DEFINING THE PLAY AREA

Randi McFarland
Aug 20, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Sep 16, 2025

One of the biggest updates in the 3.0 Type 2 Rules is something surprisingly simple but long overdue: we’ve finally named and defined the play area.

Alongside the new rule book, we’ve also released the Errata Collection, making every corrected card available in the 2E Database, as downloadable images, or printable through MPC. For the first time in years, the rules and the cards are fully aligned.

When Highlander launched back in the mid-90s, trading card games were still brand new. The Swordmaster combat grid was revolutionary, and even then the game tried to get ahead of the curve by releasing paper playmats that suggested where cards should go. It was a forward-thinking effort for its time, but the play area itself was never formally defined in the rules.

Comparing that now to other modern TCG's, we saw a need to revisit the play area to answer questions like where exactly do you put a Permanent card in play? What’s public and what’s private? Can you look at your opponent’s discard pile whenever you want?

With the 3.0 Type 2 Rules, we’ve taken that early groundwork and built on it—turning those first ideas into a fully realized framework of named gameplay sections that bring Highlander in line with modern design clarity.

Until now, a lot of that was “understood” rather than defined.

With this rules update, the play area has been carved into clear, named sections called Gameplay Sections. Each section has a purpose, and just as importantly, each is now defined as Public (all players can see the cards there) or Non-Public (hidden information). This gives Highlander the clarity and structure modern players expect while keeping the spirit of the game intact.

The Play Area

There are 6 Gameplay Sections in the Play Area. These 6 sections can be split into 2 categories:

Public Gameplay Sections - areas where all players can see the faces of any cards played there, except for those that a rule or effect specifically allows to be face down.
Non-Public Gameplay Sections - areas where not all players can see the faces of the cards played or held there.

An example playmat with the 6 Gameplay Sections

1.) Pregame Section (Public)

This is where your Pre-Game cards live for both players to see. Before the game begins, these cards should be placed face up in this section. Your opponent may inspect your Pre-Game cards at any time as long as it does not interrupt any effect that uses a Pre-Game cards—i.e. Removal or Trigger effects. This is a public section for both players.

2.) Endurance (Non-Public)

Your Endurance is your deck of In-Game cards: the lifeblood of your Immortal. It sits face-down and can’t be looked through, but you can count how many cards remain once per turn. When it runs out, you’ve Exhaust and lose 5 Ability—a dramatic reminder that immortality has limits.

3.) Hand (Non-Public for Opponent)

Your Hand, limited in number by your current Ability, is the cards you’re holding that you will play during the game. Your opponent cannot look at your Hand unless an effect allows it.

4.) Discard Pile (Public)

Cards removed from play—whether by Discard effects, Capture effects, Sweep effects or unused cards from a Hard Exertion—are placed face-up in your Discard Pile. When you Sweep cards into your Discard Pile you may do so in any order, but cannot change the order once they have been placed into your Discard Pile.

Any player may look at and inspect the cards in either player’s Discard Pile once during their own turn, as long as it does not interrupt an effect currently resolving that would target the Discard Pile.

5.) Permanent Cards In Play (Public)

Situations, Locations, Objects, Inflicted Wounds, and Plots all go here. They’re called Permanents because they stick around until something removes them. Turning them sideways makes it clear they’re in play for the long haul.

6.) The Combat Area (Public)

This is where the action happens. Attacks, defenses, Edges, Illusions, and Events are all played in the Combat Area. Cards played in the Combat Area are played face up for both players to see unless an effect allows you to play a card facedown—like a Hidden Attack or an Un-inflicted Wound. Most of these cards stay for a turn and then get Swept to your Discard Pile after 1 turn, keeping the Combat Area constantly shifting as blows are traded.