Volume 1.1.1

Terminology

• GM (General Manager) – the people playing the tabletop game are GMs.
• Player – the basketball athlete on a card.
• Series – the full best‑of‑five contest between two GMs. This is also what you’re playing when you “play a Series of Card Court Legends.”
• Game – one of up to five units within a Series; each Game represents one real NBA game.
• Matchup – a single position‑vs‑position stat comparison within a Game (five per Game).

Note: “Game” is also used for the Games Played (G) stat printed on card backs.

Introduction

In Card Court Legends, you are the General Manager (GM) of a professional basketball team in a version of tabletop fantasy sports. Your goal is to out-strategize your opponent over a best-of-five playoff Series using real basketball trading cards you collect yourself. You draft players, manage lineups, and compare statistics to decide winners.

Each Game changes through Win Condition Cards and Event Cards, forcing you to adapt your strategy every Game.

Your objective: Win 3 Games in a best of 5 series.

What You Need

• Each GM needs a legal deck built under one of the three Deck Building Formats (Set Mode, Tier Mode, or Team Mode) — see Deck Building section below.
  • The cards of your deck must include statistics of a most recent season on the back of the card. You need to make sure that points, assists, steals, rebounds, and blocks are included on the card.
• Game board (optional but recommended)
• 1 six‑sided die (1d6)
• 1 coin
• 1 home team tracker
• 8 player event markers
• 16 card stands
• Win Condition Deck (24 cards)
• Event Card Deck (60 cards)
• GM Abilities Deck (6 cards)
• Calculator (for stat comparisons)

Game Setup

1. Choose Your Deck

Part of the fun in Card Court Legends is using cards you collect and love. Before a Series begins, GMs agree on one of the three Deck Building Formats below. All GMs in a Series use the same format. Each card represents a player available to your team.

Shuffling note: These are trading cards, not bridge cards — if you riffle, bend, or bridge-shuffle your player deck the cards will easily damage. To mix a deck, spread the cards face-down and scramble/wash them around in your hand, then gather them back into a pile.

Deck Building

Set Mode

• Choose one specific card set and print year (e.g., 2003-04 Topps).
• Build a 20-card deck using any 20 unique players from that set and year.
• No duplicate players. No mixing sets or years within the deck.

Tier Mode

• Choose one specific card set and print year (e.g., 2003-04 Topps), same as Set Mode.
• Build a 20-card deck using only players from that set and year, distributed across the following PPG tiers:

PPG Source: A player’s tier is determined by their full-season scoring average for the print year of the set — the same year used to select the set. Traded players use their combined season average across all teams, not per-team splits.

Rookie Eligibility: Players whose card is from a draft/rookie year with no season PPG on record are not eligible for Tier Mode.

Tier Fulfillment & Backfill: Each tier’s Base Limit is the most cards a GM may take from that range — not a requirement. If the chosen set/year doesn’t contain enough players to fill a tier, the unused slot(s) roll down and add to the next tier’s limit. If that tier is also short, the shortfall continues rolling down through each subsequent tier below it.

Example: A set/year has zero 30+ PPG players. Tier A’s 1 slot goes unfilled, so Tier B’s limit increases from 5 to 6 for that deck. If Tier B also can’t be filled, the remaining shortfall rolls further down to Tier C, and so on.

Team Mode

• Choose one NBA team and one season/year.
• Build an 8-player roster using cards from that team and year, from any set or manufacturer.
• No draft phase. No Free Agent Market. The 8-player roster is locked for the entire Series.
• Step 7 rotation runs on the 8-player roster as-is. (Note: injury/trade Event Cards are pending adjustment for Team Mode’s lack of a Free Agent Market.)

2. Draw Your GM Ability

Every GM gets a special ability through through a GM Card. These abilities give each GM a distinct style like an information advantage, lineup flexibility, defensive insight, or statistical manipulation.

Shuffle the GM Ability deck face-down. Each GM draws two cards at random, and chooses one to keep. GM Cards only affect the GM who controls them. Place your GM card somewhere close in front of you. You must reveal and state your ability to your opponent.

3. Select a “Star Player” from your deck

Each GM chooses one player from their deck to guarantee on their team.

4. Create the Market

Shuffle your deck and place it face‑up in your Market area. This is your team’s pool of available players.

5. Draft Your Team

Draw 7 cards from the Market. Along with your star player, this forms an 8‑player team. Place each card in a stand. Your star player goes in the black (odd colored) stand. All players left in the Market pile will become free agents available for trade later on in the Series.

6. Prepare the Decks

Shuffle both the Win Condition Deck and Event Card Deck. Place each face‑down on the board.

Game Structure

A game follows the following steps:

1. Assigning lineups to positions →
2. Identifying the stats to compare with a Win Condition Card →
3. Drawing and resolve Team and Player Event cards
4. Compare stats at all five positions based on the Win Condition card
5. Tallying points for each positional matchup

There is no separate “offense” or “defense” role for your players — every position is evaluated on whichever stat the Win Condition Card assigns it that Game, whether that’s Points, Assists, Steals, Rebounds, or Blocks.

Step 1 – Assign Lineups

To begin, make a coin toss. The loser of the coin toss is the VISITOR TEAM. Place the marker on the board indicating which team is the home team.

The visiting team assigns their players to positions first. The possible positions include Point Guard, Shooting Guard, Small Forward, Power Forward, and Center. The statistics you’ll use to compare each position (win conditions) most often align with statistics common for that player. (Point guards are known for assists, Centers for rebounds). The remaining 3 players go on the bench.

Once the Visitor’s team GM places their players, the Home GM can assign their players to positions.

Place the cards in the stands and on the position you have assigned. Cards should face your opponent so you can see their stats. Unless instructed on a specific card, your opponent is not allowed to see the stats of your players.

Star Player Bonus: If both GMs assign their Star Player to the same position, the winner earns +1 bonus point. This gives the home team and advantage, by choosing whether or not their star player will compete with the opponent’s start player. Star player status can never be transferred (even if you trade away your star player).

Step 2 – Draw the Win Condition Card

Reveal the Win Condition Card for the curent Game. It defines which stat (Points, Assists, Steals, Rebounds, or Blocks) will be used to compare players in each position.

Example: PG → Assists, SG → Points, SF → Steals, PF → Rebounds, C → Points

Step 3 – Draw Event Cards

a. Draw & Resolve Team Event

The visiting team draws and resolves their team event first. Team event cards are read aloud and resolved completely before continuing. They often change lineups, positions, etc. Once the visiting team resolves their team event card, the home team draws and resolves their team event card.

b. Draw 2 Player Events

After both Team Event cards are resolved, each GM draws 2 Player Event cards from the Player Event deck. Order does not matter.

Player events are assigned to individual players on your starting roster. If they can be resolved, they must be used on a player of your choosing. Place the player event marker next to the card you want the effect to take hold on. Do not reveal their effect (that comes next). You may place both event cards on the same player.

Step 4 – Compare Stats

Follow the win condition card to compare statistics by position. You will compare the player you’ve placed in each position with the player in the same position as your opponent. (Point guard vs point guard, and so on)

• Use per‑game averages for the most recent available year. If your card does not have per game averages, eyeball the per game stat (or use a calculator to get the right number)

[Reference image pending — original rulebook included a diagram here.]

• The player with the higher per game average wins the matchup.

Scoring

• 1 point for each matchup win
• 0 points for ties
• 1 extra point for star player vs star player matchups

The GM with the most points wins the Game.

Step 5 – Overtime (If Tied)

If both GMs have the same number of points at the end of the Game, each GM selects one bench player to compare a stat. After selecting your players, the Home GM chooses the statistic to compare.

The winner takes the Game. If the selected stat is also tied, the Home team wins the Game.

Step 6 – Free Agent Draft

Team Mode: Skip this step entirely. There is no Market in Team Mode, so no Free Agent trading occurs.

After each Game, each GM may trade one of their starters for a Free Agent.

Draw the top two cards from your Market. GMs can add one of these two players to their team, if they trade them for a current starter.

• If you trade:
  • Place the chosen Free Agent into your lineup.
  • Discard the starter you replaced.
  • Discard the unused Free Agent.
• If you do not trade:
  • Discard both Active Free Agents.

c. Market Integrity

After discarding, do not shuffle your Market.

All remaining cards stay in their current order.

Step 7 – Lineup Rotation

To get ready for the next game, lineups must be rotated.

1. Two bench players must be placed into the starting lineup
2. No player may stay in the same position for the next Game. All positions must have a new player assigned to them. Players may return to a position they have already been on if they spent one Game on a different position.

If a team event is later drawn that forces a change in lineup, the new player by position rule no longer applies.

Step 8 – Begin Next Game

The winner of the previous Game is now the VISITING team, and must assign their players first.

Winning the Series

The first GM to win 3 Games claims the championship. Record the Series score to track long‑term rivalries.

Win Condition Cards

Here are 10 Win Condition cards for Card Court Legends, designed to be drawn before each playoff Game to define the theme and positional stat comparisons for that Game.

Each card has:

• A title (Game theme)
• A short description
• A position-to-stat assignment
• A bonus or twist mechanic to encourage strategic deck-building or in-game adaptation

Win Condition Cards

1. Lights Out Offense – Weight: 3 / 40 (7.5%)

   • PG: Assists
   • SG: Points
   • SF: Points
   • PF: Rebounds
   • C: Points

   A classic offensive showcase.

