Wow. It gets worse. I just saw “Illuminati Second Edition 2020” on Ebay. Not sure how I missed this, but I haven’t seen anyone mention it here before. Mods: Although technically it relates to a card game (and not an RPG) it is published by Steve Jackson Games, and seems related to this thread. If not, feel free to move it to a more suitable location.
First, some background. Many of you grew up playing the original Illuminati card game in the 80’s; or the collectible version, Illuminati: new World Order in the 90’s. Both of those games were fun card games about conspiracies vying for world domination. They took an even-handed stance when it came to politics, mildly poking fun at both sides of the aisle. There were cards for both Bill Clinton and Al Gore, as well as Ronald Reagan and George Bush.
The new game looks like an expansion that mostly focuses on Covid. While I haven’t seen the entirety of the new game—and if you have, please chime in—the cards I see on Ebay are woke and one-sided. Examples:
Black Lives Matter: No artwork. Text reads: “A turning point for society… this card counts as Special. When it is played, keep it on the table like an NWO, but nothing can remove it.”
The Wise Doctor: Obviously Dr. Fauci.
USA #1 (in deaths): Probably meant to be Covid deaths (but according to Wikipedia, we’re #21.)
Autonomous Zones: Artwork shows happy, diverse, peaceful people behind a barricade with a tent in the background. Alignment is fanatic and liberal, so this probably is meant to represent CHAZ/CHOP.
Mass Demonstrations: Artwork shows happy, diverse, peaceful people wearing masks. (Probably meant to be BLM/Antifa, but it is hard to tell since nothing is on fire.)
Covidiots: Artwork shows angry virus hoaxers. Three are wearing red caps, one is holding a sign about the Bill of Rights. Everyone in the artwork is white.
Pro-virus Rallies: Artwork shows angry people spreading the virus. Five people wearing red caps, everyone in the artwork is white.
That Guy: Although you can’t see the figure’s face, the orange skin, red tie, and small hands are obviously a thinly-veiled reference to Trump. The card’s alignment is: conservative,
criminal, and
violent.Statue Smashers: The only card I see ridiculing the Left, making fun of people who indiscriminately topple statues.
I saw this game as an auction on Ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/265035475759?hash=item3db5586b2f:g:3TAAAOSwTVxiVn0y&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4FlsUR9w4dTZC3X6ZU7zI8o3HFgqqNBQSxDWd3o6ywgPVhGZ1S0ZwNtVU7mTjzVpkXpoRbumfS2WdHPN1lbxI6SdnFOZ4t58IdySv3T02u3pxtJc70dLieDVhn5bz36HKXW%2FyXzl6Ei7bOcClmCgLWq9LQ505Sn%2BD19%2FOpd1FFk9nd%2FgfPhlPJp87Am3qAfD5N4n9WdIVCbKaF8Ag3Sx4TmmMpNjgBzX0uDExMQlck%2F0KG92OravTx9uny2LBCIBp9UrqfWe3t46WZle0JDAn0ErC%2F70%2B61ybaL8WXMezn%2F2%7Ctkp%3ABFBM0OqRncNgOddly enough, when I search for it on the SJG website, it gives a 404:
https://www.sjgames.com/ourgames/card.html