SPANC Review
Review by David Lent
I worked part-time at an FLGS around 8 years ago when I was laid-off from my regular job. On the shelf was a game entitled SPANC (Space Pirate Amazon Ninja Catgirls). I’ve always liked acronyms since I’m a military veteran, so this game intrigued me. Unfortunately, I never got to try the game when I worked at the game shop. However, Steve Jackson Games recently sent me a copy of SPANC and announced that they will be publishing it again. I’ve finally got to play this game after all these years and am delighted to be able to review it here.
SPANC is a game about Space Pirate Amazon Ninja Catgirls who live a crazy life of mayhem, theft and capers. They each have four traits: space pirate, amazon, ninja and catgirl. These traits can be enhanced by toys picked up along the way and by the acquisition of pool boys. Each player is trying to get a combination of 10 loot and/or poolboys to win the game.
The game is setup by dealing each player 4 crew cards and 1 toy card. Next, each player gets 2 loot tokens and picks one of their catgirls to be their captain. After that, each player picks a color and takes the corresponding crew tokens.
Each game consists of capers (which can be thought of as turns). Each caper has four challenges and some of them reward the player with loot or toys. Each caper begins by dealing out four challenge cards face-down. The player with the least loot goes first. In the case of a tie, both players roll to see who goes first.
The phasing player attempts to complete a challenge by looking at what skill is needed on the challenge card and using one of their catgirls to do a skill check. They check what the catgirl’s total skill level is from her card and any attached toy. She ten rolls two dice and if the result is <= her total skill level she succeeds.
Whenever a catgirl fails a challenge, she is knocked out and may not be used for the rest of the caper. If the knocked out catgirl is a captain, then the rest of the catgirls on her team will get -1 penalty to their total skill whenever they try to do a skill check.
When a catgirl successfully beats a challenge, she gets any loot or toys that are awarded by that challenge card. She may then attempt another challenge using the SAME catgirl. This continues until she fails or has completed four challenges. The first player to win the four challenges gets 2 extra loot and one extra toy. Then the other players, get one chance to complete the challenges. If any of them succeed, they get 1 loot and 1 toy.
Captains in SPANC can equip themselves with two toys, while regular catgirls can only have one. In addition, captains may reroll dice once per caper.
Toys add to or reduce specific skill levels of catgirls. In addition, a toy may be intentionally broken to give a re-roll to a skill check that used that toy. Pool boys count as toys, but they give +1 to all four skills. However, no catgirl can have more than 1 poolboy.
If more than one crew finishes all four challenges in a caper a catfight may occur. Please note that catfights are an optional rule. Each player starting with the first player to win the caper, will name a catgirl (that is conscious) to attack and then choose a defender. There are four types of attacks: space pirate, amazon, ninja and catgirl. Space pirate attacks steal one loot token. Amazon attacks knock out a foe, but if it fails the attacker is knocked out. Ninja attacks can steal a toy (except poolboys), but catgirl attacks steal poolboys.
Catfight attacks are resolved by both the attacker and defender doing the appropriate skill check. If the attacker succeeds, but the defender doesn’t than the attacker gets the reward. In cases where both succeed, the attacker may try again with her skill reduced by 2. Each further attempt has an additional cumulative reduction of two.
After the optional catfight phase, the “Between Capers” phase occurs. During this phase, players may perform any of the following actions.
1) Spend2 loot to draw another toy card.
2) Trade toys or catgirls
3) Catgirls that are knocked out may be forced to walk the plank. I.E. discarded and another catgirl drawn from the deck.
At the end of the “Between Capers” phase, knocked out catgirls come back along with the toys attached to them.
The game continues until one player has a combined total of 10 loot or poolboys. In the case of a tie, the player with the most loot wins. If there is still a tie, another caper is played.
SPANC is easy to learn and fun to play. Most games take about a half-hour, so it’s makes a good filler game. I recommend this game for players who are looking for a lighter game that has a humorous theme and is easy to play.
Buy your own copy here.
View the components in unboxing video below: