Editing Illuminati: New World Order

{{Short description|Collectible card game}}
{{italic title}}
{{original research|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox game
|  subject_name= Illuminati: New World Order
| image_link=File:Illuminati card backs.png
|  image_caption=Both card backs to the Illuminati: New World Order CCG
|  designer= [[Steve Jackson (US game designer)|Steve Jackson]]
|  publisher= [[Steve Jackson Games]]
|  players= 2–6
|  ages= 12+
|  setup_time= 
|  playing_time= Approx 2 hours
|  strategy= 
|  random_chance= Some 
|  skills= {{ubl|[[Collectible card game|Card playing]]|[[Mathematics|Arithmetic]]|Basic reading ability}}
|  footnotes=
|  years=1994<ref name=BGG/>–1995<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.inwocard.com/ |title=Illuminati Card |website=INWOcard.com |quote=Steve Jackson release the Illuminati: New World Order card game in 1995, and after his accounts and offices were raided in the same year, which subsequently went out of print after a brief release. |access-date=2021-05-10 |archive-date=2021-05-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508193229/https://www.inwocard.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
}}

'''''Illuminati: New World Order''''' (''INWO'') is an out-of-print [[collectible card game]] (CCG) that was released in 1994<ref name=BGG>{{cite web
|last = BoardGameGeek |title = Illuminati: New World Order |publisher = BoardGameGeek, LLC |year = 2009 |url = http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1552 |access-date = 2009-09-11 |quote=1994 Origins Awards Best Card Game Winner}}</ref> by [[Steve Jackson Games]], based on their original boxed game [[Illuminati (game)|Illuminati]], which in turn was inspired by the 1975 book ''[[The Illuminatus! Trilogy]]'' by [[Robert Anton Wilson]] and [[Robert Shea]].<ref name="MILLER2">{{Citation |last=Miller |first=John Jackson |title=Scrye Collectible Card Game Checklist & Price Guide, Second Edition | year=2003 |pages=235–239 |postscript=.}}</ref><ref name="OWENS">{{Citation
  | last1 =Owens
  | first1 =Thomas S.
  | last2 =Helmer
  | first2 =Diana Star
  | title =Inside Collectible Card Games
  | year =1996
  | page =74
  | postscript =.
}}</ref>  An OMNI sealed-deck league patterned after the Atlas Games model was also developed.<ref>{{Citation
 | last = Varney
 | first = Allen
 | title = Reports on Trading Card Games
 | page = 9
 | newspaper = The Duelist
 | date = May 1996
 | issue =#10}}</ref>

The 409-card set was sold in packages containing two 55-card starter decks and in 15-card [[booster pack]]s.<ref name="Inquest0">{{cite magazine|title=Product news|magazine=[[InQuest Gamer|InQuest]]|publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]]|pages=4–8|date=1995}}</ref>{{rp|6}}<!-- this was a pilot magazine now considered 'issue 0'; it did not have a date, volume, or issue number; the front cover is marked 'display until April 1995' -->The booster packs contained cards of the types 'Group' and 'Plot', but not 'Illuminati'.<ref name="Jackson">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=1041|title =Order the fries, Earthling!|last=Jackson|first=Steve|authorlink=Steve Jackson (American game designer)|issue=10|magazine=[[Pyramid (magazine)|Pyramid]]|date=November–December 1994}}</ref> The INWO Factory Set was a collector's set released in April 1995, containing one of each of the 403 cards in the base set plus blank cards and three of each Illuminati card.<ref name="Inquest2">{{cite magazine|title=On the shelves|issue=2|magazine=[[InQuest Gamer|InQuest]]|publisher=Wizard Entertainment|pages=13–16|date=June 1995}}</ref>{{rp|13}}

Steve Jackson Games published a 144-page player's guide titled ''The [[INWO Book]]'' in April 1995 that contained rules, strategies, color prints of all cards, and also included a rare card from the Unlimited Edition.<ref name="Inquest1">{{cite magazine|title=Quick takes|issue=1|magazine=[[InQuest Gamer|InQuest]]|publisher=Wizard Entertainment|pages=13–15|date=May 1995}}</ref>{{rp|14}}

