A More Perfect Union
We The People… has always had a strong presence at WBC for
good reasons. It is the fastest to play and simplest to learn of the
ever expanding genre of Card Driven Games (CDG). So if you’ve ever wondered
about CDG’s, this will be your best chance to give it a try. Both newcomers
and our returning competitors continue to be drawn by WTP’s uncomplicated
rules and fast play (games are expected to be decided within two hours);
just the thing we all need after a week of coping with the mind numbing
details of more complex games. But the real attraction of WTP is the
fact that luck plays an astonishingly small role in the outcome—it
is entirely possible for a player with a well executed strategy to lose
every single battle and still win the war. If that doesn’t remind one
of the American Revolution, nothing will! On the other hand, the turn
of a single card can either derail a fragile strategy or reward a daring
chance and thus generate excitement levels equal to any game.
In recent years, WTP has been a coached event. This year, the
GM will be playing in the event so will not coach. However, Randall
MacInnis has graciously agreed to coach, so we will continue to offer
that option. Coached players will be matched up with those of similar
background and skill. This game is very easy to learn. I
will also make every effort to avoid having newcomers matched with the
top players in the first round (and if possible, matched with one another).
We The People uses the Swiss—Elimination format. A sufficient
number of opening rounds are played (probably four but the exact number
is determined by the number of entrants) to fill a bracket of eight quarter-finalists.
In the Swiss format portion, players score two points for a victory and
one point for a draw. After each round, players with like records are
randomly matched for the subsequent round. Once the field has been trimmed
so that eight players have like scores, they will begin the Single Elimination
portion of the tournament. Three SE rounds will result in a champion.
In each game, players will bid for sides. Bidding is a two stage process.
First, each player will take a PC counter and, covering it with one hand,
will turn up either the American side or the British side. The side facing
UP corresponds to the side the player wishes to play. If the PCs show
opposite sides, then the players each get to play their desired side
and no bonus PCs are used. If both players wish to play the same side,
then they secretly write on their ’Player Record Form’ (GM provided)
a bid in the form of the number of bonus PCs that they give their opponent
to play the opposite side. For example: Bill and Tony both prefer to
play the Americans. Bill thinks he can still win as the American if he
gives Tony 3 bonus British PCs, so he writes “British + 3” on
his form. For his part, Tony is convinced that he has the perfect American
plan and is really unwilling to play the British. He writes “British
+7” on his form. Because he is willing to give up 7 PCs to Bill’s
3 PCs, Tony “wins” the bid and will get to try out his American
perfect plan. Bill will play the British and, immediately after the American
Committees of Correspondence PCs are placed, he will get to place the
7 British PCs Tony offered. I do not have precise details from last year,
but the average bid was around 3 PCs to play the Americans.
Three important details: First, if both players bid the same number
of PCs then they roll a single die to randomly determine the side. The
player with the higher roll may choose his side and the bid is used by
the appropriate player. Secondly, the bonus PCs must be placed either
in a port OR linked to a friendly PC regardless of which side the PCs
belong to, i.e. BONUS American PCs can not be “paratrooped” anymore
than the British. (This prohibition on American PC’s does NOT apply to
the Committees of Correspondence PCs nor during the course of the game.)
British PCs can be chained. Lastly, during the Single Elimination portion
of the tournament, the player receiving PCs is awarded the victory in
case of a draw. If during this stage of the tournament, both players
bid zero or bid for opposite sides, then a draw will be adjudicated by
a tie breaker rule distributed to all quarterfinalists at the start of
the SE phase of the tournament.
Seeding for the initial round of the Swiss portion of the tournament
will be semi-random. That is it will be random but adjusted to ensure
that (in order): (a) players who frequently play each other at home are
not paired, (b) semi-finalists from last year are not paired, and (c)
former champions are not paired. Byes (if necessary) will be offered
(but need not be accepted) according to the BPA bye precedence rules
found in the GM Guidelines. There will be no byes during the Single Elimination
portion of the tournament; the GM reserves the right to place any qualifying
player from the Swiss rounds into the bracket as needed to replace drops.