2. Defensive Stand – Weight: 3 / 40 (7.5%)

   • PG: Steals
   • SG: Steals
   • SF: Points
   • PF: Blocks
   • C: Rebounds

   Defense wins games.

3. Team First – Weight: 3 / 40 (7.5%)

   • PG: Assists
   • SG: Assists
   • SF: Points
   • PF: Rebounds
   • C: Assists

   Teamwork over flash.

4. Run and Gun – Weight: 3 / 40 (7.5%)

   • PG: Points
   • SG: Points
   • SF: Steals
   • PF: Points
   • C: Assists

   Fast pace, full throttle.

5. Paint Domination – Weight: 2 / 40 (5%)

   • PG: Assists
   • SG: Steals
   • SF: Rebounds
   • PF: Points
   • C: Points

   Control the interior.

6. Fast Break – Weight: 2 / 40 (5%)

   • PG: Steals
   • SG: Steals
   • SF: Assists
   • PF: Points
   • C: Rebounds

   Transition game.

7. Iso Game – Weight: 2 / 40 (5%)

   • PG: Points
   • SG: Points
   • SF: Points
   • PF: Assists
   • C: Blocks

   Stars take over.

8. Board Battle – Weight: 2 / 40 (5%)

   • PG: Points
   • SG: Rebounds
   • SF: Rebounds
   • PF: Rebounds
   • C: Rebounds

   Rebounding rules.

9. Total Lockdown – Weight: 2 / 40 (5%)

   • PG: Steals
   • SG: Blocks
   • SF: Blocks
   • PF: Steals
   • C: Blocks

   Rim protectors shine.

10. Triple Double Threat – Weight: 2 / 40 (5%)

    • PG: Assists
    • SG: Points
    • SF: Assists
    • PF: Points
    • C: Assists

    Versatility rewarded.

Potential Additional Win Condition Cards

1. Lights Out Offense – Weight: 3 / 40 (7.5%)

   • PG: Assists
   • SG: Points
   • SF: Points
   • PF: Rebounds
   • C: Points

2. Defensive Stand – Weight: 3 / 40 (7.5%)

   • PG: Steals
   • SG: Steals
   • SF: Points
   • PF: Blocks
   • C: Rebounds

3. Team First – Weight: 3 / 40 (7.5%)

   • PG: Assists
   • SG: Assists
   • SF: Points
   • PF: Rebounds
   • C: Assists

4. Run and Gun – Weight: 3 / 40 (7.5%)

   • PG: Points
   • SG: Points
   • SF: Steals
   • PF: Points
   • C: Assists

5. Paint Domination – Weight: 2 / 40 (5%)

   • PG: Assists
   • SG: Steals
   • SF: Rebounds
   • PF: Points
   • C: Points

6. Fast Break – Weight: 2 / 40 (5%)

   • PG: Steals
   • SG: Steals
   • SF: Assists
   • PF: Points
   • C: Rebounds

7. Iso Game – Weight: 2 / 40 (5%)

   • PG: Points
   • SG: Points
   • SF: Points
   • PF: Assists
   • C: Blocks

8. Board Battle – Weight: 2 / 40 (5%)

   • PG: Points
   • SG: Rebounds
   • SF: Rebounds
   • PF: Rebounds
   • C: Rebounds

9. Total Lockdown – Weight: 2 / 40 (5%)

   • PG: Steals
   • SG: Blocks
   • SF: Blocks
   • PF: Steals
   • C: Blocks

10. Triple Double Threat – Weight: 2 / 40 (5%)

    • PG: Assists
    • SG: Points
    • SF: Assists
    • PF: Points
    • C: Assists

Event Cards

Event Cards introduce strategic twists and surprise moments to each Game of Card Court Legends.

Each Game, both GMs draw and play a combination of Team Event Cards and Player Event Cards that affect their lineup, player positioning, and performance in that Game.

All Event Cards fall into two categories:

1. Team Event Cards – affect your lineup, positions, benching, trades, or player availability.
2. Player Event Cards – affect the specific stat values used when comparing players.

Team Events are always public and resolved immediately.

Player Events are always hidden and revealed only when the relevant stat comparison occurs.

TEAM EVENT CARDS

Team Events affect your lineup, positions, or player availability, and are always public.

Trade Request — Team Event

Roll a die to determine which starter must be traded:

• 1: Point Guard
• 2: Shooting Guard
• 3: Small Forward
• 4: Power Forward
• 5: Center
• 6: Your opponent chooses the player that must be traded

The affected player is traded immediately:

• Discard the traded player for the remainder of the Series.
• Draw the top two cards from your Market.
• Choose one to promote into the now-vacant starting position.
• Discard the unused Free Agent.