The limited edition ''Assassins'', the game's first [[expansion set]], was released in mid-1995 and sold in 8-card [[booster pack]]s.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Card collector confidential|issue=7|magazine=[[Scrye]]|page=24|date=May–June 1995}}</ref> The 100-card [[expansion set]] ''SubGenius'' was planned for release in August 1997<ref name="Varney">{{cite magazine|title=Game news & updates|last=Varney|first=Allen|magazine=[[The Duelist (magazine)|The Duelist]]|issue=18|publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]]|page=83|date=August 1997}}</ref> and ultimately released in April 1998.<ref name="Duelist-26">{{cite magazine|title=Battle on|last=Gutschera|first=Robert|issue=26|magazine=[[The Duelist (magazine)|The Duelist]]|pages=50–53|date=June 1998}}</ref> The ''Bavarian Fire Drill'' set was planned for release in November 1998.<ref name="Duelist-26" /> Both ''SubGenius'' and ''Bavarian Fire Drill'' were sold as a single-box expansion set with all cards included.<ref name="Duelist-29">{{cite magazine|title=Game news & updates|last=Herndon|first=Cory|magazine=The Duelist|issue=29|publisher=Wizards of the Coast|page=92|date=September 1998}}</ref>

Following the release and popularity of ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' in August 1993, Steve Jackson Games began the development of ''Illuminati: New World Order'', most of which occurred in early 1994.<ref name="Block">{{cite magazine|title=A history of Illuminati|last=Block|first=Eric|issue=2|magazine=[[InQuest Gamer|InQuest]]|publisher=Wizard Entertainment|page=29|date=June 1995}}</ref> The release of the ''Deluxe Edition'' sold out by mid-1994 and was followed by the release of the ''Limited Edition'' in December 1994, of which nearly 84,000 sets "sold out almost immediately".<ref name="Block" /> The ''Unlimited Edition'' was released in 1995.<ref name="Block" /> In an article published in the November–December 1994 issue of ''[[Pyramid (magazine)|Pyramid]]'' magazine, [[Steve Jackson (American game designer)|Steve Jackson]] stated that [[Wizards of the Coast]] had loaned Steve Jackson Games money to "finance the first printing of INWO", which was the biggest project the company had undertaken by an [[order of magnitude]].<ref name="Jackson" />

==Goal of the game==
Players attempt to achieve world domination by utilizing the powers of their chosen Illuminati (the Adepts of Hermes, the [[Bavarian Illuminati]], the [[Bermuda Triangle]], the [[Discordian]] Society, the [[Gnomes of Zürich]], the Network, [[Cult of Cthulhu|Servants of Cthulhu]], [[Shangri-La]], the [[Unidentified flying object|UFO]]s, the Society of Assassins (added in the ''Assassins'' expansion), and the [[Church of the SubGenius]] (added in the ''Subgenius'' expansion).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.therobotsvoice.com/2008/11/the_10_most_forgotten_collectible_card_games.php|title=The 10 Most Forgotten Collectible Card Games|website=therobotsvoice.com|access-date=2017-12-28}}</ref> The first player to control a predetermined number of organizations (usually twelve in a standard game) has achieved the basic goal and can claim victory.<ref name="DUMMIES">{{cite book|title=Trading Card Games For Dummies|url=https://archive.org/details/tradingcardgames00kauf|url-access=registration|last1=Kaufeld|first1=John|last2=Smith|first2=Jeremy|publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]]|year=2006|isbn=0470044071}}</ref>

Controllable organizations include groups such as the [[Men in black|Men in Black]], the [[CIA]], and the Boy Sprouts; personalities such as [[Diana, Princess of Wales]], [[Saddam Hussein]], [[Ross Perot]], or Björne (a parody of [[Barney & Friends|Barney the Dinosaur]]); and places like Japan, California, Canada, and the Moonbase. Many organization names are spoofs of real organizations, presumably altered to avoid lawsuits.

