unique and intriguing the Traits can be. Evos can be categorized into four groups.
The first step in creating Evos is understanding the world and the Age in which your Protein lives. Is it a gritty dystopian future where survival of the fittest means developing razor-sharp instincts and enhanced reflexes? Or perhaps it’s a mystical Age where the ability to manipulate fire is as common as breathing? The Age will largely dictate the nature and scope of your Evos. A few examples might be:
Age of Illumination
Technology and bioengineering reign supreme. Evos could involve cybernetic enhancements, telepathic communication, or nanobot-assisted regeneration.
Age of Teeth & Bone
Primal, raw power in a world of dangerous dinos and other forgotten or undiscovered wonders. Evos in this Age might include enhanced physical strength, thick skin for protection, or a predatory sense of smell.
With your Age fleshed out, each Protein will have a set of core characteristics that define what it is and can do. These characteristics should be reflected in the Evos you create. For example, consider traits such as seeing in the dark, mimicking voices, flight, and hypnotic suggestions if your Protein is an avian race, drawing inspiration from various bird traits.
In BattleSauce, we don’t do boring. We do ‘Saucy. Your Evos should be as flavorful as a spicy barbecue. Even if the Age demands a more serious tone, there’s always room for some flair. Instead of simple “enhanced strength,” go for something like “Titan’s Grip,” where your character can crush steel with their bare hands. Instead of basic “telepathy,” consider “Mind Feast,” where your character can consume the thoughts of others to gain their knowledge.
Now that you’ve crafted your Evolutionary Traits (Evos) with the perfect blend of spice and power, it’s time to bring them to life in the game. In BattleSauce, we use standard playing cards to perform Evos, adding an extra layer of strategy and depth to the gameplay. Here’s how to harness the power of playing cards to make your Evos extra spicy.
Playing cards are easily accessible, and their suits, numbers, colors, and images provide a wealth of options for deepening your gaming experience. Unlike dice, which rely purely on randomness, cards allow players to use strategy when performing Evos. Choosing which card to play can influence an Evo’s effectiveness, strength, and duration, making each decision count. However, not all Evos may require cards. Some traits could add a bonus to the Protein’s inherent Sting, Float, or Movement abilities, while others could be a random dice roll bonus.
When assigning cards to Evos, consider how the suits, colors, and images on the cards can enhance the theme of your character’s traits. You don’t have to use all the suits; some will lend themselves better to your Protein’s Evos than others. The goal is to create a seamless connection between the card and the Evo, making the gameplay feel intuitive and immersive.
Hearts: Perfect for traits tied to the essence of your Protein, Hearts are a natural choice for initiating Evos or powering them further.
Clubs: Think physicality and brute strength. Clubs are well-suited (pun intended) for Evos that involve physical enhancements, combat prowess, or endurance. Conversely, these cards could also be used for nature-related Evos because the suit image is a clover.
Diamonds: Ideal for traits involving the arcane, mysticism, attention to detail, and “sharpness.” Diamonds can represent a connection to supernatural elements or the quickness of reflexes, enhanced senses, or precision and clarity traits.
Spades: Often associated with the darker, more mysterious aspects of your Protein or serving as a catch-all for traits not covered by the other suits. Spades and black-suited cards are excellent for traits tied to stealth, death, or other shadow traits.
Jokers: Wildcards with versatile potential. A Joker can be a powerful enhancement or a flexible tool to adapt the Evo to a situation. They can also serve to throw an unpredictable, perhaps undesired, outcome when performing an Evo.
Another strength of using playing cards is building combos. Players can add cards to modify or enhance an Evo or Evos, creating a more powerful or longer-lasting effect. If a character has the Evo of “Speed Demon” (providing double speed and Sting bonuses) and then an Evo that grants the “Chameleon” ability, these abilities could be combined for optimal use, as long as all the required cards are in hand to use - and if they don’t cancel each other out.
The key to using cards effectively in BattleSauce is strategy. Unlike dice, which leave everything to chance, playing cards allow you to plan ahead. You can keep powerful cards when needed most, but running out of high-value cards too early can leave you vulnerable.
Evos are generally acquired as your character evolves and progresses during gameplay. However, specific Proteins may have inherent, “preloaded” Evos based on their natural physiology or characteristics. These traits are available from the beginning and represent the intrinsic abilities of the Protein, but they do not count as one of the ten Evos available in the pool.
EXAMPLE
A Manimal turtle Protein would likely already have a hardened shell, offering built-in defense against attacks and the ability to smash obstacles. This Evo is always ready to use, reflecting a turtle’s essential trait.
Not all Proteins will have preloaded Evos. Some rely solely on their earned Evos to define their abilities.
Combining Evos with playing cards allows players to create dynamic and evolving characters tailored to their gameplay.