- BGG rank
- BGG #16,512
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Expedition Luxor
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #18,995
- BGG rating
- 7.1
King's Ransom
2013
Rules assistance for King's Ransom
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 15 min
- 13+
- Complexity 1.6/5
Rules assistant for King's Ransom
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
King's Ransom is a board game released in 2013 for 2 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Frank Zazanis and its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence, Tile Placement, and Grid Movement.
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About the game
Byzantium circa 600 CE Take part in the explosive energy and corruption of holy Byzantium as described in the scandalous book “The Secret History” by Procopius. Struggle to seize the throne,as you join the tale of royal intrigue, deceit and conflict. Your chess tiles may be turned face down or moved through the court which is a six by three square area. Bluffing, and even luck lay before you as you reveal, move, capture, and place your tiles. King’s Ransom is a 2-player strategy game pitting royal rivals against each other. Assemble your noblemen, strike from your secret chamber,then move through court to checkmate your opponent’s king. Light chess variant with luck, a prince, hidden tiles and bluffing.Using the basic mechanics of chess, there’s an additional layer of strategy due to each tile entering play hidden from the opposing player’s view. If you can set traps and lure your opponent into making mistakes, you might be able to snatch their King and ransom him for control of the kingdom! Turn Order: - Flip a face-down tile so it is face up - Move a face-up tile - Announce check, if applicable - Place a new tile face down - Draw a tile from your chamber. Game Components: 40 Tiles
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Victory Point Games
- Playford Games
Questions and answers
King's Ransom supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for King's Ransom is 15 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 King's Ransom 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.
King's Ransom has a complexity rating of 1.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a 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.
King's Ransom belongs to these categories: Card Game, Abstract Strategy, and Ancient. 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 King's Ransom are: Frank Zazanis. 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 King's Ransom 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.