The Prodigals Club

2015 · Card Game

The Prodigals Club

Players take the roles of impecunious Victorian gentlemen competing to ruin their own reputations and fortunes. The game runs three concurrent contests: lose an election, divest oneself of possessions, and offend influential society members; players may play any two or all three at once. On each turn players take actions to manipulate votes, discard or give away assets, and provoke or alienate notable figures, with the contests interacting and requiring balance across strategies. The box contains a standalone rulebook and optional rules for integration with a related title.

Players
2–5 best 4
Playing time
40–100 min
Age
14+
Complexity
3.3 / 5
5.7 on Ludoyafrom $49.99EconomicWorker PlacementHand ManagementHighest-Lowest Scoring

About the game

Photos from Ludoya tables

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  • The Prodigals Club on the table, photo by neogeneration

Where to buy it

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On Ludoya's tables

Full stats in Ludoya
35
Plays logged
44
Players
1h 51m
Average play
18
In collections
9
On wishlists
1
Pre-ordered

5.7/10

from 11 Ludoya reviews

  • Garfield2.0

    After reading the rules and having a look at the components etc. I think this is not interesting. Too complicated for what it is. And just to lose points instead of gaining them is not something that is a game changer... Just too abstract with too many possibilities. Lack of theme. Verschenkt an Förscht

  • Taha Afyouni7.8

    One of the best and most modular Euro games I've played! Love how the three parts of the game interact together.

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Rules questions

Answered from the rulebook by Ludoya's rules assistant.

Do you deal the cards face up or face down?

Cards are dealt face up so players can see the icons; black‑bordered cards may be placed on top so all icons are visible, and some board spaces change which border they receive by round (see page 4).

How many black‑bordered cards can I have and how do their abilities work?

You may have up to six black‑bordered cards on your player board; place a new one on your board to play it and discard an existing one if you need room. The upper‑right ability is an action you may activate once per round by sliding the card, while the bottom half shows permanent triggers that can apply multiple times (page 5).

Do I have to discard down at the end of the round?

Yes — during the end of the round you must discard any white‑bordered cards you played and discard down to 4 cards in hand; also reset any black‑border cards you activated (pages 4 and 10).

If I take an errand that offers selling or exchanging possessions, do I have to use it?

If you take an errand that offers a chance to sell or exchange, you must sell or exchange at least one possession; note the borough indicator gives −1 on sales from that borough but does not affect exchanges, and exchanges that exceed a limit require you to take coins to make up the difference (pages 4 and 6).

How are megaphones counted in Hyde Park — do white cards count and can I add megaphones during Hyde Park?

Count all megaphones you earned that round from errands, cards, or the bonus tile; white‑bordered cards with megaphones must be left face up so their megaphones count, and you may not add more megaphones during the Hyde Park phase (pages 7–8).

How does Dame Beatrice apply if some influence markers are blocked from moving up?

All affected markers move up simultaneously; for each marker blocked from moving up you must move another marker up instead (you choose which), and if no markers can move up then Dame Beatrice has no effect; taking the Dame Beatrice errand makes you immune that round (page 9).

Opens Ludoya's rules assistant, which reads this game's rulebook.

Game facts (players, playing time, age, credits) from BoardGameGeek.