fiveturn

Fiveturn is a term used in turn-based game design to describe a delayed effect that activates after five full turns have elapsed since its triggering action. The name signals a fixed temporal interval, distinguishing it from instantaneous effects or shorter cooldowns.

Mechanics: When an effect with a fiveturn delay is triggered, a counter starts at zero and increments at the end of each turn. When the counter reaches five, the effect resolves, delivering its consequences—such as damage, a buff, or a trap activation. Depending on the system, a turn may count only the acting player’s opportunity or an entire round including all players. Some implementations allow the delay to be reset or interrupted by specific actions, or to be extended with additional delays.

Variants and design considerations: Designers may allow stacking (multiple fiveturn delays from different triggers), interruptions, or conditional resolutions (the effect only occurs if certain conditions hold at the fifth turn). Fiveturn can add strategic depth by creating anticipation and timing use, but it can also slow pacing or reduce responsiveness. Clear communication of pending effects is important to maintain player understanding.

Examples: In a fantasy strategy game, a ward placed on a unit might trigger a powerful burst on the fifth turn after placement. In a collectible card game, a spell could grant a shield that activates five turns later, rewarding planning and foreknowledge.

See also: cooldown, delayed action, turn-based mechanics.