This is a really creative idea. I will try it.

This is honestly the first time I've seen an analog game as a Ludum Dare entry. And I like it!

I tried the game out.

I would definitely suggest you add an example round or two so the players can see how the game is meant to be played and maybe an example of resolving a crisis with cards shown on the table and what not. Also I would maybe give some general advice for first time players for what they should try to do in their first game before trying more advanced strategies.

Otherwise it was interesting, took about 20-30 minutes to setup and start maybe playing (I wasn't keeping time). Overall I enjoyed it.

I played a solo game and will try to get a 2-3 player game together with my family later. I ended up saving the father and grandfather but losing the mother and child. I also won my secret objective handily: I was supposed to get 20 research points on one station and ended up being able to put two spare cards on a station last turn and got 27. It seems like Education will end up putting a card in the trash, delayed by one turn, with the benefit of a better roll next round. A roll of a 3 doesn't actually clean up the trash, only keeps the number the same. So the trash number only goes up, correct? I love that you've brought a physical game to a digital space, well done!

@disperse a roll of let's say 3 and 5 should reduce the trash by 1 as one of the researchers in your hand is used to clean it (so both that researcher and one trash go into the discard pile) and the other researcher can be added to a lab.

Yup putting a researcher into education guarantees that next turn at least on card will be added to the trash... But it also makes it more likely that you can add that researcher to a lab :)

Thanks for playing!

@alferbayter Ahh, that makes sense and also makes the game easier. I was putting played cards (that didn't go to the research station) in the trash. Discarding them makes sense. Thanks!

Great idea, but you should probably make the Doc read only. ;)

Haven't played yet, though found a minor inconsistency in the rules, it reads: "Player Area 1. It’s their turn, they have rolled a three and a five and have drawn two researchers." right at the end. The image however shows 3 and 6 as dice roll ;)
I'm looking forward to try it tomorrow :D

@plantprogrammer oops thanks for the catch - will update!

Interesting idea. I enjoyed it a bit, but I still have to play it again with other 2 people. As soon as quarantine is over...

Are you serious?

Hey, this is fun and super different! Love the concept. I'm thinking that it might be possible to further streamline the way the rules are written, since the three piles that the cards are initially split into are then re-made in the first few steps without any choices made by the players—feels like we could just cut out the middleman there. Still, the game itself feels well-designed and thought-out—I guess the next step is to make a video game simulator of it and put it online somehow! :)

I did my best but it was a little confusing - a couple sample rounds or simplified walkthrough would have helped a lot. If I get a chance I will try it with another human!