Riposte! and Cell Block 18 are two-player, 18-card strategy games that fit in your pocket. Try to anticipate your opponent's next fencing move in Riposte! or escape from prison in the asymmetrical Cell Block 18.
Cell Block 18 and Riposte! are a pair of two-player, competitive card games. Each game consists of just 18 poker-sized cards and a folder with a rulebook, stuffed into a zip-top mylar bag. We're keeping this campaign simple: no stretch goals, just two beautifully illustrated, cleverly designed games that fit in your pocket.
With Riposte! and Cell Block 18, you can:
Learn to play in less than 5 minutes
Play an entire game in about 15 minutes
Reset and go again before your friend is even finished reading the rulebook of the big game they had originally wanted to play tonight
No one has ever escaped from Cell Block 18, but there's always a first time. Match wits as Warden and Prisoner,and use the tools at your disposal to either break out or prevent escape in this asymmetric 2-player card game.
Cell Block 18
Players choose their role: Prisoner or Warden. Both players will play their cards into 3 lanes in the center of the table.
Prisoner
The prisoner plays cards face-down, attempting to collect a set of three — a Tool, a set of Clothing, and a Method — to break free and win the game. The prisoner also has access to one of three single-use Special Abilities that can disrupt the warden's plans.
Warden
The warden plays cards face-up to prevent the prisoner'sescape.
Guard cards can reveal cards or block the prisoner from playing cards in a lane. Security cards can be used to prevent the Prisoner from scoring a specific set by blocking a means of escape.
The game ends either when the prisoner reveals a winning set and escapes or they run out of cards, making escape impossible.
Warden
Pay attention to which lanes the prisoner is playing in
Early game: Use your guards to look at what the Prisoner has played
Mid-game: Use your security cards to prevent specific sets
Late game: Use your guards to prevent cards from being played in lanes
Prisoner
Remember, you have 2 tools and 2 clothing cards, but 3 lanes
Spread out your escape methods
Use your action card wisely based on where the warden has played cards
En garde! You've been challenged to a duel. Play cards simultaneously, trying to score points against your opponent in this game of wits and strategy. Each move limits your options for the next, so track your opponent's cards and choose your moves just as carefully.
Riposte!
Both players have identical nine-card hands. Play starts with a random card from each player. No one can score a hit on the first move.
Next, choose and reveal a card from your hand. It has to be one of the three listed on your previous card.
Check whether anyone scored a hit.
If no one scores a hit, both players choose another card for their next move, and the round continues.
When someone scores a hit, the scoring card is removed from the game to track points. Players then pick up the rest of their cards and begin a new round.
The first player to score their third point wins.
Pay attention to your opponent's options.
Which cards can they play next?
Which of those cards are no longer in their hand?
Which of those cards can you score against?
Which can score against you?
Choose the best card for the situation.
What is most likely to score a hit?
What is least likely to be scored against?
Back your opponent into a corner.
If they can't play a valid card, you score a free hit.
We are participating in two collaborations! We're collaborating with fellow Oklahoma game makers, The Baron's Game Room. When you back this campaign and The Cure, you'll receive a free Oklahoma Board Game Design Association sticker.
We are also part of the Pocketopia Card Games Banner. When you back this campaign and two other campaigns under the Card Games banner, we'll send you an exclusive Riposte! and Cell Block 18 sticker pack.
If you’d like to support us, click the “Back This Project” button and choose your reward. We’ll charge shipping and tax at a later date. For now, you are just authorizing us to charge you for the games you want to buy.
2. When Your Card is Charged
Your credit card will only be charged if the project is successful. If we don’t meet our goal, the authorization will be canceled, and you won’t be charged. If the campaign is successful, we’ll charge your card the amount you pledged.
3. Pledge Manager
About a month after the campaign ends, we’ll email you a link to a survey about your shipping information and other details. You can also add on more games at this time. Once you’ve completed the survey, you'll be charged for shipping and tax. Completing the shipping survey is essential to making sure you receive your games.
4. Fulfillment
We’ll provide regular updates on manufacturing and fulfillment. It takes several months for the games to be produced and shipped, and we’ll keep you informed about our progress and any potential delays at every step. We’ll do everything in our power to make sure your games arrive on time!
About a month after the campaign ends, you’ll receive a link to confirm your address and pay shipping fees. All shipments will come directly from the United States via USPS Ground Advantage mail. Rates are approximate and may change slightly before shipping is finalized. We pledge to charge no more than the cost of postage and materials to ship the games to you.
The following rates apply to any number of copies of Cell Block 18 and Riposte! Other add-ons will increase the shipping rate.
Anywhere in the U.S.: $6
Canada: $14
Rest of the World: $16
U.S. backers shipping to an address in Oklahoma will need to pay local sales tax when paying for shipping.
Absurdist Productions is an indie board game studio in Oklahoma City owned by Will Thompson and David Thomas. We pride ourselves on creating games with unique themes that are well-researched, beautifully produced, wildly accessible, and, above all, fun to play.
