Redemption (1995) Board Game

Redemption is a Christian-themed collectible card game that was first released in in 1995. Created by Rob Anderson and published by Cactus Game Design, it has gained a dedicated following among fans of religious-themed games.

Game Components of Redemption

Heroes: Good characters from the Bible.

Evil Characters: Opponents’ characters from the Bible.

Lost Souls: Represent people who have fallen from the path of goodness and need to be saved.

Enhancement cards: Used to make characters stronger during battles.

Dominant cards: Can be played at any time and take effect instantly, identified by lamb or grim reaper icons.

Site cards: Hold one Lost Soul each and have brigade restrictions for access.

Fortress cards: Store other cards or provide protective effects, identified by castle icons.

How To Setup Redemption

To set up the game, players shuffle their decks and draw a starting hand. Lost Souls drawn are immediately placed in the “Land of Bondage” and replaced in the player’s hand. The game area is divided into different regions such as the Land of Bondage and the Land of Redemption where rescued Lost Souls are kept.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Rescue five Lost Souls before the opponent does.

Rescue Attempt: Initiated by playing a Hero.

Battle: Opponent plays an Evil Character to block the rescue; players take turns playing Enhancement cards.

Battle Resolution: The character with higher Strength than the opponent’s Toughness wins.

No Resource System: Unlike other CCGs, players do not need to meet any resource requirements to play cards.

Brigade System: Cards belong to specific brigades, and Enhancements can only be used by Characters of the same brigade.

Player Experience

Redemption offers a unique blend of strategy and biblical themes. Players must carefully manage their decks and brigade alignments to rescue Lost Souls effectively. The game’s lack of a resource system and the simplicity of its mechanics make it accessible to new players, while the depth in card interactions and strategies keeps it engaging for veterans.

Pros

Accessible Mechanics: Easy to learn for new players.

Biblical Theme: Engaging for those interested in biblical stories.

No Super-Rare Cards: Smaller set size and no chase cards make collecting easier.

Slow Set Releases: New sets are released only every 1–2 years, allowing players to catch up.

Cons

Limited Appeal: May not appeal to players looking for non-biblical themes.

Dependence on Special Abilities: Game balance heavily relies on the special abilities of cards.

Complex Interactions: Can be complex for very young players to understand.

Personal Thoughts on Redemption

Redemption is ideal for those interested in biblical themes and looking for a collectible card game with a unique set of mechanics. It’s a great choice for families or groups with a Christian background, as it combines fun gameplay with familiar biblical characters and stories. However, it may not appeal as broadly as other CCGs with more generic themes.

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