If the number card and number discard pile are depleted, both players discard any unassociated cards from their hand to form a new number card pile. They then shuffle the cards to continue.

If you like Schmiegel v2.0, you might enjoy Crawlitaire.

For a quicker game, in phase four, have the attacking player roll first.

Folks, here is a set of custom cards for Schmiegel v2.0 that can also simulate polyhedral dice and provide some other goodies for role-playing games. They are based on a design by Matthew J. Neagley of Gnome Stew.

Folks,

Attached is a Schmiegel v2.0 table setup for use on https://playingcards.io/

This will allow you to learn and play Schmiegel v2.0 with another person online.

I have no affiliation with playingcards.io, and the service is free.

Instructions:
(1) Download the table setup file from the following link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/10tvb1tf1ffd31r/Schmiegel-v2-0_Setup.pcio?dl=0
Make a note of where you save the file.
(2) Go to https://playingcards.io/
(3) Scroll down, then click on the "Other/Custom" image on the bottom of the game options.
(4) Click on the "Start Game" button.
(5) Make a note of the link above the "Enter" button. This is the link you will share with another person to play online.
(6) Press the "Enter" button.
(7) Click on the "Edit Table" icon, which is on the top left, looks like a briefcase, and is just below the three-lined icon.
(8) Click on the words "Room Options".
(9) Click on "IMPORT FROM FILE".
(10) Navigate to where you downloaded the table setup file from step #1 and select the file.
(11) Click again on the "Edit Table" icon to move you out of editing mode.
(12) You are ready to play!

You start by clicking on the "Set Up" buttons next to the face deck and the number deck. Once automatically dealt to the bottom of the screen, the stack of six number cards must be moved only by each respective player to the bottom corner for the "A" or "B" side on which they plan to play. This will place the cards into their hand. Click on the number tab on the top left of the stack indicating the amount of cards to drag the entire stack.

Each player can then click on each of the four face cards on their side of the spinner to flip them face up. Spin for the highest number to see who goes first. Setup is then complete and play begins.

The main difference from the rules given in the original post is that the online setup uses a spinner (rather than two dice) to determine the numbers in battle. If a player's spin is one or it matches an associated card for their character in battle, they win the battle. This changes the strategy slightly, but is good for ease of use and learning. Players can use the checker piece on their side to indicate their character in battle by placing it beside the character.

It may take a bit of additional tinkering to figure out the table setup. See the playingcards.io site for further instructions.

Hope you enjoy.

Schmiegel v2.0 is a minimalist role playing game that requires merely two players, a standard deck of cards, and a standard pair of dice. Each player manages their own adventure party, and the two parties are in battle with one another. Each party begins with four characters, and they can be rogues, clerics, wizards, or fighters. A player wins when they have eliminated their opponent's characters.

Schmiegel v2.0
(Inspired by Hezzop)
Minimalist
Standard Deck & Dice
Player vs. Player Role Playing Game
Dedicated to EARS
Documentation v3.8


SETUP

- Be sure to have:
 - One regular deck of cards.
 - Two regular (six-sided) dice.
 - Two players . . . regular or not!
- Form two piles by separating
 - the face cards (Aces to Jacks) from
 - the number cards (Twos to Tens).
- Shuffle both piles and place them face down in the center of the table.
 - Place one face card face-up beside the face card pile, and place one number card face-up beside the number card pile. These will be the discard piles.
  - When the face card pile is depleted, do not shuffle the cards. Simply turn over the discard pile to continue the game.
  - When the number card pile is depleted, turn over and shuffle the cards to continue.
 - Deal four face cards to each player.
 - Players place their face cards face-up in front of themselves.
 - Face cards are the characters that form each playerś party. Jacks are rogues, queens are clerics, kings are wizards, and aces are fighters.
 - Deal six number cards to each player.
- Each player rolls two dice, starting with the youngest player. The player with the highest total roll takes the first turn in the game.
- Every character in this game is a halfling.


PLAY

The players take turns until
a player has lost all four characters.

Each turn has four phases.

The first phase allows the player to swap one character for another.

The second phase allows the player to level up their characters.

The third phase allows the player to use their characters' special abilities according to whether they are a rogue, cleric, wizard, or fighter.

The fourth phase allows the player to battle.

Here is a breakdown of each phase. . . .


