Harald

About this board game

Harald is a 2015 card game of influence and majority for 2–4 players, playable in about 30 minutes. As the head of a village, you seek the favor of the most influential characters in the realm and hope to become the most prestigious village in the kingdom.

King Harald has unified the different kingdoms, bringing peace to the nation. With open war ended, the struggle continues through intrigue and influence. Send your emissaries to the King’s Council, charm powerful characters, and use their abilities wisely to attract the King’s attention.

Every turn follows three actions in order:

• Play one card in the King’s Council.
• Play one card in your village.
• Draw cards.

The cards you place in these two areas are central to your plans. At the end of the game, each card in your village scores points equal to the number of cards of the same type in the King’s Council. Building the right connections in the Council can therefore make your village cards far more valuable.

Each character also has a condition that awards bonus points. To succeed, you must consider both the influence created in the King’s Council and the way your own village develops. The order of play is simple, but choosing which cards to play and using character abilities effectively creates the game’s intrigue.

In Harald, every card contributes to a contest for prestige. Read the shifting balance of influence, fulfill character conditions where possible, and guide your village toward the King’s favor.