2014 · Political

Ortus Regni

Players take the role of rival earls in a late Anglo-Saxon–style Dark Age, vying to expand their fiefs, recruit vassals, and shape regional power ahead of foreign incursions. Before play, each player assembles an Earl Deck from a common card pool, choosing between archetypes—Lord, Army, Politics, Emissary—or custom hybrids; that deck is the primary strategic decision each game. Gameplay resolves through playing cards to develop lands, field forces, and pursue political maneuvers while contesting opponents and reacting tactically to unexpected threats. Victory depends on deck composition, timing, and in-game adaptation rather than random deckbuilding during play.

groupPlayers

2

schedulePlaying time

20–50 min

cakeAge

14+

psychologyComplexity

3.2 / 5