2011 · Wargame

Fief

Players portray noble families vying for military, economic and political dominance in a fictional medieval kingdom. The map shows villages linked by roads, each belonging to regional fiefs and bishoprics; lords, castles and troops start in villages and move along roads, with troops only able to travel under a lord’s command. Play proceeds in rounds of card draws, income, purchases and movement. Character and event cards introduce new lords and disruptive effects, players buy troops and buildings, and contested villages trigger battles until one side retreats or is eliminated. Diplomacy and marriage alliances matter: private negotiations are limited by a set number of embassy tokens. Titles (fiefs, king, pope) confer benefits and victory points; the first player to reach the required points, or an allied pair meeting the threshold, wins.

Players: 3–6 best 6
Playing time: 120 min
Age: 12+
Complexity: 3.7 / 5