PHASE ONE
Swapping a Character

In the first phase, the player can discard one character in order to draw another character from the pile of face cards.
- The player can accept or reject the drawn card.
- If the new character is accepted, then the face card and number cards associated with the old character must be discarded.
- If the card is rejected, then the player has still used their opportunity to swap characters for the turn. The player places the rejected card in the discard pile and the turn moves to Phase Two.


PHASE TWO
Associating a Number Card

In the second phase, the player draws a number card and places it in their hand. The player can then associate one number card from their hand with one character.
- Associated number cards improve the characterś special abilities (see Phase Three below) and improve a characterś chances in battle (see Phase Four below).
- Associated number cards must be the same suit as the character.
- The player places the associated card face-up beneath the character.
 - Jacks (Rogues) can have up to two associated cards.
 - Queens (Clerics) can have up to three.
 - Kings (Wizards) can have up to nine.
 - Aces (Fighters) can have up to five.
If the number card and number discard pile are depleted, both players discard any unassociated cards from their hand to form a new number card pile. They then shuffle the cards to continue.

PHASE THREE
Using Special Abilities

In the third phase, the player can use the characters' special abilities. Rogues can use thievery to steal associated cards; clerics can use leadership to recruit or resurrect characters; wizards can use necromancy to transfer associated cards; and fighters can use training to associate additional number cards to any other character in their party.

Here is a breakdown of each special ability. . . .

THIEVERY: A rogue (jack) can steal associated cards from any character other than a fighter. For each card associated with the jack, the player can steal one associated card from any of the other playerś characters that is not an ace. Stolen number cards go to the players hand. A player cannot steal on their first turn in the game. For example, if a player has two jacks, each with one associated card, then they can steal two associated cards from the opponent.

LEADERSHIP: The cleric (queen) can recruit characters into the party. For each card associated with the queen, the player can replace a lost character by drawing a face card. The maximum size of a party is four characters. For example, if there are only three characters in a party and there is a cleric in the party with two associated cards, then the cleric can add only one character.

NECROMANCY: A wizard (king) can take the life force from one character and give it to another. For each card associated with the king within the playerś party, the player can move one associated card between any two characters with the same suit as the king. A player cannot take an associated card from an opponent on their first turn in the game. However, a player can transfer associated cards between characters in their own party using necromancy on any turn of the game. Note: opposing kings are immune from any attempts to take away their associated cards with necromancy since no two kings have the same suit. For example, if the player has one king of clubs with two associated cards, then the player can move two associated cards from the opponent's jack of clubs to the players king of clubs.

TRAINING: For each card associated with the fighter (ace), the player can take one card from the number card pile and place it in their hand, then attempt to associate one number card from their hand with another character. An ace cannot use the training ability to associate a card with itself. Lastly, an ace is immune to thievery (the special ability of a jack/rogue).

Once the player has moved from one character's ability to another character's ability, the former character's ability cannot be used again within the same turn. However, if a character gains an ability by going from zero to one or more associated cards due to an ace (training, association) or a wizard (necromancy, transfer), then that character can also use their ability within the same turn. Likewise, if a player recruits new characters using a queen and associates cards with the new characters using an ace or a king, then those new characters can also use their ability within the same turn.

Order matters!


PHASE FOUR
Attacking with a Character

In the fourth phase, the player has the option to attack. They can select a character from their party with which to attack while the opponent can select a character to defend. The player can attack with one character per turn. A player cannot attack on their first turn in the game.
1. The defender begins with a roll.***
2. If the roll is an eleven or twelve or matches one of the number cards associated with their own character, then the defender wins the battle. The defeated character and associated cards are discarded.
3. If the roll is unsuccessful, then the attacker rolls.
4. If the roll is an eleven or twelve or matches one of the number cards associated with their own character, then the attacker wins the battle. The defeated character and associated cards are discarded.
5. If there has been no winning roll and the number of rolls is less than 12, then the defender rolls and play goes to step 2 above.
6. If the total number of rolls is 12, then the battle is a draw. The characters return to their respective parties and the turn ends.
***For a quicker game, have the attacking player roll first.

The turn ends with this phase (Phase Four).

If both players have remaining characters,
the other player's turn begins. . . .

That is the game of Schmiegel.
Enjoy!

- It is recommended that players use the "best-of" three or five format. For example, in the best-of-three format, also known as the "two out of three" format, the person to win two games first wins the overall competition.

"This one wins on eleven." - Nigel

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