Redemption is a collectable trading card game of Biblical adventures for two or more players. It's a great alternative to trading card games filled with wizards, magic, and the occult. You lead your brave band of heroes in a series of encounters against the evil forces of your opponents. The object of the game is to be the first to rescue five Lost Souls who are being held prisoner in the Land of Bondage. Redemption is both entertaining and edifying. Players custom-build their own decks prior to playing every game. As they play, players continually discover new strategies for creating the "unbeatable" deck, but they need specific cards to fit these strategies.

Trading cards with other players allows you to obtain cards that will fill the weak spots in your deck. There are many different cards: common, uncommon, rare and ultra-rare which may be acquired in booster packs or by trading cards to build competitive decks. All of the concepts for the cards come from the Bible. Redemption can be a training ground for the real war against evil in our own lives.

"Redemption is the game of choice for fellowships, game nights and free times..."
Pastor Mike Vickers
Music and Youth Director
Fairfax First Baptist Church
Valley, Alabama

Our youth often play this game in Sunday School. They have found a whole new excitement in reading Scriptures and meeting the characters of the Bible through Redemption."
Rev. Robert J. Howell
Pastor, Ferguson United Methodist Church
Ferguson, Kentucky

Equipment
You and your opponent(s) will each need a deck of Redemption™ cards and some counters (chips, coins, paper clips, etc...). The use of counters is explained later.

Preparation for Play
Each player must have at least 50 cards including a minimum of 7 Lost Soul cards in his or her deck. For every 7 additional cards added to the player's deck, one must be a Lost Soul card. For example, a deck of 64 cards much include at least 9 Lost Soul cards. Each player shuffles his deck thoroughly. Players may ask to shuffle an opponent's deck as well. Each player then allows his deck to be cut by the player on his right. Determine the player who will play first (roll a die, draw straws, play rock-scissors-paper, etc.).

Sequence of Play

1. Each player draws eight cards from the top of his deck to form his starting hand. Anytime that a player draws a Lost Soul card it is immediately placed in the player's Land of Bondage and a replacement card is drawn. Players draw three cards at the beginning of each of their second and subsequent turns, and one replacement for each Lost Soul card drawn (which must be played as drawn). At the end of each turn, the player reduces the cards in his hand to no more than eight.
2. The first player may now make one or more of the following choices. Note: some of these options are not available on the first turn, but all of these choices are available for subsequent plays.
   1. Place any number of different Heroes or Evil Characters on player's territory. For example, while players may have more than on Mary in their decks or hands, only one Mary may be in each player's territory.
   2. Declare a rescue attempt by placing a Hero in the Field of Battle (see Rescue Attempt and Battle Phase rules).
   3. Play a specialty card according to the instructions on the card.
   4. Return a set-aside hero to player's territory.
   5. Reduce the number of cards in his hand to no more than eight by:
      1. Either discarding or placing in play character cards in his territory. Note: Only character cards may be placed in play in your Territory.
      2. Initiating a set-aside period for an appropriately marked card.
3. After player has completed his turn by completing a rescue attempt, playing a Specialty card, setting aside a character and discarding, if necessary, to reduce his hand to eight cards, he announces he is finished and the next player begins his turn.
4. Play continues until one player has rescued five Lost Souls.

Timing of the playing of cards is important. Players will discover that the same cards may yield different outcomes if they are played in different order. Keep track of the order in which cards are played so that battle can be accurately resolved.

Rescue Attempt

1. The rescuer (player whose turn it is) declares that he is making a "rescue attempt". Players are allowed only one rescue attempt per turn.
2. The rescuer selects a Hero from his hand or territory and places it in the Field of Battle as the attacking card. Only one Hero may be used in a rescue attempt unless a banding enhancement card is played allowing an additional Hero to join the rescue attempt.
3. The opponent being attacked selects an Evil Character from his hand or territory and places it in the Field of Battle as the blocking card. Only one Evil Character may be used to block the rescue unless a banding enhancement card is played allowing an additional Evil Character to join in blocking the rescue attempt.

   Note: A Hero having a rating of 6/7 has an offensive rating of 6 and a defensive rating of 7. In other words, when this Hero strikes an Evil Character he does 6 points of damage and is defeated when he receives 7 or more points of damage.

Battle Phase

1. At this point the rescuer should now have one Hero in the Field of Battle and the opponent should have one Evil Character in the Field of Battle. The player who is currently losing the Battle plays one or more enhancement cards. If the two players are tied, then the rescuer plays the first enhancement card.
2. The rescuer may play enhancement cards (cards with the Bible icon) on his Hero that is in the Field of battle.
3. The opponent may play enhancement cards (card with Skull icon) on his Evil Character in the Field of battle. Note: The color of the enhancement card must match the color of the character on which it is played.
4. The player who is losing after an enhancement card is played gets to play the next enhancement card. Enhancement cards are played until one player either can't or won't continue to battle.
   1. If the attacking Hero dealt enough damage to the defending Evil Character to defeat it, the Evil Character is discarded and the defender must surrender one Lost Soul to the rescuer.
      
   2. If the Hero does not defeat the Evil Character. then the rescue attempt is unsuccessful and the Lost Soul remains in the Land of Bondage.
   3. If the Evil Character does enough damage to the Hero to defeat him, then the Hero card is discarded.
   4. If the Hero and the Evil Character defeat each other (characters tied), then both are discarded, but the Lost Soul is still successfully rescued and must be surrendered to the rescuer. Any Hero is willing to lay down his or her life to rescue a Lost Soul.
   5. Regardless of the battle outcome, all non-character card currently in the Field Battle must be discarded and the surviving characters returned to their owners territory or discarded as appropriate..
5. The battle is now resolved.

Winning the Game
The game ends when a player successfully rescues five lost souls.

Related Products:
Board Games for Ages 3 to 8
Board Games for Ages 8 and Up
Software Games
Bible Curriculum