Founding Fathers: Action Cards Analysis
Abigail Smith (Generation I x 1 instance)
Quite valuable, especially with a low-ability party-leader
or President. The only way to increase ability in the game.
Amos Kendall (IIx1, Offices & Statesmen expansion)
Useful if you are President or anticipate that you can get the Postmaster
General office.
Beat the Opposition (IIIx1, O&S)
A way for a southern Statesman to quickly gain some Influence.
Bribery (IIx1, O&S)
Useful if desperate for Influence, especially for a President who is soon
to retire.
Chicanery in Louisiana (IIIx1)
Election-related card.* Especially useful if your party lacks a candidate from
the south.
Coalition Building (Ix5)
Useful in getting your decisions approved if President with
not many votes, if you have a low vote faction or if you can
collect a large set of these and play them all on the same
turn.
Denounce Slavery (IIIx1, O&S)
If you have a northern Statesman, a great way to propel him toward
party leadership and gain more points.
Dolley Todd (Ix1)
As a Popularity enhancer, can break a popularity tie to decide the
party leader and thus who gets to run for President.
Dominate the President (Ix1)
Useful if your party is in power and you are contending for the party leadership.
Dred Scott Decision (IIIx1)
Useful if holding the Chief Justice office,
if you have the lead and are trying to create a sudden death ending
or if to gain Influence or move Public Support to the Liberals.
Duel (Ix1)
If you have a low ability military statesman, you can use this to topple a
rival in your own party or limit the gains of someone in the other party.
Expose a Scandal (Ix1, O&S)
Useful for hauling back a rival for party leadership, or generally to
lower an opponent's score.
Expose a Spy in the Cabinet (Ix1)
Useful if your party is in power and you are contending for the party leadership.
Expose Bribery (IIx1, O&S)
Useful for hauling back someone who is doing well.
Filibuster (IIx1, O&S)
If you have a low-rated military Statesman, can provide a nice bucket of
instant points.
Free Soil Party (IIIx1)
Election-related card.* Especially useful if your party lacks a candidate from
the south.
Hartford Convention (IIx1)
Useful if you have the lead, are Conservative party leader and are trying to
create a sudden death ending or to dramatically move Public Support to the
Liberals.
Jessie Benton (IIIx1)
As a Popularity enhancer, can break a popularity tie to decide the
party leader and thus who gets to run for President.
Judicial Impeachment (IIx1, O&S)
Useful if you hold or will soon hold the Presidency and have doubts about the loyalty of your Chief Justice.
Know Nothing Party (IIIx1)
Election-related card.* Especially useful for candidates running against Virginians.
Liberty Party (IIIx1)
Election-related card.* Especially useful if your party lacks a candidate from
the north. Can be immensely valuable since New York has many votes.
Make an Important Speech (Ix5)
Useful if President, cabinet officer or anyone in need of more Influence.
Maryland Divides Its Vote (Ix1)
Election-related card.* Especially useful for candidates running against Virginians.
New York Divides Its Vote (IIx1)
Election-related card.* Especially useful if your party lacks a candidate from
the north.
North Carolina Divides Its Vote (Ix1)
Election-related card.* Especially useful if your party lacks a candidate from
the south.
Nullifier Party (IIx1)
Election-related card.* Especially useful if your party lacks a candidate from
the south.
Panic of 1797 (Ix1),
Panic of 1825 (IIx1),
Panic of 1847 (IIIx1),
Panic of 1857 (IIIx1)
Hurt the President both in terms of Popularity and Public Support.
Pennsylvania Divides Its Vote (Ix1)
Election-related card.* Especially useful if your candidates come from
the extreme north and extreme south.
Raid on Harper's Ferry (IIIx1)
Useful if you have the lead and are trying to create a sudden death ending
or to gain an Influence windfall.
Republic of Texas Established (IIx1)
Useful if you have a low ability military statesman, especially if you
favor the Liberal party.
Sabotage a Negotiation (Ix2)
Useful if you are contending for the party leadership, or if mostly outside
the government and trying to limit its gains.
Secession (IIx1)
Useful if you have the lead and are trying to create a sudden death ending.
Theory of Judicial Review (Ix1)
Useful if holding the Chief Justice office and in general if opposed to
the President.
Theory of Nullification Applied (IIx2)
Useful if you have the lead and are trying to create a sudden death ending
or to dramatically move Public Support.
Treason Trial (IIx1, O&S)
Useful for hauling back someone who is doing well.
Ugly Words (IIx1, O&S)
Can result in the President leaving the game. Thus useful for the Vice President
or to hamstring a player holding the Presidency.
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (Ix1)
Useful if you have the lead and are trying to create a sudden death ending
or if desperate for Influence or Public Support.
Wilmot Proviso (IIIx1)
Useful if you have the lead and are trying to create a sudden death ending
or if to gain Influence or move Public Support to the Liberals.
*Election-related cards.
If you are involved in an election, or in a position to cadge favors from
someone who is, these cards can be immensely valuable because not only do
they provide votes, they often provide a candidate/party access to a part
of the country that they otherwise cannot reach.
Note
The above are just suggestions about how and when these cards might be used.
You can probably think up and game situations will probably develop that
create others. In addition, keep in mind that sometimes taking a card to keep
it out of the hands of someone who can really use it can be just as valuable
as drafting a card that you would want to use.
Created: 8 October 2016