Cover Your Kingdom (2019) Board Game

Cover Your Kingdom is a fantasy-themed card game designed by David Bock and Apryl Stott, and published by Grandpa Beck’s Games in in 2019. The game is a spin-off of the popular Cover Your Assets card game, but with a fantasy twist. It is designed for 2 to 8 players and has a playtime of 25 to 40 minutes, making it a great choice for a quick and fun game night.

Game Components of Cover Your Kingdom

Cards: 150 cards, including creature cards, wild creatures, and special action cards.

Kingdom Mats: Each player has a kingdom mat featuring two regions: the Mountains and the Valley.

Creature Types: 10 kinds of magical creatures, such as Uniquehorns, Peglegasus, Pigxies, and LepreCon Men, along with flexible creatures like Pigxies and Hentaurs.

How To Setup Cover Your Kingdom

To set up the game, each player receives a kingdom mat and a starting hand of six cards. The remaining cards are placed in a draw pile. Players begin by forming clans of creatures in their designated regions on the kingdom mat. Creatures can only be recruited into their specific region, except for flexible creatures like Pigxies and Hentaurs, which can be placed in either region.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Players: 2-8 players can play, with ages 9+ recommended.

Game Objective: The goal is to recruit clans of magical creatures to your kingdom to accumulate the most magic. The player with the most magic at the end of the game is declared the Most Noble and Supreme Majesty of Magical Might.

Recruiting Creatures: Players recruit creatures by matching cards or using wild creatures to form or steal clans from other players. Challenges are resolved in a back-and-forth manner until one player wins.

Special Abilities: Special creatures have powerful abilities, such as swapping clans, moving clans, or removing them from the game.

End of Game: The game ends when all cards are used, and players sum up the magical value of their creatures to determine the winner.

Player Experience

Cover Your Kingdom offers a highly competitive and strategic gameplay experience. It builds upon the mechanics of Cover Your Assets but introduces more complexity and decision-making with the addition of two regions to defend and more card types. Players must strategically place creatures and use special abilities to outmaneuver their opponents. The game is known for its cutthroat nature and the comedic relief provided by its quirky fantasy creature theme.

Pros

Increased Strategy: More decision-making and strategic depth compared to Cover Your Assets.

Higher Player Count: Supports 2-8 players, making it versatile for different group sizes.

Engaging Theme: The fantasy creature theme adds a layer of humor and fun to the game.

Balanced Mechanics: Carefully balanced to avoid analysis paralysis and maintain a fast pace of play.

Cons

Highly Competitive: Can be very cutthroat, which may not appeal to all players.

Luck Factor: While reduced, there is still some reliance on luck, especially in drawing the right cards.

Personal Thoughts on Cover Your Kingdom

Cover Your Kingdom is ideal for those who enjoy strategic card games with a dash of humor and competitive spirit. It is particularly suited for players who liked Cover Your Assets but are looking for a game with more depth and complexity. The game’s ability to accommodate a wide range of players and its easy-to-learn mechanics make it a great addition to any game collection. However, it may not be the best fit for players seeking a more relaxed or cooperative gaming experience.

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