Mage Knight Board Game

2011

Unleash your power in the Mage Knight board game! Conquer cities, build your army, and master powerful spells in a thrilling blend of RPG, deck-building, and board gaming.

240
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

14+

Heavy

About the game

Mage Knight Board Game is a deep and complex board game that uniquely blends several game mechanics into a highly immersive experience. Set within an epic fantasy universe, players embark on an exciting journey as powerful Mage Knights, exploring and conquering a constantly changing world.

The game’s theme is steeped in fantastical elements and lore. Each player, as a Mage Knight, traverses unknown territories filled with dense forests, foreboding dungeons, mystical temples, and bustling cities. Along the way, players encounter a myriad of creatures, from harmless villagers to formidable dragons, as well as other Mage Knights, each with their unique abilities and aspirations.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

The Mage Knight Board Game is a complex game that includes a variety of components. Here is a list of the components, along with a description of each and how it interacts with the game:

1. Game Figures

The game includes four detailed miniature figures, each representing a different Mage Knight. These figures are used by players to explore and conquer the game board.

2. Decks of Cards

Each Mage Knight has its own unique deck of Advanced Action cards. Players draw these cards to gain abilities, spells, and artifacts which can be used to overcome challenges in the game. The game also includes a deck of Unit cards, which represent allies that can be recruited by the Mage Knights.

3. Game Board Tiles

The game includes a set of hexagonal game board tiles. The tiles are placed in different configurations to create the game board, which represents the lands the Mage Knights explore. The tiles feature different types of terrain, including forests, mountains, and cities, each of which affects movement and combat in different ways.

4. Mana Crystals and Mana Dice

Mage Knight uses a unique mana system, represented by mana crystals and mana dice. The mana dice are rolled at the start of each round to determine the available mana. Players can use this mana to play cards from their hand. The mana crystals are a more stable form of mana that players can store and use later.

5. Enemy Tokens

The game includes a number of enemy tokens, each representing a different type of enemy, such as orcs or dragons. These enemies are placed on the game board and must be defeated by the Mage Knights in combat.

6. Player Boards

Each player has a board that tracks their Mage Knight’s current level, experience points, and other stats. The player boards also have slots for cards and tokens, making it easy to keep track of a player’s resources and abilities.

7. Counters and Tokens

The game includes a variety of counters and tokens, including damage counters, shield tokens, and wound tokens. These are used to track the state of the Mage Knights and their enemies during combat.

8. Rulebooks

The game comes with two rulebooks: the Game Walkthrough, which guides new players through their first game, and the Full Rulebook, which provides detailed rules and explanations for every aspect of the game.

9. Scenario Cards

These cards outline the various scenarios that players can choose to play. Each scenario has different objectives, victory conditions, and special rules, offering a wide variety of gameplay experiences.

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

The Mage Knight Board Game is a game of epic exploration and combat where players take on the role of Mage Knights who must conquer the cities to expand their empire. Here are the detailed steps to set up the game:

Step 1: Choose Your Mage Knight

Each player chooses a Mage Knight from the four available characters: Norowas, Arythea, Tovak, and Goldyx. Each character has its own unique deck of Basic Action Cards and Hero Card.

Step 2: Set up the Starting Decks

Each player takes the 16 Basic Action Cards that match their chosen character. This will be their starting deck.

Step 3: Place the Starting Tiles

Place the Initial Starting Tile (with the portal) in the middle of the table. Then draw and place two Countryside Tiles adjacent to the Starting Tile. The Countryside Tiles should be placed with the green sides facing up.

Step 4: Create the Deed Card Decks

Separate the Advanced Action Cards, Spells, and Artifacts. Shuffle each deck separately and place them face down next to the game board.

Step 5: Set up the Unit Deck

Divide the Unit Cards into Regular Units and Elite Units. Shuffle each deck separately and place them face down. Reveal the top two cards of the Regular Unit Deck and place them on the Unit Offer spaces on the game board.

Step 6: Set up the Player Area

Each player places their Hero Card, Shield Tokens, Level Marker, and Command Tokens in front of them. The Shield Tokens and Command Tokens should be placed on their respective spaces on the Hero Card, and the Level Marker should be placed on the first space of the Fame Track.

Step 7: Prepare the Enemy Tokens

Separate the Enemy Tokens by type: orcs, draconum, etc. Shuffle each type separately and place them in separate face down piles.

Step 8: Set up the Mana Dice

Place all seven Mana Dice in the Source (the mana dice tray), and roll them. The colors of the dice represent the available mana for the first round of the game.

Step 9: Determine First Player

Determine the first player randomly. This player takes the First Player Token and starts the game.

With these steps, you have completed the setup of the Mage Knight Board Game. Remember that the goal of the game is to conquer cities, and the player with the most Fame Points at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Game flow Round and round we go

The Mage Knight Board Game is a complex strategy game that mixes RPG elements with deck-building mechanics. The game is played in a series of rounds, each divided into distinct phases.

