Game Mechanic: Card Drafting

In previous posts I've disused deck building games.  Today's mechanic is very similar to this, in fact, it's found in most deck building games.  As I looked through my games I was surprised at how many contained this mechanic.  Writing these posts, has made me start to take a more critical look at my own gaming preferences, mechanics I like and don't like, and of course, my favorite themes.  Card drafting isn't always the main mechanic found games I enjoy, but it usually one of the critical ones.  I also think it doesn't get a much love as it deserves.

Hallmarks of Card Drafting

Common Pool

As in deck building games, players are trying to create the best hand of cards possible.  These cards come from a common pool.  How the pool is set up can vary form game to game.


In "7 Wonders," for example, players receive a hand of seven cards to start, pick one card, and then pass the rest to the next player.  After revealing their card the process continues five more times.  At a rounds end, players will have drafted six cards. 

In "Coloretto" players draw cards to add to rows.  As the rows fill up, with both desirable and undesirable cards, players much choose an entire row to take into their hand.

Choice

In both of these games, players have a choice in which cards they draft.  If they players were to only draw blindly from a deck, the game would not qualify as a card drafting game. 

"Ticket to Ride" is a popular card drafting game involving both a choice and a blind draw.  If players don't see the color card they desire, the have the option to draw from the deck.  Since, they could also choose from the face-up cards, it qualifies as a card drafting game.

Russian Coloretto - I would love to have this version!

Meeting Objectives


The cards drafted by players help them meet a goal.  Goals can also be meet in various ways.  Players may gain an immediate advantage as in "7 Wonders."  Here, players may use drafted cards to build a stage of their wonder or gain a resource. 

"Coloretto" allows players to create sets for a future advantage.  Players are drafting cards to build the largest set, of two colors, over several rounds.  These sets enable players to gain victory points, counted at the games end.