Game: King's Blood

Thread: Re: In the sky... it's a bird! It's a plane! It's SUPER UNO!

Sprydle — 2008-03-05T02:27:26+00:00

badweasel wrote:

I feel that almost all SJ games are in the "try before you buy" category.

Definitely! I was able to pick this up during the $0.01 sale at Boulder Games--it's worth at least twice what I paid for it! Actually it's not terrible and it is a decent step up from Uno.

Thread: Re: In the sky... it's a bird! It's a plane! It's SUPER UNO!

badweasel — 2008-02-26T23:17:57+00:00

mojo shivers wrote:
I bought it before trying it out. Like all of my card games with flimsy boxes, I like to buy sleeves for it since I thought I'd be playing it multiple times. Instead of getting the penny sleeves, I bought the tournament ready sleeves. That came out close to the $23-$25 range with tax.

I feel that almost all SJ games are in the "try before you buy" category. As most of the time, I may enjoy the concept but the game isn't very good.

Thread: Re: In the sky... it's a bird! It's a plane! It's SUPER UNO!

mojo shivers — 2008-02-26T23:16:13+00:00

I bought it before trying it out. Like all of my card games with flimsy boxes, I like to buy sleeves for it since I thought I'd be playing it multiple times. Instead of getting the penny sleeves, I bought the tournament ready sleeves. That came out close to the $23-$25 range with tax.

Thread: Re: In the sky... it's a bird! It's a plane! It's SUPER UNO!

badweasel — 2008-02-26T23:08:29+00:00

mojo shivers wrote:
It's the worst game I've played in the last six months. It doesn't even offer much above UNO. Plus, I spent almost $25 for the game and sleeving so I felt really gypped.

How is it you paid $25 for the game? That seems way too high and I would not be happy if I had paid that much for this game.

It isn't the best game I have played, but it is far from the worst. If it didn't cost so much, I would defintely pick it up for a light filler game if it was in the $6-8 range.

Thread: Re: In the sky... it's a bird! It's a plane! It's SUPER UNO!

mojo shivers — 2008-02-26T22:55:22+00:00

It's the worst game I've played in the last six months. It doesn't even offer much above UNO. Plus, I spent almost $25 for the game and sleeving so I felt really gypped.

Thread: In the sky... it's a bird! It's a plane! It's SUPER UNO!

badweasel — 2008-02-26T19:55:09+00:00

Introduction:
This was played as the second game of Casey and my exploration of the unplayed demo games. I was not too excited to try this one out as its a Steve Jackson Game and I am not usually a fan of their games. It also features anime/manga style artwork which is generally a negative for me.

Components:
The game consists entirely of a deck of cards. The cards are very well made and should stand up to repeated plays. All relevant numbers are very visible and easily seen while playing. I would have rather the game be packed in a stacked arrangement instead of the two split decks, but other than that I have no complaints against the quality of components.

Rules:
The game is advanced Uno. If you can play Uno, you should have no problem picking up the game. Thematically you are adding individuals to the genealogy of the royalty, but this is over a framework that isn't much different from basic Uno. You win the game by getting rid of all of your cards first.

A turn consists of either playing a card or drawing a card. Playing a card consists of either playing an action that allows you to modify the genealogy that is in play or playing a character card. The character cards can be played next to any active character in play (at least two can be up to several more) where it matches either the same color or of the same number. Wow, not much different than Uno. If you get down to one card, you need to declare "King's Blood " or else draw 3 cards. Some of the characters have the typical Uno modifiers of Draw 3, Skip, and Reverse which function exactly the same as they do in Uno.

The main difference is that if you play a character of the same color but opposite gender next to an active character already in play, a marriage is created. Once a marriage is created the top card of the deck is flipped over, if it is an action it is immediately played if its a character it is played overlapping the parents. The player may then play a card that acts on the new child card. If they hold several cards in their hand that have the same number, all of these cards may be played on the turn. It is possible to keep creating new marriages and comboing to produce more children and dump more cards.

