2013 · Novel-based

A Study in Emerald

Players assume secret allegiances in a late-19th-century setting where monstrous Old Ones rule and a clandestine resistance seeks to overturn them. Gameplay centers on deck-building and area control: players bid influence to draft cards, deploy agents, and seize cities while manipulating war and revolution tracks. Each player scores according to their hidden faction—Restorationists aim to undermine the hegemony, Loyalists work to preserve it—and the collective performance of each side affects who can win. Rounds end when specific triggers occur, then sides compare scores to determine the losing faction and the individual victor among the winners. The game runs about ninety minutes and favors experienced players.

groupPlayers

2–5 best 5

schedulePlaying time

90 min

cakeAge

13+

psychologyComplexity

3.5 / 5