Understanding the Attempt Stack
Having multiple matching LEAD pairs in a high stakes game of X: Seekers of Fortune can be the difference between victory and defeat.
X: Seekers of Fortune™ is a game of both action and reaction, where players are constantly choosing between advancing their own strategy or disrupting their rivals. While some actions go unchallenged, many are met with resistance—and sometimes, outright denial.
In today’s article, we’ll explore an advanced topic: the ATTEMPT ZONE and the ATTEMPT STACK (or simply, the STACK). If you’re familiar with games like Magic: The Gathering or with computer science concepts, the STACK serves a similar purpose in
X: Seekers of Fortune™ , determining the order in which actions resolve when one or more actions are pending resolution.
What Is the Attempt Stack?
An ATTEMPT STACK forms whenever a player attempts any ACTION—including ending their ACTION STEP. Once a STACK has formed, each other player has the opportunity to respond. If a player reacts, they do so by adding their own ATTEMPTED ACTION to the top of the STACK. Players continue taking turns adding to the STACK until all players consecutively pass, at which point the RESOLUTION PHASE begins.
How Resolution Works
The ATTEMPT STACK resolves in Last In, First Out (LIFO) order:
The most recent ATTEMPTED ACTION resolves first.
RESOLVED ACTIONS are removed from the STACK.
If an ACTION becomes invalid (e.g., its conditions are no longer met), it is removed without resolving any effect it may have created.
Example: The Attempt Stack in Action
Player 1 plays the ACTIONX FEAT Speak the Wild Tongues, creating an ATTEMPT STACK.
Player 2, unwilling to let it resolve freely, presents two matching LEADS to attempt the HEROIC FEAT THWART, aiming to negate Speak the Wild Tongues.
Player 1, knowing their strategy relies on Speak the Wild Tongues, plays the ACTIONX FEAT Tectonic Discovery in its THWART mode to counter Player 2’s THWART.
Player 2 reviews their hand, finds no viable response, and passes.
Player 1 also passes, triggering resolution.
This infographic illustrates the reverse order of ACTION resolution.
EXAMPLE: Resolution phase
Tectonic Discovery resolves first, thwarting Player 2’s THWART. Both ACTIONS are removed from the STACK.
Speak the Wild Tongues now resolves successfully and is also removed.
The ATTEMPT STACK is now empty and remains so until the next action is attempted.
Stack Etiquette and Shortcuts
Many actions currently have no valid response (though this may change with future sets), so players often shortcut by proceeding without asking for responses. However, technically, each player should be given a chance to respond.
As a best practice, ask your rivals if they have a response whenever you:
Play a FEAT
Complete an ADVENTURE (see Outfox for why)
Skipping this step can result in disputes if your opponent believes they have a window to react.
That’s it for today’s dive into the Attempt Stack.
Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or just getting a handle on the basics, understanding the STACK gives you the edge to outplay and outmaneuver your rivals when it matters most.
If you have questions, examples you’d like clarified, or topics you’d like to see covered next, drop a comment below or post it in the x-seekers-of-fortune channel on the X:Seekers of Fortune Discord server.
