Kemet: Blood and Sand

2021

Dive into Kemet: Blood and Sand, a redesigned board game where you become an Egyptian God. Engage in fierce battles, lead your troops, and claim dominance over Ancient Egypt.

180
minutes

2 - 5
player(s)

13+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Kemet: Blood and Sand is an engrossing board game that transports you to the heart of ancient Egypt, where gods and pharaohs rule the land. In this immersive game, you have the opportunity to lead an Egyptian tribe in a contest of power and influence.

The charm of Kemet: Blood and Sand lies in its rich, atmospheric setting, which is steeped in the mystic allure of ancient Egypt. The board game’s stunning artwork and meticulously crafted components further enhance the ancient Egyptian theme, providing an immersive gaming experience.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Kemet: Blood and Sand is a strategic board game with various components. Each component plays a critical role in the gameplay and contributes to the overall gaming experience. Here is a list of the major components and their descriptions:

1. Game Board: The game board is a beautifully illustrated map of Egypt, complete with cities, temples, and other geographical features. Players move their troops across the board to capture territories, fight battles, and control temples.

2. Player Boards: Each player has a personal board that keeps track of their resources, units, and power tiles. It helps players manage their strategies and plan their moves.

3. Power Tiles: These are unique abilities that players can acquire during the game. Some offer immediate benefits, while others provide long-term advantages. They are key to devising winning strategies.

4. Creature Miniatures: The game includes highly detailed creature miniatures, which represent powerful entities that players can call upon to aid them in battle. Each creature has its unique abilities, adding a layer of strategy to the game.

5. Unit Miniatures: These miniatures represent the players’ armies. Moving them across the board and positioning them strategically is central to the game’s combat mechanics.

6. Battle Cards: Battle cards add unpredictability and tension to the game’s combat. They are used in battles to surprise opponents, boost your troops, or disrupt opponents’ plans.

7. Divine Intervention Cards: These cards represent the gods’ favor and provide various benefits when played. They can turn the tide of a battle, provide resources, or offer other strategic advantages.

8. Victory Point Tokens: These tokens keep track of each player’s progress towards victory. Players earn these tokens through various means, including winning battles, controlling temples, and achieving objectives.

9. Prayer Points: These points are the game’s primary resource. Players use them to purchase power tiles, summon creatures, and perform various other actions.

10. Dice: The dice are used in various game situations, such as resolving battles or determining the outcome of certain events.

11. Pyramids: Each player has three pyramids on their player board, representing different types of power (red, blue, and white). The level of a pyramid determines which power tiles a player can purchase.

12. City Tiles: These tiles represent the cities that players can capture. Controlling cities provides various benefits and contributes to victory point totals.

13. Monument Tokens: These tokens represent the monuments that players can build. Monuments provide long-term benefits and can contribute to a player’s victory point total.

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

Kemet: Blood and Sand is a strategic board game set in mythological Egypt. It is a game of epic battles and divine intervention, where players take on the roles of powerful Egyptian gods vying for control. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

Step 1: Prepare the Game Board

Place the main game board in the center of the playing area. Depending on the number of players, certain areas of the board may not be used (refer to the game rulebook for specifics). Place the night/day token on the first space of the turn order track on its day side.

Step 2: Distribute Player Components

Each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding player board, 12 units (place 5 in the city, 7 near the player board), the prayer points marker (placed at ‘8’ on the prayer track), 2 action tokens, and 1 battle token.

Step 3: Set Up the Pyramid

Each player receives a pyramid of each color (white, red, and blue), placing them in their city on their player board. Each pyramid starts at level 1.

Step 4: Divine Intervention Cards

Shuffle the Divine Intervention cards and deal 2 to each player.

Step 5: Set Up the Power Tiles

Shuffle the power tiles of each color and randomly draw a set number (depending on the number of players) to place in the corresponding spaces on the game board. Return the remaining tiles to the box.

Step 6: Determine the First Player

The youngest player is the first player. They receive the first player token.

Step 7: Set Up the Creature Pool

Place all the creatures next to the game board to create a common pool.

Step 8: Initial Recruitment

Starting with the first player and proceeding clockwise, each player recruits one creature from the pool for free. This creature is placed in the player’s city.

Step 9: Set Up the Battle Cards

Each player receives a set of 6 battle cards. They are kept secret from other players.