Procedural rules (e.g. die rolling, deck shuffling, slow play) will
be posted on the Kiosk and promulgated at the tournament. To facilitate
player understanding of the game before the tournament begins, some interpretations
of the game’s rules are provided below. Additional questions should be
posted on the ConsimWorld WTP discussion group where designer Mark Herman
will either answer the question or check the answer if it is provided
by another experienced player.
The GM will continue Don Chappell’s
policy of providing additional prizes in the form of books about the
American Revolution: The John Paul Jones Award to the Sportsmanship nominee.
The Minuteman Militia Award to the best performing tyro (assuming we
have enough newcomers). The Valley Forge Award to a player with dogged
determination and persistence despite outrageous fortune.
ERRATA: The following long standing official FAQ and errata
from the Designer are in effect:
2.1 Errata: Boston should be a Port.
6.2 The European War card says that if the French Alliance isn’t
in effect, the strategy cards are reshuffled. Does this include the
discards also?
A. Any time a card calls for a reshuffling of the
Strategy Deck, ALL cards (excluding those removed as a result
of play) are reshuffled, including discards.
6.2 There are three cards: William Pitt Peace Talks,
Hortelez et Cie, and the European War card that under certain
conditions reshuffle the Strategy Card deck, can these cards
be discarded and prevent the deck from being reshuffled?
A. The William Pitt and Hortelez et Cie cards must
be played, not discarded, in order for any of their effects
to occur, hence if they are discarded the deck is NOT reshuffled.
On the other hand, the European War card may NOT be discarded
and it always causes a reshuffling of the Strategy Card deck
if the French Alliance has not yet occurred in the game.
6.2 Can the Nathan Hale, Jane McCrea, or the Thomas
Paine event cards be used to convert a British PC marker
into an American PC marker in a space containing an American
General?
A. No, each of these cards states that the space may
not contain a British piece. The presence of the American
General doesn’t change this fact.
6.2 Can the Declaration of Independence Special Event
card be used to convert a British PC marker into an American
PC marker in a space with an American General?
A. No, the card allows you to place American PC markers,
if possible, not convert British ones.
6.2 When the Declaration of Independence Special Event
is played, is the American player required to play a PC marker
if possible in each colony, or is it an option that he can
exercise or not as he sees fit?
A. Yes, placement of a PC is required in every colony
where there is an empty space available.
6.2 The European War card states, “two British
units are removed". Who chooses which CUs are removed?
A. The person playing the card removes the two CU;
hence if the British play it then they get to remove the
ones they want, and if the Americans play the card, they
choose.
6.2 If the European War card is played prior to the
French Alliance, causing a reshuffling of the card deck,
does it activate the various cards that require it to be
played, such as the Don Bernardo Galvez card?
A. No, the only effect of the European War card being
played prior to the French Alliance is to reshuffle the deck.
6.2 Can the Benedict Arnold card be played during
the Strategy Phase, if no battle is occurring?
A. No, this card may be played prior to a battle only.
6.2 Can the Benedict Arnold card be played prior to
a battle when Benedict Arnold isn’t present?
A. Yes, the card doesn’t require the presence of Benedict
Arnold in order for the two additional Battle cards to be
received. Regardless of whether Benedict Arnold is at the
battle when the card is played or not he is still removed
from play.
6.2 If the Benedict Arnold card is played and Benedict
Arnold is the commanding American General, whether attacking
or defending, when is he removed?
A. Benedict Arnold is removed the instant the card
is played. He would not be used for determining Battle Card
totals, nor Counterattack.
6.2 Is the John Glover Marblehead Regiment card an
activation card like a Minor Campaign card or is it played
in conjunction with an Operations or Campaign card?
A: It is NOT an activation card that allows a General
to move but is used in conjunction with an Operations or
Campaign card to increase the movement of ONE General. In
the case of a Minor or Major Campaign card only ONE of the
two or three Generals moved would get the movement bonus.
6.2 Does Rochambeau get the American general special
abilities of interception and retreat before combat?
A. Rochambeau, as stated, acts like an American General
in EVERY way. Rochambeau gets the special abilities to intercept
and retreat before combat. Additionally, the British get
their Regulars bonus in combat against French forces since
they are treated as American units in EVERY way.
