2-4 players
This game happens in two phases--Primary Election and General Election. Each phase, each player will draw a hand of cards, and the phase ends when every player has played all of his or her cards. The winner of the General Election wins the game.
In a two player game, go through both phases as normal, but obviously the two players automatically become the Candidates.
Play order:
In each phase, each player draws seven cards. Randomly determine a starting player. Each player takes turns playing one card each until the hands are exhausted. A card may be played on any player, including the one playing the card.
Affiliation and Electability:
Cards may affect one of two attributes of a player (or do other things according to their text). A player's Electability governs that player's general appeal to the populace, while Affiliation indicates how close that player is to their own party's base. Electabilty is always beneficial, but Affiliation has different effects in the Primary Election than in the General Election.
Phases:
After the Primary Election, add your Affiliation to your Electability. The two players with the highest total are their parties' Candidates. Remaining players are known as Spoilers.
After the General Election, subtract your Affiliation from your Electability. The Candidate with the highest positive total becomes President (and wins the game). If neither Candidate has a positive total, the Spoiler with the highest Electability (ignoring Affiliation) becomes President.
Cards:
Tack Center (x8)
"I believe that you misheard me. I meant to say that I am against taxes."
+4 Electability
-3 Affiliation
Toe the Line (x8)
"We must take things away from people we don't like and give them to people we do!"
-3 Electability
+5 Affiliation
Steal Their Position (x4)
"If you'll just check my record, you'll find that I've never not voted against that thing you hate."
+6 Electability
-5 Affiliation
Slam Your Fellows (x4)
"Everyone else on this stage is a ninny."
+3 Electability
-3 Affiliation
Targeted by a Negative Ad (x4)
"'If elected, I will murder babies' 'Did I really say that?' 'You may have been drunk, sir.'"
-3 Electability
Sister Soulja Moment (x2)
"Certain members of my party suck"
+7 Electability
-7 Affiliation
Gaffe (x2)
"I am the only anti-unicorn candidate in this race"
-3 Electability
-3 Affiliation
True Blue (x2)
"I agree with my party in every way"
+5 Affiliation
Civil Debate (x2)
"Man, I LOVE you guys"
+3 Affiliation
Uncivil Debate (x2)
"My opponent hates dogs"
-3 Electability
Strange Pronouncement (x2)
"Sure, I believe in UFOs"
+2 Affiliation
Party Endorsement (x2)
"My party member is obviously the best to lead our nation!"
+5 Affiliation
Newspaper Endorsement (x3)
"Dude, this guy rocks" - High Times
+3 Electability
Policy Proposal (x3)
"Everyone should get nifty things"
+3 Affiliation
Voter ADHD (x8)
"The average citizen has the same memory as a gold- hey, what's that over there?"
Remove one card from play
Variation:
Divide the four players into two parties, and count points. When a player becomes a Candidate, that player gets a point, and when a player is elected President, that player gains two points and other party members gain one. After four games, the player with the most points wins.
This game happens in two phases--Primary Election and General Election. Each phase, each player will draw a hand of cards, and the phase ends when every player has played all of his or her cards. The winner of the General Election wins the game.
In a two player game, go through both phases as normal, but obviously the two players automatically become the Candidates.
Play order:
In each phase, each player draws seven cards. Randomly determine a starting player. Each player takes turns playing one card each until the hands are exhausted. A card may be played on any player, including the one playing the card.
Affiliation and Electability:
Cards may affect one of two attributes of a player (or do other things according to their text). A player's Electability governs that player's general appeal to the populace, while Affiliation indicates how close that player is to their own party's base. Electabilty is always beneficial, but Affiliation has different effects in the Primary Election than in the General Election.
Phases:
After the Primary Election, add your Affiliation to your Electability. The two players with the highest total are their parties' Candidates. Remaining players are known as Spoilers.
After the General Election, subtract your Affiliation from your Electability. The Candidate with the highest positive total becomes President (and wins the game). If neither Candidate has a positive total, the Spoiler with the highest Electability (ignoring Affiliation) becomes President.
Cards:
Tack Center (x8)
"I believe that you misheard me. I meant to say that I am against taxes."
+4 Electability
-3 Affiliation
Toe the Line (x8)
"We must take things away from people we don't like and give them to people we do!"
-3 Electability
+5 Affiliation
Steal Their Position (x4)
"If you'll just check my record, you'll find that I've never not voted against that thing you hate."
+6 Electability
-5 Affiliation
Slam Your Fellows (x4)
"Everyone else on this stage is a ninny."
+3 Electability
-3 Affiliation
Targeted by a Negative Ad (x4)
"'If elected, I will murder babies' 'Did I really say that?' 'You may have been drunk, sir.'"
-3 Electability
Sister Soulja Moment (x2)
"Certain members of my party suck"
+7 Electability
-7 Affiliation
Gaffe (x2)
"I am the only anti-unicorn candidate in this race"
-3 Electability
-3 Affiliation
True Blue (x2)
"I agree with my party in every way"
+5 Affiliation
Civil Debate (x2)
"Man, I LOVE you guys"
+3 Affiliation
Uncivil Debate (x2)
"My opponent hates dogs"
-3 Electability
Strange Pronouncement (x2)
"Sure, I believe in UFOs"
+2 Affiliation
Party Endorsement (x2)
"My party member is obviously the best to lead our nation!"
+5 Affiliation
Newspaper Endorsement (x3)
"Dude, this guy rocks" - High Times
+3 Electability
Policy Proposal (x3)
"Everyone should get nifty things"
+3 Affiliation
Voter ADHD (x8)
"The average citizen has the same memory as a gold- hey, what's that over there?"
Remove one card from play
Variation:
Divide the four players into two parties, and count points. When a player becomes a Candidate, that player gets a point, and when a player is elected President, that player gains two points and other party members gain one. After four games, the player with the most points wins.