
![Test](gh_assets/balatrostuck.png)

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Balatrostuck is a Homestuck-themed mod for the popular poker roguelike Balatro adding tons of new content to the game.

It is your thirteenth birthday, and as with all twelve preceding it, something feels missing from your life. The game presently eluding you is only the latest sleight of hand in the repertoire of an unseen riddler, one to engender a sense not of mirth, but of lack. His coarse schemes are those less of a prankster than a common pickpocket. His riddle is Absence itself. It is a mystery dispersing altogether, like the moon's faint reflection, with even one pebble of inquiry dropped in its black well. It is the most diabolical riddle of all.

"Absence diminishes little passions and increases great ones, as wind extinguishes candles and fans a fire." -Walt Whitman

You have a feeling it's going to be a long day.

**IF YOU ARE HAVING TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH THE MOD, DOWNGRADE YOUR SMODS TO THE FOLLOWING VERSION:**
https://github.com/Steamodded/smods/releases/tag/1.0.0-beta-0323b

## Mod additions

- **120 new Jokers** with objects, scenes and refereces to the comic
- **13 Zodiac cards** to level up your played ranks
- **12 Aspect cards** with run-shaping effects
- **10 new challenges and 4 new decks** to test your Balatro skills
- Paradox edition, spectral cards, tags and many more goodies for both Homestuck fans and Balatro diehards

Balatrostuck is currently not compatible with other mods.

## Act Structure

Balatrostuck also features an in-depth metaprogression system: Unlocking jokers are back, baby!

You start the game with a reduced joker count, to acclimate to the new mechanics like Zodiacs.
In order to unlock over 30 new jokers you must find and consume the **Cruxite Apple** joker.
Afterwards, obtaining Ascend, Enter the Medium or the rest of the End Of Act Jokers unlocks even more jokers.

In addition to obtaining those jokers and moving through the acts the game also presents 10 new challenges and over 15 unlock conditions for even more unlocking goodness.

## Aspect system
Aspects grant powerful boons - double leveling, duplicate tags, mass enhance your cards and much more, all of this **without using a joker slot.**
Gaining repeated aspect cards further levels them up, making your insane effects stronger. However you can only have one aspect active at once and switching aspects levels them down, so pick carefuly!

<img width="727" height="337" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/fd0bab83-489c-4b3e-a592-67db36b58ce1" />

Each of the 12 aspects affect different areas of the game.
They were fine tuned to be as different as possible from eachother, each having their own set of synergies with basegame and modded content.
A Breath run will be massively different from a Blood run which will be massively different from a Mind run. Which one will become your favorite?

## Zodiac system

Every card rank has its own consumable, allowing you to level your 3s, Aces and 4s just like your Straights and Flushes!

Unlike planets the Zodiac cards don't directly increase their values, instead granting them new effects! Boost your luck-based effects with 8s, gain money with Queens and retrigger played 2s; each number now has their own set of synergies you can build atop of, allowing for many more builds and combinations.

<img width="219" height="359" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/37ac8f42-1182-49bd-ba0a-dcc2b59217ba" />
<img width="301" height="202" alt="image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/a4afd903-0f14-4976-b198-512d24bd948e" />


## Credits

- **Direction:** Akai, Fazzie, CampfireCollective
- **Artwork:** Akai, garb, Lyman, Baqly, Penny, Yokcos, bconlon, Delirium, SagaciousCejai
- **Programming:** Akai, Victin, Yokcos, garb, bconlon, Delirium, CampfireCollective, lord-ruby, cozyGalvanism, dangerbites, lyra
- **Playtesting:** conchors, Penny, Chloe (Teki), Victin, Snowroom, pescia, SagaciousCejai
- **Music/SFX:** dangerbites, Delirium, JulianMOCs
- **SAHCon Trailer:** shmig, sinewavey, Knightmare

### **Acknowledgements:** 

- Balatro by LocalThunk
- Homestuck by Andrew Hussie
- Cool and new Webcome by o
- Ligmastuck my ymi
- Vast Error by DECONRECONSTRUCTION
- Karkat Goes To A Convention by Cole

### Minor Art Credits

These art credits could not be displayed in-game due to technical reasons.
- Title Screen music - JulianMOCs
- All 4 new decks - Akai
- Felt Seal and Paradox Edition - Akai
- Jail Key Spectral - Akai
- Both regular Aspect packs, Zodiac pack, Zodiac Jumbo - Akai
- Zodiac alternative art pack - Cejai
- Aspect Jumbo pack - Garb
- SBURB Pack - Delirium

