FOR ROYAL - Game Design 1: Card Game
- Jamie LaRose
- Sep 27, 2020
- 2 min read
For Royal is a fun card game to play for 2-4 players using a standard 52 card deck. There are four courts in a constant battle, and it's time for some head to head combat of strategy, infantry, and protection of the royalty. In each of the four kingdoms, there has always been what is seemingly equal distribution of resources. However, there is a point at which that comes to be challenged by the strategic use of these resources in order to combat any foes during wartime. The challenge ahead is to set up your base, defenses, and leaders without losing too much protection before any opponent. Each court has its powerful Knight, an ace in the hole.
Each player will set up their own fortress of guards for their 3 royalty, players can choose one of the 4 available courts. The Jack has guards of the 2, 3, and 4 rankings. The Queen takes 5, 6, and 7. And in these kingdoms, the King takes the guards of 8, 9, and 10 ranks. Each court (hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs) has a special ability, their noble Knight. This Knight can swiftly disrupt a winning defense strategy, or give a bonus opportunity to pull ahead and keep your castle and court safe for this battle. The Knight becomes active after serving on the battlefield for one round. The Knight can attack any guard card, and hold them in a grapple until the end of the player's next turn who attacked with the Knight. At that point, the guard can return to their fortress (the hand of the opposition).
Once a member of the royalty has their starting guard, they activate and the guard is safe from any attacks other than that of the Knight. A Jack can attack any odd-numbered unprotected guard card when activated (remove a card from the opponent's battlefield and put back into the player's hand). A Queen can attack any even-numbered unprotected guard card when activated, and a King can attack any guard that is unprotected.
You must become the first court to build up your fortress which would mean you need to have all of your royalty activated! Below you'll see what it looks like when the fortress of hearts has won the game.
Here is a file to download a .pdf to view the For Royal rule sheet:
Below you will find a video of a playthrough for 2 players. Enjoy!
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