Thoughts:
The game is not much different than Uno but it does provide a slightly more complex game that I would definitely play again. It plays very fast and is definitely filler, but it is rather fun and fills its role very nicely. However, the game is $17 MSRP which is absurd for a game that is not much more complex than a $3 game.

6/10

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amwhyman630 — 2007-06-15T14:53:51+00:00

Thread: Re: Bad rules editor! No Biscuit

beri — 2007-06-13T11:32:48+00:00

Playing multiple siblings is one of the things you can do as your free action after a birth. That's why it doesn't mention twins - playing another card of the same number next to the child is already a legal move. So if you take advantage of the situation to produce multiple siblings, you don't get to do anything else with the children.

Thread: Re: Bad rules editor! No Biscuit

Halcyonhyde — 2007-03-26T01:50:07+00:00

Agreed. I think the game is a lot of fun, but we've already had many questions and squabbles about the technicalities of the game. A poorly written instruction manual can destroy a perfectly decent game.

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Pableras — 2006-11-12T17:55:17+00:00

Thread: Re: Bad rules editor! No Biscuit

capnq — 2006-10-12T19:20:20+00:00

carpejugulum wrote:
After a marriage can you play bonus siblings and still take your free action?This is the only one of these questions that I needed to reread the rules to answer. All of the other questions seem to have perfectly straightforward answers in the rules as written. The rules seem quite well done to me; I don't know how I'd rewrite them to make them any clearer.

Then again, I'm something of a "rules lawyer". Having started gaming with some of Avalon Hill's most baroque rulebooks probably caused that.

Thread: Re: Bad rules editor! No Biscuit

Padawan — 2006-09-07T19:18:34+00:00

You don't mean...The Bobby Rule! [insert dramatic music]

Thread: Re: Bad rules editor! No Biscuit

carpejugulum — 2006-09-07T15:29:19+00:00

Padawan wrote:
What, you don't like to constantly define and redefine rules throughout the game?

I firmly ascribe to the Bobby Doctrine: You're only allowed to redefine the rules once and it has to be at a critical juncture in the game.

Thread: Re: Bad rules editor! No Biscuit

Padawan — 2006-09-05T19:43:39+00:00

What, you don't like to constantly define and redefine rules throughout the game?

Thread: Bad rules editor! No Biscuit

carpejugulum — 2006-09-04T23:01:39+00:00

Have played this game a couple times and it seems like a decent game. I have to say though that whoever wrote the rule book needs to reassigned to another vocation at Steve Jackson Games.

Both times I've played folks had different interpretations of the rules from previous plays. Some of the miscellaneous topics that have come up inadequately explained:

- Playing same color same gender cards next to an active card. This is addressed in a one-line sentence early in the rules but have seen several players misinterpret to mean only marriage cards are legal.

- Bonus siblings. The rules weakly say you need two cards thus creating triplets at a minimum. Again not defined well and have seen people play with single bonus siblings (twins).

- After a marriage can you play bonus siblings and still take your free action? Not defined. If yes, can you play on any of the siblings or only the child you flipped? Not defined. In both cases the rules are grouped together also leading to more confusion.

- Does a Skip/Reverse/Draw3 take effect if it's the first card flipped? What if you Enthrone an effect card or Assassinate the sole character card resulting in an effect card being flipped? Not addressed.

BTW, I'm not looking for answers to these questions, I've gone out and found them already. Just venting on a poorly written rule book.

