The King’s Dilemma

2019

‘The King’s Dilemma’ is an innovative, interactive narrative board game that takes you on a captivating journey through a richly woven tapestry of politics, power, and intrigue. Set in the fantastical realm of Ankist, you and your fellow players are influential houses striving to guide the kingdom’s destiny through complex decisions and delicate diplomacy. What truly sets ‘The King’s Dilemma’ apart is its core mechanics and immersive storytelling. Each decision you make has far-reaching implications, not just for the current game, but for the entire campaign. This legacy-style game evolves with your choices, resulting in a unique and personalized narrative ... Read more

60
minutes

3 - 5
player(s)

14+

Medium

About the game

‘The King’s Dilemma’ is an innovative, interactive narrative board game that takes you on a captivating journey through a richly woven tapestry of politics, power, and intrigue. Set in the fantastical realm of Ankist, you and your fellow players are influential houses striving to guide the kingdom’s destiny through complex decisions and delicate diplomacy.

What truly sets ‘The King’s Dilemma’ apart is its core mechanics and immersive storytelling. Each decision you make has far-reaching implications, not just for the current game, but for the entire campaign. This legacy-style game evolves with your choices, resulting in a unique and personalized narrative experience.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The King’s Dilemma is a narrative and interactive board game that involves strategy, decision making, and political intrigue. The game comes with several components, each having a specific role to play in the course of the game.

1. Game Board: The game board is a map of the kingdom, divided into various regions. Players place their tokens on the board to represent their influence in those regions.

2. Envelope Decks: The game comes with a set of envelope decks. Each envelope contains a dilemma card, and possibly some other cards like new rules, permanent stickers or secret cards. The dilemma cards prompt a discussion among the players who must vote on how to resolve the issue.

3. House Screens: Each player has a House screen, which is used to hide their voting tokens and coins. The screen also contains information about the player’s house and its specific power.

4. Voting Tokens: Each player has a set of voting tokens of different values. These tokens are used during the voting process to decide the outcome of a dilemma.

5. Coins: Coins are used as a resource for bidding and can also be used to influence the outcome of a vote.

6. Stickers: Stickers are used to track the evolution of the game’s narrative. They can be attached to the game board, the rulebook, or other components to reflect the decisions made by the players.

7. Secret Agenda Cards: Each player has a secret agenda card. These cards give players individual goals to achieve, which can lead to extra points at the end of the game.

8. Milestone Cards: Milestone Cards are drawn when certain conditions are met. They can bring new elements into the game, adding additional layers of complexity.

9. Rulebook: The rulebook provides a comprehensive guide to the game. It provides details on how to set up the game, how each component works, the sequence of play, and how to resolve various game situations.

10. Power Tokens: Power tokens represent the influence of a player’s house in the different regions of the kingdom. They are placed on the game board during the power struggle phase.

Each of these components interact with each other in different ways to create an immersive gaming experience where decisions have long-term consequences and the narrative evolves based on the choices made by the players.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

The King’s Dilemma is an interactive narrative experience with legacy elements, featuring several branching storylines leading to many possible finales and an evolving deck of event cards at its core. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you set up the game:

Step 1: Player Roles

Each player will take on the role of one of the King’s councilors. Each councilor represents a family that controls the King’s decisions. Players select a house screen and take the matching voting tokens, power tokens, and the house sticker. The house sticker is placed on the first available slot of the score track.

Step 2: Board Placement

Place the main game board in the center of the playing area. Make sure all players can reach it. The board has several areas: the Dilemma zone, the King’s Council, the Resource track, and the Stability track.

Step 3: Initial Resources

All players start with the same amount of resources. Place your power tokens in the reserve area of your house screen. Each player starts with 3 power and places 3 power tokens onto their house screen. The number of power tokens each player gets can vary throughout the game.

Step 4: Envelope Arrangement

Arrange the envelopes in numerical order in the Archive. The envelopes contain the storylines and are not to be opened until the game instructs you to do so.

Step 5: Card Preparation

Prepare the deck of Dilemma cards. Take the envelope marked as “Start” and extract all the cards. Shuffle these cards and place them face down in the Dilemma zone on the board.

Step 6: Sticker Chart

Place the sticker chart next to the game board. This chart is used to track the history of the kingdom.

Step 7: Random Elements

Each game will start with a random Dilemma card from the top of the deck. This introduces a random element at the commencement of every game, ensuring no two games are the same.

Remember, the decisions you make will drive the game’s narrative and have lasting impacts, so choose wisely!

Game flow Round and round we go

The King’s Dilemma is an interactive narrative board game that unfolds over a series of games, with players assuming the roles of various houses with influence over a kingdom. The game is broken down into several parts: the setup, the dilemma phase, the voting phase, and the resolution phase.