Other ways to achieve victory include: destroying rival Illuminati by capturing or killing the last organization in their power structure; and/or fulfilling a particular goal before your opponent(s) can.

==Card types==
[[File:Fnord (2842801800).jpg|thumb|Cards and tokens from the game]]

Cards come in three main types: Illuminati cards, [[The Plot (card game)|Plot cards]], and Group cards. Illuminati and Plot cards both feature an illustration of a puppeteer's hand in a blue color scheme on the rear side, whereas Group cards feature a puppet on a string in a red color scheme.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-03-07 |title=How Illuminati Works |url=https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/leisure/brain-games/illuminati-game.htm |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=HowStuffWorks |language=en-us}}</ref>

Each Illuminati card represents a different Illuminati organization at the center of each player's Power Structure. They have Power, a Special Goal, and an appropriate Special Ability. Their power flows outward into the Groups they control via Control Arrows.

Plot cards provide the bulk of the game's narrative structure, allowing players to go beyond or even break the game's rules as described in the World Domination Handbook.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-26 |title=Terms and Conditions |url=https://jtwins-bd.com/terms-and-conditions/ |access-date=2024-12-12}}</ref> Plot cards are identified by their overall blue color scheme (border and/or title color). Included among the general Plots are several particular types, including ''Assassinations'' and ''Disasters'' (for delivering insults to the various Personalities and Places in play), ''GOAL'' (special goals that can lead to surprise victories), and ''New World Order'' cards (a set of conditions that affect all players, typically overridden when replacement ''New World Order'' cards are brought into play).

Group cards represent the power elite in charge of the named organization. There are two main types of Groups: Organizations and Resources.

Organizations are identified by their red color scheme (border and/or title). There are three main types of Organizations: regular Organizations, People, and Places. They all feature Power, Resistance, Special Abilities, Alignments, Attributes, and Control Arrows (an inward arrow and 0–3 outward arrows). Like their Illuminati masters, Organizations can launch and defend against various attacks. Provided that the attacking Organization has a free, outward-pointing Control Arrow, players can increase the size of their Power Structure via successful Attacks to Control, a mathematically determined method employed whenever a player wants to capture an Organization from their hand or a rival player's Power Structure. Unless the attack is Privileged (only the target and attacker can be involved), all players can aid or undermine the attack. Attacks to Destroy follow a similar game mechanic but result in the Organization's removal from the Power Structure, after which they are immediately discarded. A dice roll determines the outcome of all Attacks. Other ways to introduce Organizations to the Power Structure involve Plots, spending Action Tokens to bring Groups into play, or using free moves at appropriate times during the play cycle.

Resources represent the custodians of a variety of objects, ranging from gadgets to artefacts (such as [[The Shroud of Turin]], [[Flying Saucers]], and [[ELIZA]]). They are identified by their overall purple color scheme (border and/or title). Resources are introduced into play by spending Action Tokens or by using free moves during appropriate moments in the play cycle. They go alongside the Power Structure of the player's Illuminati and bestow a valid Special Ability or something similar.

==Reception==
In the February 1995 edition of ''[[Shadis]]'' (issue #17.5), Matthew Lee and Jim Pinto liked the durable cards printed on thicker card stock than the original game (although the cards were easier to crease during shuffling). They also liked that one starter pack was enough for two players to get started and that the rulebook was very detailed. However, they disliked that cards were swapped between players – unusual for a CCG – which meant that the players had to figure out whose cards were whose at the end of the game. They also found that "the large rulebook can be daunting, and a large number of rules must be memorized to play".<ref name="shadis">{{cite magazine|last1=Lee|first1=Matthew |last2 = Pinto | first2 = Jim |date=February 1995 |title=Head to Head | magazine=[[Shadis]]|volume=17 |publisher=[[Alderac Entertainment Group]]|issue=5|pages=32–33}}</ref>