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Lobo — 2006-08-07T21:24:46+00:00

Box

Thread: King's Blood - Review

Thrylos — 2006-08-05T12:28:30+00:00

King's Blood
Steve Jackson Games

Players : 2 - 6
Ages : 9 and above
Rules : Lot of examples, but you need to pay attention to the details.
Time to explain the rules : 15 minutes
Time to play the game : 30 minutes
Components : 90 cards with beautiful anime characters and names. Excellent Components!
Price : Low (Low Medium 50$)

It is card game that "marriages" UNO with Solitaire. Cards depict male and female characters of four families. Players advance the Genealogy of the Royal Family by playing cards next to other cards (like Solitaire) and whoever empties his hand first wins the game (like UNO). You can make Marriages, have kids, assassinate and exile characters. It has all the intrigue of a royal family. At the same time certain characters can generate effects that can affect your opponents (like Draw 3 cards, change order of play, etc). It is a rather nice and quick game. There is a lot of fun playing the different characters with all these fabulous pictures and names. The game appeals to both genders! Highly recommended game. Kids can pick up the game rather easily and enjoy playing it over and over again. But be prepared to explain why Steve Jackson is indicating in a couple of cards that it is a male character with a female picture and vice-versa!

Thread: Genealogical Uno = 5 of 10

rak5632 — 2006-05-27T08:53:10+00:00

The line of kings needs to be mapped out. Track the kingdom's bloodline as it progresses through the generations.

To Win: Get rid of all your cards and use one of two scoring methods to track the game over several hands.

Skinny:
Basically the game is similar to uno except cards are not played into a stack. To start a card representing the leading monarch is turned faceup. Each character card has three attributes: color which represents personal philosophy, number, and gender. On your turn, you may play a character card onto another active card (uncovered card at either end of a row) by matching color or number and placing it beside the active card you chose to play on. If it is the same color and the OPPOSITE gender, it forms a marriage and a card is flipped from the stack and placed between the two cards and slightly down forming a new generation. You may now play a bonus card to this newborn. If you have several cards that match the newborn's number, you may play them all. However, if you choose to play a single card instead and it forms a marriage, another child is born and you get another bonus turn.

Complications:
There are three complications which may help/hinder you. First, some character cards have dialogue boxes with special abilities. When you end your turn, if the last card played has one, it takes effect. The powers are draw 3, skip and reverse (standard Uno type definitions). However, if you are subject to a draw 3 and have a legal play that has a special power, you can play it immediately. If you played a Draw 3, the next player must Draw 6. If a skip is played, you skip the next player and the player after must Draw 3. If you reverse, the previous player must Draw 3.

Second, there are event cards mixed with the character cards which may be played instead of a character card. You may NOT go out on one of these cards.

EXILE - Put any active card into any players hand
ASSASSINATION - Kill any active card and play another card
NEW CONNECTION - Attach active card to any other active card (does not have to match color or number)
ENTHRONEMENT - New bloodline has emerged. Place this card under an active card and all other cards are discarded. Only the current bloodline needs to be recorded I guess.

Third, you must call King's Blood (Uno) when you are down to one card or face a 3 card draw.

Presentation: I love manga and anime so the artwork on the cards is right up my alley. I also like reading the names and titles they have devised (although I believe there is at least one legitimate printing error as far as genders go). The cards are of decent quality although I would rather have a colored border instead of white to disguise dirt.

Strengths: It is simple and since everyone knows the rules to Uno, it is easy to teach. Events are explained on the cards well so the concept of marriage and active cards are the biggest hurdles to overcome. Because of this reason, replayability is also high.

Fun Factor: I like it a lot but I like the artwork and the concept of forming a genealogy. I have not had anybody say they did not like it since it is quick and usually people are game for more than one round. However, I think lunchtime at the workplace would be ripe for the point keeping aspect. When it comes out at game gatherings, we usually just play one round to go out.

Content: I am going to start commenting on this in my reviews so possible objectionable material or age specific things can be addressed. This game has the concept of assassination and such as well as several scantily clad female characters (although nothing compared to most anime stuff). References to "demons" and "harems" in the titles of characters. Also, probably close to half of the people I have played with don't like saying King's Blood (I substitute Uno -- what else)

Closing Thoughts: Although I take it a lot, I would probably pay 5 bucks at most for the game (I only payed s/h). My rating is therefore a 5 out of 10.

