A few months back, I learned of the in-production game Healing Blade. This is a card game designed by two gamer-physicians to be both deeply strategic, as well as an instructional experience for students and doctors to teach appropriately selecting antibiotics to fight specific bacterial infections. Today, it was finally launched on Amazon and through game stores.
So, let’s see – gamer? Check. Physician? Check. Specialty, nay, nigh-obsession with infectious diseases? Check. Trains medical students and residents? Check.
I am, it seems, in the target audience.
A bit of background from the website:
Developed by two physician/gamers, Francis Kong and Arun Mathews, Healing Blade plunges the player into a world of sorcery and creatures, where real-world knowledge of infectious diseases and therapeutics play a pivotal role in the winning strategy.
Choose one of two sides:
-The Apothecaries, Champions of the Healing Blade whose namesakes hearken from real world antibiotics.
-The Lords of Pestilence, Creatures of Disease and manifestations of actual bacterial agents.
As you and your opponent seek domination through corruption and conquest, you must vie not only with brute force, but also with planning, strategy, and most importantly, an astute understanding of microbiology and medical therapeutics.
Early reviews seem to report that it’s a solid game, but I’ve ordered a couple of copies to check it out for myself. I’ll be sure to drop a review here once I’ve played a few rounds. However, I do have high hopes. Why? SYPHILIS. I mean, just look at her…
*swoon* Uh, I mean, hand me the bastard sword +3 of penicillin! Yeah. That’s it. Yup.
Hmm, hard to tell at that magnification, but it looks like she’s had a nipplectomy?
@Nora – Or, her nipples fell off… due to SYPHILIS.
I find myself strangely compelled to purchase and/or play this game, though I know… let’s say “very little” about microbiology. Still, what a way to learn!
The only problem I foresee is that it will be even harder than normal to find players. “Hey, wanna play a geeky card game about fighting infectious diseases? With magic?” “Uhh…”
Apparently, most of my friends are not quite so much in the target audience.
@Jason – But when you find such a person?
GLORY.
Someone who says yes to that is clearly a person to hang with, and proof of your own moral and genetic superiority.
Bring it to Thanksgiving gaming weekend, muah hah hah hah!
hey folks – arun here from NCL. thanks for checking us out! we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game! also, we’re planning on launching a series of posters based on some of the more *ahem* popular characters. on the healing blade fb group you can help us figure out some of the design elements, if that floats your boat. thanks again!
@Arun – Thanks for stopping by! I still haven’t made the time to play yet, but that will happen shortly. I’ll be sure to let you know.
And I will have to check out those poster designs… 🙂