Game Overview

Last updated: 13/12/2024

1. Game Concept

DashRunner is a competitive online game that blends skill, strategy, and innovation. Players accumulate points by performing in-game actions, with the ultimate goal of climbing the leaderboard. Points serve a dual purpose: determining leaderboard rankings and acting as in-game currency for purchasing cards.

The game introduces a strategic card system, allowing players to directly influence leaderboard rankings through attacks, defenses, and special effects. Weekly rewards encourage continuous engagement and foster a dynamic, competitive community.

2. Game Mechanics

A. Point Accumulation

  • Players earn points through various in-game actions, determining their position on a real-time leaderboard.
  • Points also function as in-game currency for purchasing strategic cards.

B. Cards System

Cards are the cornerstone of DashRunner, enabling players to disrupt opponents, protect themselves, and create opportunities to advance.

1. Standard Cards

  • Usage: Includes offensive, defensive, and point-boosting cards.
  • Cost: Each card costs 10% of the player's points at the time of purchase.
  • Card Limit: Players can hold up to 7 cards, which must be used within 7 days of acquisition.
  • Protection Mechanism: Players are immune to attacks while saving points to purchase five cards. Once they hold cards, they become vulnerable to attacks.

2. Special Cards

  • Rarity: Limited to 10,000 total copies, offering powerful, game-changing effects.
  • No Expiry: Special cards can be held indefinitely.
  • Card Limit: Players may hold a maximum of 2 special cards, and these must be unique.

3. Dual Cooldown System

Cards in DashRunner have two types of cooldowns:

  • Player-Level Cooldown (U): Once a player uses a card, they must wait for its cooldown period to expire before using it again. Other players can still use the same card during this time.
  • Game-Level Cooldown (G): Certain cards impose a cooldown on all players, meaning no one can use the card again until the game-level cooldown expires.

This system encourages strategic timing while preventing overuse of powerful cards across the game.

C. Card Acquisition and Trading

  • Obtaining Cards: Players spend 10% of their points to acquire randomly assigned cards, ensuring a balance of chance and strategy.
  • Trading: Players can trade cards for points or without compensation, fostering a player-driven economy.

3. Weekly Rewards System

A. Top of the Leaderboard

  • The #1 player each week receives a special card and a bonus card, alongside potential real-world rewards like financial prizes or sponsor gifts.

B. Second and Third Place

Players ranked 2nd and 3rd receive an Exclusive Bonus Card, offering one of the following benefits:

  1. A special or rare card.
  2. A point boost to start the next week.
  3. A discount on card purchases (5% of points instead of 10%) for the next week.

4. Available Cards

DashRunner’s card system includes three types of cards: Attack, Defense, and Special cards. Each type plays a vital role in shaping the game dynamics.

A. Attack Cards

Attack cards allow players to disrupt opponents and create opportunities to advance on the leaderboard:

  • Swap: Switch positions with the #1 player (if their points are no more than double yours).
    • Drop Rate: 8%
    • Cooldown: 12 hours (Player-Level)
  • Slowdown: Halve another player’s point gains for 1 hour.
    • Drop Rate: 7%
    • Cooldown: 5 hours (Player-Level)
  • Steal Points: Take 20% of another player’s points.
    • Drop Rate: 14%
    • Cooldown: 2 hours (Player-Level)
  • Free Fall: Reduce another player’s points by 50%.
    • Drop Rate: 5%
    • Cooldown: 24 hours (Player-Level)
  • Blocker: Stop a player from earning points for 1 hour.
    • Drop Rate: 9%
    • Cooldown: 4 hours (Player-Level)

B. Defense Cards

Defense cards protect players or enhance their ability to accumulate points:

