Board games usually play it safe. You’ve got your elves, your space marines, and your generic wizards. Then there’s Smash Up. Since Paul Peterson and Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG) first dropped this "shuffle-building" game back in 2012, it’s been a chaotic mess of pirates, ninjas, and dinosaurs. But something shifted in 2014. AEG released Smash Up The Story of a Woman, or as it’s officially known on the box, Monster Smash.
Wait. Let’s be real for a second.
If you are looking for a game literally titled "The Story of a Woman," you might be mixing up a few things, or perhaps you're thinking of the specific female-led factions that changed the meta. There isn't a single expansion with that exact biographical title, but the "Big in Japan" and "Monster Smash" era introduced the Princesses and the Granny factions—and honestly, that’s where the real story starts. It’s about how the game stopped being just about "cool tropes" and started leaning into weird, hilarious, and surprisingly powerful female-centric archetypes.
Why Everyone Is Talking About the Princesses
You can’t discuss the feminine "story" within this game without talking about the Princesses. They arrived in the Pretty Pretty Smash Up expansion. At first glance, it looks like a joke. You see glitter. You see royal gowns. Then you play them.
The Princesses are arguably one of the most aggressive factions in the entire game. Unlike the Zombies that rely on the discard pile or the Robots that swarm the board, Princesses are "King of the Hill" specialists. They have high power. They don't share. They are the "story of a woman" who decides she owns the base and everyone else needs to leave.
Most players underestimate them because of the art style. Big mistake.
If you pair Princesses with something like the Mad Scientists (from the Monster Smash set), you create a terrifying engine. You're basically playing a deck where high-power units get even stronger through +1 counters. It’s not just a theme; it’s a mechanical powerhouse. People search for the "story" behind these cards because they feel different from the gritty, dark fantasy tropes we usually see in deck builders. It’s a subversion.
The Grannies and the Art of Control
Then you have the Grannies. They came later, in the What Were We Thinking? expansion. If the Princesses are about raw power, the Grannies are about deck manipulation. They represent a very specific narrative: the woman who knows exactly what’s coming because she’s seen it all before.
Mechanically, the Grannies let you look at the top of your deck, move cards to the bottom, and basically rig the game in your favor. It’s slow. It’s methodical. It’s incredibly annoying to play against.
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Honestly, it’s one of the most "human" factions. It’s not about magic or laser beams. It’s about knitting and knowing where the cookies are hidden. In the broader Smash Up The Story of a Woman context, this is the faction that proves you don’t need 5-power minions to win. You just need to be smarter than the guy playing the Orcs.
The Monster Smash Connection
There is a lot of confusion online where people conflate the "Monster Smash" expansion with a female-centric narrative. Maybe it’s because of the Vampires? Or the Giant Ants? Actually, it’s likely because of the Vampires. In Smash Up, the Vampire faction is led by "The Queen," and her mechanics are all about draining power from others to fuel herself.
It’s a classic trope, but in the context of the game’s evolution, it marked a point where the designers started moving away from "The Ninja" (generic) to "The Queen" (specific).
This shift is why the game has stayed relevant for over a decade. While other card games get bloated and die, Smash Up just keeps adding these weirdly specific "stories." You aren't just playing a deck; you're playing a narrative collision. What happens when a magical girl (Mega Troopers) fights a Victorian Governess? That’s the "story" players are actually looking for.
Understanding the "Girl Power" Meta
Let’s talk strategy. If you’re trying to build a deck that focuses on these specific factions, you have to understand the synergy of the "Pretty Pretty" set.
- Fairies: These are the queens of "Talents." They have abilities you can use every single turn. They provide versatility.
- Mythic Horses: This is the "friendship is magic" faction. They get stronger when they are together. It’s a classic swarm mechanic, but it’s flavored with rainbows and sparkles.
The real trick? Mixing them with the "serious" factions.