Step 10: Prepare the Game Turn

Each player places their action tokens on the designated spaces of their player board. The game is now ready to begin!

Game flow Round and round we go

Kemet: Blood and Sand is a highly strategic board game where players take on the roles of ancient Egyptian gods, aiming to dominate the realm. The game is divided into several phases within a round, with each player performing specific actions during each phase. Here’s a detailed explanation of each phase:

1. Dawn Phase:

In the Dawn Phase, players determine the order of play for the current round. This is decided based on each player’s position on the initiative track. The player at the highest position on the track chooses their position for the next round first, followed by the next highest, and so on.

2. Day Phase:

During the Day Phase, players take turns to perform actions, starting from the first player as determined in the Dawn Phase. Players have several options during this phase:

Pray: The player can gain Prayer Points, which are the main resource of the game.
Buy a Power Tile: The player can purchase a Power Tile, granting them special abilities. They must spend Prayer Points to do so.
Deploy or Move Troops: The player can add new troops to the board or move existing ones. This can lead to battles with other players.
Unlock Divine Intervention Cards: The player can spend Prayer Points to unlock special Divine Intervention cards, which can provide various advantages.

3. Dusk Phase:

In the Dusk Phase, players receive Prayer Points based on the number of temples they control. Then, they can use any remaining Divine Intervention cards in their hand.

4. Night Phase:

During the Night Phase, players prepare for the next round. They refresh their action tokens, draw Divine Intervention cards, and resolve any end-of-round effects. After this phase, a new round begins with the Dawn Phase.

This cycle continues until one player reaches a set number of victory points, at which point they are declared the winner of the game.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In Kemet: Blood and Sand, players take turns to perform a series of actions that influence the game’s progression. Understanding these actions, their strategic implications and how they affect gameplay is crucial for a successful game.

1. Prayer Phase:

During the Prayer phase, players collect Prayer Points (PP) based on their temples and controlled sanctuaries. The strategic implication here is that controlling more temples and sanctuaries can grant you more Prayer Points, which are essential for executing other actions.

2. Action Phase:

During the Action phase, players can perform up to two actions, which can be any of the following:

Recruiting Troops: Players can recruit new troops by spending PP equal to the number of troops being recruited. This action is performed in a city controlled by the player.
Movement: Players can move their troops from one region to another, or engage in battles with opponents. The strategic choice here is to decide which regions to control and when to initiate battles.
Building Pyramids: Players can build pyramids by spending PP. The higher the pyramid’s level, the more powerful the divine intervention cards the player can use.
Buying Power Tiles: Players can buy power tiles by spending PP. These tiles can provide various benefits, such as additional troops, extra movement, or powerful abilities.
Praying: Players can choose to pray to gain additional PP. This action does not involve any strategic decision but can be crucial in situations where the player is short on PP.

3. Night Phase:

The Night phase involves preparing for the next day. Players draw Divine Intervention cards and resolve any end-of-turn effects. Strategically, this phase allows players to plan their next actions based on the cards they draw and the current state of the game.

In Kemet: Blood and Sand, every action and strategic choice can significantly affect the game’s outcome. Understanding the implications of each action and making wise decisions can be the key to victory.

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

Kemet: Blood and Sand is a strategic board game where players are trying to earn victory points to win. The game ends and final scoring occurs either when a player reaches a certain number of victory points or after a fixed number of rounds, depending on the specific game version and rules agreed upon by the players.

Victory Point Victory

The game ends immediately when a player reaches 8 victory points in a 2 or 3 player game, or 10 victory points in a 4 or 5 player game. These points are earned by:

Winning battles
Controlling temples
Performing special actions
Purchasing specific power tiles

Fixed Round Victory

If players agree to play a fixed number of rounds, the game ends after the agreed upon round (usually 5 or 6). If there is a tie in victory points after the final round, the tiebreakers are, in order:

The player with the most prayer points.
The player with the most battle victory points.
The player with the most power tiles.

Preparation for Final Scoring

Before final scoring, players must add up their victory points from the following sources:

The victory points earned from winning battles throughout the game.
The victory points granted by the permanent and temporary victory points power tiles they have.
The victory points earned by controlling temples at the end of each day phase.

