OCULUM — how to play

Open

Live: https://skitz-games.pages.dev/games/oculum/play/
(redirects to /games/oculum/b9/)

Beta. Read in-game How to Play, then First Gaze, then Enter the Gaze.

Goal

Things only fully exist when Witnessed. Three altitudes: High · Mid · Low. Play Veiled figures, spend Sight to Witness, then Pass. When both passed, Resolve.

Wins: Break (enemy Will ≤ 0) or Eclipse (reach 10). After 10 rounds, highest Will wins (tie = draw).

Resources (HUD)

Resource	Use
Essence	Play cards. Gained at turn start (cap 8). Does not carry.
Sight	Witness, Gaze, some Rites. Carry cap 6.
Will	Starts 20. 0 = Break loss.
Eclipse	Alt win at 10.

First two minutes

Open How to Play in the menu (do not skip if this is a first test).
Start First Gaze (Teach, fixed 20-card deck). Follow coach text.
Typical window: Play a Veiled figure into an empty altitude → Witness if you can afford Sight → other acts (Graft / Rite / Stance / Gaze) → Pass.
After both pass, watch Resolve: only Witnessed winners chip Will. Witnessed losers Fall; Veiled losers usually Hold.
Then try Enter the Gaze (full craft 20) or Constructed 30 only after Teach.

Turn loop (tester cheat-sheet)

Gain Essence + Sight, draw 1 (hand max 5).
Act until Pass: Play · Witness · Re-Veil · Graft · Rite · Stance · Gaze.
Opponent’s window if they have not Passed.
Both Passed → Resolve High/Mid/Low → next round.

Altitude quirks

High: +1 Sight if you have a Witnessed Figure/Site; Gaze Witness cheaper; combat +1 before divide.
Mid: Own Witness here gains 1 Sight.
Low: Own Witness and Gaze cost +1 Sight; Veiled figures +1 power.

Done when

First Gaze shows a win, loss, or completed teach beat — or you have Passed through at least one Resolve with figures on the board.

Tester notes

Crafts (Ink, Motley, Bellward, Scar, Lumen, Velvet, …) change verbs; Teach is the only required path for a smoke test.
Do not invent generic fantasy keywords — match printed card text / Codex.
Full rules: oculum/docs/RULES.md in the repo.