1. Setup:

Each player chooses a house and takes the corresponding house screen, marker, and seal.
The agenda cards are shuffled and five are dealt to each player.
The story deck is prepared according to the game’s campaign booklet instructions, and the top card is revealed, representing the first dilemma.

2. Dilemma Phase:

The leader reads out the dilemma to the council.
Players can discuss the dilemma and its potential consequences.
Each player, starting from the leader and going clockwise, has the option to pass or put their seal on either the ‘aye’ or ‘nay’ side of the board, betting power on the outcome they want.

3. Voting Phase:

The voting phase begins after all players have had a chance to place their seals.
Players, in turn, can either add more power to their vote, pass, or use intrigue cards.
The voting ends when all players have passed consecutively.

4. Resolution Phase:

The votes are counted and the side with the most power wins. The leader breaks any ties.
The leader reads the result and adjusts the kingdom’s resources and his or her house’s prestige and crave according to the card.
If there are any consequent dilemmas, they are added to the deck. If not, a new dilemma is drawn and a new round begins.

These rounds continue until the game ends, which can be triggered by a variety of conditions such as a specific resource running out, a player achieving their secret objective, or the kingdom reaching a certain stability level.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

The King’s Dilemma is a narrative-driven, strategic board game where players represent noble houses in a kingdom. The game unfolds over several game sessions, with players voting on different dilemmas that arise, making key decisions which shape the kingdom’s fate. Here’s a detailed breakdown of a player’s turn:

1. Beginning of the Round:

First, reveal the top dilemma card on the dilemma deck. This card presents a decision that players will vote on. Reading the situation on the card sets the stage for the round.

2. Discussion Phase:

After the dilemma is revealed, players discuss the potential implications of the decision at hand. Players can make predictions, propose strategies, or negotiate alliances during this phase. The choices made here can have a long-term impact on the game’s narrative and the status of the player’s house.

3. Voting Phase:

Each player takes their turn to place their voting tokens (power points) on the ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ side of the board to vote for or against the dilemma. The more tokens a player places, the stronger their vote. Votes can also be passed, allowing players to potentially vote later in the round.

4. Resolution Phase:

The choice with the most power points wins. The winning voters gain the rewards or suffer the consequences based on the dilemma’s outcome. This can affect a player’s resources, stickers on the game board, or even the overall narrative.

5. Leadership Phase:

The player who contributed the most power points to the winning side of the vote becomes the new leader. They get the privilege of opening envelopes, revealing new aspects of the story, and making crucial decisions that can shape the future of the kingdom.

6. End of the Round:

The round ends after the dilemma is resolved and a new leader is chosen. All power points used in voting are returned to the players, and a new round begins by revealing the next dilemma card. If there are no more dilemma cards, the game session ends, and points are tallied based on various factors like resources, secret agendas, and overall influence in the kingdom.

Through this intricate gameplay, players in The King’s Dilemma must balance their house’s ambitions with the welfare of the kingdom, making for a truly immersive and strategic gaming experience.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

The game of ‘The King’s Dilemma’ ends when the kingdom’s stability reaches zero, or when the last dilemma of the current deck is resolved. At the end of the game, the scoring phase begins, where players calculate their final scores based on the power and prestige they have accumulated throughout the game.

Victory Conditions:

In ‘The King’s Dilemma’, victory is obtained by achieving the highest final score. The final score is the total of each player’s prestige points and power points, with some adjustments based on the secret agendas that each player has.

Prestige Points: These are awarded to players based on the decisions they make throughout the game. Players gain prestige points by supporting decisions that align with their House’s ethos and goals.
Power Points: Power points are accumulated by winning votes and influencing the kingdom’s decisions. Power is a dynamic resource that can be gained and lost throughout the game.
Secret Agendas: At the beginning of the game, each player is given a secret agenda card. These cards provide additional victory conditions for the players, allowing them to gain bonus points at the end of the game if they have successfully fulfilled the objectives on their card.

End Game Actions:

Before final scoring, players must perform the following actions:

Reveal Secret Agendas: Each player reveals their secret agenda card and checks if they have met the necessary conditions. If so, they add the bonus points to their score.
Calculate Prestige and Power: Players add up the total prestige and power points they have accumulated over the course of the game.
Final Score: Each player’s final score is calculated by adding their prestige points to their power points, including any points gained from their secret agenda.

After these steps, the player with the highest final score is declared the winner of ‘The King’s Dilemma’.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

The King’s Dilemma is a narrative and strategy-driven board game where players collectively control the ruling council of the Kingdom. The scoring system of this game is based on a combination of individual prestige points, power points, and the overall stability of the kingdom. The aim is to guide the Kingdom through a series of dilemmas while striving to achieve individual agendas.

Prestige Points: These are the primary points that players will gain during the game. They are awarded based on the decisions and outcomes of the dilemmas faced by the Kingdom. Players can gain prestige points by advocating and voting for the outcome of a dilemma that aligns with their personal agenda or the secret agenda of the game. It’s essential to note that in some scenarios, players might also lose prestige points based on the outcome of a dilemma or due to certain game events.

Power Points: Power points are secondary points that players can obtain. These are mainly used as a tie-breaker at the end of the game. Players can gather power points by influencing the outcome of a dilemma or by making strategic decisions that increase their influence over the Kingdom.

Kingdom Stability: The overall stability of the Kingdom does not directly award points to the players, but it can indirectly affect the score. If the Kingdom falls into chaos, the game ends immediately, and the player with the least prestige points is declared the winner. Therefore, maintaining the stability of the Kingdom is an essential part of the strategy.

Scoring: At the end of the game, each player’s score is calculated by adding their prestige points and power points. The player with the highest total is the winner. If there is a tie, the player with the most power points wins. If there is still a tie, the player who voted in favor of the winning outcome in the final dilemma is the winner. If there is still a tie, the player with the most unspent resources at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

‘The King’s Dilemma’ is an interactive, narrative-driven board game that focuses on decision-making and political intrigue. Players take on the roles of influential houses, voting on various issues that shape the kingdom’s lore. While the game is generally straightforward, there are some special rules and exceptions that players need to be aware of:

1. Sealed Envelopes:

Players are not allowed to open sealed envelopes on their own. They can only be opened when the game’s rules or storyline explicitly instructs so.

2. Stickers:

Once a sticker is placed on the game board, it cannot be removed or replaced. This is to maintain the continuity of the game’s evolving storyline.

3. Voting:

Votes can be influenced by using Power tokens. However, a player cannot use more Power tokens than they have on their House screen.

4. Game End:

The game ends when an envelope labeled ‘End’ is opened. It doesn’t matter how many dilemmas remain unresolved.

5. Leader’s Privilege:

The Leader player has a unique privilege to break ties in votes. However, this privilege can only be used once per dilemma.

6. Succession:

When a King dies, succession occurs and a new King takes the throne. This can influence the game’s storyline and the circumstances for voting on dilemmas.

7. Prestige and Crave:

Prestige and Crave are the two main resources in the game. Prestige is a measure of a House’s honor and reputation, while Crave indicates a House’s ambition. These resources can influence the outcome of the game, but they are not the only factors that determine victory.

These special rules and exceptions give ‘The King’s Dilemma’ its unique flavor and complexity. Players must master these intricacies to navigate the game’s political landscape and guide their House to victory.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

The King’s Dilemma is an interactive, narrative-driven board game that requires strategic thinking and careful decision-making. The game is centered around a council of advisors, each representing a different faction of the kingdom, who must make decisions and deal with dilemmas to shape the realm’s future. Here are some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay:

Advanced Strategies:

Focus on Long-Term Goals: It’s easy to get caught up in the short-term dilemmas, but the key to winning The King’s Dilemma is to have a long-term strategy. Keep an eye on the global and secret agendas, and try to make decisions that align with these goals.
Use Your Power Wisely: Power is a valuable resource in the game. Use it to negotiate, influence the vote, or secure your position on the council. However, remember that power can be a double-edged sword, and misusing it can lead to your downfall.
Manipulate the Market: The market is a crucial aspect of the game. Pay attention to resource trends, invest wisely, and manipulate the market to your advantage.

Beginner Tips:

Understand the Game Mechanics: Before diving into the game, take some time to understand the mechanics, the roles of the council, and the impact of the decisions you make.
Participate in Negotiations: Negotiations are an integral part of the game. Don’t shy away from them. Instead, use them as opportunities to forge alliances, make deals, and further your agenda.
Learn from Your Mistakes: You’re likely to make mistakes in your first few games. That’s okay. Learn from them and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Ignoring the Story: The King’s Dilemma is a narrative-driven game. Ignoring the story not only diminishes the gaming experience but can also result in missed opportunities and unexpected consequences.
Overlooking Minor Dilemmas: While it’s essential to focus on the big picture, don’t overlook minor dilemmas. They can have a significant impact on the game and can sometimes align with your long-term goals.
Hoarding Resources: While it’s important to manage your resources wisely, hoarding them can hinder your progress. Use your resources to influence the game and further your agenda.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Balance Your Strategies: A balanced strategy that combines short-term tactics and long-term planning is often the most effective in The King’s Dilemma.
Communicate: Communication is key in this game. Negotiating, discussing, and even bluffing can help you gain an advantage.
Stay Flexible: The game’s narrative can take unexpected turns. Being flexible and adapting your strategy is crucial to success.