---
key: mechanic/deck-building--family-hybrids
type: mechanic
id: deck-building--family-hybrids
lang: en
title: Permanents and hybrid systems
summary: >-
  Cards create persistent objects, units or other systems that follow their own
  rules.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/deck-building--family-hybrids/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/deck-building--family-hybrids.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/deck-building--family-hybrids.md
aliases: []
tags:
  - Deck building
  - Systems and context
sourceIds:
  - source-d5a8bf9da86c6870
  - source-c7e358f5e5763ea0
  - source-a46df923301f3d44
  - source-ea407a6c37045737
sources:
  - id: source-d5a8bf9da86c6870
    title: Slay the Spire · Mega Crit description
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/646570/Slay_the_Spire/'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-c7e358f5e5763ea0
    title: 'Dune: Imperium · designer''s diary'
    url: >-
      https://news.direwolfdigital.com/dune-imperium-designer-diary-1-beginnings/
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-a46df923301f3d44
    title: Clank! Dire Wolf
    url: 'https://www.direwolfdigital.com/clank/'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-ea407a6c37045737
    title: Monster Train
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: deck-building
    id: family-hybrids
    title: Deck building
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/deck-building/#family-hybrids'
    categoryIds:
      - section-3
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Permanents and hybrid systems
    description: >-
      Cards create persistent objects, units or other systems that follow their
      own rules.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/monster-train-battle.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Monster Train
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/1102190/ss_edce778e9006c559cc347542ba2a61ed1461c945.1920x1080.jpg?t=1779381275
      credit: Shiny Shoe / Good Shepherd Entertainment
      rights: © 2020 Shiny Shoe LLC. All rights reserved.
      caption: Unit cards form a team across the train’s floors
      alt: Unit cards form a team across the train’s floors
      markers:
        - x: 40
          'y': 41
          label: Allied units on a floor
        - x: 34
          'y': 13
          label: An ally on another floor
    tips:
      - Distinguish the card’s play effect from the object’s later behaviour.
    examples:
      - title: Monster Train
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
  2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
  preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
  classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
  editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/deck-building
---
# Permanents and hybrid systems

id: deck-building--family-hybrids
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/deck-building--family-hybrids
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/deck-building--family-hybrids/

Cards create persistent objects, units or other systems that follow their own rules.

## At a glance

![Unit cards form a team across the train’s floors](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/monster-train-battle.webp)

[Monster Train](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/) · © 2020 Shiny Shoe LLC. All rights reserved.

1. Allied units on a floor
2. An ally on another floor

- Distinguish the card’s play effect from the object’s later behaviour.

- [Monster Train](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/)

## How it works

Other systems through which the deck affects the playing field and the long-term economy.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-hybrids-variants"></a>

- Tableau. Rule: Played objects remain in play and provide repeatable effects, usually leaving the deck's rotation temporarily. <a id="variant-hybrids-01"></a>
- Units / summons. Rule: Cards create independent objects with characteristics, actions, lifetime and return rules. <a id="variant-hybrids-02"></a>
- Capacity. Rule: Placement of cards and objects is limited by cells, size, weight, or the allowed number of simultaneous objects. <a id="variant-hybrids-03"></a>
- Attachments. Rule: A card is attached to another object and changes its properties before being removed or destroyed. <a id="variant-hybrids-04"></a>
- Relics / jokers. Rule: Permanent items change how cards work without necessarily participating in normal draw. <a id="variant-hybrids-05"></a>
- Deck-driven movement. Rule: Cards produce movement and other actions on the card; the route and deck composition mutually limit each other. <a id="variant-hybrids-06"></a>
- Card-driven worker placement. Rule: The card allows you to send a worker to certain places or sets an additional effect of visiting. <a id="variant-hybrids-07"></a>
- Auto-battler hybrid. Rule: Cards form the composition and disposition of forces, after which part of the encounter is resolved automatically. <a id="variant-hybrids-08"></a>
- Noise / threat. Rule: Playing or receiving cards increases overall risk, attracts enemies, or triggers dangerous events. <a id="variant-hybrids-09"></a>
- Action-selection hybrid. Rule: The deck controls production, construction, diplomacy, research, or other actions outside of combat. <a id="variant-hybrids-10"></a>

## Context and limits

Design taxonomy of basic rules and options, including card operations and external systems. The number of entries is not a generally accepted classification of independent mechanics.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.

- [Slay the Spire · Mega Crit description](https://store.steampowered.com/app/646570/Slay_the_Spire/) (id: source-d5a8bf9da86c6870)
- [Dune: Imperium · designer's diary](https://news.direwolfdigital.com/dune-imperium-designer-diary-1-beginnings/) (id: source-c7e358f5e5763ea0)
- [Clank! Dire Wolf](https://www.direwolfdigital.com/clank/) (id: source-a46df923301f3d44)
- [Monster Train](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/) (id: source-ea407a6c37045737)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors