# Merlin

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2017
- **BGG Rating**: 7.1
- **BGG Rank**: #1309
- **Players**: 2-4 (Best with: 3)
- **Duration**: 75 min
- **Weight**: 3.10 / 5
- **Designers**: Michael Rieneck, Stefan Feld
- **Artists**: Dennis Lohausen
- **Publishers**: Queen Games, Calamity Games, Piatnik Distribution
- **Categories**: Medieval
- **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Roll / Spin and Move, Rondel, Set Collection, Worker Placement

## Verdict
Merlin is the perfect game for Arthurian lore lovers who want to test their planning skills.Engaging area controlColorful dice are easy to readMerlin adds strategic tensionRondel keeps the pace dynamicRequires constant focusModerate complexityHIGHLY RECOMMENDED

## Description
Merlin is a medieval strategy game that puts you in the shoes of a knight vying for the throne alongside the legendary wizard himself. The board revolves around a ring of actions, and each turn you roll or spin colorful dice to decide how many steps you can take. While your knights can only be moved by you, Merlin is the most flexible character: any player can move him, which means you have to plan carefully so you don’t let an opponent seize the opportunity. The area majority mechanic forces you to control the six counties around the ring to earn influence points, while set‑collection lets you form card combos that yield bonus points. The rondel ensures each action is unique each round, keeping the pace dynamic. Combining worker placement, dice rolling and area control creates a tense but approachable decision‑making environment. The game lasts about 75 minutes, works well for 2‑4 players, and has a moderate learning curve that appeals to both strategy fans and those looking for something lighter. If you love Arthurian lore, want to test your move‑planning skills, and enjoy a dash of luck, Merlin is a perfect pick.

The standout component is Merlin himself, who can be moved by any player, adding a constant tension. The colorful dice are easy to read and add a fun visual flair. The game also includes task cards that, when completed, grant extra points, encouraging strategy diversification. All of this sits in a Camelot‑inspired medieval setting with well‑made pieces and attractive design.

In short, Merlin delivers a balanced mix of strategy, luck, and influence competition, with mechanics that complement each other elegantly. If you enjoy area‑control games and want a touch of fantasy, this is your next step.

## How to Play
Goal of the Game
In Merlin, players take on the roles of Knights of the Round Table, competing to become King Arthur's successor. The objective is to accumulate the highest number of victory points over six rounds. Points are earned through various actions, such as building manors in the outskirts, increasing influence in the principalities, banishing traitors, completing quests, and strategically positioning assistants. The game ends after the sixth round, and the player with the most points is declared the winner.

Setup
To prepare the game, follow these steps:

  Place the board in the center of the play area.
  Position the round marker on the first space of the round sequence.
  Place Merlin on the Dragon Principality space (black).
  Position the Grail and Excalibur in their designated locations.
  Separate and organize the shields, flags, and building materials in the corresponding principalities.
  Place the apples in the designated place.
  Shuffle the quest cards and reveal the first three, placing them next to the board.
  Mix the traitor pieces and place them in three face-down piles on the indicated spaces.
  Build the outskirts by mixing the terrain pieces and organizing them into rows of six face-up pieces.
  Each player chooses a color and receives the corresponding components, including a castle board, knight, assistants, influence markers, Merlin's staffs, manors, score marker, and personal dice.
  Each player places their knight on the designated principality space on the action medallion and receives the starting principality components.
  Each player takes 3 traitors and forms a hand of 4 quest cards.
  Finally, all players roll their 4 dice and place them on the castle board.


Game Flow
The game is played in 6 rounds. Each round consists of turns, where players, in clockwise order, choose one of their dice and move their knight or Merlin on the action medallion. After moving, the player performs the action of the space where the movement ended. Each player has 4 turns per round, using all of their dice. After the second, fourth, and sixth rounds, scoring occurs. The game ends after the sixth round, and the player with the most victory points wins.

Actions and How to Play
During their turn, the player chooses a die and performs one of the following actions:

  Move the Knight: Advance the knight on the action medallion clockwise, according to the die number.
  Move Merlin: Advance Merlin on the action medallion clockwise or counter-clockwise, according to the die number.

After moving, the player performs the action of the space where the movement ended. Actions include:

  Principality Spaces: Place an assistant in the principality and perform its function.
  Victory Point Spaces: Gain points based on shields, flags, or building materials.
  Influence Spaces: Gain influence markers or send assistants to principalities.
  Exchange Spaces: Exchange components between the castle and the principalities.
  Quest Spaces: Discard and draw new quest cards.
  Excalibur: Banish a traitor.
  Grail: Gain an apple.

The player can also use Merlin's staffs to repeat an action or apples to change a die result.

End of Game and Scoring
The game ends after the sixth round. The final score is calculated based on four categories:

  Traitors: Banishing traitors grants points, while unbanished traitors penalize the player.
  Outskirts: Points are awarded to the player with the most manors in each territory.
  Influence: Points are awarded to the player with the most influence markers in each principality.
  Assistants: Each assistant positioned in a principality grants points.

The player with the most victory points is declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the players share the victory.

Tips for Winning

  Banish the traitors: Keep a close eye on the traitors in your castle and banish them as quickly as possible to avoid penalties.
  Build manors strategically: Prioritize building manors in territories that offer more victory points.
  Complete quests: Quest cards are a valuable source of victory points. Plan your actions to meet the quest requirements.

Consult the manual for details on this section.

## FAQ
### How long does a game of Merlin last?
Typically, a game lasts between 70 and 80 minutes, depending on player experience.

### What experience level is Merlin suitable for?
Merlin has a moderate learning curve, making it great for players with some strategy game experience, though beginners can also enjoy it with guidance.

### What components are included in the game?
The set comes with wooden knight pieces, a Merlin miniature, colored dice, task cards, an action ring, and a modular board.

### Does Merlin work well with small groups?
Yes, the game balances well for 2 to 4 players, keeping competition tight and action flow lively.

### What are Merlin's main mechanics?
Worker placement, dice rolling, area control, rondel, and set collection are the core mechanics that make the game strategic and fun.

### Are there expansions for Merlin?
So far, there are no official expansions, but the design allows for fan‑made task cards or variants.

### Is Merlin suitable for kids?
While fun, the theme and mechanics require focus and some reading, so it’s better suited for teens and adults.

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