If playing in Team Mode, discard this card and draw again.

Injury — Team Event

Roll to determine which starter is injured:

• 1: PG
• 2: SG
• 3: SF
• 4: PF
• 5: C
• 6: You get to choose which player is injured

Injured players:

• Are moved to the injury spot on the board immediately
• They do not play this game, and then at the end of the game are moved to the bench but cannot be inserted into the starting lineup (injured players miss two games total)

Promote any bench player to fill the position. They can fill the position even if they had that position last Game.

Injury Cap: A GM may only have one injured player at a time. Since each GM draws only one Team Event per Game, two simultaneous injuries should not occur.

Substitution — Team Event

You may either:

• Swap the positions of two starters, or
• Swap one starter with one bench player

Load Management — Team Event

Roll a die to determine which starter must rest:

• 1: PG
• 2: SG
• 3: SF
• 4: PF
• 5: C
• 6: Your opponent gets to choose the player that is benched

The affected player is benched for the Game. Promote any bench player to fill the spot.

All-Star Break — Team Event

This card affects both GMs.

Each GM must:

• Identify their two players with the highest PPG
• Bench both of them
• Rearrange the remaining lineup however they choose

Two benched players must fill in their spots.

Pick and Roll — Team Event

Choose any two of your opponent’s starters and switch their positions.

The switched players adopt the stat using the Win Condition stat for that position

Sixth Man — Team Event

Choose one of your bench players. Your opponent chooses a bench player. Choose a win condition (Points, Assists, Steals, Rebounds, or Blocks)

These two bench players are compared in an additional matchup this Game, if you win, gain +1 point

Timeout — Team Event

This is the only Team Event that may be saved for a future Game.

You may play Timeout immediately to cancel out any team or player event in the future.

⭐ PLAYER EVENT CARDS (Full Definitions)

Player Events modify the numbers used during stat comparisons.

They are hidden until the moment of comparison.

Veteran Experience — Player Event

Assign to any player. Use both player’s career totals (not the average) for the win condition instead of the per game average.

This overrides and discards all other Player Events assigned to the same position from both sides.

Free Throws — Player Event

Choose one position where the Win Condition is Points.

For that position, compare the players’ FT% instead of PPG. All other player event cards on this position are discarded.

If there are no win conditions for Points, then do the following:

• Each GM selects a bench player
• Compare FT% as a standalone sixth category
• Award the result according to normal scoring

The winner of this matchup earns 1 point. If free throws are not included as a statistic on the card, this player event is discarded.

Switching Defense — Player Event

• Choose any player who’s win condition is Steals or Blocks
• If another player in your starting lineup has a higher value for that win condition, you may use that number instead
• If multiple players have higher values, use the lowest of the higher values.
• Players do not change places

If no such player exists, or if neither Steals nor Blocks is a Win Condition this Game, discard this card.

Hot Hand — Player Event

Assign to any player. The win condition for that position becomes Points for this Game. Increase your player’s PPG by 50%.

Foul — Player Event

Decrease one player’s Win Condition stat by 10% this Game.

Technical Foul — Player Event

Decrease one player’s Win Condition stat by 20% this Game.

Flagrant Foul — Player Event

Decrease one player’s Win Condition stat by 30% this Game.

Turnover — Player Event

Assign to any player in a Points or Assists matchup.

• Choose one: Subtract 1 APG (Assists matchup) or Subtract 2 PPG (Points matchup) this Game.

If neither Assists nor Points is a Win Condition this Game, discard this card.

Poster Dunk — Player Event

Assign to any player in a Points or Assists matchup.

• Choose one: Add 2 PPG (Points matchup) or Add 1 APG (Assists matchup) this Game.

If neither Points nor Assists is a Win Condition this Game, discard this card.

Ankle-Breaker — Player Event

Assign to a player in an Assists or Points matchup. That player gains either +1 APG (Assists matchup) or +2 PPG (Points matchup) this Game. Their opponent must bench any one of their starters for the next Game

If neither Assists nor Points is a Win Condition, discard this card.

Full-Court Press — Player Event

Assign to any player with a Steals or Blocks win condition. Add 0.5 SPG or 1 BPG to their stat.

If there are no Steals or Blocks Win Conditions, discard this card.

Buzzer Beater — Player Event

Add +5 PPG to any player’s PPG this Game.

Above Average Play — Player Event

Assign to any player.

• Increase that player’s Win Condition stat by 20% this Game.

Below Average Play — Player Event

Assign to any player.

• Decrease that player’s Win Condition stat by 20% this Game.