- Redemption (card game)
Infobox_Game
subject_name= Redemption CCG
designer= Rob Anderson
publisher=Cactus Game Design
players= 2-5
ages= 7+
setup_time= < 2 minutes
playing_time= < 45 minutes
complexity= Low
strategy= Medium
random_chance= Some
skills= reading
Card playing
Adding & Subtracting
footnotes= 1 Some rules allow more players.
bggid=2201Redemption is a
Collectible Card Game based on theBible . It involves Biblical characters, places, objects, and ideas. The object of the game is for your Heroes (good characters) to rescue Lost Souls by defeating your opponent's Evil Characters. The first player to rescue 5 Lost Souls wins the game. Redemption was published in 1995 byCactus Game Design [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904EFDB1230F935A25752C1A9649C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all)}] and its creator,Rob Anderson , continues to develop and produce the game and is the final authority on rulings.Game play
To rescue a Lost Soul, a player must initiate a rescue attempt by placing a Hero into battle. The opponent then places an Evil Character in battle to block the rescue attempt. Based on strength and defense numbers of the characters, players take turns playing Enhancement Cards to make their characters stronger. Eventually, one character wins the battle. If the Evil Character is defeated (by being discarded, converted, captured, ignored, removed from the game, etc.), the Hero rescues the Lost Soul.
Card types
*Character cards represent Biblical people who are trying to save lost souls (Hero) or those trying to stop lost souls from being saved (Evil character).
*Enhancements may be used on characters to boost attack strength or defence. They come in two types, good or evil enhancements.
*Dominant cards can be played at any time and take effect instantly. These are the "power cards" of the game, and can often turn the tide of a battle, but the number of these cards in a deck is restricted.
*Site cards typically hold a Lost Soul and only allow "access" to Heroes who are either of a matching brigade, or who use one of their own unoccupied Sites of a matching brigade.
*Fortress cards typically sit in a player's territory and can store other cards, or have some form of protective effect on the player.
*Artifact cards reside in a player's territory, and have a sort of supplemental effect on a player's cards, or on a battle. Typically, only one Artifact can be active during a player's turn, although there are ways to circumvent that restriction.
*Covenant cards are a combination of an Artifact and a good Enhancement, and can be used by the player as either (but not both at once).
*Curse cards are similar to Covenant cards, but instead are a combination of an Artifact and an evil Enhancement.Card color
Redemption divides the Characters and Enhancements (and other types of cards) into brigades. A certain color Enhancement may only be played with that color Character. The Heroes and corresponding good Enhancements are divided into Blue, Gold, Green, Purple, Teal, Red, Silver, and White brigades. The Evil Characters and their evil Enhancements are divided into Black, Brown, Crimson, Gray, Orange, Pale Green, and Gold brigades.
Distribution
As with other Collectible Card Games, Redemption was first distributed in 1995 as a set of 2
starter deck s (50-card decks A and B, now out of print) and a set of Limited Edition cards, followed by an Unlimited Edition reprinting. The game was developed by releasing expansion sets and other starter decks, including, in order of release:
* 1996 - Prophets
* 1997 - Women (now out of print)
* 1999 - Warriors (now out of print)
* 2000 - 2nd Edition Starter Decks (decks C and D, now out of print)
* 2001 - Apostles
* 2002 - Patriarchs
* 2003 - Kings
* 2004 - 3rd Edition Starter Decks (decks E and F)
* 2004 - Angel Wars
* 2005 - 10th Anniversary Starter Decks (decks G and H)
* 2006 - Priests
* 2007 - Faith of Our Fathers
* 2008 - Rock of AgesThe Main Set included many re-releases of the cards from the first Starter Decks, as well as several other cards. Cards were included in
booster packs in three different rarities: common, uncommon, and rare. The next set of cards, the Prophets followed the same distribution. Then, the Women's Set was released as all common cards. In all subsequent sets, Ultra-Rare cards have been released, which have half the distribution of rare cards. In addition to the regular sets of cards, exclusive promotional cards have been released at tournaments, in connection with other Christian products, and in other Cactus products including Gift Sets. Cactus' new set, Rock of Ages will be released at Nationals 2008.Artwork
Much care has been put into choosing artwork for Redemption. Some well known artists have contributed, including: Mike Bennett, Jeff Haynie, Michael Carroll and
Mark Poole . Other artwork has been taken from other Christian products and from classical artwork.Art Director Doug Gray also makes many of the images for the cards himself.History and Popularity
Soon after introduced the idea of a Collectible Card Game, Rob Anderson realized that the Bible would be a "wonderful source for this type of game" [cite web|url=http://redemption.com/red_game_history.php|title=Redemption History] . Redemption was soon designed and has since grown to be the top selling Christian Trading Card GameFact|date=December 2007. Contributing to the continued popularity of the game include the ability, especially earlier on, to easily collect the cards due to the more common distribution and the relatively smaller set size (although as of 2006 there were over 1,800 unique cards). Also, compared to many of the Collectable Card Games, Redemption has continued to be easier to collect due to the lack of super-rare chase cards and the slower release of sets every 1-2 years.