After all these points are added together, the player with the highest total is declared the winner.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Kemet: Blood and Sand is a tactical board game where players lead their Egyptian tribe to prosperity. Players earn victory points in a variety of ways, and the player with the most points at the end of the game wins. Here is a detailed explanation of the scoring system:

1. Permanent Victory Points:

Players earn 1 permanent victory point each time they win a battle as the attacker.
Players earn 1 permanent victory point for each pyramid they have at level 4.
Players earn 2 permanent victory points for controlling the Sanctuary of All Gods.

2. Temporary Victory Points:

Players earn 1 temporary victory point for each temple they control at the end of the Day phase.
Players earn 1 temporary victory point for each troop they have in an opponent’s city at the end of the Day phase.

3. Divine Intervention Cards:

Some Divine Intervention cards award additional victory points when played.

4. End of Game Scoring:

At the end of the game, players add their permanent victory points to their temporary victory points to determine their final score.

In the event of a tie, the following tie-breaking rules are applied:

The player with the most prayer points is the winner.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most battle victory points wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most level 4 pyramids wins.
If there is still a tie, the player who has the turn order advantage (determined at the beginning of the game) wins.

These rules ensure that every action in the game can potentially contribute to a player’s victory, creating a dynamic and strategic gameplay experience.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Kemet: Blood and Sand is a highly strategic board game filled with unique rules and exceptions. Understanding these will greatly enhance your gaming experience. Here are some of the key rules, exceptions, and clarifications:

Divine Intervention Cards: These cards provide various benefits, but can only be played during your own turn, except for the ‘Attack’ and ‘Defence’ cards which can be played during a battle, regardless of whose turn it is.

Each player can play a maximum of one ‘Attack’ and one ‘Defence’ card in each battle.
Any unused cards must be discarded at the end of your turn.

Prayer Points: These are the main resource in the game. Here are some exceptions and clarifications:

Players cannot exchange Prayer Points among themselves.
Prayer Points are unlimited. If the supply runs out, use an alternative method to keep track.

Recruiting Troops: Recruiting new troops is a crucial part of expanding your power in Kemet. However, there are some special rules and exceptions:

Newly recruited troops must be placed in a city that is not in revolt.
If all of a player’s cities are in revolt, they cannot recruit new troops.

Combat: Combat in Kemet is strategic and full of surprises. Here are some important clarifications:

In case of a tie in battle, the attacker wins.
If a player loses a battle, their surviving troops must retreat to one of their cities. If this is not possible, the troops are destroyed.

Power Tiles: Power tiles grant special abilities. However, they come with some unique rules:

Once a power tile is purchased, it cannot be exchanged or returned.
Players cannot own two power tiles of the same colour and level.

These are just some of the special rules and exceptions in Kemet: Blood and Sand. Understanding these will allow for a deeper and more strategic gameplay experience.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Kemet: Blood and Sand is a fast-paced, confrontational, and strategic board game set in mystical ancient Egypt. Here are some strategies, tips, and common mistakes to avoid.

Advanced Strategies:

Focus on Permanent Victory Points: These points cannot be lost and are gained through controlling temples and buying permanent victory point Power tiles. They provide a solid foundation for your overall strategy.
Efficient Use of Prayer Points: Prayer points are the main resource in the game. Use them wisely to buy Power tiles, recruit troops, or manipulate the turn order.
Utilize Divine Intervention Cards: These cards can drastically turn the tide of battle. Save them for crucial moments and use them strategically.

Beginner Tips:

Understand the Power Tiles: Power tiles grant various abilities and bonuses. Familiarize yourself with these tiles and plan your strategy around them.
Don’t Neglect Defense: While it’s tempting to focus solely on offense, a strong defense can deter enemies and help maintain control over key areas.
Control Temples: Holding temples not only provide Victory Points, but also provide Prayer Points which are crucial for your actions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Not Balancing Your Strategy: Do not focus solely on one aspect of the game. A balanced approach between offense, defense, and resource management often leads to victory.
Ignoring Your Opponents: Always pay attention to your opponents’ actions and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Over Committing Troops: While it’s important to control key areas, spreading your troops too thin can leave you vulnerable to attacks.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Mastering the Timing: Knowing when to attack, when to defend, and when to invest in resources is key to winning the game.
Adapt to the Game Flow: The game situation can change rapidly. Always be ready to adapt your strategy based on the current game state.
Coordination: Coordinate your Power tiles, troops, and resources to maximize their effectiveness.