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Side Effects

Created by Pillbox Games

Use drugs and therapy to treat your psyche in this beautifully illustrated card game for 2-8 players.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Are We Having Fun Yet?
over 5 years ago – Thu, Oct 11, 2018 at 01:00:23 AM

First off, numbies, we cannot thank you enough for all the kind words about the game. We’re loving all the pictures and videos from all over the world. Keep ‘em coming!

Keep 'em Rick rollin' in
Keep 'em Rick rollin' in

This Isn’t ‘Nam

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We’ve noticed that there seems to be a wee bit of confusion around some of the rules. Allow us to clarify...

1. Using Therapy

Some of you are simply putting Therapy on top of the disorder you’re treating and leaving it there. This isn’t correct and will mess up gameplay. In the future, please discard the disorder AND the Therapy card when using. Think of it as actually using therapy to work on a specific issue and then discontinuing your treatment when that issue is resolved. You can still relapse, as displayed here...

Drop it like it's cognitive behavioral
Drop it like it's cognitive behavioral

It's also important that those Therapy cards cycle back into the game (via shuffling the discard pile once there are no more draw cards).

2. Using Misdiagnosis

This card is used to swap a disorder in your Psyche with one in your hand. The old disorder then goes into your hand! And the Misdiagnosis card goes into the discard pile. This is particularly effective if you have a treatment for the new disorder you’re swapping in. Observe…

Even Dr. House gets it wrong sometimes
Even Dr. House gets it wrong sometimes

3. Using High Tolerance

Use this to remove one medication on your opponent’s Psyche.

Jen likes to play this card out of turn #houserules
Jen likes to play this card out of turn #houserules

4. Bargaining and Discarding

While you’re only allotted 2 moves per turn, a discard and a deal with another player do not count toward your two moves. You can discard as many cards as you’d like during your turn, and a deal only counts as a move when you put a card into play on the table. We don’t have a video to illustrate this so instead…

Everybody hurts
Everybody hurts

Snail Mail

If you haven’t received your game yet, don’t panic! They seem to be trickling in all over the world, but the good news is that you can track your extras orders!

All tracking codes are in your Backerkit profiles. If you don’t have the link to your profile, click here: https://sideeffects.backerkit.com/

A link will be emailed to you. Click on the link and then hit VIEW CONFIRMATION. There you’ll find your tracking code!

My mail's breath smells like cat food
My mail's breath smells like cat food

If, in a few weeks, you still haven’t received your game, please email us at [email protected]

SIDE EFFECTS FLASH SALE COMING SOON!

Did you miss your chance for Side Effects?? NEVER AGAIN!!!

We’re running a flash sale pretty soon. Sign up for our mailing list on Pillboxgames.com and you’ll be the first to know when.

Oh the humanity...
Oh the humanity...

Deliverance: The Game
over 5 years ago – Sat, Sep 22, 2018 at 01:26:52 AM

Ahoy there, numbskulls!

As some of you may have noticed in the comments section and on social media (#pillboxgames), games are arriving! Most of Europe and Asia have received their games and now North America should expect an influx. We’ve also just received word that the games arrived in Australia and are going through customs! Any day now, you will receive Side Effects!

Look out, world!
Look out, world!


There Are 2 Kinds of People in the World: Those Who Can Count

Some of you may also notice that the card count on the back is different than what you will receive in the box. Everyone should get 95 cards, not 100. This is just an unfortunate typoz. Whereas the game was originally going to be 100 cards, we playtested several times and found that everyone would have a much better experience if we adjusted the card amounts slightly. The back was never updated to reflect this.

FYI, after Dobby is freed, he gets really into leather
FYI, after Dobby is freed, he gets really into leather

But since this is a limited run, we’re hoping you’ll cherish our mistake as a piece of game memorabilia—like that first edition of Diplomacy where every country is France. 

Correct Card Count = 95 

Disorders 

  • Madness = 4 
  • Anorexia = 4 
  • Suicidal Thoughts = 5 
  • Tremors = 5 
  • Impotence = 5 
  • Gambling Addiction = 5 
  • Anxiety = 5 
  • Depression = 5 

Treatments 

  • Rx Tremors = 6 
  • Rx Madness = 5 
  • Rx Suicidal Thoughts = 5 
  • Rx Impotence = 5 
  • Rx Gambling Addiction = 5 
  • Rx Anxiety = 5 
  • Rx Depression = 5 

Action Cards 

  • Therapy = 5 
  • Episode = 10 
  • Misdiagnosis = 3 
  • High Tolerance = 3

Where’s the Beef? And by Beef I Mean Wood.