One unique aspect that sets Redemption apart from other Collectible Card Games is that while each deck contains both good characters (Heroes of the Bible) and evil characters, the game is only won by using good characters. The evil characters do not have a chance to win the game (though they can prevent the opponent from winning).
Over the years, a rulebook has been developed and gives a reference for understanding the interactions between the card types and the cards. The most up-to-date rulebook is the 10th anniversary rulebook. An exegetical guide is also available for more seasoned players.
Competition
Rob Anderson has maintained that "Redemption Tournaments exist to foster fun and fellowship" [cite web|url=http://cactusgamedesign.com/message_boards/index.php?topic=3954.msg61649#msg61649|title=Rob Anderson Post] .
Tournaments
The nature of the game allows for and has resulted in a NationalTournament structure (within the U.S.). Tournament levels range from Local to District to State to Regional to the National tournament. The National tournament is held once a year and is held in a different location each year. For official tournaments, prizes are provided by Cactus Game Design and they generally include Redemption booster packs and Tournament Promotional Cards.Categories of Play
At each tournament, one might play Sealed Deck, Booster Draft (instead of multi-player Sealed Deck), Type 1, or Type 2. These categories have different deck building rules. Also, each category (except for Booster Draft) may be divided into two tournaments; a 2-player tournament and a multi-player.Ranking System
Redemption has also implemented a Redemption National Ranking System (RNRS) allowing players who cannot make it to the National Tournament to be recognized. Points are awarded for placing in each level of tournament.National Champions
2-player Sealed Deck Multi-player Sealed Deck/Booster Draft 2-player Type 1 Multi-player Type 1 2-player Type 2 Multi-player Type 2 Nationals RNRS Nationals RNRS Nationals RNRS Nationals RNRS Nationals RNRS Nationals RNRS 2006 Claude Fong Claude Fong Sarah Harris Ben Shadrick Chandler Soderstrom Tim Maly Justin Alstad Josh Pearson Ross Lang Ross Lang Justin Alstad Justin Alstad 2005 Seth Mick Ben Schadrick John Nesfeder Emmanuel Echavarria Justin Sangillo Justin Sangillo Justin Alstad Justin Sangillo Kevin Shride Michael Garland Adam Erickson Justin Alstad 2004 Michael Bell Michael Bell Ken Shartle Adam Erickson Tim Maly Roy Cannaday Justin Alstad Justin Sangillo Joshua Hey Joshua Hey Joshua Hey Joshua Hey 2003 Brad Dembo Brad Dembo Joshua Meneely Brad Dembo Kyle Hostutler Kyle Hostutler Evan Sauer Eric Berkenpas Eric Largent Chris Bany Joshua Hey Joshua Hey 2002 Roy Cannaday Roy Cannaday Josiah Fiscus Christian De Los Rios Keith Bartram Jesse Pfeister Joshua Slinkard Eric Beise Bryon Hake Chris Bany Eric Kimmons Chris Bany 2001 Dave Daugherty Christopher Ramsey Brandon Knic Brandon Knick Keith Bartram Miguel Arriaga Ron Sias Juan Arriaga Bryon Hake Bryon Hake Eric Kimmons Art Middlekauff 2000 Nicholas Campbell - Aaron Torres - Tim Maly - Kevin Dulin - Eric Kimmons and Ron Sias - Daniel Goodner - 1999 ? - ? - Keith Bartram - Ron Sias - Eric Kimmons - John Weigand - 1998 Ron Sias - Ron Sias - ? - Ron Sias - ? - ? - 1997 ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - 1996 ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - ? - References
ee also
Collectible Card Game External links
* [http://www.cactusgamedesign.com Cactus Game Design]
* [http://cactusgamedesign.com/message_boards/index.php Redemption Forum]
* [http://freewebs.com/redemptionne]
* [http://redemptiond3.tk/] Redemption D3 the Redemption Raffle site
* [http://www.threelionsgaming.com/redemption.htm]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
