Blob's Card Engine

Getting started ​

Blob's Card Engine is a card table for Foundry Virtual Tabletop: classic games with the rules handled for you, tarot and fate decks for your story, and a builder to make your own card games without writing code.

What you need ​

  • Foundry VTT v13 or v14. It works with every game system; character features are deepest with D&D 5e.
  • Your itch.io download page link. You get it right after buying on itch.io, in your purchase email and in your itch.io library. It looks like bigblobgames.itch.io/blobs-card-engine/download/…

Only the GM needs it: everyone who joins your world can play.

Install ​

1. Get your personal install link ​

  1. Open modules.bigblobgames.dev/bce.
  2. Paste your itch.io download page link and press Get my install link.
  3. Press Copy. This link is yours and tied to your purchase, so please don't share it.

2. Install it in Foundry ​

  1. In Foundry's setup screen, open Add-on Modules and press Install Module.
  2. Paste your link into Manifest URL at the bottom and press Install.
  3. Launch your world. In Game Settings → Manage Modules, tick Blob's Card Engine and save.

The first time, the GM gets a private chat message with a link to these docs. The Docs link in the match manager's footer opens them any time.

If something goes wrong ​

  • "That key isn't a Blob's Card Engine purchase." Copy the whole address of your download page from itch.io and paste it again.
  • Foundry says the module is already installed. Uninstall the old copy in Add-on Modules first (your worlds are kept), then install with your link.
  • Using a host such as The Forge? Use its "install from manifest URL" option with your link.
  • Still stuck, or your Foundry can't reach the internet? Email bigblobgames@gmail.com with your itch.io purchase and we'll sort it out.

Your first game in a minute ​

  1. Open the Card Stacks tab of the sidebar and press Blob's Card Engine.
  2. On the Games tab, press Start a match on a game. Tick who plays (and, for RPG games, which character each player brings), then Start.
  3. Everyone seated sees the table open. Cards are dealt, and the table shows each player what they can do.

New match on the Matches tab asks which game first. Type to search, or pick from your favourites, the games you played recently, card games, games for your campaign, trading card games and your own games. Games that don't fit the number of players you've ticked are greyed out.

The three windows ​

  • The match manager (the sidebar button): your Matches, the Games you can play and your Decks.
  • The table: where you play. Drag cards, click them for what they can do, and read How to play on the right.
  • The game builder: open any game with Edit (or Open in builder for built-in games; duplicate them to change them).

Rules levels ​

Every game can run at three levels, chosen when you start a match:

  • Strict: the table enforces every rule. Illegal moves are refused, with the reason.
  • Assisted: the table points out legal moves and warns you, but lets you break a rule if you confirm.
  • Sandbox: no rules, like a real table: move anything anywhere.

Updates ​

New versions arrive through Foundry: in Add-on Modules, press Check for Updates (or Update All). Your worlds, games and decks are kept.

When the module updates, the GM gets a private chat message with a link to What's new. Built-in games update in every world; matches already in progress keep the rules they started with.