Main Page/Establishment Republican

“

A deck for the experienced Republican politician.

”

The Establishment Deck is one of the two most common decks in the game alongside Establishment Democrat, being used by 5 different Republican candidates. This is the ideal deck for any Republican with legislative or political experience, extending to many Senators, Representatives, and even party elites.

This card set was introduced as part of the original playtest alongside several other essential card sets on February 21st, 2024 (see: Patch Notes).

Introduction

Playstyle

The Establishment Republican is the foremost way to pull levers and play the political game.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Powerful Political Capital Gain: There are multiple ways to gain Political Capital, thanks to your Lobbying Team, however when you place down any of your 2 Mentors, you will be able to rack up Political Capital in opportunistic fashion, opening up suddenly well-timed strategies to make the most of your hand at any crucial moment.

Too Many Non-Impactful Cards: Many cards in this deck such as Filibuster, Bipartisan Efforts, and Interference can be taken advantage of by any opponents, making it hard to get your Political Capital's worth when playing against competitive equals. Because of this many of these cards will be hard to make effective mileage out of, and will require you to be ahead or have Political Capital to throw around to make advantageous use of them.

Card Types

Neutral

These cards can be taken advantage of by anyone when used, and are preferable when you don't have much of a strong deck to play, or when you may simply have the stronger position or candidate stats to back it up. The Filibuster in particular is good at neutralizing unwanted surprises and can be used to put a chokehold on the pace of the game.

5

Bipartisan Efforts

For 4 Turns, after giving a Speech, gain 1 Political Capital. Affects all Candidates.

5

Bipartisan Efforts

For 4 Turns, after giving a Speech, gain 1 Political Capital. Affects all Candidates.

2

Filibuster

For 4 Turns, everyone (this includes you) loses 1 Political Capital at the start of a new Turn.

2

Filibuster

For 4 Turns, everyone (this includes you) loses 1 Political Capital at the start of a new Turn.

7

Interference

Target Candidate discards their hand and then draws four cards.

Enthusiasm

When it comes to shaping enthusiasm, there are 3 different enthusiasm operatives to do so, giving the player all the basic tools to shape up a national campaign without specifically focusing on one type of card type over any others. Although you may have 3 celebrity endorsements under your belt should you need the national boost, just make sure that those enthusiasm scores don't bottom out to zero after you play them.

2

Cheerleader

Increase Enthusiasm in target state by 5% at the start of every turn.

2

Cheerleader

Increase Enthusiasm in target state by 5% at the start of every turn.

5

Cheersquad

Increase Enthusiasm in target state by 10% at the start of every turn.

5

Rally Rouser

Put a Rally Rouser operative in a state. If they start the next turn in the state gain 30% Enthusiasm.

3

Jack Steele

Gain support from Jack Steele, a former US general. Increases Enthusiasm in all States by 2%.

3

"Slammin'" Sammy Jacobs

Gain support from "Slammin'" Sammy Jacobs, retired sports legend. Increases Enthusiasm in all States by 2%.

3

Mack Peering

Gain support from Mack Peering, the tech billionaire futurist. Increases Enthusiasm in all States by 2%.

Defense

When it comes to countering problematic cards, getting a lock on the situation with fixers and maverick reformers is pertinent to curbing your opponent's most valuable tools. Keep note of how many fixers and maverick reformers that may have been expended, as it will be important to space them out should opponents use it as an opening to plop down endorsements, or other powerful cards that may give them a crucial opening.

1

Fixer

Remove a target card effect from a state.

1

Fixer

Remove a target card effect from a state.

4

Maverick Reformer

Remove all opponent card effects from a Target State.

4

Maverick Reformer

Remove all opponent card effects from a Target State.

Offense

The Crooked Prosecutor is one of the best cards when it comes to simply securing an advantage. Not only can it be used right before an election, but unless they have a Bodyguard they will be short a turn, missing out on crucial political opportunities, speeches, and most importantly: valuable campaign time. You have only one of these, so use it wisely! Furthermore the Insider Volunteer is a hidden way to flip the advantage on your side when your opponent is holding onto valuable cards should they visit the state it's placed in.

3

Crooked Prosecutor

Target Player starts next turn with 0 Stamina.

1

Insider Volunteer

Set a trap in a target State. When an Opponent arrives there you steal a random card from them.

Operatives

The operatives from the classic Political Machine series are here! The Establishment Republican deck in particular has 3 Spin Doctors to work with, with one of them being an expert. These are powerful tools in primaries, and can hold as much weight as certain Think Tank HQ upgrades making them effective for changing the margins on the map.

