Players 2-4 Playing time | Age range 12+ Random chance Some | |
Designer(s) Keith Parkinson and Luke Peterschmidt Publisher(s) Friedlander Publishing Group | ||
Guardians is a collectible card game created by Keith Parkinson and Luke Peterschmidt, published by Friedlander Publishing Group (FPG) between 1995 and 1996. In it, two players build armies led by powerful leaders called Guardians. Unlike many CCGs, there is a 4x3 "map" where armies maneuver; each player has strongholds on their "row", and the middle two rows are disputed. There are three potential victory conditions: a player can either defeat the enemy Guardian, conquer all 6 "disputed territories" in the middle two rows, or exhaust their opponent by depleting their armies ("shields").
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Marketing
Guardians was marketed rather crudely, emphasizing scantily-clad women in cards and sex appeal. For example, there was a card called "Super Model" which "Destroys any creature which can be bribed by Babes", and an article/advertisement in Inquest written by designer Luke Peterschmidt featured a caption saying "Six of the... uh, three of the best things about Guardians" next to artwork of three large-chested women in little clothing.
Artwork
Guardians was most renowned for the quality of its artwork. Artists include: