Down with the King (game)

Last updated
Down with the King
Down With The King.jpg
Other namesKrone von Alba
Designers Glenn Rahman
Kenneth Rahman
Alan R. Moon
Illustrators
List
    • Ulrich Allgaier
    • Jost Amman
    • Albrecht Dürer
    • Charles Kibler
    • Thomas Lamm
    • Alan R. Moon
    • Dale Sheaffer
    • Charles Wheatley
    • Mark Wheatley
Publishers Avalon Hill
Publication1981;44 years ago (1981)
Years active1981–?
Genres Board game
LanguagesEnglish
Players2–6
Playing time120'
Age range12+

Down With the King is a political card game for 2-6 players produced by Avalon Hill in 1981. Each player takes the role of a noble in the fictional nation of Fandonia during the European Baroque age (roughly 1600-1750), and by diplomacy, betrayal, and political maneuvering, attempts to depose the current monarch, and place his lackey on the throne.

Contents

The game was designed by Glenn Rahman, Kenneth Rahman, and Alan R. Moon. It is sometimes described as a "Fantasy Political Game", but has no inherently supernatural elements.

Gameplay

Each turn comprises a sequence of random events and player actions. Players aim to enhance their character's skills, influence, and prestige, earn the loyalty of non-player characters, secure political offices, destabilize the reigning monarch, and disrupt rival factions' efforts. Eventually, when a player believes their faction has amassed sufficient power and the reigning monarch is sufficiently weakened, they may attempt to usurp the throne and install a royal character (or pretender) of their choosing. A player who controls the monarch for three consecutive turns emerges victorious.

Besides characters, represented as cards, a player controls a certain number of Influence Points, or IPs, spent as "money" to accomplish actions, and Prestige Points, or PPs, which serve as a limit to the number of characters they can control. The player also has a set of cards and opportunity counters that restrict the actions they can take. Actions include a vast array of options, including Dueling, Assassination, Travel Abroad, Advising the Monarch (requires an office), Escape (from abroad or hiding), Extradite a Wrongdoer (from abroad), Expose a Scandal, Intrigue (try to steal an opponent's card), Recruit a Character, Court Monarch's Favor, Fill a Vacant Office, Recruit by Treachery, Seduce a Character, Hold a Wedding, Consult Prestige Tables, and Solicit Bribes (requires an office). All these actions tend to award or take away PPs and IPs.

Reception

Paul Manz reviewed Down with the King in The Space Gamer No. 48. [1] Manz commented that "Down with the King is a pleasant change of pace, and a very enjoyable group game." [1]

References

  1. 1 2 Manz, Paul (February 1982). "Capsule Reviews". The Space Gamer (48). Steve Jackson Games: 28.