Someone asked for a guide, but deleted 'eir thread while I was writing up my guide.

But I copied it and saved it. So you all can enjoy it.

UPDATE: Improved version of this guide can now be found here:
http://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=332905336

----

HOW TO PLAY

Achieve normas and then stop on home panels to level up your norma level. You start at norma level 1. Norma level is indicated by the stars on the side of your player profile in a match. Be the first to get to level 6 (i.e. fill five stars then level up again) to win.

Achieve your first norma by getting 10 stars and stopping on a home panel (the ones with orange-like signs). Then every time you achieve a norma, choose between a stars or wins norma.

Stars are gained automatically as rounds go by, and whenever you land on a bonus panel (yellow), and as a result of some card effects. Also, you gain half the stars (rounded down) of an opponent when you defeat that opponent, or all the stars gained by an enemy or boss from when that enemy/boss defeated opponents. But stars can be lost on drop (blue) panels, some card effects, and when you are defeated in battle.

Wins are gained by defeating enemies and opponents. 1 win for defeating a regular enemy. 2 wins for defeating a fellow player. 3 wins for defeating a boss. Enemies start at 3 HP and reset only when they are defeated (three enemies in all). Bosses start at full HP (boss choice depends on map) and when defeated the panel reverts to normal enemy. Bosses are automatically summoned at the beginning of the next chapter after someone hits norma level 4.

HOW BATTLING WORKS

In battle, if you are attacking roll d6 to attack and add your attack bonus. Opponent then chooses to defend or evade. Defense roll is d6 + defense bonus; total damage is (attack roll - defense roll), minimum 1 damage. Evade roll is d6 + evade bonus; total damage is attack roll if evade roll is less or equal, zero if evade roll is greater. Battle lasts for one attack and one counterattack (if opponent is still up) -- you will not win any immediate benefits merely by attacking and not KOing.

If you are defeated (by losing all your HP), you lose half your stars and are KO'd and must roll to revive. Revive by rolling at or above a Recovery Value. Recovery Value starts at 5 and goes down by 1 every turn passed (except Peat, who starts at 4, and Tomomo, who starts at 6). While KO'd, you cannot be targeted by some card effects, and cannot be challenged to a battle.

HOW CARD CHOOSING WORKS

Before the game, all players pick ten cards. All players' cards go into a combined deck, along with 8 blank hyper cards. Hyper cards, when drawn, become the specific hyper card unique to the character who draws them. Hyper cards can have powerful and/or unusual effects. Because of the way the deck is set up, part of the strategy is to pick cards that benefit you more than others, on average, even when opponents get to use them.

WHAT HAPPENS IN A CHAPTER (i.e. A TURN)

1. field events take place, if any.
2. some stars are given out to everyone. this amount increases every few turns. (it starts decreasing after many, many turns.)
3. player 1 goes:
* 3a. player may play a card, if 'ey have a card that can be played and choose to play it.
* 3b. player rolls a d6 to move. the player's character moves according to the die roll. player may choose which way to go when the map forks. player may also choose to stop on 'eir own color's home space, if 'eir roll exceeds that. player may also choose to stop and challenge (to battle) an opponent that 'ey run into along the way. (player may battle more than one opponent if opponents are on the same square).
* 3c. the space the player stopped on does its effects.
* 3d. if the player has more than 3 cards, cards must be discarded until player has only 3 cards.
4. player 2 goes.
5. player 3 goes.
6. player 4 goes.

AFTER EACH MATCH

* You gain stars (as a currency usable outside of the match) whether you win or lose.
* Use stars to buy cards and unlocked characters in the in-game store. This is how to unlock other cards (from both sets) and other playable characters.
* There are 12 basic playable characters in all, 11 can be unlocked by playing the campaigns. #12 is unlocked by beating the last Extra Scenario.

OTHER THINGS

* If you are playing in a public lobby (i.e. no password), there is a 60-second limit to every turn. 20 seconds if you need to roll to revive. If you don't act within that time, the CPU will act for you. If you don't act three chapters in a row, you will be set to spectator (I think) and the CPU will take over your character. You can rejoin the game when you get back to your computer. (No time limit for private lobbies.)
* Game is secured with Valve Anti-Cheat.
* Only multiplayer can unlock the extra characters (playable enemies and bosses).
* There are cosmetic features in the form of clothing and hair colors for all the characters.
* Three difficulty levels for campaigns. Casual = all rolls are fair; this is relatively easy but still unlocks everything except achievements. Normal = some opponents have better rolls; a decent challenge; unlocks achievements. Extreme = your rolls are rigged to be worse than normal; just for fun. I've been told your rolls are not rigged. Maybe the enemy rolls are just more rigged? I'm not sure.

TIPS

* Learn the maps, and know what their default field events are. Also get used to what cards opponents bring in. When playing campaign misssions, your opponents, map, and field events always stay the same.
* Different cards can advantage/disadvantage different characters. Pick your cards accordingly.
* You can have the game randomly choose a character for you. Don't do this unless you have a basic understanding of all the characters you have.
* Bonus characters unlocked through multiplayer should only be played when you are very experienced with the game.
* Don't take this game too seriously. It has a lot of randomness.
* But don't neglect your own choices either. Your character, your cards, your pathing, your choosing whether to stop at home or stop to challenge someone, your picking which cards to use/discard and when, are all things you can control.
* You can check what field events your map has, on your turn, by clicking "INFO" and mousing over the center deck. You can check the stats, stock effects, and norma of any character by mousing over their portrait anytime.