P.A.W.S. Protocol

About this game

P.A.W.S. Protocol is a two-player tactical card game of hidden deployment, battlefield deduction, and psychological warfare. Command an elite squad of animal officers — from the mighty General Lion to the resourceful Commando Rat — as you secretly deploy your forces across three battlefronts. Every facedown card could be a powerful commander, a devastating missile, or a cleverly placed mine, and every attack reveals just a little more of your opponent's strategy. Players begin by secretly arranging their nine-card battalion in a 3×3 formation. During the game, they take turns either launching attacks against the enemy frontline, or voluntarily revealing one of their own units to activate its unique ability, known as its Protocol. As frontline units are eliminated, more units become exposed and can be targeted, constantly reshaping the battlefield. Success depends on careful deduction, risk management, and knowing the perfect moment to activate your Protocols. Although higher-ranked officers generally defeat lower-ranked ones, Protocols and special units create unexpected twists. The Mini Missile, Micro Mine, and even the lowly Commando Rat each break the normal combat rules in different ways, allowing clever players to outmaneuver seemingly superior forces. Every revealed card provides valuable information, turning each battle into an escalating contest of deduction, strategy, and psychological warfare. Your objective is simple: eliminate your opponent's General Lion before they eliminate yours. Whether through calculated assaults, deceptive positioning, or perfectly timed Protocols, only the commander who best reads the battlefield will complete the P.A.W.S. Protocol and claim victory. —description from the publisher

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