This is a new faction idea I had posted on the old forum, so some of the inspirations came from people who posted there. Their gimmick is “card fusion” where you need multiple copies of the same card to maximize their effect. They are a far east faction mostly inspired by imperial China with some other eastern cultures like Thailand. I figure their colors are red and white as red is the color of luck and festivity, and white is the color of Chinese jade and death.
Most of the cards below I based their costs, rarity, and abilities on similar Vespitole or Endazu counterparts, so are probably not appropriate and need adjustment. They are just placeholders and not meant to be competitive, but give you an idea of what they will do. Also, sadly, I don't know enough about various eastern cultures and history so I am trying remain somewhat non-specific.
Treasury: “The imperial treasury is at your disposal your highness, but let us hope your campaign brings back more riches than you take out.”
These cards magnify when copies of the same card are bought, like Endazu charges but permanent. If the original card is floating in the deck, then the newly bought card fuses into the one in the deck, though the newly bought card might generate its effect before fusing. When maxed a new card is started. Thematically, the hero is requisitioning more and more resources from the imperial treasury as the battle goes on.
Jade (Cost: 6/5/4) [Rarity: I] {Copies 1/5} -Fuse copies, For each copy, +1 gold
Rice Paddy (Cost: 6/5/4) [Rarity: I] {Copies 1/5} -Fuse copies, For each copy, +1 food
Gunpowder (Cost: 6/5/4) [Rarity: I] {Copies 1/5} -Fuse copies, For each copy, +1 skull
Joss Paper (Cost: 7/6/5) [Rarity: II] {Copies 1/5} -Fuse copies, For each copy, +1 magic
White Elephant (Cost: 6/5/4) [Rarity: I] {Copies 1/5} -Fuse copies, For each copy, foe loses one resource
Royal Summons (Cost: 6/5/4) [Hero Card] {Copies 1/5} -Fuse copies, For each copy, draw a card, select one
Rockets (Cost: 6/5/4) [Rarity: III] {Copies 1/5} -Fuse copies, For each copy, attack, ignores intercept
Terracotta Warriors (Cost: 6/5/4) [Rarity: II] {Copies 1/5} -Fuse copies, For each copy, intercept
Treasure Fleet (Cost: 7/6/5) [Rarity: III] {Copies 1/4} -Fuse copies, For each copy, restock your bank
Formations: “Back in formation! Individually we are fallible, but together we are unstoppable!”
These are unit cards that magnify with additional purchases. When a unit is maxed, a new card is started. These fuse only when both cards are on the field. Thematically, the individual warriors are organizing into military formations.
Quartermasters (Cost: 6/5/4) [Rarity: I] {Copies 1/5} 1 heart -On feed: +1 gold, Fuse copies on field, On turn, for each copy: +1 gold
Army Cooks (Cost: 6/5/4) [Rarity: I] {Copies 1/5} 1 heart -On feed 2 gold: +1 food, Fuse copies on field, On turn, for each copy: +1 food
Imperial Assassins (Cost: 6/5/4) [Rarity: I] {Copies 1/5} 1 heart -On feed: +1 skull, Fuse copies on field, On turn, for each copy: +1 skull
Military Philosophers (Cost: 7/6/5) [Rarity: II] {Copies 1/5} 2 hearts -On feed: +1 magic, Fuse copies on field, On turn, for each copy: +1 magic
Scholar Bureaucrats (Cost: 6/5/4) [Rarity: II] {Copies 1/5} 1 heart -On feed: foe loses 1 resource, Fuse copies on field, On turn, for each copy: Foe loses 1 resource
Alchemist Circle (Cost: 8/7/6) [IV] {Copies 1/3} 2 hearts -Fuse copies on field, On turn, for each copy: Create copy of non-maxed card in play
Warlord's Retinue (Cost: 8/7/6) [Hero Card] {Copies 1/3} 3 hearts -Fuse copies on field, On turn, for each copy: Activate allies
Crossbowmen (Cost: 6/5/4) [Rarity: II] {Copies 1/5} 1-5 hearts -On feed: attack x1, Fuse copies on field, 1 heart per copy, On turn, for each copy: Attack
Combat Engineers (Cost: 6/5/4) [Rarity: II] {Copies 1/5} 1-5 hearts -Fuse copies on field, 1 heart per copy, Intercept attacks
Combat Medics (Cost: 5/4/3) [Rarity: II] {Copies 1/5} 3 hearts -Fuse copies on field, On turn: Heal allies by number of copies
Alchemy: “With the right ingredients, one can reshape the world.”
