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- BGG rating
- 7.6
Unhappy King Charles!
- 2 players
- 240 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 2008
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,546
- BGG rating
- 8.1
Unhappy King Charles (second edition)
2024
Rules assistance for Unhappy King Charles (second edition)
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–2 players
- 240 min
- 14+
- Complexity 3.2/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Unhappy King Charles (second edition)
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Unhappy King Charles (second edition) is a board game released in 2024 for 1–2 players, 240 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Charles Vasey and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Point to Point Movement, and Solo / Solitaire Game.
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About the game
The year is 1642 and England is torn apart by a civil war between King Charles I and his supporters, the Royalists, and the Parliamentarians. In Unhappy King Charles, a two-player card-driven game, you must choose your side and fight for the control of England’s regions and economic centres. You will use cards to play historic events, recruit troops, influence politics, raid enemies, and activate your generals – including King Charles and Oliver Cromwell – to move, battle and siege fortresses on the map. Unhappy King Charles is highly acclaimed for the way in which it captures the unique aspects of the English Civil War: the high rate of desertions, the difficulties of controlling regional troops, and the growing strength of the Parliament forces over the course of the conflict. The new PHALANX edition is more than just a reprint. It features: new artwork that will immerse you in the war between the Parliamentarians and the Royalists. Standees for Generals and Local Notables that will make it easier to read the board. Basic markers provided in the box if you prefer those. A new approach to presenting a point-to-point map, and control of areas and fortresses. Individual General cards and faction cards that will allow you to easily reference each General’s level, army size capacity, and special rules. Tracks for monitoring control of key regions and economic infrastructures, and ongoing sieges. You will have to balance your resources and your military actions to achieve your objectives. —description from publisher
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- PHALANX
Questions and answers
Unhappy King Charles (second edition) supports 1–2 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 Unhappy King Charles (second edition) is 240 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 Unhappy King Charles (second edition) for ages 14 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.
Unhappy King Charles (second edition) has a complexity rating of 3.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Unhappy King Charles (second edition) belongs to these categories: Wargame, Civil War, and Pike and Shot. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Point to Point Movement, and Solo / Solitaire Game. 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 Unhappy King Charles (second edition) are: Charles Vasey. 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 Unhappy King Charles (second edition) 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.