All extras, including wooden boxes, letterpresses, mystery boxes, etc. are being sent separately. Keep your eyes peeled and sauteed for these extra packages!

There will be cat food
There will be cat food


I Ain’t Afraid of No Geek

If you enjoy Side Effects and want the rest of universe to enjoy it as well, give us the ol’ attaboy on BoardGameGeek: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/230765/side-effects 

Thank you!
Thank you!

Update XXX
over 5 years ago – Fri, Sep 07, 2018 at 01:26:06 AM

Yes, it’s Update 30! And we’ve got some exciting, adult-centric news for y’all.

Land Ho!

The games are on the ground and Quartermasters is beginning the picking process in the UK (printing labels, organizing the games by location, etc). As for the US, we’ve been told that the warehouse was a little backed up, but that they should be able to complete the picking process by Monday.

We don’t know exactly when the games will arrive, but we’re getting closer everyday. Once Quartermasters has completed the picking process and sent the games to local post offices, it all depends on how quickly those mail carriers can deliver the games to your doors.

All orders receive tracking when shipping. Emails will go out the evening of/morning after the parcel leaves our warehouse.

Be patient, numbskulls.

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Cheers!

Celebrate your Side Effects arrival with a drinking game! We’ve created rules for a version of Side Effects you can play with your 21-and-older friends (18 in most of the world, 16 in France, 15 on Mars).

Engage responsibly
Engage responsibly

The Rules

Each time an Episode card is played on an untreated disorder, the recipient of the episode must obey the following commands (in addition to the punishment featured on the card). Should they fail to obey the command, they must take a drink (just a sip will do).

Also, to use a Therapy card requires one shot.

Depression: No laughing for one round.
Anxiety: Constantly move your fingers for one round.
Impotence: No talking for one round. 
Anorexia: No cursing for one round. 
Gambling Addiction: No bargains or trades for one round. 
Suicidal Thoughts: Keep your eyes closed for one round. 
Tremors: Only use two fingers for all things for one round 
Madness: Just take a drink; this one’s bad enough.

ONLY FOR THOSE OF LEGAL DRINKING AGE. PLEASE, DRINK RESPONSIBLY AND IN MODERATION. IF YOU’RE GETTING DRUNK ENOUGH TO BLACKOUT, VOMIT, OR WORSE, YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG! DON’T HURT YOURSELF. WE LOVE YOU.

It Was In The Cards

Jen is getting married! Her long-term boyfriend proposed to her using Side Effects cards. Check out the cuteness!

We're having an episode of awww
We're having an episode of awww

Make Sure Your Address Is Up to Date
over 5 years ago – Tue, Aug 21, 2018 at 12:04:11 AM

It’s the final countdown!

Get pumped
Get pumped

You have 24 hours to make sure your address is current!

If you suspect your address is out of date, please correct it. Here’s how…

First, click here: https://sideeffects.backerkit.com/

It'll look something like this
It'll look something like this

Second, enter your email address and click “Get My Survey”.

You’ll receive an email with a link to your Backerkit account.

Third, enter your account by clicking “follow this link” in the email.

Fourth, click on “View Confirmation” in the upper right corner.

On the left side, you’ll see Shipping Info.

Fifth, check to make sure the address listed is current.

If need be, click “Edit Shipping Info”, and edit your shipping info.

Sixth, click “Next”

Seventh, click “Place My Order”

DONE! Shipping info updated.

The Fallen 94

There are, sadly, still 94 people who have not filled out their Backerkit survey, meaning they will not receive their game. If you are, or happen to know of one of these people, please inform them ASAP.

Update 28
over 5 years ago – Fri, Aug 17, 2018 at 09:42:05 PM

Greetings, numbskulls!

Welcome to Update 28. We personally guarantee this to be the twenty-eightiest update of them all!!!

This is what I see when I close my eyes
This is what I see when I close my eyes

Awwww ship!

The good ship APL Scotland has just left their brief stop in Houston, Texas, and is heading to the fulfillment center in Florida. The MOL Triumph, however, has docked in the UK!

All games must go through customs, then to regional post offices, then to backers.

Click on the boat names to see their status in real time!

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Say Yes to Address

Addresses are being locked. If your address changed at all, please update it by retrieving your Backerkit survey here https://sideeffects.backerkit.com/ and making modifications in the address section. Deadline = ASAP!

Last Chance for Side Effects

Because the UK games have already arrived, we’ve shifted the preorder to US only. There’s still a very limited amount of time to purchase an extra game for the US. So, don’t wait to medicate!!!

https://sideeffects.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders

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GENeration CONglutination

(is that what Gen Con stands for?)

Gen Con was amazing! Check out some photos, and a video by Unfiltered Gamer, on our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pillboxgames/