Oz is not a happy fairy tale. Politics and intrigue are rampant as power struggles between opposing forces divides the land and its people. It is here that a young girl from Kansas first enters the story as a hapless traveler and later becomes Oz's greatest hero. Lifted right from the pages of L. Frank Baum's Oz books, the history of the land and its strange inhabitants are presented to the players to explore and rewrite as they see fit.
The art of diplomacy and intrigue is only mastered by those who are truly devoted to the craft. Subtle is the brush that gently paints hints and suggestions into the minds of influential leaders. If done correctly, a single masterful stroke is worth a thousand soldiers and a well-timed flourish of words can bring down castle walls. It is a dangerous game full of lies and treachery, but the rewards are nothing short of the Keys to the Kingdom and worth the risk!
The premise of Smash Up is pretty simple. Take two of the eight Faction decks (that represent iconic heroes of geek culture) and shuffle them together to create a 40 card deck. Use Minions and Actions from that deck to attack and destroy the Bases before your opponent's do. The faster you destroy a Base, the more Victory Points you earn. The first player to accumulate 15 Victory Points wins the game. Quick. Easy. Fun. Approved!
They are known as Drifters, individuals who can travel from one plane of existence to another. Some see them as saviors and others as heralds of doom. Wherever they appear, change is certain to follow. From out of nothingness, these Drifters create fantastic creatures of legend and bend the very fabric of reality to their Will. For theirs is the power of creation and destruction, and they eternally battle each other for dominance over all.
Pop quiz, hot-shot! You've got less than a minute to carefully move a block from a stack and then balance it on a wobbly tower. What's the only thought that should be in your head? HA! Trick question, rookie! That answer is "nothing"! This is a game where you only have time to do two things: be quick and precise! Leave your brain at the door, check your gut, and bring your moxie!
The phrase "the devil is in the details" is exceedingly apropos when it comes to this seemingly simple trick-taking card game. Playing the winning card is not always the best action to take and sometimes taking a big penalty is exactly what you need to win. This is a game of thinking in two directions at once and keeping track of the little devils that will determine if you win or lose.