Imagine a deck of Mythic Horses and Vikings. You have tiny ponies buffing up massive, bearded warriors. It sounds ridiculous. It is ridiculous. But it’s also one of the most effective ways to break the game’s math. The Horses provide the numbers, and the Vikings provide the card draw and base destruction.
The Evolution of Representation in AEG Games
AEG has been pretty vocal about making their games more inclusive without it feeling like a lecture. In the early days of Smash Up, the art was very "bro-centric." Think 90s comic books. As the expansions rolled out—specifically around the time of Monster Smash and Pretty Pretty—the art style diversified.
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It wasn't just about adding female characters. It was about giving them unique mechanical identities.
The Princesses don't play like the Amazons (from the Oops, We Did It Again set). The Amazons are all about "moving" and tactical positioning. They feel like a coordinated military unit. Meanwhile, the Princesses feel like individual "bosses." This distinction is huge for players who care about the "feel" of their deck.
Why the "Story" Matters for SEO and Discovery
When people search for Smash Up The Story of a Woman, they are often looking for the lore behind the cards. Unlike Magic: The Gathering, Smash Up doesn't have a thick novel series or a Netflix show. The lore is in the flavor text. It's in the way the cards interact.
When you play the "Grandmother" card and it interacts with a "Werewolf," you’re playing out Little Red Riding Hood, but with a twist—the Grandmother might actually be the one who wins. That’s the story. It’s emergent gameplay.
Common Misconceptions About These Sets
Let's clear some stuff up.
First, Smash Up is not a "simple" game just because it has Princesses and Ponies. Some of the most complex interactions in the game come from these sets. The "Fairies" require a high level of technical play to track all your "per-turn" abilities.
Second, the "Monster Smash" set is often ranked lower by competitive players because the Vampires are notoriously difficult to play well. They require you to destroy your own power to gain long-term advantages. It’s a "glass cannon" strategy. If you’re looking for a "story" of struggle and triumph, the Vampires are it. But if you want to win your first game, maybe stick to the Ants.
How to Get Started with the "Woman-Led" Factions
If you’re new to the game or a veteran looking to shake things up, you don't need to buy all 30+ expansions. Focus on these three.
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- Pretty Pretty Smash Up: This is the core of the female-centric "story." It gives you Princesses, Fairies, Mythic Horses, and Kitty Cats. Yes, the cats are terrifying. They take control of your opponent’s minions.
- What Were We Thinking?: This gets you the Grannies. It’s a weird set, but the Grannies are worth it for the sheer frustration they cause your friends.
- Oops, We Did It Again: This brings in the Amazons. They are high-tier competitive cards.
When you combine these, you’re not just playing a "themed" game. You’re playing a deck that controls the top of the library, dominates the power count on bases, and moves units around the board with surgical precision.
Actionable Steps for Smash Up Players
Don't just read about the lore. Use it.
If you want to master the "Story of a Woman" archetypes in your next game night, start with the Princess/Rock Star combo. The Rock Stars (from the 70s set) have a card called "Groupie" that lets you play multiple copies at once. Pair that with the Princesses' ability to protect their high-value targets, and you have a deck that is nearly impossible to dislodge from a base.
Another pro tip: Watch the base abilities.
Many players focus so much on their cards that they forget the bases themselves have "stories." Some bases favor small minions, while others reward the "boss" style of the Princesses. Always play to the base.
Finally, keep an eye on the 10th Anniversary set. It brought back a lot of these characters with updated art and better balancing. It’s the best way to see how the "story" has evolved from 2012 to now.
Next Steps for Your Collection
- Check your local game store for the Pretty Pretty expansion; it's often out of print but worth the hunt.
- Read the rulebook specifically for the "Talent" keyword, as it’s the backbone of the Fairy and Princess decks.
- Experiment with the "Kitty Cat" faction if you want to see how "cute" art can hide a ruthless control deck that steals your opponent's best cards.
The game is about more than just numbers. It’s about the ridiculous, over-the-top narratives you create at the table. Whether you're playing a Victorian Aunt or a Cybernetic Valkyrie, the "story" is whatever you make it when the cards hit the table.