Immunis

An Insidious Horde Game

Game Design Document
The University of South Carolina
EDET 652 J50/051
3/5/15
Game Title
Immunis An Insidious Horde Game
High Concept
This board game teaches players about infections in the body.
This complex, microscopic interaction is simplified to a two-player,
turn-based strategy game. One player controls the bodys leukocytes,
aka white blood cells, and another player controls the insidious horde,
aka bacteria, viruses, or both. The horde player controls a larger
number of units, which have limited health, movement, and actions.
The white blood cell player has a smaller number of units, but each
unit has unique abilities, such as engulfing units, augmenting other
units, and recruiting more units. Players go back and forth moving
units on a hexagonal board, and each player tries to destroy all of the
other players units.
Outcome
If all of the white blood cells are destroyed, then the body is
overran and the horde player wins. If all of the bacteria and/or viruses
are destroyed, then the body can recover and the white blood cell
player wins. Both players should understand how the body defends
itself from foreign invaders, aka pathogens, and hopefully they will be
more cognizant of what their bodies are doing when they are sick.
Instructional Objectives
Given the rules, the player will be able to play the game.
Based on her/his role, the player will be able to identify how s/he
will win.
Given character cards, the player will be able to strategically
control her/his units.

After several playthroughs, the player will be able to allocate

her/his units similar to the bodys natural defense process.
After several playthroughs, the player will be able to explain the
role of leukocytes in a general sense.
After several playthroughs, the player will be able to describe the
effect bacteria and viruses have on the body in a general sense.

Characters
The white blood cell player controls Macrophages and
Neutrophils, which act as the first line of defense and engulf
pathogens; (Langerhans) Dendritic cells that act as a sort of brain for
the immune system and recruit more, specialized cells for battle;
Helper T Cells, which augment other leukocytes; Plasma B cells that
produce antibodies, which disable and destroy pathogens; and Natural
Killer Cells that attack and destroy virally-infected cells. Additionally,
the white blood cell player must defend body cells, aka Somatic cells,
from infection and destruction. The horde player controls Bacteria,
which feed off the body and damage their immediate environment with
toxins, and Viruses that infect Somatic cells and use them to produce
many more Viruses. All units have abilities (unique moves), ability
ranges (the distance an ability affects), movements (the maximum
number of spaces it can move), action points (the total number of
events it can perform, i.e. movements and using abilities), and health
(the amount of damage it can sustain before dying). Each unit has a
character card (see Figure 1). For more on characters, see the
Technical Description.

Figure 1 Neutrophil Character Card

Game Environment
The board contains two sides with hexagonal spaces: a small
layout and a large layout (see Figures 2 and 3). The hexagonal
coordinates, e.g. 3,7, are printed on a transparent overlay that can be
added and removed to help position certain units, such as the Somatic
cells. There are two ends on the board: the white blood cells starting
point (right) and the horde starting point (left). The background depicts
areas of the skin, which include reticular fibers (pink wires), adipose
tissue (yellow/white bumps), lymph vessels (yellow tubes), blood
vessels (red tubes), and veins (blue tubes).

Figure 2 Small Immunis Board

The front side of the board. Hexagonal sizes are consistent on both
sides.

Figure 3 Large Immunis Board

The back side of the board. Hexagonal sizes are consistent on both
sides.
Game Play
First, players choose (or are assigned) roles, i.e. the bodys
defenses or the horde. Next, players choose whether or not they will
play with Bacteria, Viruses, or both. Then, players choose which board
side to play on, i.e. small or large. Each side contains its own number
of units:
Small Side (only Bacteria)
o 2 Somatic Cells
o 4 Leukocytes
1 Dendritic
2 Neutrophils
1 Macrophage
o 5 Bacteria
Small Side (only Viruses)
o 2 Somatic Cells
o 4 Leukocytes
1 Dendritic
1 Neutrophils
1 Macrophage
1 Natural Killer
o 8 Viruses
Small Side (both)
o 2 Somatic Cells
o 4 Leukocytes
1 Dendritic
1 Neutrophil
1 Macrophage
1 Natural Killer
o 6 Bacteria
o 2 Viruses
Large Side (only Bacteria)
o 7 Somatic Cells
o 6 Leukocytes
2 Dendritic
2 Neutrophils
2 Macrophages
o 10 Bacteria
Large Side (only Viruses)
o 7 Somatic Cells
o 6 Leukocytes
2 Dendritic