2

Expert Spin Doctor

Increase Issue Score by 20% in Target State

1

Spin Doctor

Increase Issue Score by 10% in Target State

1

Spin Doctor

Increase Issue Score by 10% in Target State

Speeches

When it comes to getting the most out of your speeches, you have a Stump Speech Expert and Speech Personalizer that when timed and placed well, can be used to increase your speed effectiveness by 50%. Thankfully speech cards are low on the totem pole when it comes to cards your opponent will try to counter, meaning you will be able to get constant mileage out of them when they are effectively used.

5

Speech Personalizer

Increase Speech Effectiveness by 50% in Target State.

3

Stump Speech Expert

Increase Speech Effectiveness by 50% for 4 turns.

Endorsements

When it comes to getting a 2% boost across the map and bringing important issues to the top of the state table, with strong issue scores to boot, then these issue Endorsements will be your most crucial step towards affecting the state of the race. Your opponents, players and AI included, will make high priority of these cards, so secure and time them wisely!

6

Industrial Workers' Alliance

Seek endorsement from Industrial Workers' Alliance, an anti Automation group, in target State. Increases Enthusiasm in all States by 2%.

6

American Security Advocates

Seek endorsement from American Security Advocates, a pro Strong Military group, in target State. Increases Enthusiasm in all States by 2%.

6

Citizens for Secure Streets

Seek endorsement from the Citizens for Secure Streets, a pro Tough on Crime group, in target State. Increases Enthusiasm in all States by 2%.

6

Small Business Partnership

Seek endorsement from the Small Business Partnership, a pro Small Businesses group, in target State. Increases Enthusiasm in all States by 2%.

6

Firearm Freedom Coalition

Seek endorsement from the Firearm Freedom Coalition, an anti Stricter Gun Control group, in target State. Increases Enthusiasm in all States by 2%.

Political Capital

These are some of your best cards when it comes to giving you the direct upper hand. Not only is your Lobbying Team and Mentor powerful means of racking up PC gain, but should your opponent ignore it, you will be seeing your political capital overtake your opponent in quick succession during crucial moments in the game. A well timed Expert Rebuke can deter your opponent from having the crucial capital to secure a necessary endorsement, and may help you around certain election dates, or simply just secure your PC advantage. Uniquely you have the Mentor card (in contrast to the Establishment Democrat deck's Analyst) to gain PC at the expense of your stamina. Or should you place it in a vital location, it will earn you passive PC from your opponents that visit it.

3

Expert Rebuke

Target Player loses all Political Capital.

3

Expert Rebuke

Target Player loses all Political Capital.

3

Lobbying Team

Generates 2 Political Capital the start of every turn from Target State.

6

Mentor

Play in Target State. Whenever a Candidate visits a State with the Mentor, gain 1.5 Political Capital.

6

Mentor

Play in Target State. Whenever a Candidate visits a State with the Mentor, gain 1.5 Political Capital.

Cash

If you need a quick cash infusion, plop down a Big Donor to save yourself valuable stamina and turns in fundraising, or maximize your fundraisers with the Event Coordinator to build up a campaign war chest that will last throughout the entire game. You might not even need Consulting Offices should you land one of these cards early in the game. In contrast to the Establishment Democrat deck's Party Hotshot, you have a Party Leadership card that will give you 150k in cash at the cost of 1 of your Political Capital. Alternatively, should you need to save money when constructing a building, you can throw out the Experienced Builders card.

5

Big Donor

Gain 1,500,000 in funds from a mysterious benefactor.

5

Big Donor

Gain 1,500,000 in funds from a mysterious benefactor.

3

Event Coordinator

Increase the effectiveness of Fundraisers in Target State by 75%.

3

Experienced Builders

Decrease the amount of funds needed for construction in Target State by 50% for 1 turn.

1

Party Figurehead

Become a Party Figurehead. At the start of each Turn, lose 0.5 Political Capital and gain 150K in Funds.

1

Party Figurehead

Become a Party Figurehead. At the start of each Turn, lose 0.5 Political Capital and gain 150K in Funds.

Update History

v.82

• Intimidator
  • 1 Intimidator was removed, replaced with a Cheerleader instead
• Expert Smear Merchant
  • 1 Expert Smear Merchant was removed, replaced with a Spin Doctor instead

• Cheerleader
  • 1 Cheerleader was added, changing the total of Cheerleaders from 1 to 2
• Spin Doctor
  • 1 Spin Doctor was added, changing the total of Spin Doctors from 1 to 2