Shadows over Camelot (2005) Board Game

Shadows over Camelot is a cooperative board game designed by Bruno Cathala and Serge Laget. It was released in 2005 by Days of Wonder. The game is set in the legendary realm of Camelot, where players take on the roles of the Knights of the Round Table, working together to defend the kingdom against various threats.

Game Components of Shadows over Camelot

20-page Rules Booklet

16-page Book of Quests

1 Main Camelot/Round Table gameboard

3 additional double-sided Quests (The Holy Grail, Excalibur, and Lancelot/The Dragon)

7 Coat of Arms (one per Knight)

7 standard dice (one for each Knight) and 1 special 8-sided die for the Siege Engines

30 Miniatures (7 Knights, 3 Relics, 12 Siege Engines, 4 Saxons and 4 Picts)

16 black/white Swords of the Round Table

168 cards (84 white, 76 black and 8 Loyal/Traitor cards).

How To Setup Shadows over Camelot

To set up Shadows over Camelot, players start by placing the main gameboard and the additional quest boards. Each player selects a Knight and receives their Coat of Arms and a set of cards. The game includes a variety of quests such as wars against the Picts and Saxons, a tournament against the Black Knight, and quests for the Holy Grail, Excalibur, and Lancelot’s Armor. Players also draw loyalty cards to determine if there is a traitor among them. The game is ready to start once all components are distributed and the initial quest conditions are set.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Mechanics

Progression of Evil: Each player’s turn begins with the progression of evil, where they must decrease their health, add a siege engine to those attacking Camelot, or draw a black card that complicates the quests.

Heroic Action: After the progression of evil, players take a heroic action, which can include moving to or returning from a quest location, advancing a quest, playing a special white card, discarding cards to gain health, or accusing another player of being a traitor.

Quest Completion: Quests are completed by playing specific sets of cards. Success adds white swords to the Round Table, while failure adds black swords.

Game Objective

The objective is to fill the Round Table with twelve swords, with more white swords indicating a win for the players. If there are more black swords or if the game ends prematurely due to all knights dying or Camelot being surrounded by siege engines, the players lose.

Player Experience

Playing Shadows over Camelot is a rollercoaster of panic and strategy. Each turn brings new challenges as the game’s evil mechanics advance, and players must work together to complete quests while navigating the paranoia of potentially having a traitor among them. The game requires coordination and strategic thinking to manage the multiple quests and threats simultaneously. Accusing another player of being a traitor can be a high-stakes move, as incorrect accusations can harm the team’s chances of winning.

Pros

Engaging Theme: The game’s Arthurian theme and varied quests keep players engaged and immersed.

High Replayability: The presence of a potential traitor and random card draws ensure each game is unique.

Cooperative Challenge: The game demands teamwork and strategic planning to succeed.

Simple yet Deep Mechanics: The game’s rules are relatively straightforward, but the gameplay offers depth and complexity.

Cons

Predictable Traitor Mechanics: At higher player counts, it can be easy to deduce who the traitor is, reducing the game’s suspense.

Luck-Dependent: The outcome can be heavily influenced by the cards drawn, which may feel less strategic and more based on luck.

Repetitive at Lower Player Counts: With fewer players, the game can become less exciting and more predictable.

Personal Thoughts on Shadows over Camelot

Shadows over Camelot is ideal for those who enjoy cooperative games with a twist of social deduction. It is best suited for groups of 5 players, as this balance provides the most challenging and engaging experience. While it may not hold up as strongly against newer semi-cooperative games in terms of complexity and strategic depth, its theme and core mechanics still offer a fun and challenging experience for fans of cooperative gameplay and Arthurian lore.

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