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Hardback

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description Hardback Overview

Hardback is a competitive deck-building word game designed by Tim Fowers and released in 2018 by Fowers Games. Functioning as a thematic prequel to the previously released game Paperback, players draft cards featuring letters and special abilities to construct words, earning ink currency to purchase more powerful cards for their deck. It is designed for players who enjoy combining vocabulary skills with strategic resource management mechanics.

help Hardback FAQ

How does Hardback turn spelling words into a deck-building game?

Players combine letter cards from their decks to form words, then use the resulting income to acquire stronger cards. Some cards also generate victory points, so a valuable word is not always the play that best improves your deck.

What is the connection between Hardback and Paperback?

Hardback is a thematic prequel to Paperback, another word-building game from designer Tim Fowers. Its 2018 design adds mechanisms such as genres and push-your-luck elements instead of merely retelling Paperback with different artwork.

Do words in Hardback have to appear in a dictionary?

Hardback is generally played using an agreed dictionary or the group's shared judgment when a word is challenged. Because the game depends on English spelling and vocabulary, players should settle their preferred reference before starting.

What do the genre symbols on Hardback cards do?

Cards belong to literary genres, and combining matching genre symbols can activate additional abilities. This lets players specialize their decks instead of drafting letters solely for their point values or frequency.

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