7.0 When a Campaign card is played may a specific
CU be moved by more than one general?
A. No.
7.2 When a Campaign card is played can a General attempt
one intercept per enemy General moved?
A. No, as stated, each General gets one intercept
attempt per Strategy card played. Therefore, when a Campaign
card is played each General gets ONE intercept attempt total.
For example if the British played a Major Campaign card and
Washington made an intercept attempt against the first British
General moved, he would not be allowed to make any further
intercept attempts when the second and third Generals moved.
It should be remembered that a General who attempts an intercept,
whether successful or not, forfeits his ability to retreat
before combat until the next Strategy card is played. In
this example after George Washington attempted his intercept
against the first British General he loses his ability to
retreat before combat for the remainder of the British movements
conducted during the Major Campaign card play.
7.2 Can multiple intercepts occur when a British army
enters a space?
A. Yes, but the first successful intercept IMMEDIATELY
causes a battle preventing any further intercept attempts
from occurring. For example, if a British General entered
a space with an American PC which was also adjacent to two
American Generals, each in turn could attempt to intercept
the British army, but if the first attempt were successful
then a battle would immediately occur preventing the second
General from attempting an interception. If the first attempt
failed then the second attempt could occur and if successful
the second American General would fight a battle.
7.2 If an intercepting American army loses the battle
it caused, must it retreat back to the space that it originated
from before the battle?
A. No, an interception places the intercepting American
general in the space as if he were there prior to the British
move. His retreat options are calculated as if he were in
the space prior to the British attempt to enter it and the
normal retreat options would prevail.
7.2 Can an American army intercept into a space that
already contains another American army?
A. Yes, but one of the Generals must be removed prior
to the battle. Remember, Washington is never the one removed.
7.2 If an American army attempts to intercept into
a space that already contains another American army and fails,
does this prevent the other American army from attempting
a Retreat Before Combat?
A. No, because the intercept of one General doesn’t
prevent the other from attempting a Retreat Before Combat.
However, if the intercept is successful then a Battle is
immediately conducted preventing any further attempts at
Retreat Before Combat.
7.2 If an American army fails to Retreat Before Combat,
can another American army then attempt to intercept into
the space?
A. No, because after a failed Retreat Before Combat
a Battle is immediately conducted preventing any further
attempts at interception.
7.2 Can an American General alone, intercept into
a space containing American CU that are about to be attacked?
A. No, the interception pre-condition requires an
army (i.e., a General and a CU), not a General alone.
7.2 Can an American General intercept into a space
that a moving British army is entering, if besides the presence
of an American PC marker there is also another British army?
A. No, an intercept assumes that the American army
was in the space prior to the British move which the prior
presence of a British army would preclude.
7.2 Does the American player receive an extra Battle
Card for intercepting into a space already containing American
CUs or only for a battle caused by a successful interception?
A. Yes, the act of interception gives the one card
bonus whether the battle would or would not have happened
without the interception.
8. Can reinforcements for both sides be placed in
a space that only contains an enemy General, and if so is
that General captured?
A. Yes and Yes.
9.1 When can the British get Battle Cards for the
Navy in the Charleston, SC space?
A. The only time that the British get Battle Cards
for the Navy in the Charleston, SC space is when they are
the original defender in that space and there is a British
PC marker present with no French navy.
9.2 Does a player have to cancel an attackers’ Battle
Card if he can or can he choose to play another card and
lose the battle?
A. A player can play any card he desires, if the one
played fails to cancel the attackers’ Battle Card he loses
the battle. The fact that the defender had the proper card
to cancel the attack is immaterial.
9.2 Can a CU without a General perform a retreat?
A. Yes, a General is necessary for movement NOT retreat.
Obviously, a general is required to attempt retreat BEFORE
combat.
9.2 Can the British retreat from a Port that they
are attacking into?
A. No, the attacker must always retreat back to the
space from which they attacked. Therefore the British can
only retreat from a Port space that they are defending.
9.2 Can the British attack from a port space into
an adjacent space, lose the battle, which places them back
in the original port space, and then retreat by sea to another
port space?
