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- 2–6 players
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The King of All Bards
2019
Rules assistance for The King of All Bards
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–6 players
- 30–60 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.2/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for The King of All Bards
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
The King of All Bards is a board game released in 2019 for 3–6 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Nikola R. Petrov and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Take That.
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About the game
The King of All Bards is a game of epic songs and dirty tricks for 3 to 6 players designed by Nikola R. Petrov and illustrated by Atanas Lozanski. All your life you’ve chased the ultimate recognition a bard could receive – the Bard Crown. The money, the fame, they all mean nothing… Okay, they are pretty nice and the fastest way to prove your worth. The time has come! An epic sing-off in all the town’s pubs and taverns is your chance to get your hands on that sweet prize... and the title King of all Bards! Rehearse your best songs, prepare your nastiest tricks and get ready to smash the competition! It's showtime! In The King of All Bards, you play the role of one of the eight distinct characters competing in a grand challenge. Your goal is to become the richest and most famous musician by amassing loyal fans and a fat purse of tips. To achieve this you have a repertoire of Song cards, as well as some more… dubious cards called Tricks. Playing the right songs for the right audience is crucial to building up a fan base and earning their gold, but employing the right tricks at the right moment can sabotage an opponent's performance and give you the upper hand. Light up the stage! This is medieval showbiz! —description from the publisher
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Fantasmagoria
- Mirakulus
Questions and answers
The King of All Bards supports 3–6 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 The King of All Bards is 30–60 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 The King of All Bards for ages 10 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.
The King of All Bards has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
The King of All Bards belongs to these categories: Humor, Music, and Medieval. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Take That. 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 The King of All Bards are: Nikola R. Petrov. 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 The King of All Bards 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.