Each round of the game is known as a Day or a Night. A Day or Night is divided into three phases:

Preparation Phase: During this phase, players refresh their units, reroll all unused mana dice in the Source, and draw up to their hand limit. If it’s the first round of the game, players also place their figure on the starting space of the map.
Action Phase: This is the main part of the round where players take turns performing actions. These actions can include moving across the map, exploring new tiles, fighting enemies, recruiting units, and conquering cities. Actions are performed by playing cards from hand and using mana from the Source or their personal supply.
End of Round: When all players have passed in the action phase, the current round ends. If the game is not over, a new round begins with another Preparation Phase.

During the Action Phase, players can perform a variety of actions:

Movement: Players can move their hero across the map, exploring new tiles and encountering different challenges.
Combat: Players can initiate combat with enemies on the map. Combat is resolved through a series of steps that involve playing attack and defense cards.
Interacting: Players can interact with locals by either recruiting them to join their cause or by completing quests for them.
Special Actions: Some cards provide special actions that can be performed such as healing, influencing, or casting spells.

The game ends after a set number of rounds, or when a specific event occurs (usually the conquering of cities). The player with the highest fame points (earned by exploring, fighting, and other actions) is declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

The ‘Mage Knight Board Game’ is a complex and strategic game that offers a variety of actions to the players during their turn. Here’s a thorough breakdown of the possible actions and strategic choices a player can make.

1. Movements:

One of the most basic actions in the game is moving your Mage Knight across the game board. This is done by playing movement cards from your hand or using your basic move action. The strategic choice here involves deciding where to move to maximize your turn’s effectiveness.

2. Exploration:

Another action you may choose to take is exploration. This action involves flipping over a new tile and expanding the game board. This can reveal new monsters, towns, or other points of interest. The strategic choice here is deciding when and where to explore. Exploring too soon can lead to encountering tough enemies, but waiting too long can limit your options.

3. Combat:

Combat is a key component of the Mage Knight Board Game. There are different types of combat including ranged, siege, and melee. The choice of which type of combat to use can greatly affect the outcome, and is often dependent on the abilities of your character and the enemies you are facing.

4. Interaction with Locals:

Players can also interact with locals in villages, monasteries, and cities. This could involve recruiting units, healing wounds, or buying advanced action cards, spells, or artifacts. The strategic choice here is deciding when to interact with locals and which actions to take during these interactions.

5. Leveling Up:

As you gain experience points, you can level up your Mage Knight. This provides a variety of benefits such as increasing your hand limit, gaining new skills, and improving your basic actions. The strategic choice here involves deciding which benefits to choose when leveling up.

6. Resting:

Finally, you can choose to rest during your turn. This allows you to recharge your depleted cards and prepare for future turns. The strategic choice here is deciding when to rest. Resting too often can slow down your progress, but not resting enough can leave you unprepared for future challenges.

These actions and strategic choices form the core gameplay of the Mage Knight Board Game. Understanding and mastering these elements can greatly enhance your chances of victory.

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

The game of ‘Mage Knight Board Game’ ends after the completion of the final round. The final round is typically triggered by a specific event, such as a player reaching the city or when the deck of dummy player cards runs out. The round in which this happens is played to the end so that all players have an equal number of turns.

Victory Conditions:

The player with the highest total score at the end of the game is declared the winner. The scoring is based on the following aspects:

Reputation: Players earn reputation points over the course of the game. Each point of positive reputation is worth 1 victory point at the end of the game. If a player’s reputation is in the negatives, then they lose victory points equal to the absolute value of their reputation.
Enemies Defeated: Each enemy defeated in combat provides a certain number of victory points, as indicated on its token.
Cities Conquered: Each city conquered by a player has a victory point value, which is added to the player’s final score.
Spells, Artifacts, and Advanced Actions: These cards, when in a player’s deck at the end of the game, contribute to the player’s final score based on their individual victory point values.
Crystals: Each crystal in a player’s inventory at the end of the game is worth 1 victory point.
Units: Each unit in a player’s command at the end of the game is worth victory points equal to the level of the unit.

Actions Before Final Scoring:

Before the final scoring, players need to perform the following actions:

Collect all the keep and mage tower tokens they have earned over the course of the game. These are worth 1 victory point each.
Calculate the victory points from spells, artifacts, and advanced actions in their deck. These points are marked on the scoring track.
Add up the victory points from all enemies they have defeated. Each enemy token has a victory point value on it.
Count the number of crystals in their inventory. Each crystal adds 1 victory point to their score.
Add the victory points from the cities they have conquered. Each city has a victory point value.
Add or subtract victory points based on their reputation. If a player’s reputation is positive, they gain that many points. If it’s negative, they lose that many points.

