The chit-pull system is a game mechanic employed in board games to introduce a level of unpredictability and tension. In this system, chits, which are small pieces of cardboard or paper, each representing a specific action, unit activation, or event, are drawn randomly from a container, dictating the order or availability of actions on a player’s turn.
Originally popular in war games, the mechanic aimed to simulate the fog of war and the unpredictability of battles, where commanders may not always have control over the timing of reinforcements or actions.
Players generally take turns drawing these chits, which can lead to a variety of outcomes:
The pool from which chits are drawn can be shared or faction-specific, offering different strategic implications.
The chit-pull system adds:
Some notable games that use this mechanic include:
Advantages:
Limitations:
The chit-pull system remains a beloved mechanic among many in the gaming community for its ability to breathe life and uncertainty into board game scenarios.