 2 Neutrophils
1 Macrophages
1 Natural Killer
o 16 Viruses
Large Side (both)
o 7 Somatic Cells
o 7 Leukocytes
2 Dendritic
2 Neutrophils
2 Macrophages
1 Natural Killer
o 8 Bacteria
o 8 Viruses
Players set up their units along their starting linewhite for the
leukocytes and purple for the horde. Next, players choose coordinates
to place somatic cells. Players can A) go back and forth choosing spots,
B) choose spots and flip a coin to place the somatic cell (1=yes and
2=no), or C) they can use a random number generator to pick the X,Y
coordinates (X and Y ranging from 1 to the highest number for that
side of the board). If a somatic cell is positioned on a spot that conflicts
with the board, i.e. it hangs outside of the battle area, then the players
repick a spot for it. Next, players flip a coin to see who goes first.
Players take turns moving their units, using abilities, assessing
damage, removing pegs (health) and units accordingly, and keep track
of counters (see Technical Description) until only one players units
remain.
Reward Structure & Feedback
Like a traditional board game, Immunis provides little extrinsic
motivation. The one exception is that each time the player wins s/he is
awarded a holographic character card to keep. The majority of the
reward structure centers around in-game mechanics and intrinsic drive.
In-game feedback (and reward) comes from removing your opponents
pegs (health markers), removing enemy units, spawning more units,
and chance, i.e. flipping a coin for more moves, damage, etc.
Look n Feel
Immunis The Horde Game depicts real-world cells and
environments as vibrant cartoons. The game board and units are
modeled after their real-life counterparts, but they are designed to be
bright, memorable, and engaging. Similarly, character cards are
colorful and simple.
Technical Description
Unit Characteristics:

Health: the number of units of damage that a unit can sustain

before being destroyed and removed from the board
Action Points: the total number of events a unit can perform, i.e.
moving, attacking, and using abilities
o Action Points limit a units actions. EX: 2 action points
allows a unit to move twice, move once and attack once,
attack twice with a range of 1 or more, etc.
Movement Points: the number of spaces a unit can move on the
board in one turn
Ability: a special move that is unique to each unit
Range: the area an ability can take place, i.e. the number of
hexagons away from the unit

Note: several units movements, actions, and abilities are based off
chance. Units with these possibilities have a 1orHeads and 2orTails
with them to indicate the appropriate response for a randomly
generated number (1 to 2) or a coin flip (heads or tails). When applying
chance to movement and action points, only flip/randomize once, i.e.
one coin flip affects both movement and action points.
Units:
Neutrophil
Health Points: 4
Action Points: 3
Movement Points: 2
Range: 0
Ability(s):
o Phagocytose Invader engulf a pathogen and lose 1 health
point
Dendritic Cell
Health Points: 5
Action Points: 3
Movement Points: 2
Range: 0
Ability(s):
o Phagocytose Invader engulf a pathogen and lose 1 health
point
o Recruitment after phagocytosing a pathogen, the cell
travels to a lymph vessel and leaves the battlefield; in 5
turns one Plasma B cell and one Helper T cell spawn on the
players start line.
Macrophage

Health Points: 8
Action Points: 2
Movement Points: 1
Range: 2
Ability(s):
o Pseudopodia Phagocytosis extends projections to engulf
pathogens
If the pathogen is unmarked (no antibody attached to
it), then the Macrophage has a 50% chance of
engulfing the pathogen(s), i.e. flip a coin.
If the pathogen is marked (antibody attached to it),
then the Macrophage has a 100% change of
engulfing the pathogen(s).

