Gamehelploveletter
Theme
In the wake of the arrest of Queen Marianna for high treason, none was more heartbroken than her daughter, Princess Annette. Suitors throughout the City-State of Tempest sought to ease Annette's sorrow by courting her to bring some joy into her life.
You are one of these suitors, trying to get your love letter to the princess. Unfortunately, she has locked herself in the palace, so you must rely on intermediaries to carry your message.
During the game, you hold one secret card in your hand. This is who currently carries your message of love for the princess.
Make sure that the person closest to the princess holds your love letter at the end of the day, so it reaches her first!
Setup
- One of the 16 playing cards is removed at the beginning of each round and the others are shuffled.
- Every player is dealt one card.
- The remaining cards form a pile in the centre of the table.
Game play
- Players take turns drawing one card (making two cards in hand) and discarding one card (returning to one card in hand).
- When a player discards a card, its effect is applied.
| Value | β | Name | Simplified effect description | Full effect description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 1 | Princess Annette | Discard = out! | If you discard the Princess β no matter how or why β she has tossed your letter into the fire. You are knocked out of the round. |
| 7 | 1 | Countess Wilhelmina | Must discard with King or Prince in hand | Unlike other cards which take effect when discarded, the text on the Countess applies while she is in your hand. In fact, she has no effect when you discard her. If you ever have the Countess and either the King or Prince in your hand, you must discard the Countess. You do not have to reveal the other card in your hand. Of course, you can also discard the Countess even if you do not have a royal family member in your hand. She likes to play mind games. |
| 6 | 1 | King Arnaud IV | Swap hands | When you discard King Arnaud IV, trade the card in your hand with the card held by another player of your choice. You cannot trade with a player who is out of the round, nor with someone protected by the Handmaid. If all other players still in the round are protected by the Handmaid, this card does nothing. |
| 5 | 2 | Prince Arnaud | A player must discard | When you discard Prince Arnaud, choose one player still in the round (including yourself). That player discards their hand (do not apply its effect, unless it's Princess Annette) and draws a new card. If the deck is empty, that player draws the card that was removed at the start of the round. If all other players are protected by the Handmaid, you must choose yourself. |
| 4 | 2 | Handmaid Susannah | May not be targeted | When you discard the Handmaid, you are immune to the effects of other playersβ cards until the start of your next turn. |
| 3 | 2 | Baron Talus | Compare -> lower = out | When discarded, choose one other player still in the round. You and that player secretly compare your hands. The player with the lower rank is knocked out of the round. In case of a tie, nothing happens. If all other players still in the round are protected by the Handmaid, this card does nothing. |
| 2 | 2 | Priest Tomas | Look at one | When you discard the Priest, you can look at one other playerβs hand. DO NOT reveal the hand to all players. |
| 1 | 5 | Guard Odette | Guess value -> out | When you discard the Guard, choose a player and name a card value (other than 1). If that player has a card with that value, that player is knocked out of the round. If all other players still in the round are protected by the Handmaid, this card does nothing. |
| Value | β | Name | Simplified effect description | Full effect description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | Bishop Vinizio | Guess value -> +1β | A "super-guard" who makes you score 1 β when you guess the character of an opponent. If the guess is correct, the targeted player can choose whether to keep or discard the card. The bishop loses to the princess at the end of the round. |
| 7 | 1 | Dowager Queen Tummia | Compare -> higher = out | Acts as a Baron, but the highest card is eliminated instead of the lowest. |
| 6 | 1 | Constable Viktor | Out -> +1β | If this card is in your discard pile then this gives you 1 β if you are knocked out of the round. |
| 5 | 2 | Count Guntram | +1 value @round end | Add +1 to your card value at the end of the round. |
| 4 | 2 | Sycophant Morris | Choose target | Lets you decide who will be the target of the next card played. |
| 3 | 2 | Baroness Fiona | Look at two | Allows you to see TWO hands. |
| 2 | 2 | Cardinal Vesper | Swap two hands + look at one | Exchanges the hands of 2 players. You may see one of the hands. |
| 1 | +3 | Guard Odette | Guess value -> out | When you discard the Guard, choose a player and name a card value (other than 1). If that player has a card with that value, that player is knocked out of the round. If all other players still in the round are protected by the Handmaid, this card does nothing. |
| 0 | 1 | Jester Darius | Guess winner -> +1β | Allows you to guess who will win the round and score 1 β if this is the case. |
| 0 | 1 | Assassin | Guard = out | Kills your opponent if they use a guard against you. |
Round End
- No cards in the deck or
- One player remains.
- The player holding the Princess or card with the highest value earns 1 β token.
Tiebreak
- Sum of the value of each player's discarded cards.
- If a tie remains, nobody gets a β token.
Game end
| β Players | β β tokens |
|---|---|
| 2* | 7 |
| 3 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 |
| 5-8 | 4 |
*Currently unavailable on BGA
