Moonlit Archive: Fortune Lane

About Moonlit Archive: Fortune Lane

Moonlit Archive: Fortune Lane is a solo card game set at a clockmaker's bench in the workshop of an old archive. A full deck is laid in six columns of five and four cards, like the teeth of a wheel, and the open card at the foot of each column is played onto the escapement, a brass wheel that turns a tooth for every card. Above the columns lie five pocket watches, one for each deal of the lane.

At first the escapement meshes one tooth: a card one rank up or down from the last one goes on, and the King and the Ace sit side by side as they do on a clock face. Every column you clear changes the gearing, from one tooth to two and back, so a card that is useless now may be exactly the one you want two ranks later. One vice holds a card for you. Lock a card away now and you have it when the gearing turns its way, or keep the vice free for the card that blocks you. The parts tin holds twelve cards, and every card still in it when the bench is clear scores extra.

A lane is five deals. Before each one you choose one of two rule cards, such as a second vice, a deeper tin or a suit that may go on any card, and the points of every deal add up down the lane. A cleared bench winds the deal's watch and sets it running; a deal left unfinished stops its hands where the work reached. When the lane is over the hour strikes. Every deal is checked by a solving player before you see it, and your best lanes and badges stay in this browser.

How to play

Before each of the five deals, choose one of the two rule cards for it. The points of every deal add up down the lane.
Play the open card at the foot of a column onto the escapement: one rank up or down, with the King and the Ace side by side. Tap it, or drag it to the escapement.
Each column you clear changes the gearing between one tooth (one rank apart) and two teeth (exactly two ranks apart).
Lock a card in the vice to reach the card above it, or to keep it for when the gearing suits it: drag it to the vice, or tap it and then the vice.
Tap the parts tin for a new card on the escapement when nothing fits. Cards left in the tin when the bench is clear score extra.
Press H or the Hint button for a good move, and U or the Undo button to take a move back.

Controls

Tap a card, or drag it to the escapement — play it
Drag a card to the vice, or tap it and then the vice; R — lock it in the vice
Tap the parts tin or press E — a new card
Arrow keys or WASD, then Space or Enter; D-pad or stick, then Ⓐ — play
Undo button, U or Ⓨ — undo; Hint button, H or LB — a hint
P, Escape or Start — pause

Frequently asked questions

What is the gearing?

It is how cards connect to the escapement. With one tooth a card goes on one rank up or down; with two teeth it must be exactly two ranks apart. Every column you clear switches between them.

What is the vice for?

It holds one card from the foot of a column, so you can reach the card above it, or so you can play it later when the gearing suits it.

How does a lane work?

A lane is five deals. Before each one you choose one of two rule cards, and the points of every deal add up. Each deal has its watch: a cleared bench winds it, an unfinished deal stops its hands.

Can every deal be cleared?

With "Winnable deals only" (the default) a solving player has cleared each deal before you see it. Choose "Any shuffle" in the settings for the luck of the draw.

Does it save my game?

Your lane in progress, best lanes and badges are saved in this browser only, and nothing is uploaded.