played for you

Royals

Intrigues in europe

In the 17th century, you lay claim to positions in countries for victory points, as a representative of one of the great Noble Houses of Europe, using country cards. The higher the position you claim, the more country cards you need for it.

You play three epochs with one scoring each, players with most influence in countries receive victory points.

The basic mechanism is simple: you must draw cards, from turn #2 you draw either three country cards or one country card and one intrigue card. Intrigue cards are used to claim positions already taken.

After drawing cards you may play a card, but need not! With cards you play you can claim a free position or take over a position from someone else. When taking over a position the marker of the previous owner is not removed, but stays on the position for the final scoring. When, at the end of your turn, you meet a bonus condition you receive the bonus instantly – City bonuses for first occupying a city, Country bonuses for one marker each in each city of the country and Noble House bonuses for one marker each on each Rank scoring marker.

In the Epoch scoring the two players with most influence in a country score victory points. After the third epoch scoring the individual titles are scored, a majority there earns victory points.

There is enough to do all over Europe - you look after country and noble house bonuses, keep an eye on majorities and collect titles, so that you are always in play, collect points and use your intrigue cards as effectively as possible. Royals is a felicitous new edition with lots of depth, but also able to fascinate casual gamers.

Players: 2-5

Age: 10+

Time: 60+

Designer: Peter Hawes

Artist: Michael Menzel

Price: ca. 34 Euro

Publisher: Abacusspiele 2014

Web: www.abacusspiele.de

Genre: Placement with cards

Users: With friends

Version: multi

Rules: de en

In-game text: no

Comments:

Revised edition of Heads of State

Clearly streamlined and  better arranged than Heads of State

Good for both casual gamers and experienced gamers

Compares to:

Heads of State

Other editions:

Arcane Wonders

Chance (pink): 1

Tactic (turquoise): 3

Strategy (blue): 0

Creativity (dark blue): 0

Knowledge (yellow): 0

Memory (orange): 0

Communication (red): 0

Interaction (brown): 2

Dexterity (green): 0

Action (dark green): 0