King of the Dice (2017) Board Game

King of the Dice is a card and dice game designed by Nils Nilsson and published by HABA in in 2017. The game is set in a fantasy world where players compete to become the ruler by collecting the most valuable treasures.

Game Components of King of the Dice

6 wooden dice

65 vibrantly designed game cards (15 village cards, 10 penalty cards, and 40 citizen cards)

1 set of instructions.

How To Setup King of the Dice

To set up the game, players arrange the citizen cards in a drafting row, with each location colored to match specific types of citizens. Village cards and penalty cards are placed within reach. Each player starts with no citizens but aims to recruit them by rolling the dice. The game is ready when all cards are in their respective places and the dice are distributed.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Rolling: Players roll six dice to match colors, sums, or pips with the citizen cards.

Citizen Recruitment: Matching the dice results to the requirements on the citizen cards allows players to recruit those citizens, earning points and potential special abilities.

Color Combinations: Dice faces include colors, allowing players to opt for color combinations to recruit citizens.

Special Abilities: Some citizens grant special abilities like extra turns, rerolls, or the ability to penalize other players with dragons.

Game Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most points by recruiting valuable citizens and utilizing their special abilities effectively.

Player Experience

Playing **King of the Dice** is a straightforward and family-friendly experience. The game is simple enough for children to understand but includes enough strategy to keep adults engaged. The addition of special abilities and the risk of recruiting village idiots or dragons adds a layer of excitement and unpredictability. However, the game’s rudimentary nature might not captivate experienced gamers, especially younger ones familiar with more complex games.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple rules make it accessible to a wide age range.

Family-Friendly: Suitable for 2-5 players and lasts around 30 minutes.

Colorful Artwork: Vibrantly designed game cards enhance the playing experience.

Interactive Elements: Special abilities and dragon cards add a fun and interactive layer.

Cons

Limited Complexity: The game may be too simple for experienced gamers.

Luck-Dependent: Success heavily relies on dice rolls and luck of the draw.

Potential for Hurt Feelings: Penalizing other players with dragons could lead to negative emotions in younger players.

Personal Thoughts on King of the Dice

**King of the Dice** is ideally suited for families with young children or for those looking for a light, casual gaming experience. While it doesn’t offer deep strategy or complexity, it serves well as a gateway game to introduce children to the world of board games. For more experienced gamers, it might not provide enough challenge or engagement, but it remains a fun and quick game to play with family members of all ages.

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