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- 6.6
Upon a Fable: New Kingdoms
- 1–8 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,544
- BGG rating
- 6.2
Upon a Fable
2013
Rules assistance for Upon a Fable
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–6 players
- 60 min
- 13+
- Complexity 2.4/5
Rules assistant for Upon a Fable
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Upon a Fable is a board game released in 2013 for 1–6 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Mark C. MacKinnon and its main mechanics are Set Collection, Modular Board, and Open Drafting.
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About the game
From the publisher: "Once upon a time the myriad fairy tale lands were in their infancy. Grand rulers both benevolent and malicious sought to expand their holdings of magical realms, attracting the powerful and influential Fables - royal overseers, natural leaders, and enchanted creatures - to unite under their banners. As their domains expanded so too did the stories of the Fables' amazing exploits and adventures, which blessed the realms with the bountiful Wonders of magic, love, honour, loyal followers, and majestic castles. All the rulers saw their fortunes and glory rise, but only the greatest of them all would be declared the High Emperor or Empress over all the fairy tale lands. In Upon a Fable, players assume the roles of grand rulers in the fairy tale lands and start the game with one Small Realm overseen by a loyal Fable subject. During the nine game rounds, all rulers seek to expand their fortunes through a variety of methods, including: adding more Small Realms to gain the support of more Fables (granting additional game actions each round); expanding the size and influence of their Realms, from Small to Large to Epic; playing Ever After cards that influence the flow of the game; and gathering the valuable Wonders. At the end of the game, the player with the highest point total is the winner and declared High Emperor or Empress."
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Dyskami Publishing Company
Questions and answers
Upon a Fable supports 1–6 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 Upon a Fable 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 Upon a Fable 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.
Upon a Fable has a complexity rating of 2.4 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.
Upon a Fable belongs to these categories: Territory Building and Abstract Strategy. Its main mechanics are Set Collection, Modular Board, and Open Drafting. 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 Upon a Fable are: Mark C. MacKinnon. 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 Upon a Fable 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.