In the June 1995 edition of ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' (issue 218), [[Rick Swan]] warned that it was a complex game: "Owing to the unconventional mechanics, even experienced gamers may have trouble at first." But he gave the game a perfect rating of 6 out of 6, saying, "Resolute players who scrutinize the rules and grind their way through a few practice rounds will discover why ''Illuminati'' has been so durable. Not only is it an inspired concept, but it’s also an enlightening treatise on the fine art of backstabbing. What more could you ask from a deck of cards?"<ref name=dragon>{{cite journal|last=Swan|first=Rick|author-link=Rick Swan| date=June 1995 |title=Roleplaying Reviews|journal=[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]|publisher=[[TSR (company)|TSR, Inc.]]|issue=218|pages=86}}</ref> Ten months later, in the April 1996 edition of ''Dragon'' (Issue 229), Swan, tongue in cheek, called a set of blank cards produced for INWO "tastefully understated".<ref name=dragon229>{{cite magazine|last=Swan|first=Rick|authorlink=Rick Swan| date=April 1996 |title=Roleplaying Reviews|magazine=[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]|publisher=[[TSR (company)|TSR, Inc.]]|issue=229|pages=115}}</ref>

In the September 1996 edition of ''[[Arcane (magazine)|Arcane]]'' (issue 4), Steve Faragher rated the ''Assassins'' expansion set 9 out of 10 overall, saying, "With the introduction of ''Assassins'', it now appears to have ... a little more game balance for tournament play. A good thing indeed."<ref name="Arcane4">{{cite journal|last=Faragher |first=Steve |date=March 1996|title=Games Reviews|journal=Arcane|publisher=[[Future plc|Future]]|issue=4|pages=80}}</ref>

==Reviews==
*''[[Magia i Miecz]]'' (issue 40, April 1997) (Polish)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/MagiaIMiecz199704/page/n63/mode/2up|title=Magia I Miecz 1997 04|date=April 1997}}</ref>
*''Dragão Brasil'' (issue 6, September 1995) (Portuguese)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rpggeek.com/rpgissuearticle/35703/baralhos-illuminati-new-world-order|title=Baralhos - Illuminati: New World Order &#124; Article &#124; RPGGeek}}</ref>
*''Rollespilsmagasinet Fønix'' (Danish) (issue 7, March/April 1995)<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.rpggeek.com/rpgissuearticle/46897/anmeldelser| title = Anmeldelser {{!}} Article {{!}} RPGGeek}}</ref>
*''[[The Duelist (magazine)|The Duelist]]'', October 1998<ref name="Duelist-30">{{cite magazine|title=Slacking off|last=Venters|first=Jillian|magazine=[[The Duelist (magazine)|The Duelist]]|issue=30|publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]]|page=90|date=October 1998}}</ref>

==Awards==
At the 1995 [[Origins Awards]], ''INWO'' won ''Best Card Game of 1994''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.originsgames.com/awards/1994  |title=Origins Award Winners (1994)  |access-date=2007-09-18  |publisher=Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830114223/http://www.originsgames.com/awards/1994  |archive-date=2007-08-30  |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== General references ==
*{{Cite book|title=The INWO Book|last=Jackson|first=Steve|publisher=Steve Jackson Games Incorporated|year=1995|isbn=1-55634-306-X}}
*{{Cite web|url=http://www.sjgames.com/inwo/|title=Illuminati: New World Order|type=official website|website=Steve Jackson Games|access-date=8 November 2017}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite magazine|magazine=[[InQuest Gamer|Inquest]]|title=If today is Tuesday, this must be Area 51|last=Black|first=Eric|publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]]|issue=2|pages=26–30|date=June 1995}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.sjgames.com/inwo/ Official ''INWO'' site] (includes rules)

[[Category:Card games introduced in 1994]]
[[Category:Collectible card games]]
[[Category:Origins Award winners]]
[[Category:Steve Jackson (American game designer) games]]
[[Category:Steve Jackson Games games]]
[[Category:Works about conspiracy theories]]
[[Category:Works about the Illuminati]]