Overview
The Battlestar Galactica Collectible Card Game is a two-player CCG published by WizKids in 2006, based on the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series. Players build decks of at least 60 cards (with no more than four of any one card) representing characters, ships, events, and locations from the show. The game features an influence-based victory system where players compete to accumulate 20 influence or reduce their opponent to zero influence. The game was discontinued after the release of the Betrayal expansion.
Components
- Customizable card decks (minimum 60 cards, maximum 4 copies of any card)
- Card types: Characters, Ships, Events, Locations, Crisis cards
- Influence markers or tracker
- Two-player starter set includes quick-start rules, complete rulebook, and 62 fixed cards
Setup
Each player shuffles their deck and draws an opening hand. Both players start with a base influence level. Place influence trackers. Determine the first player.
Turn Structure
Each turn consists of:
- Draw Phase: Draw cards from your deck.
- Deployment Phase: Play character, ship, and location cards by paying their costs.
- Action Phase: Activate characters and ships to perform actions, including attacks.
- Crisis Phase: Resolve any crisis events in play.
- End Phase: Discard excess cards, resolve end-of-turn effects.
Actions
- Deploy Characters: Play character cards from your hand by paying their resource cost. Characters have abilities reflecting their roles in the TV series.
- Deploy Ships: Put ship cards into play. Ships include Vipers, Raptors, and Cylon Raiders with different combat capabilities.
- Attack: Use deployed characters and ships to attack the opponent’s forces. Successful attacks that go unblocked reduce the opponent’s influence.
- Activate Abilities: Characters have special abilities that can be activated for various effects (political maneuvering, military action, resource gathering).
- Crisis Management: Crisis cards create challenges that must be addressed, reflecting the show’s themes of survival and difficult choices.
Scoring / Victory Conditions
A player wins by achieving 20 influence or reducing their opponent’s influence to zero. Influence is gained through successful attacks, completed objectives, and card effects. Influence is lost when the opponent’s attacks succeed unblocked.
Special Rules & Edge Cases
- Human vs. Cylon Factions: Decks may represent Human or Cylon forces, each with unique card pools and strategies.
- Character Loyalty: Some cards have hidden loyalty mechanics reflecting the show’s theme of hidden Cylons among the human fleet.
- Fleet Mechanics: Ship deployment and fleet composition affect both offensive and defensive capabilities.
- Political vs. Military: Some strategies focus on political influence (gaining influence through non-combat means) while others focus on military dominance.
- Expansion Cards: The Betrayal expansion added new mechanics and cards before the game’s discontinuation.
Player Reference
| Card Type |
Role |
| Character |
Deployed for abilities and combat |
| Ship |
Military combat units |
| Event |
One-time special effects |
| Location |
Ongoing strategic benefits |
| Crisis |
Challenges requiring response |
| Win Condition |
Method |
| Reach 20 Influence |
Accumulate through actions |
| Opponent at 0 Influence |
Reduce via successful attacks |