- BGG rating
- 7.4
Council of Blackthorn: Council Member Expansion Pack
- 2–6 players
- 45–90 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,685
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Council of Blackthorn
2016
Rules assistance for Council of Blackthorn
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 45–90 min
- 13+
- Complexity 2.3/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Council of Blackthorn
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Council of Blackthorn is a board game released in 2016 for 2–6 players, 45–90 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Jay Meyer and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Roll / Spin and Move.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 9.0
Council of Blackthorn: Casting Doubt
- 2–6 players
- 45–90 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2019
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,588
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Lucky's Misadventures: Episode 42 – Lost in Oddtopia
- 2–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,317
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Warhammer Underworlds: Shadespire
- 2 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #627
- BGG rating
- 7.4
BattleLore
- 2 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2006
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,883
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Path of Light and Shadow
- 2–4 players
- 60–120 min
- Complexity 3.1/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,630
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Tiny Epic Game of Thrones
- 1–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,629
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Dead Man's Doubloons
- 2–6 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,321
- BGG rating
- 6.7
BioShock Infinite: The Siege of Columbia
- 2–4 players
- 60–90 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,585
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Warhammer Underworlds: Nightvault
- 2 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,193
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Dragoon
- 2–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2016
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,827
- BGG rating
- 6.9
The Ming Voyages
- 1–2 players
- 30 min
- Complexity 2.5/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,174
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Taverns & Dragons
- 1–5 players
- 40–60 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 2023
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,711
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Valor & Villainy: Minions of Mordak
- 2–6 players
- 90–150 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2020
About the game
Story The King of Blackthorn rose to power on the strength of his sword, gaining the devotion of the people as he forged a nation and purged the ravages of war. Once a much needed beacon of strength for a foundling kingdom, he has now grown old and is no longer a vital part of a now robust and powerful country. Others have risen to prominence and power within his council. Adept in their machinations and plots, the councilors have their own self serving ambitions. In a shadowy battle of subterfuge they ruthlessly vie against one another for true control of Blackthorn. In this dance of treachery, each must seize as much power as able without drawing suspicion for whispers of treason echo through the halls of the King of Blackthorn. Whispers from fellow councilors designed to implicate and see the competition shortened by a head. The King will call for the axe for any he deems a traitor and there is always the risk that he is not as ignorant of the schemes as he seems. As a member of the Council of Blackthorn, you must build influence with the kingdom’s factions to expand your political influence. Rumors, bribes, spies and poison are the tools of your trade. Council of Blackthorn is about secretly gaining power while convincing your rival council members that you are not a threat. Deflect all eyes onto your most powerful enemy and take the keys to the kingdom as well as a great seat at his or her execution. Attract too much attention to yourself and the King’s axe will find you! Gain influence, accuse your rivals, keep your head! Game Overview and Objective Council of Blackthorn is a board game for 2 to 6 players. Each player assumes the role of a member of the Council of Blackthorn. There are several different council member characters to play. Each player must build influence with the kingdom’s political factions by playing ally and building cards. Custom dice change the game conditions for each round. As players gain influence and power, they also gain hidden treason points. The players that appear to have the most power will typically gain more treason points. The player with the most treason points at the end of the game is beheaded for treason and is removed from the game. The remaining player with the most total influence points, wins the game.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Great Northern Games
Questions and answers
Council of Blackthorn supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Council of Blackthorn is 45–90 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Council of Blackthorn for ages 13 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Council of Blackthorn has a complexity rating of 2.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Council of Blackthorn belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Dice. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Roll / Spin and Move. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Council of Blackthorn are: Jay Meyer. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Council of Blackthorn as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.