Legacy: The Testament of Duke de Crecy (2013) Board Game

Legacy: The Testament of Duke de Crecy is a board game that was released in 2013 by Portal Games. Designed by Michiel Justin Elliott Hendriks, the game is set in the Age of Reason and revolves around players managing a noble family and their lineage. The game combines elements of card collection, economic strategy, and hand management to create a unique gaming experience.

Game Components of Legacy: The Testament of Duke de Crecy

Main board

Player boards

Action Pawns

Generation 1, 2, and 3 Title cards

Generation 1, 2, and 3 Contribution cards

Friend cards (a 75-card deck)

Patron cards

Mission cards

Family member cards

Mansion and title tokens

Prestige, income, and honor point trackers

How To Setup Legacy: The Testament of Duke de Crecy

To set up the game, place the main board in the middle of the table. Arrange three face-up Generation 1 Title cards to the left and three face-up Generation 1 Contribution cards to the right of the main board. Place the corresponding Generation 2 and 3 cards in piles next to their Generation 1 counterparts. Shuffle the Friend card deck and draw five face-up Friend cards, placing them in the indentations on the main board. Each player receives a player board and two Action Pawns.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players use two Action Pawns (plus potential additional actions) to select from ten possible actions on the main and player boards.

Engine-Building: Players build their family tree over three generations, managing marriages, titles, and connections.

Mission System: Players can undertake missions by discarding a Friend card and drawing Mission cards, or unlocking missions on their Patron card in later generations.

Objective: The goal is to create the most influential family by fulfilling hints and achieving various accomplishments such as securing titles, building mansions, and arranging advantageous marriages.

Player Experience

Playing **Legacy: The Testament of Duke de Crecy** is a challenging yet engaging experience. Players must manage their limited actions carefully to fulfill hints and build their family’s legacy. The game requires strategic thinking, especially in managing “known” family members and timing the placement of family members to gain specific benefits. In the multiplayer version, players compete to create the most influential family, while the solo variant involves researching a family tree to prove connections to a wealthy deceased person.

Pros

Strategic Depth: The game demands careful planning and strategic decision-making.

Family Dynamics: It offers a unique focus on building and managing a family tree over generations.

Replayability: The variety of Friend cards, Mission cards, and other components ensures high replayability.

Thematic Immersion: The game is highly thematic, immersing players in the world of 18th-century French aristocracy.

Cons

Complex Rules: The mission system, particularly in the final generation, can be somewhat clunky and complex.

Space Requirements: The game takes up a significant amount of table space due to the various components and boards.

Steep Learning Curve: New players may find the game mechanics and setup process overwhelming.

Personal Thoughts on Legacy: The Testament of Duke de Crecy

**Legacy: The Testament of Duke de Crecy** is ideal for fans of strategic, engine-building games who enjoy deep thematic immersion. It is particularly suited for players who appreciate games with complex mechanics and are willing to invest time in learning and mastering the rules. The game is not for casual gamers or those who prefer quick, simple gameplay. Instead, it caters to enthusiasts who relish in the challenge of building a lasting legacy over multiple generations.

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