Thread: Re: Sibling Question

rak5632 — 2006-05-27T08:00:35+00:00

After repeated playings of the game, I think that you can either play siblings or another card.

Reasons:

- siblings are powerful. this technique allows you to play several cards at a time each of which is an equivalent to a marriage. Thus three cards is the equivalent to three marriages.

- the bonus to forming a marriage is to have the "opportunity" to play on the child card. this new play does not have to form a marriage. you may play a single card or an event card under the rules of play. this card may be a twin! (a card with a matching number) However, you may not play another after playing this card. It would end your turn. Therefore, although there is a slight ambiguity in the rules, you see that there would be no logical reason to be able to make an extra play on top of triplets, etc. when you can't do it with a twin.

- it is inferred under special abilities that playing multiple offspring ends the turn when it says that when they are born, only the last special ability card is in effect. it does not say, is in effect IF no other card is played to the newborn.

- no other play allows you to "box in" an active card

- I think the only reason for confusion is the statement which says you must play to one side. This leaves a space open on the other side which players believe can be played upon. I believe they make a person playing sibs to this so they A) can't dictate all the colors available and B) so it preserves birth order. The newborn is the first child with other sibs coming in succession until the last one which you evaluate for special abilities.

Since the bonus is to play on the newborn after a marriage has taken place, I think that since you have made a play not resulting in another marriage you cannot go back and play another card on the newborn this same turn.

Thread: Re: Solitare Variation

SteveP — 2006-04-21T20:44:36+00:00

THANKS so much!!!!!

Thread: Re: Solitare Variation

laiernie — 2006-04-21T17:48:33+00:00

it's here:
http://www.sjgames.com/kingsblood/solrule.html

it shows up if you search for king's blood on the sjgames site, but it's not linked from the king's blood main page for some reason.

Thread: Re: Avoiding Draw 3

TheLongshot — 2006-04-21T03:00:29+00:00

kimbo wrote:
If I play a SKIP card, who's turn is skipped? According to the example in the rules, my turn would be skipped and Player C would now be subject to the Draw penalty. But if my turn is being skipped, then I must have played the SKIP card on Player's A turn in response to his play of the DRAW 3 card... If I play the SKIP card on my turn, then Player C's turn should be skipped. (But I can't play the SKIP on my turn unless I've first paid the DRAW 3 penalty...)

I think you misread the rules. If you play the Skip, the next player is skipped, and the player after that gets the Draw 3. The example isn't that clear, because of the combination of the player names, and the card names.

Why is this important? Only because game play should be consistent. The rules do not make clear that avoidence cards are played as part of the previous player's turn.

No, as soon as they play the Special Abilities card, it is the next player's turn. To have it take effect, the SA card needs to be the last one the player played, so the previous player's turn is over.

Jason

Thread: Avoiding Draw 3

kimbo — 2006-04-20T22:46:11+00:00

I think I understand how to avoid a Draw 3 card, but I'm looking for consistency in how the game of King's Blood is played.

Assume a four player game (Player A, Me, Player C and Player D) Player A playes a DRAW 3 card. It's now my turn. I can avoid (pass on) the penalty by playing a REVERSE, SKIP or another DRAW 3 card.

If I play a SKIP card, who's turn is skipped? According to the example in the rules, my turn would be skipped and Player C would now be subject to the Draw penalty. But if my turn is being skipped, then I must have played the SKIP card on Player's A turn in response to his play of the DRAW 3 card... If I play the SKIP card on my turn, then Player C's turn should be skipped. (But I can't play the SKIP on my turn unless I've first paid the DRAW 3 penalty...)

Okay, it's important to understand when the avoidance card is played. Because now if instead of a SKIP card I play a REVERSE card in response to Player A's DRAW 3 card, play would reverse and now it would be Player D's turn (since play would reverse from Player A, since, technically, we are still resolving his turn).

Why is this important? Only because game play should be consistent. The rules do not make clear that avoidence cards are played as part of the previous player's turn.

