Tournament at Camelot (2017) Board Game

Tournament at Camelot is a card game released in 2017 by Origames. Designed by Karen Boginski, Jody Boginski-Barbessi, and Kenneth C. Shannon, III, the game is set in the legendary world of Camelot. Players take on the roles of knights competing in a tournament to prove their worthiness. The game features stunning artwork by Jody Boginski-Barbessi and offers a unique gameplay experience combining elements of trick-taking and variable player powers.

Game Components of Tournament at Camelot

Characters: 8 protagonists with special abilities and their associated companions.

Health Cards: Double-sided cards to track health from 400 to 0 points in 5-point increments.

Weapons Deck: 80 cards including 60 standard cards (numbered 1-15 in four suits: swords, arrows, sorcery, and deception), 15 alchemy cards, and 5 Merlin and Sorcerer’s Apprentice cards.

Godsend Deck: 24 cards providing special powers and catch-up mechanics.

Large Tarot-Sized Cards: Easy to read and beautifully crafted with medieval artwork.

How To Setup Tournament at Camelot

To set up the game, each player chooses a protagonist and their companion, starting with 400 health points. The protagonist card is placed over the companion, covering all text except the health threshold. The Godsend deck and the Weapons deck are shuffled. Each player is dealt 12 cards from the Weapons deck, and the remaining cards are set aside as the draw deck. The player to the left of the dealer starts the first melee.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Trick-Taking: Players take turns playing cards into the center of the table, following the lead suit if possible. Alchemy cards can substitute for any suit.

Melee Resolution: The player who played the lowest ranking card loses the melee and takes the cards, suffering injuries.

Health Tracking: Players lose health points based on the cards they collect. Merlin and Sorcerer’s Apprentice cards inflict extra damage.

Godsend Phase: Players with the lowest health receive Godsend cards, which provide special powers.

Companion Abilities: Activated when a player’s health falls below a certain threshold.

Game End: The game ends when one player’s health reaches zero. The player with the most remaining health wins.

Player Experience

Tournament at Camelot offers a engaging and chaotic experience, especially with the inclusion of special character abilities and Godsend cards. The game is easy to learn but has enough complexity to keep players interested. The large, beautifully crafted cards and medieval artwork add to the theme and player enjoyment. It’s a great game for groups, as it encourages interaction and strategic play.

Pros

Easy to Learn: Simple trick-taking mechanics with added complexity from special abilities.

High Replayability: Different characters and Godsend cards offer varying gameplay experiences.

Catch-Up Mechanics: Godsend cards and companion abilities help players recover from setbacks.

Beautiful Artwork: Large, tarot-sized cards with stunning medieval artwork.

Engaging Group Play: Encourages player interaction and strategic thinking.

Cons

Game Length: Can sometimes feel overly long and drag on.

Luck Element: Drawing bad hands can be frustrating despite catch-up mechanics.

Personal Thoughts on Tournament at Camelot

Tournament at Camelot is perfect for fans of trick-taking games looking for a fresh twist. It’s ideal for groups of 3-6 players and is suitable for those aged 14 and up. The game’s blend of strategy, special abilities, and catch-up mechanics makes it appealing to both casual and experienced gamers. However, serious strategists might find the luck element and potential for long game sessions a bit frustrating. Overall, it’s a fun and engaging game that brings a new level of excitement to the traditional trick-taking genre.

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