"Feudal" box cover image |
|
| Players | 2-6 |
|---|---|
| Setup time | 1-5 minutes |
| Playing time | 20 minutes |
| Random chance | Concealed setup |
| Skill(s) required | Strategy |
Feudal is a chess-like board wargame originally published by 3M Company in 1967 as part of its bookshelf game series. It was kept in print by Avalon Hill after they purchased 3M's game division, until Avalon Hill was in turn bought by Hasbro. The object of the game is to either occupy one's opponent's castle or to capture all of one's opponent's royalty. There are six sets of pieces in three shades each of blue and brown. Each set consists of thirteen figures, which are limited not only in their method of movement but also their range of attack, and a stationary castle piece. The play area consists of four plastic peg boards depicting empty, rough, and mountainous terrain.
Contents |
The game takes place in the Middle Ages, where two fictional feudal kingdoms — one led by Ethelred the Great, the other by Aelfric the Barbaric — vied for control of territory which lay between their borders. The feud had lasted generations but on this day both kings had come to the conclusion that the only way to settle the dispute was to conquer their rival's kingdom. To this end, both kingdoms prepared to invade the enemy and to defend against a counter-invasion. It is at this point that gameplay begins.
Feudal is won by either capturing your opponent's castle or slaying all of his royalty (i.e. King, Prince, and Duke). Each of the six armies contains a castlepiece, one each of the royalty, one Squire, one Archer, two Knights, two Sergeants, and four Pikemen. The castlepiece has two parts, the castle and the castle green (entrance), each of which takes up one board space. To capture the castle, a figure must first be moved onto the green and wait one turn before moving into the castle proper. A player may defend his/her castle by placing a figure (except the archer or squire) inside.
In a two-player game, one player takes a blue army and the other takes a brown army. The players toss a coin; the winner of the toss moves first and the loser of the toss may select two adjoining quadrants of the board on which to set up his forces. A divider screen is placed across the board and both players set up their pieces in secret. Once both players are ready the screen is removed and play begins. A player may move any number of pieces during his/her turn but he/she must move at least one.
In team play a captain is chosen for both the blue and brown armies. The captain selects an army complete with castle and royalty; his teammate(s) select another army of the same color but do not receive a castle or royalty. Instead, the captain grants his/her teammate(s) his prince and/or duke to "lead" their forces. If there is an odd number of players, the captain of the short team gains the use of an additional army (minus castle and royalty) so that each side remains even. Gameplay otherwise resembles a two-player game.
Rather than a team format, four players may each select their own army and take a single quadrant of the board for their own. This game plays as a free-for-all. However, unlike two-player or team play, the only way to eliminate an opponent is by capturing their castle. When a player's castle is captured, it is removed from the board along with any remaining royalty. Additionally, any of the player's remaining pieces fall under the command of the conquering player on his/her next turn.
King: The King may move 1 or 2 spaces in any direction (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally).
Mounted Units: Includes the Prince, Duke, and Knights. Mounted units may move any number of spaces in any direction but may not move through rough terrain.
Sergeant: The sergeants may move up to 12 spaces diagonally or 1 space horizontally or vertically.
Pikemen: Pikemen may move up to 12 spaces vertically or horizontally or 1 space diagonally.
Squire: The squire moves 1 space horizontally or vertically followed by 1 space diagonally. It may move through either vacant or occupied spaces.
Archer: The archer moves or "shoots" up to 3 spaces. If it shoots an enemy the enemy is removed but the archer need not move into the enemy's space.
The board is made up of four square panels, each comprising 12 x 12 movement spaces. The mountains and rough terrain are scattered throughout the board space. The separability of the four panels allows a variety of board layouts, as each may be freely turned to change the landscape of the board.
|
|||||