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Malifaux (Second Edition)
- 2 players
- 90–120 min
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- 2013
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- BGG rating
- 6.1
Kings of Artifice
2013
Rules assistance for Kings of Artifice
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 60 min
- 13+
- Complexity 2.8/5
Rules assistant for Kings of Artifice
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Kings of Artifice is a board game released in 2013 for 2–4 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Jonny Pac, Redd Cohen, and David Hanold and its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement, and Grid Movement.
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About the game
Kings of Artifice is a strategy board game for 2 to 4 players. The game is played in a series of building rounds, followed by one final crowning round. Victory Points (VP) are awarded for building structures during the game as well as at the end. In each game, two special scoring cards are drawn from a deck that allow players to gain bonus points by meeting certain conditions. In the building rounds, the players summon their specialized characters onto the game board and employ them (using Action Points) to construct valuable structures such as Walls, Houses, Battlements, Towers, Palaces, Fountains, and Pastures. These are built from their supplies of colored building blocks. In addition to expanding their own kingdoms, the players can use their forces to hinder the progress of their rivals. In the crowning round, the players display their completed kingdoms and flaunt their power over the realm. The player with the most Victory Points at the end of the game is the winner! Character Classes: Kings summon the other characters to the board from the supply. Villagers are needed to build Houses (which can be converted into Towers and Palaces). Artisans are necessary to complete the building of advanced structures. Horses assist the other characters in their movements on the board. Thieves can climb on Walls, and can steal Action Points from their rivals. Knights can attack opponents' characters. Warlocks can use their Mana to cast spells (which are different in each game).
Designers
Publishers
- Wyrd Games
Questions and answers
Kings of Artifice supports 2–4 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 Kings of Artifice is 60 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 Kings of Artifice 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.
Kings of Artifice has a complexity rating of 2.8 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.
Kings of Artifice belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Territory Building, and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement, and Grid Movement. 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 Kings of Artifice are: Jonny Pac, Redd Cohen, and David Hanold. 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 Kings of Artifice 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.