Designer: Michael E. Brines
Roaming Panther Game Co., 1990
Players 2-4 (4 recommended)
Playing time Not indicated
Era Modern hypothetical
Scale Cards
Map Military Districts
Turn Not specified

Components
1 plastic ziploc bag
1 11"x17" pink cardstock sheet folded to make a cover sheet and teaser on the front & back covers and a map of the Western Soviet Union inside 8 3 2"x3" cards (77 orange & 6 yellow)
56 1/2" square colored chits
1 7"x11" 4-page rules booklet

The Designer says:

“Can YOU gain freedom for the oppressed minorities? Or as the Russians can you preserve the last multinational colonial empire in the world? Play this game and find out. ... Minorities! Don’t succeed until you are ready. Cooperate.

As Ben Franklin said, you can ‘all hang together’ or you’ll ‘all hang separately.’ You’re not safe until the Soviets are completely overthrown. Otherwise the Red Army will just come back like they did after the first civil war in the 1920’s.”

What the Reviewer says:

Nothing. No reviews of this game were located.

Card Manifest
4 Support (Western European; American; Chinese; Iranian [red])
1 Chinese Border Clashes
5 Doublecross
6 Second Echelon
3 KGB [red]
1 Sino-Soviet War [yellow]
5 Independent Republics (Armenian; Belorussian; Ukrainian; Baltic; Islamic) [yellow]
1 Withdraw from Afghanistan [red]
1 Purge Hard Liners [red]
1 Threatening Military Maneuvers [red]
1 Release Political Prisoners [red]
1 Withdraw Troops from E. Europe [red]
2 Border Guard Divisions [red]
1 Local Election Victories
1 Nazi-Soviet Pact Issue
1 Fall of Foreign Communist Government
3 Call for Further Reforms
7 Guerillas
4 Corruption
4 Riot
5 Special Interests Protest Reforms
9 Demonstration
6 Shortages
4 Scandals
1 Moldavian Separatists Demand Union with Romania
5 Reforms (Governmental; Industrial; Economic; Agricultural; Party)

Comments

To my mind, there is something damning about a game whose rules are full of typos (AK-74 for AK-47) and illiteracies (“succeed” for “secede”). The slapdash attitude consistent with such errors is not likely to be any different when it comes to the structure and content of the rules.

This is unfortunate, as the basic mechanic encouraging the three weak players to cooperate against the strong Russian has some interesting aspects and potential challenges.

But then, you all know how difficult it is to get a fourth for bridge.

Collector’s Value

There are no other references to the Roaming Panther Game Co. to be found in the Simulacrum library. Boone does not list this game or company, nor does Pimper.

This particular game was found by accident on eBay. There were no internal references to any other titles. Bear in mind that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, and the possibility exists that other games were produced by this company. In any event, this game is likely to be rare enough and unknown enough to justify classification as a Berg’s Paradox TM Pat. Pend..

Other Games by This Designer

None found.

Other Card Games About Soviet Politics

Red Empire (GDW).