Once all these calculations are done, the player with the highest total score is declared the winner of the ‘Mage Knight Board Game’.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Mage Knight Board Game employs a comprehensive scoring system that accounts for various aspects of gameplay. Players accrue points throughout the game based on the following criteria:

Fame Points: Players gain fame points for defeating enemies and accomplishing tasks. The total fame points a player has at the end of the game contributes significantly to their final score.
City Points: Each conquered city on the game board will provide a certain number of points at the end of the game. The specific value depends on the level of the city.
Unspent Level-up Points: At the end of the game, each unused level-up point a player has is worth two points.
Adventure Points: Points are also awarded for completed quests and explored tiles. The number of points varies depending on the quest or tile.
Spell Points: Players can earn points by learning new spells. Each spell is worth a certain amount of points at the end of the game.
Artifact Points: Artifacts collected throughout the game will provide a set number of points at the end of the game.
Crystals Points: Each crystal in a player’s inventory at the end of the game is worth one point.

At the conclusion of the game, players add up the points from all these areas to determine their final scores. The player with the highest total score is declared the winner.

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

The player with the most fame points is the winner.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most city points wins.
If a tie persists, the player who ended the game with the most unspent level-up points is the winner.
If the tie cannot be broken by these means, the game is declared a draw.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

The Mage Knight Board Game is an intricate game that combines RPG elements with traditional board game mechanics. There are a few rare or special rules, exceptions, and rule clarifications that might be important for players to understand.

Deck Building: Unlike many other games, players do not have a static deck of cards. Instead, they build their deck as they play. This means that the composition of a player’s deck can change drastically throughout the game.

Exception: During the setup phase, each player starts with a fixed set of cards. They may only begin deck building after the game has started.
Clarification: Players cannot trade or give cards to each other. Each player’s deck is individual.

Mana Pool: Mage Knight uses a unique mana system. Each player has a pool of mana tokens, which they can spend to perform various actions.

Exception: At the end of each round, all unused mana tokens are returned to the common supply. They do not carry over to the next round.
Clarification: Mana tokens can be used to power any action, not just spells.

Day and Night Rounds: The game has alternating day and night rounds. Some actions and effects are different depending on whether it is day or night.

Exception: During the night, players cannot use the “Explore” action to reveal tiles that are more than one space away.
Clarification: Some cards have different effects during the day and night. These effects are clearly marked on the cards.

Combat: Combat is a major part of Mage Knight. Players must carefully manage their resources and use their cards strategically to defeat enemies.

Exception: Players cannot retreat from combat once it has started. They must either defeat the enemy or be defeated.
Clarification: Damage is applied simultaneously. This means that a player can defeat an enemy and be defeated at the same time.

Spell Casting: Spells are powerful abilities that can greatly influence the outcome of the game. However, they have specific rules regarding their use.

Exception: Spells can only be cast during a player’s turn. They cannot be used during another player’s turn or in response to an action.
Clarification: To cast a spell, a player must have the necessary mana and meet any other requirements listed on the spell card.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

The Mage Knight Board Game is a complex, strategic game that requires careful planning, tactical decision-making, and a keen understanding of the game mechanics. Here, we’ll provide you with advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay to become a seasoned Mage Knight player.

Advanced strategies:

Plan your deck: The cards in your deck form the basis of your strategy. Therefore, knowing every card in your deck and planning your moves accordingly is crucial.
Manage your hand: You can only hold five cards at a time. Make sure to always keep the balance between attack, influence, move, block and special cards.
Know your unit: Understand the abilities of your chosen Mage Knight and make the most of them. Each Knight has unique abilities that can be leveraged to gain an advantage.

Beginner tips:

Start slow: Don’t rush into battles right away. Spend the first few rounds building your deck and gaining experience.
Use healing: Healing is an important part of the game. Don’t forget to heal your Mage Knight before engaging in difficult battles.
Experiment: Use your first few games to experiment with different strategies and learn the game mechanics.

Common mistakes to avoid:

Ignoring the scenario objectives: Each scenario in Mage Knight has a specific objective. Make sure to always keep this objective in mind and plan your actions accordingly.
Not managing your crystals: Crystals are a valuable resource in Mage Knight. Using them recklessly can put you at a disadvantage.
Forgetting to level up: Leveling up is crucial for gaining new abilities and increasing your power. Don’t forget to do this at every opportunity.

Ways to optimize gameplay:

Plan your turns: Try to plan your turns ahead of time. This will allow you to make the most of each round and keep you one step ahead of your opponents.
Use your units wisely: Units are a valuable resource in the game. Make sure to use them strategically and to their full potential.
Keep an eye on your opponents: Pay close attention to what your opponents are doing. This can give you an idea of their strategy and help you plan your moves accordingly.