All of the above may seem obvious, but I had to sit down and think it through before arriving at the above conclusions. The rules are brief and cover most situations, but some areas of the rules are vague.

Writing this up has helped me figure out how I think the game should be played. As I said, I'm looking for consistency in card play.

Thanks for your time. Comments are welcome.

Thread: Solitare Variation

SteveP — 2006-04-18T19:35:24+00:00

The King's Blood rulebook mentions to go to www.sjgames.com/kingsblood/ to read about the solitare variation of King's Blood. It's NOT there!

So, does anyone out there know of this solitare variation?

Thread: Re: Sibling Question

SteveP — 2006-04-18T19:32:55+00:00

Interesting question. I've encountered the same dilemna.

Only Steve Jackson Games can clarify this for sure, but my interpretation is:

You have to resolve all actions with the current child. If you form a new marriage, the current child changes, so you can't play siblings on the previous generation.

However, you can play siblings on the current child, then on the other side of the current child, if the spot is active, you can form a marriage. Or, after dropping siblings, instead of forming a marriage with the original child, you can play an event card.

Just my interpretation.

Thread: Re: Sibling Question

kimbo — 2006-04-16T05:25:27+00:00

One thing isn't clear to me reading the rules: does the King's Blood card get used in the regular game, or just in the advanced game? There is no description of the card other than just in the advanced rules.
The King's Blood card does NOT get used in the regular game. The set-up instructions say to remove the King's Blood card from the deck.

Thread: Re: Sibling Question

TheLongshot — 2006-04-16T02:24:57+00:00

kimbo wrote:
My question: Can I do both of these things? In other words, if I play one or more siblings, may I still play a card on the original child?

I interpet it that as soon as you play the child card, you can play siblings. After that, you can play your additional card.

Secondary question: If I can play a card after playing siblings, can I play the card only on the original child or can I play the card on a sibling card?

Since it says "on the child" in the rules, I would assume just on the original child.

One thing isn't clear to me reading the rules: does the King's Blood card get used in the regular game, or just in the advanced game? There is no description of the card other than just in the advanced rules.

Jason

Thread: Re: Sibling Question

Mr_Kim — 2006-04-16T02:08:12+00:00

(no relation to the above poster )

That's the way I intepret the rules as well, otherwise it seems like "too much" and unbalanced.

Thread: Re: Sibling Question

kimbo — 2006-04-12T13:26:50+00:00

It makes sense to me that playing siblings ends your turn... It's the "cleanest" interpretation of the rules. But the two actions are written as separate paragraphs in the rules with no clear indication if the actions are an AND or OR situation.

Thread: Re: Sibling Question

LuXo — 2006-04-12T08:44:32+00:00

A friend of mine explained to me that: when you make a marriage, a son appears and then you can make another marriage or add a new sibling (the end of your turn). So the only way to get rid of your hand in a turn is making marriages and marriages, and siblings end your turn But that what he explained to me, i dont know if he understood the instructions correctly.

Thread: Sibling Question

kimbo — 2006-04-12T04:37:07+00:00

I form a marriage. According to the English rules two things can now happen... 1) I can play another card on the child. 2)Additional siblings may be placed next to the child.

My question: Can I do both of these things? In other words, if I play one or more siblings, may I still play a card on the original child?

Secondary question: If I can play a card after playing siblings, can I play the card only on the original child or can I play the card on a sibling card?

Thanks in advance.

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LuXo — 2006-04-07T13:06:39+00:00

A game with friends.

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LuXo — 2006-04-07T11:54:58+00:00

Playing the game (1st person)

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LuXo — 2006-04-07T11:52:48+00:00

Some weddings

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LuXo — 2006-04-07T05:27:32+00:00

Some cards... (2)

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LuXo — 2006-04-07T04:10:25+00:00

Some cards...

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LuXo — 2006-04-06T23:44:19+00:00

USA Box and cards

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whwtan — 2006-01-11T21:00:07+00:00

A couple of cards from the game...