Tabletop_Gaming__Issue_27__February_2019

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tabletopgaming.co.uk 41

Pick a side and inltrate your way to independence in

this trust-nobody retelling of the US revolution

PATRIOTS & REDCOATS

Words by Charlie Theel

I

’m a sucker for historical themes in

accessible titles. By that I mean I love

when we get settings and narratives

branching out from their typical

restrictions to hex-and-chit wargames.

Patriots & Redcoats from designer Tom

Butler and Green Feet Games ts the

bill. It’s also helpful that it’s a quality

design rife with tension and excitement.

While merging the historical setting of

the American Revolutionary War with a

social deduction game is quite original,

many of this design’s mechanisms are not.

is is unabashedly a melding of popular

titles Secret Hitler and Good Cop, Bad

Cop. is is clear as day in forming a war

council where one player discards one of

three options before passing the other two

to another player (Secret Hitler), as well as

the important concept of possessing three

loyalty cards with a faction majority deciding

your allegiance (Good Cop, Bad Cop).

While derivation is not something

we should applaud, Patriots & Redcoats

manages to overcome this challenge and

present an experience that does separate

itself from its peers. Of immediate note

is the spycraft deck that leads to strategic

decisions of slowly revealing players’

allegiances. ere is also a multitude

of roles with special rules and abilities,

providing a touch of depth for players to

latch onto.

e collision of these concepts does

present a chewier and nuanced system.

is means the subtle nature can take a few

plays to fully internalise – and also leads to

occasional confusion.

All of this is worth the cost. e end result

is a social deduction aair that feels distinct

despite wearing its inuences on its sleeve.

As the hidden Patriots look to subvert the

Redcoats, tensions rise and accusations

ow like wine and mutton.

One of the most interesting aspects of

this design is how allegiances shift over

time. Players will occasionally pass one

of their loyalty cards to their neighbour,

possibly causing a cascade that upsets

the team make-up and provides a new

ground to battle over. You can of course

perform this swap strategically using

information you’ve gained throughout

play. Alternatively, this mechanism can

be used as a secondary path to victory;

the Patriot spy can outright win it for their

side if they are passed the Redcoat leader.

is dramatic outcome is thrilling and

most satisfying if performed purposely as

a coup de grâce.

is leads to the fact that length can be

variable. Much like Secret Hitler, each side

is racing to get their victories on the board

and ll the track. You will have games that

end abruptly and you will have others that

are drawn out with soldiers on both sides

ghting savagely for each inch of ground.

When that unexpected spy victory rears

its head the table will laugh and high-ves

will ensue.

Patriots & Redcoats is not the most

unique game, but it’s right up there in

terms of quality and accomplishment. e

integration of setting and mechanisms,

against all odds, undeniably works. e

resulting experience oered is both

delightful and thrilling.

ghting savagely for each inch of ground.

When that unexpected spy victory rears

its head the table will laugh and high-ves

will ensue.

Its gameplay will be

familiar to Secret Hitler

and Good Cop, Bad

Cop fans, but Patriots

& Redcoats’ historical

setting stands apart