The origin story
Four friends, one New Year's weekend
Mer'ca was born at McMenamins Edgefield in Troutdale, Oregon: a historic hotel that started life as a county poor farm. Make of that irony what you will. The first playable prototype took about two days. People wandering past the table kept asking "what is that" and "where can I buy one".
Then came months of playing it into shape: rules rewritten, mechanics killed for not earning their spot, arguments settled the only honest way, by playing another game. Same four friends today, plus one late addition and a host of helpers, and considerably more cards.
"The country may be a mess. Game night doesn't have to be."
- The rules have been rewritten more times than most Regions have collapsed.
- California and Texas are the hardest Regions to take down. Florida and the Southwest fold early. Nobody is surprised.
- The satire is broad on purpose: no party, no Region, no type of American walks away un-roasted.