A. No, they would fall back into the port space, but
NOT into the port and then by sea somewhere else. The retreat
by sea only occurs if you are in a port space not retreated
into one.
9.2 Can the British retreat from a Port space that
they are defending which has an American PC marker in it?
A. Yes, regardless of the presence (or absence) of
a British or American PC marker, the British can retreat
from the Port space (assuming the French navy isn’t present).
However, the space they retreat into must be either empty
or have a British PC marker and in all cases neither space
can contain the French navy.
10.1 The American player cannot use Ops cards to place
PC when the Continental Congress is dispersed, but can the
American still convert British PC due to the presence of
a General when the Continental Congress is dispersed?
A. Yes. If the Continental Congress is dispersed,
the American player can still use an OPS card to flip PCs
(one or more as appropriate) in spaces where he has a General
present.
10.1 If the Continental Line Mutiny Card is in play,
can the American still convert British PC due to the presence
of a General?
A. Yes. The effects of the Continental Line Mutiny
Card in this regard are the same as dispersing the Congress.
An OPS card can still be used to FLIP a PC in a space under
one or more generals (as appropriate) and PCs may still be
placed if mandated by the play of an EVENT card.
10.1 For purposes of playing a British PC marker or
determining political isolation, would Falmouth be considered
adjacent to Quebec and vice versa?
A. No, the Quebec-Falmouth line represents one of
the greatest winter marches in all history. Its only use
is to allow Benedict Arnold to have an historically important
capability that offsets the fact that you can’t trust him.
It has no effect on any other game system other than those
stated on the map and in the rules.
10.1 Can the British player place a PC marker during
the strategy phase using an operations card in an area occupied
by a British Army but not adjacent to an already existing
British PC?
A. No.
10.1 Can the British player flip a PC marker during
the strategy phase using an operations card in an area occupied
by a British Army but not adjacent to an already existing
British PC?
A. Yes.
10.1 Can the British player place a PC marker during
the strategy phase using an operations card in an area occupied
by an American General without CUs that is adjacent to an
already existing British PC?
A. Yes.
10.2 Can the British player place or flip a PC marker
in areas occupied by a British Army during the political
control phase, regardless of whether the army is adjacent
to an existing British PC?
A. Yes.
10.2 Can the American player place or flip a PC marker
in an area occupied only by an American General without CUs
during the political control phase?
A. No.
10.2 Can American PC markers be considered un-isolated
if they can trace through other American PCs to a British
PC space that contains an American CU or general?
A. In all cases the American CU or general piece must
be in an empty or American PC space. It cannot be in a British
PC space to fulfill the requirement. The same concept would
go for the British army.
10.2 If a British PC is located in a port blockaded
by the French Navy, can it trace to an adjacent neutral space
or army to avoid isolation?
A. Yes.
10.2 For purposes of tracing for isolation, is a space
containing an enemy CU but not an enemy PC considered “empty"?
A. No, it is not considered “empty” as that
term is used in 10.2. Nor is it considered “empty” when
occupied by an American general without any CUs. However,
such a space IS considered “empty” if it is occupied
by a British general without any CUs.
11 ADDITIONAL RULE: Single CUs are no longer immune
to Winter Attrition. During the Winter Attrition Phase, the
owning player must make an attrition die roll for all non-winter
quarters spaces north of the Winter Attrition Line containing
a single CU with no general. On a die roll of 1-3 there is
no effect. On a die roll of 4-6 the CU is eliminated.
12 Does control of Detroit and either Quebec and Montreal
give that player control of Canada?
A. No, in order to control Canada a player must possess
both Montreal and Quebec. The value of controlling Detroit
is that it counts when determining who has more PC markers
in Canada for militia purposes.
12 In cases of PC marker total ties the American player
controls a colony for victory purposes at the end of the
game. If Detroit has no PC marker in it and the Americans
control either Montreal or Quebec and the British control
the other does the American player control Canada due to
the PC total tie?
A. No, Canada isn’t a colony, as stated, the American
player needs to control both Quebec and Montreal in order
to count Canada for Victory purposes. In cases where the
American player controls either Quebec and Montreal without
the other then the British control Canada by default.
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