Plasma B Cell
Health Points: 3
Action Points: 3
Movement Points: 2
Range: 1
Ability(s):
o Release Antibodies drops 3 clusters of antibodies (Ab)
adjacent to the cell (player places Abs)
If a leukocyte walks over an Ab, then nothing
happens.
If a pathogen walks over an Ab, then the Ab adheres
to the pathogen and reduces its movement points by
1.
Ab increase a Macrophages chance to phagocytose
pathogens.
Helper T Cell
Health Points: 1
Action Points: 3
Movement Points: 3
Range: 1
Ability(s):
o Activation doubles the movement and action points of a
cell for 1 turn
Can only boost 1 cell per turn, but a cell can be
boosted by multiple helper t cells.
o Restoration restores 1 health point to a cell
Can only restore 1 health point per turn

o Recruitment summons a Neutrophil (1orHeads) or Helper

T cell (2orTails) on the players start line
Can only be used once
Natural Killer Cell
Health Points: 3
Action Points: 2
Movement Points: 1
Range: 1
Ability(s):
o Granule Apoptosis destroys infected Somatic cells and all
Viruses inside
o Gamma Boost increases Macrophage phagocytosis to
100%
Somatic Cell
Health Points: 10
Action Points: n/a
Movement Points: n/a
Range: n/a
Ability(s): n/a
Bacteria (pathogen)
Health Points: 1
Action Points: 1 (1orHeads) or 2 (2orTails)
Movement Points: 1 (1orHeads) or 2 (2orTails)
Range: 1 (all areas, see Toxin below)
Ability(s):
o Toxin adjacent, non-pathogen units take 1 damage at the
end of the horde players turn
Does not stack. EX: two Bacteria will only do 1
damage to a leukocyte on 1 hexagon spot, but 6
Bacteria surrounding a Somatic cell can do 6 damage
to 6 different hexagon spots.
o Reproduction every 15 turns, new bacteria spawn at the
horde players start line
Spawned bacteria = total # of bacteria / 2
Virus

(pathogen)
Health Points: 1
Action Points: 1 (1orHeads) or 2 (2orTails)
Movement Points: 1 (1orHeads) or 2 (2orTails)
Range: 1

Ability(s):
o Cellular Takeover attacks a Somatic cell, kills the Virus,
and after 3 more turns, Viruses erupt from the Somatic cell
and destroy the Somatic cell
EX: infect (turn 0), turn 1, turn 2, turn 3 ends and out
come the viruses, turn 4 the Viruses can move and
act.
Can only be used on Somatic cells.
1orHeads spawns 4 Viruses while 2orTails spawn 8
Viruses around the Somatic cell.
o HIV Mutation mutate into the human immunodeficiency
virus (HIV) and be able to use Cellular Takeover on
leukocytes
Get 1orHeads 100 times in a row to upgrade.
Counts as one action. The player continues to flip
until s/he gets a 2orTails.

Counters:
There are three counters that the players need to be aware of and
track. These counters indicate when units will join the battle.
3 turns Viruses
o Initiated when a Virus uses Cellular Takeover.
5 turns Plasma B and Helper T cells
o Initiated when a Dendritic cell uses Recruitment.
15 turns ALL THE UNITS!
o Initiated at the start of the game and continues every 15
turns.
o Units spawn on the start line.
o Bacteria (see Reproduction)
o Viruses (1orHeads spawns 4 viruses while 2orTails spawn
8)
o Leukocytes (1 Macrophage and 1 Dendritic)
Dendritic Cells Recruitment and Lymph Vessels:
Whenever a Dendritic cell lands on a hexagon with a lymph vessel
underneath it, the player can activate Recruitment (action point
dependent) and the Dendritic cell off. For example, on Figure 2 a player
could activate Recruitment on 1,5 and 3,7 and 5,6 and 7,4 and 9,3 and
9,4 and many more.
Notes
Immunis as a board game has been paper prototype tested, but
Immunis The Insidious Horde Game incorporates more aspects and
ratios, e.g. unit counts, that have not been play tested. This game

needs a lot of play testing to find a good balance for the number of
starting units on each board size, unit spawning numbers, unit health
points, action points, and so on.
References and Acknowledgements
Formal:
Kapp, K. (2012). The gamification of learning and instruction: Gamebased methods
and strategies for training and education. San Francisco, CA:
Pfeiffer.
Kurz Gesagt. (2014, July 1). Why You Are Still Alive The Immune
System Explained
[Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=zQGOcOUBi6s
Informal:
Many thanks to Collin-Jamal Smith and the rest of the USC Students
and Staff that have contributed to Immunis over the years.