How do you start playing?
After set up, the first player should, for demonstration's sake, take the Vie action and play any formation to The City row. From there, every player always takes 1 of the 3 actions. You can also watch this short video to learn how to get started.
What happens if you can't surpass the active formation?
If you can't surpass the formation or don't want to, you can take the Deploy or Plan actions.
Do you always have to Vie (play cards)?
No. You do not have to Vie unless a card effect like Hack forces you to. You can take the Deploy action if you have a Specialist in hand and can always take the Plan action.
Do you always draw cards during Plan?
Yes, you always draw cards during a Plan. Regardless of if you end up choosing Plan A or B.
Can drawing a Defect card force me to swap my Flex?
Yes, if the Flex is your only Specialist when you draw a Defect, you'll have to swap out your Flex card.
After surpassing your own formation at the start of your turn, can you play any formation?
Yes since there is no active formation (face up cards in The City row). Check "start of action" rules. You can also take the Deploy or Plan action instead.
Is The City row a tracker?
Yes. The City row basically tracks how many formations have been played that round and acts a timer for the round.
What happens if no one surpasses the formation you played?
If your turn begins and the active formation is your formation, surpass and take any action. You're not required to Vie unless a Hack has forced you to.
Where do you play cards?
You always play cards in formations to the right of The City card, aka The City row. Deployed Specialists are sent directly to the discard pile.
What about card sleeves? What size? Do cards fit sleeved in the box?
Yes and no. The game was originally intended to be raw dogged, but some resourceful BGGers have found a variety of sleeves that work well enough for the game in this thread.
What is a ladder climber?
If you’re unfamiliar, ladder climbing games are a type of card game where you have to outbid the previously played hand with a stronger hand. You may have never heard the genre name, but it’ll likely look familiar when you see it in play.
Is there a rules video?
You can watch a quick how-to-play video here. A full version is coming soon, so stay tuned!
Can you play a Squad as a Lineup?
No. Formations are completely distinct and cannot take on two formations at once. If a Squad qualifies as a Squad, it can’t also be a Lineup.
If you play The Flex as a Specialist, do you get to play cards?
No. The "surpass" for the Overthrow power just means flip over the active formation. To use Overthrow, you took the Deploy action, which is your one action for the turn. Yes, you may be setting up your rival to Vie, but you're trading that risk for The Advantage card.