Skip to content
DHDorian
All projects
ActiveStrategy game

Karo

A strategic turn-based board game featuring an interactive board, resource management, road and settlement construction, and rule-driven player actions.

View source
Stylized Karo game board preview with hex terrain, routes, and player controls
Product preview assembled from Karo's board and resource systems.

Product overview

Why this product exists.

Karo explores the systems behind a rules-heavy, turn-based board game: an interactive hex board, player resources, construction, trades, development cards, and server-authoritative match state. Its interface has to explain a complex game without turning the board into a dashboard.

Problem / motivation

Turn-based strategy looks simple until dozens of placement rules, ownership checks, resource costs, and turn phases must remain consistent for every player. Karo focuses on making that state understandable while keeping game rules authoritative.

Product experience

Key features.

  1. 01

    Interactive hex board with road, camp, and stronghold placement

  2. 02

    Turn, resource, development-card, and rule-driven action flows

  3. 03

    Player-to-player offers alongside bank trading

  4. 04

    Real-time match updates with server-authoritative state

Under the surface

Architecture and technical challenges.

Architecture

  • React client for board rendering and contextual player actions
  • ASP.NET Core game service for commands, validation, and match state
  • SignalR hub for room events and synchronized player views

Challenges

  • Keeping legal actions and visible controls aligned with turn phase and player role
  • Representing connected board geometry and ownership without brittle UI state
  • Expiring offers and transient actions when the match lifecycle advances

Technology stack

ReactTypeScriptASP.NET CoreSignalRTailwind CSS

Delivery status

What exists today.

Implemented

  • — Core match loop
  • — Board construction
  • — Resource and bank trading
  • — Domestic trade lifecycle

Partial

  • — Responsive board refinements
  • — Broader multiplayer edge-case coverage

Interface

Wide Karo board interface preview
The board keeps terrain, construction, resources, and the current action in one view.

Honest edges

Limitations and what comes next.

Known limitations

  • The project remains in active development and is not presented as a public live service.
  • Match behavior is evolving as additional rules and interaction polish are added.

Future improvements

  • Continue accessibility and responsive-board refinements
  • Broaden automated coverage for multiplayer lifecycle edge cases