PTSD: Terminal 01

Description

Welcome to the Terminal "When systems collapse, morality is a liability: only control and notoriety remain." - Ov3rlrd In a world rebuilt after AI dominance, the few operator networks skilled enough to seize control of the terminals are chasing two things: Fame and SYSM (System Points). Null State™: Terminal 01 is a cybersecurity-themed, hybrid strategy card game where players compete as notorious hackers navigating dark nets, managing data streams, and infiltrating high-stakes target subnets. To win, you must compile exploits in physical memory stacks, trade for rule-breaking scripts, manipulate global markets, and lock your digital assets onto the public blockchain before your competitors shut you down. The Gameplay LoopOver a series of rounds, players compete to infiltrate target subnets (Location Cards) revealed on the board. You begin with a hand of 5 data cards, representing encrypted program fragments. On your turn, you must choose exactly one of eight system commands: Scan: Query the network and draw data cards equal to the current Network Scan Speed (1 to 6). But beware: your hand limit is 7 data cards. Exceeding it triggers immediate data loss (discarding down to 7). Disrupt: Play data cards from your hand to manipulate the board's six market tracks, shift the scan speed, or push the SYSM crypto die value up or down. Program: Load encrypted data fragment cards from your hand into one of your 3 physical memory stacks (up to 7 cards per stack) to compile your exploits, or swap a card in a stack. Flush (Discard Stack): Wipe a compromised memory stack clean to the discard pile to clear your cache and start a new sequence. Trade: Spend program fragments using their combined suit icon count to meet the current price (1 to 6, determined by the market's d6) to buy powerful, rule-bending tool cards from the White Hat, Grey Hat, or Black Hat markets. Hack: Execute a compiled memory stack against a face-up Location card. Your stack must match the location's security requirements and exceed your opponents' control level (which increases requirements by 1 for each opponent control cube present). If successful, claim a reward and place a control cube to compete for control. Harden: Reinforce a location where you already have presence. Spend one data card matching each of the location's required data types directly from one of your active memory stacks to place an additional control cube there, securing your hold. Blockchain: Commit a data card face-up from your hand to your public blockchain ledger (maximum of 20 cards) to establish your end-game scoring multipliers. Key Mechanical Pillars Memory Stack Programming: Unlike traditional hand-builders, you must compile your payloads in order. Stacking fragments (containing identifiers like ACC, KEY, DATA, NET and suits like Hack [HKT], Crack [CRK], Break [BRK], Bypass [BYP]) requires foresight to match the specific inputs of the location firewalls. The Hat Markets (White, Grey, and Black Hat Decks): White Hat: cards offer personal protections and stack expansions. Black Hat: cards unleash chaos on opponents, forcing cards to be discarded or reducing their cache sizes. Grey Hat: cards trigger global market events, swaps, and interactive deals. Market Manipulation: The value of the data you gather is not static. Using the Disrupt command, you shift the market value of the 6 data tracks (AI Intel, Government, Financial, Personal, Market Intel, and Dark Web) between 1 and 10. Blockchain Scoring Engine: At the end of the game, players score points by comparing the final market track values against their public blockchain pile: Track values of 1 to 3: 1 point per 10 SYSM of that type. Track values of 4 to 7: 2 points per 10 SYSM of that type. Track values of 8 to 10: 3 points per 10 SYSM of that type. Crypto Dominance Leader: The player furthest along the SYSM Crypto Dominance track at the end of the game receives a flat +10 points bonus. Sum these scores and add them to the Fame earned from successfully hacking and dominating locations to determine the winner. PIONEER EDITION — FULLY PLAYABLE PHYSICAL BASE GAME Welcome to Null State™: Terminal 01! This physical release is a complete, standalone 1–4 player tabletop experience ready for your game table today. As a Pioneer player, you hold the inaugural physical edition of the system. We are actively expanding the Null State ecosystem, and your feedback will directly shape upcoming 5–6 player expansions, tournament modules, and story modules. Every future release game asset is designed to be 100% forward-compatible with your physical base set. Grab your copy, run your first hacks, and help forge the future of the game! Post-Crowdfunding Open-Source Plans Self-Compiling Game Engine: Following the crowdfunding campaign, the developers plan to open-source the game's custom build system and card generation scripts, allowing the community to hack, balance, and compile their own custom decks. Hometown Subnets: Post-campaign, the custom deck generator will enable players to compile custom Print-and-Play decks featuring Location cards mapped to real landmarks, local subnets, and geographic grids from their actual hometowns. Proof of Exploit QR Codes: The back of every card features a unique, game-compiled QR code. Physical players can scan their successful hacks to verify their achievements digitally and upload their scores to a global leaderboard. (Fully optional; the core game remains a standalone tabletop experience). Components 1 Shared Network Gameboard (with Market Tracks and Dice Slots) 110 Data Cards (Poker size, 2.5" x 3.5") 24 Location Cards (Jumbo size, 5.5" x 3.5") 72 Market Cards (24 Black Hat, 24 Grey Hat, 24 White Hat) 6 Player Identity Cards (featuring unique Hacker Handles and one-shot special abilities) 6 Double-Sided Jumbo Player Reference Aids (Actions and Command sets) 5 Custom Six-Sided Dice: 1 Red Black Hat, 1 Blue Grey Hat, 1 White White Hat, 1 Yellow Network Scan, and 1 Neon Green SYSM Crypto 72 Control Cubes: 12 in each of 6 player colors for tracking location presence 6 Market Disc Markers: 1 in each of 6 colors to track market values 1 Rulebook

Mechanics

Themes

Publishers

Designers