# The Old King's Crown ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2025 - **BGG Rating**: 8.0 - **BGG Rank**: #749 - **Players**: 1-4 (Best with: 3) - **Duration**: 60-120 min - **Weight**: 3.67 / 5 - **Designers**: Pablo Clark - **Artists**: Pablo Clark - **Publishers**: Eerie Idol Games, Delirium Games, Devil Dice Games, Galakta, Kolossal Games, Spielworxx - **Categories**: Card Game, Fantasy, Medieval - **Mechanics**: Betting and Bluffing, Card Play Conflict Resolution, Hand Management, Variable Player Powers ## Verdict If you love a good bluff and card strategy that makes you think, The Old King's Crown is for you! It's a game that shines in player interaction and the tension of each move.Intense bluffing and deductionFun variable player powersStrategic card conflictsHigh replayability guaranteedImmersive conquest experienceCan be punishing for new playersRequires reading opponentsDirect and confrontational interactionHIGHLY RECOMMENDED ## Description In The Old King's Crown, you step into the shoes of an ambitious heir, vying for control of an ancient and mysterious kingdom. Forget an easy crown; here, conquest is driven by cards, bluffs, and plenty of strategy. The game tasks you with using your faction's unique abilities and your followers' traits to outwit rivals across a map stretching from the castle's heights to the necropolis's depths. You'll openly declare your intentions with your Heralds, but also secretly position your forces, hoping to secure the locations that best fit your designs for domination. But beware! Your opponents aren't idle; they have their own agents and agendas, ready to turn the tables on you. Royalty, rebels, or masters of trickery – what will be your strategy for the crown? The dynamic is simple yet profound: move your Herald to a location you wish to claim. Then, all players simultaneously play cards face down to regions of the board, revealing them to resolve conflicts. Winning these clashes yields rewards that strengthen your position and, more importantly, grant influence. The ultimate goal is to accumulate the most influence over a set number of rounds to be crowned the new sovereign. Prepare for a game where every decision, every bluff, and every card played can change the fate of the kingdom! ## How to Play Game Objective In The Old King's Crown, players assume the role of heirs to the old king, leading their own factions in a battle for control of the kingdom. The objective is to accumulate Influence (represented by i tokens) to claim the old king's crown and be declared the winner. To do this, players will use strategies, character cards, and tactics to win confrontations in regions, conquer strategic locations, and gain allies and artifacts along the way. Preparation (Setup) Follow these steps to set up the game: Place the Map Board and the Great Road Board on the table, with the Court Board and the Order Track at the top of the map. Position the Collaborator Disc on the Battlefield location on the map. Create a reserve of Influence tokens within reach of all players. Shuffle the Kingdom Cards and form a face-down deck of 20 cards. Place the deck in the indicated space on the Great Road and reveal the first four cards. Each player chooses a faction and receives the corresponding Player Board, Herald, Supporters, Tactic Cards, and Faction Cards. Players prepare their faction decks, separating cards with the [MYTH] trait and cards with the Loyal keyword. Determine the initial player order on the Order Track. Refer to the manual for details on this section. Game Flow The game is divided into rounds, each representing a year. Each round has four main phases: Spring: Players place Heralds and can perform specific phase actions. Summer: Players place face-down cards in the map regions. Autumn: Regions are revealed and confrontations are resolved. Winter: Players resolve cards on the Great Road and can perform specific phase actions. After Winter, there is an End of Year phase, where players clear the map and check for a winner. Actions and How to Play During the game, players can perform various actions depending on the phase: Place Heralds: In Spring, players place their Heralds in locations to gain or steal Influence. Place Supporters: In Spring, players can place Supporters in regions to increase their strength in confrontations. Play Cards: In Summer, players place face-down cards in regions to participate in confrontations. Confrontation Resolution: In Autumn, regions are revealed and confrontations are resolved, with winners gaining rewards. Great Road Resolution: In Winter, players resolve cards on the Great Road to gain or steal Kingdom Cards. Refer to the manual for details on this section. End of Game and Scoring The game ends when one or more players reach or exceed a specific amount of Influence, depending on the number of players. The winner is the player with the most Influence. In case of a tie, the player with a card in the Court is declared the winner. If there is still a tie, the game ends in a shared victory. Tips for Winning Use your Heralds wisely: Place your Heralds in strategic locations to gain or steal Influence from your opponents. Manage your deck: Prioritize strong cards and use strategies to recycle useful cards from your deck. Control the Great Road: Gaining Kingdom Cards on the Great Road can provide significant advantages throughout the game. ## FAQ ### What is the average playtime for The Old King's Crown? A game typically lasts between 60 and 120 minutes, depending on the number of players and their familiarity with the rules. It's an ideal duration for an intense strategic session! ### How many players can participate? The game is designed for 1 to 4 players. Yes, it features a super engaging solo mode for when you want to conquer the kingdom on your own! ### What is the complexity level of the game? The Old King's Crown has a BGG weight of 3.6683/5, placing it in the medium to high complexity category. It's not a party game, but it's also not an overly complex eurogame. It's a rewarding challenge for those who enjoy strategic thinking. ### What are the main components of the game? Expect a modular board, many illustrated cards (characters, actions, locations), influence tokens, and unique faction components for each player. The production quality is a major highlight! ### Is the game heavily language-dependent? Yes, Ludopedia indicates it has 'Extensive' language dependence. This means that cards and character abilities have a fair amount of text, so a complete translation is essential to fully enjoy the experience. ### Who is The Old King's Crown for? It's perfect for players who enjoy bluffing mechanics, hand management, and variable player powers, with a good dose of direct interaction and conflict. If you like medieval fantasy themed games and aren't afraid of a good strategic duel, you'll love it! ### Are there any expansions planned for the future? As the game is still set to be released in 2025, there is no official information about expansions yet. 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