These cards require that two individual cards be in the hand so requires more coordination compared to the automatic fusions of Treasury, but has better payout. They are discarded once activated, and the individual cards go back to floating in the deck to be combined again. Thematically the hero is mixing alchemical ingredients to create a reaction. I might rework these as the above cards already generate a lot of resources, so these cards might work more like Merchant's Guild or Corruption. I also used more western alchemy than eastern alchemy terms as I know more about the former than the latter.
Chrysopoeia (Cost: 4/3/2) [Rarity: II] -2 copies in hand: +5 gold, Discard both cards
Grand Elixir (Cost: 4/3/2) [Rarity: II] -2 copies in hand: +5 food, Discard both cards
Mercury Concoction (Cost: 4/3/2) [Rarity: II] -2 copies in hand: +5 skulls, Discard both cards
Philosopher's Stone (Cost: 5/4/3) [Rarity: III] -2 copies in hand: +5 magic, Discard both cards
Fire Lance (Cost: 7/6/5) [Hero Card] -2 copies in hand: For each enemy: attack, Discard both cards
Fire Dragon (Cost: 8/7/6) [Rarity: IV] -2 copies in hand: For each magic: attack, Discard both cards
Magnum Opus (Cost: 5/4/3) [Rarity: IV] -2 copies in hand: Create copy of Treasury in play, Discard both cards
Homunculus (Cost: 5/4/3) [Rarity: IV] -2 copies in hand: Create copy of Formations in play, Discard both cards
Prima Materia (Cost: 5/4/3) [Rarity: IV] -2 copies in hand: Create copy of Corvée in play, Discard both cards
Alkahest (Cost: 6/5/4) [Rarity IV] -2 copies in hand: Destroy any card, Discard both cards
Transmutation (6/5/4) [Rarity IV] -2 copies in hand: Summon any card, Discard both cards
Corvée: “The empire gives so much to its citizenry, it is only natural they return the favor.”
These cards are like idols or incantations in that they are always active on the field. Individually they do nothing until enough of the same cards are collected on the field to activate the Corvée, although I might rework them to have a small effect individually but a more powerful effect when enough are collected. Unlike Alchemy they require more cards to activate, but are constant and more reliable. Thematically the peasantry of the empire are slowly constructing a great public works project.
Great Wall (Cost: 4/3/2) [Hero Card] -4 copies on field: Fuse and activate, Cancel 5 attacks/turn
Fireworks Festival (Cost: 5/4/3) [Rarity: III] -3 copies on field: Fuse and activate, Every turn activate allies
Emperor's Visage (Cost: 5/4/3) [Rarity: IV] -3 copies on the field: Fuse and activate, Every turn restock copy of 1 card in play
Record Hall (Cost: 5/4/3) [Rarity: IV] -3 copies on the field: Fuse and activate, Increase hand size by 1
Silk Road (Cost: 4/3/2) [Rarity: II] -3 copies on field: Fuse and activate, Every turn +3 gold
Grand Canal (Cost: 4/3/2) [Rarity: II] -3 copies on field: Fuse and activate, Every turn +3 food
Forbidden City (Cost: 4/3/2) [Rarity: II] -3 copies on field: Fuse and activate, Every turn +3 skulls
Temple (Cost: 5/4/3) [Rarity: III] -3 copies on field: Fuse and activate, Every turn +3 magic
Minefield (Cost: 4/3/2) [Rarity: II] -4 copies on field: Fuse and activate, Retaliate 5 times/turn
Heroes and Misc.
Faction Coin: Yuan Epic Faction Coin: Imperial Receipt: +1 gold, 10% chance restock copy of card in play
Rebellious Princess (Rarity: II): When new Treasury is started, bank restocks 1 copy Hero Card: Royal Summons -The last descendant of her father's dynasty, political intrigue has seen her father and all her siblings killed. She has journeyed west to join the war her uncle is fighting, and to carve out a legacy of her own.
Imperial General (Rarity: III): Maxed Formations generate 1 new copy of same Formation Hero Card: Warlord’s Retinue -A famous general and the late emperor's younger half-brother, he has been away fighting wars in the west. However, he may have ulterior motives against the princess for if she dies, he could potentially inherit the empire.
Loyal Retainer (Rarity: IV): If hold Alchemy, draw a copy of that card if in deck Hero Card: Fire Lance -A learned adviser, caretaker, and bodyguard of the princess, he has dedicated his life to serving the royal family. He has journeyed west to retrieve the princess, and though he is ordered to take her back, he is willing to aid her cause.
Empress Dowager (Rarity: Epic): Corvées require one less copy to activate Hero Card: Great Wall -The late emperor's wife, she is the current leader of the empire but is busy keeping the fractious political factions together. With the exodus of her daughter from the court, she has ordered her retrieval at all costs to secure the dynasty.
Anyway. Feel free to comment and criticize. I recognize it is horribly unbalanced and impractical, but I wanted to have some fun and actually attempt to flesh out a faction idea.