  • Absolute Shield: Blocks all attacks for 3 hours.
    • Drop Rate: 9%
    • Cooldown: 8 hours (Player-Level)
  • Turn of Fortune: Reflects an attack back at the attacker.
    • Drop Rate: 7%
    • Cooldown: 6 hours (Player-Level)
  • Camouflage: Makes the player invisible, preventing all attacks for 2 hours.
    • Drop Rate: 11%
    • Cooldown: 4 hours (Player-Level)
  • Repair: Recovers 25% of the points lost from an attack.
    • Drop Rate: 9%
    • Cooldown: 3 hours (Player-Level)
  • Double Impact: Doubles the player’s point earnings for 3 hours.
    • Drop Rate: 12%
    • Cooldown: 6 hours (Player-Level)

C. Special Cards

Special cards are rare and provide game-changing effects, but they come with strict cooldowns:

  • Master of the Game: Resets the leaderboard, reducing all players’ points by 50%.
    • Drop Rate: 1%
    • Cooldown: 48 hours (Game-Level)
  • Sleight of Hand: Cancels the effect of any card (attack or defense).
    • Drop Rate: 2%
    • Cooldown: 12 hours (Player-Level)
  • Total Vision: Reveals all players’ cards for 5 hours, except those under Camouflage.
    • Drop Rate: 0%
    • Cooldown: 12 hours (Game-Level)
  • Sabotage: Reduces the points of all top 5 players (excluding the user) by 25%.
    • Drop Rate: 2%
    • Cooldown: 12 hours (Game-Level and Player-Level)
  • Forced Exchange: Swaps a card with another player, without their consent.
    • Drop Rate: 3%
    • Cooldown: 12 hours (Player-Level)
  • Time Stop: Freezes all players for 1 hour, preventing them from earning points.
    • Drop Rate: 1%
    • Cooldown: 24 hours (Game-Level and Player-Level)

5. Probability Distribution Analysis

The probability distribution in DashRunner has been carefully designed to balance competition, fairness, and strategic depth. Here’s an analysis of how the probabilities impact gameplay:

A. Attack Cards (43%)

Attack cards make up 43% of the distribution, driving competition by enabling frequent leaderboard disruptions. With cards like Swap and Steal Points, players have the tools to challenge opponents and climb the leaderboard. However, the intrinsic protection rule and cooldown system ensure that attacks remain fair and strategic, preventing excessive targeting.

B. Defense Cards (48%)

Defense cards hold the largest share at 48%, emphasizing fairness and player protection. Cards like Absolute Shield and Camouflage allow players to recover or shield themselves from aggressive tactics. This high proportion ensures that players are not overly penalized, encouraging long-term engagement and balanced gameplay.

C. Special Cards (9%)

Special cards are rare but highly impactful, comprising 9% of the distribution. These cards, such as Master of the Game and Sabotage, introduce dramatic shifts in gameplay. Their rarity and strict cooldowns ensure that they remain powerful tools for strategic moments without overwhelming the core mechanics of the game.

D. Strategic Depth

The dual cooldown system further enhances strategy by balancing individual and global use of powerful cards. The distribution creates a dynamic ecosystem where:

  • Attack cards keep the leaderboard fluid and competitive.
  • Defense cards provide stability and encourage tactical recovery.
  • Special cards offer rare opportunities to shift the game in bold ways.

6. Engagement Objectives

DashRunner is designed to maintain player engagement through its unique combination of competition, strategy, and rewards. The game’s mechanics ensure continuous motivation for players to participate and strategize.

A. Competitive Leaderboards

The real-time leaderboard and weekly resets create a dynamic environment where players are constantly motivated to improve their rankings. The addition of tangible rewards, such as financial prizes or bonus cards, further incentivizes participation and friendly rivalry.

B. Strategic Gameplay

The dual-purpose nature of points (ranking and currency) forces players to make calculated decisions about whether to save or spend. The card system introduces layers of strategy, requiring players to balance offense, defense, and resource management.

C. Dynamic Interactions

Player-driven interactions, such as card trading, foster a sense of community while creating opportunities for alliances and negotiations. The dynamic nature of the card system ensures that every game feels fresh and engaging.

D. Long-Term Engagement

Weekly rewards, evolving strategies, and the thrill of competition ensure that players remain invested over time. By blending skill-based progression with elements of chance and strategy, DashRunner keeps players coming back for more.