The game takes its name from its atypical use of cardboard disks to represent military units, commanders, monsters, and battlefield terrain features.
The relatively low cost of cardboard play pieces compared to metal or plastic figures was one of the game's two major marketing points.
Smaller, roughly 1” disks are used on the sidelines to represent individual spells which are available for casting by magic-capable units.
Even smaller square chits are supplied for performing volleys of projectile fire, recording wounds, and marking which units have moved or acted so far in the current turn.
Players first agree upon the number of competing sides, the game's objective (for example, defeat all enemy units, defeat all enemy leaders, or be the first to establish uncontested control of a particular location), and the maximum combined point value of units and spells that each player may field.