Kingsport Festival: The Card Game (2017) Board Game

Kingsport Festival: The Card Game is a spin-off of the popular Kingsport Festival board game, which is based on the works of H.P. Lovecraft. The card game version was released in 2017 and designed by Gianluca Santopietro. It is set in the eerie town of Kingsport, where players take on the role of cultists trying to summon ancient cosmic entities.

Game Components of Kingsport Festival: The Card Game

Cards: Tarot-sized cards featuring Elder Gods, each with abilities and cult points.

Domain Dice: Custom dice with symbols such as flames, skulls, and tentacles.

Investigators: 14 different investigator cards, each with an ongoing ability and raid mechanics.

Rulebook: Full-color and glossy, packed with thematic examples.

Box: Sturdy, standard size, though larger than necessary[5%.

How To Setup Kingsport Festival: The Card Game

To set up the game, each player starts with a random resource. The investigator deck is shuffled, and one investigator is randomly chosen for the game. Each player begins with a basic set of cards and resources. The game consists of nine rounds, during which players will use the Domain dice to acquire resources and summon Elder Gods.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Count: 3-5 players.

Playing Time: 30 minutes.

Age Rating: 13 and up.

Mechanics: Dice rolling, hand management, resource management.

Objective: Players take on the roles of cultists aiming to summon the most powerful Elder Gods while maintaining their sanity and fending off investigators. The player with the most cult points, earned through the Elder God cards, wins the game.

Player Experience

In **Kingsport Festival: The Card Game**, players experience a blend of strategic resource management and tactical decision-making. The game is light and simple to teach but contains enough depth for strategy. Players must balance acquiring powerful cards with maintaining their sanity and defending against investigator raids. The game’s horror theme and Lovecraftian elements add a unique twist, making it more engaging for fans of the genre.

Pros

Thematic Presentation: The game oozes theme with dark and brooding graphics, fitting perfectly with the Lovecraftian horror setting.

Replayability: The inclusion of 14 different investigators adds significant replayability, as each game can be different.

Strategic Depth: The game offers a good mix of randomness and tactical decision-making.

Resource Management: Players enjoy a tight, dice-driven hand management system that is engaging yet manageable.

Cons

Random Elements: Decision-making can sometimes feel more about responding to random elements than developing long-term plans.

Sanity Mechanic: Some players feel the sanity mechanic does not add enough tension.

Investigator Threat: Investigators may not be a significant enough threat to the players’ progress.

Personal Thoughts on Kingsport Festival: The Card Game

**Kingsport Festival: The Card Game** is ideal for fans of Lovecraftian horror and those who enjoy resource management and hand management games. It offers a unique twist by placing players in the role of villainous cultists, which sets it apart from other games in the genre. While it may not be perfect for everyone, especially those seeking more complex long-term strategies, it is a solid choice for a quick, horror-themed game with a good balance of randomness and tactical decision-making.

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