Resist! (2022) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Resist! is a card game published by Salt & Pepper Games in in 2022. Designed by Trevor Benjamin, Roger Tankersley, and David Thompson, this game combines elements of civil war, spies/secret agents, and wargame genres. With an age recommendation of 10+, Resist! offers a unique gaming experience for players looking for strategic gameplay in a compact package.

Game Components of Resist!

Maquis Deck: 24 cards representing the resistance fighters, each with two sides (hidden and revealed).

Mission Deck: Cards with various missions, each having a defense value, military unit cards, and special effects.

Spy Cards: 6 cards that undermine the player’s ability, with 3 shuffled into the Maquis deck and the rest in supply.

Civilian Deck: Cards representing civilian casualties, which can lead to game loss if too many are drawn.

Enemy Deck: Cards representing military units defending missions.

How To Setup Resist!

To set up Resist!, you first assemble the Maquis deck by drafting from a pool of 24 cards. You draw two cards at a time, selecting one to join your starting hidden deck and the other to go into the recruit deck, until you have two decks of 12 cards each. Three spy cards are shuffled into the hidden deck to simulate Franco’s spies within the resistance. Additionally, a mission deck is built randomly with 4 missions from the first era, followed by 3 missions each from the second and final eras. The civilian deck and graveyard are also prepared to track collateral damage.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Phase Structure: Each round consists of four phases: Plan, Attack, Aftermath, and Recover.

Plan Phase: Play Maquis cards for their plan actions to set up for the mission.

Attack Phase: Play Maquis cards to defeat the chosen mission and its defenders.

Aftermath Phase: Resolve the mission outcome and check for game-ending conditions like civilian casualties or mission failures.

Recover Phase: Clean up played cards, draw a new hand, and check for spy cards.

Mission Completion: Complete as many missions as possible while managing resources and avoiding game-ending conditions.

Hidden vs. Revealed Maquis: Use Maquis cards in hidden or revealed status to balance immediate power and long-term resource management.

Player Experience

Resist offers a tense and strategic solo experience, challenging players to manage their Maquis resources carefully. The game’s push-your-luck mechanics and the constant threat of spy cards and civilian casualties keep players on the edge. With a typical playtime of about 30 minutes, the game requires efficiency and strategic thinking to complete missions without depleting resources or causing too much collateral damage.

Pros

Engaging Theme: The game brings the history of the Spanish Maquis to life with evocative artwork and a compelling narrative.

Deep Strategy: Despite its simple setup, the game offers complex strategic decisions and resource management.

Variety in Scenarios: The game includes a scenario book with specific objectives, adding depth and replayability.

Cons

High Difficulty: The game is challenging, with failure in just two missions or five civilian casualties resulting in a loss.

Luck Factor: The draw of Maquis and enemy cards introduces a significant element of luck, which can be frustrating at times.

Personal Thoughts on Resist!

Resist is for players who enjoy solo strategy games with a strong historical context and those who appreciate the challenge of managing limited resources under high pressure. It is particularly suited for fans of hand management and push-your-luck mechanics, and it serves as a great tribute to the courage and resilience of the Spanish Maquis. If you’re looking for a game that demands strategic thinking and can be played in a short amount of time, Resist is an excellent choice.

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