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Excalibur (1989) Board Game

ByMichail

Excalibur is a board game that was released in 1989 by Lancelot Games. It is a fighting and medieval wargame that can be played by 2 to 6 players. The game designers included Chris Courtiour, Richard Milner, Julian Musgrave, Dieter Schmidt, and Jamie Walker. The artwork for the game was done by Aubrey Beardsley, Hubert de Lartigue, Ed Dovey, Frank Gerwin, and Jürgen Pirner.

Game Components of Excalibur

  • Game board representing a fertile valley in Arthurian Britain
  • Knight of the Round Table counters (e.g., Sir Gawaine, Sir Lionel)
  • Knights and men-at-arms tokens
  • Manor tiles, each comprising a village, strip fields, pasture, or forest
  • Roads and milestones for movement
  • Churches and stone circles
  • Dice for combat resolution
  • Player counters and order sheets

    How To Setup Excalibur

    To set up Excalibur, each player selects a counter set, including a Knight of the Round Table, one knight, and two men-at-arms. Players choose a road to enter the board, ideally as far from each other as possible. Each player takes a piece of paper to write orders for their troops. The game starts with the autumn season, and players move their troops into the first manor they encounter.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Game Mechanics:**
    – Resource management: Maintaining a retinue and managing the feudal economy.
    – Combat: Resolving battles using dice rolls.
    – Movement: Troops move along roads and capture manors.

  • Game Objective:**
    – The winner is the player who holds more than half of the manors on the board by the end of any campaigning season (spring, summer, or autumn). In a two-player game, the player must hold over three quarters of the manors.

    Player Experience

    Excalibur offers a complex and strategic gameplay experience, focusing on both combat and resource management. Players must balance the need to expand their territory with the necessity of maintaining their retinue and managing the resources of their manors. The game requires careful planning and strategic decision-making, making it appealing to fans of medieval strategy and wargames.

    Pros

  • Deep Strategy:** Combines combat, resource management, and territorial expansion.
  • Historical Theme:** Immerses players in the feudal economy and warfare of Arthurian Britain.
  • Replayability:** Multiple campaigns and variable setup ensure high replay value.
  • Awards:** Won Best Strategy Game in Germany upon publication.

    Cons

  • Complexity:** The game has intricate rules, especially in combat and resource management.
  • Time-Consuming:** Games can be lengthy, with some combat scenarios taking significant time to resolve.
  • Learning Curve:** Requires a substantial amount of time to learn and master the game mechanics.

    Personal Thoughts on Excalibur

    Excalibur is tailored for seasoned gamers who enjoy complex strategy and historical themes. It is ideal for those who appreciate a deep, immersive gaming experience that requires careful planning and execution. While it may not be the best fit for casual gamers due to its complexity, Excalibur remains a gem for enthusiasts of medieval strategy and wargames.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl

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