The King is Dead sees players try and get behind the winner.

That might include hoping for a draw and looking over The Channel.

The King is dead. The kingdom is divided. Three factions, the Scottish, the Welsh, and the English vie for control and, across the sea, foreign invaders prepare to take advantage of the chaos. Players must marshal their limited resources to influence this power struggle, while ensuring that the faction that rises to dominate the realm favors them above all other claimants to the throne.

The King is Dead Second Edition Game Play

TL: DR Players play actions to manipulate which nation controls which region while collecting followers to try and have the most followers in the nation that controls the most regions.

Theme

There was (and still is) a power struggle here with the French (possibly still) waiting to see if they can swoop in and take it all.

Setup

Not too much to set up. There is an expansion or something in the second edition that needs sorting out if you’re playing without it.

Components & Artwork

Standard euro stuff components wise and the art is OK.

The graphic design used on the cards is really good and explains them very well.

Ease of Teaching

This is a very simple game to play and score. There are very few rules and everyone has the same cards so you can help people if they get stuck.

The King is Dead Second Edition Summary

It initially reminded me of Royals as you’re playing cards to influence (a part of) Europe. Also, 6 days before this I played El Grande for the first game in a while and THAT is how a card-driven area control game is done.

But this game is a nice lighter variation.

Only having 8 cards makes choices really difficult. The big power moves early on mean they’re gone for the game and the board will change a lot after you play them.

In fact, the more I think about it the more I feel that cards need to be played later, I don’t see much advantage in going heavy early in the game. You get follower cubes but they’re off the board and can’t be used to compete for control later.

I’m sure if you’re more intelligent than me you can work out how to go early and get end games results. But for me, it’s just a game of patience.

Jesta ThaRogue