Game: Kingdom Quest

Thread: Re: New artwork?

russ — 2008-10-29T05:51:38+00:00

Indeed, we were surprised, since there are other games from Dr. Wood (Kogworks, Enkounter) which have very clean elegant functional pieces. Besides the pretty but overly ornate and hard to distinguish art, Kingdom Quest also comes in a too-large box, with an empty margin (about a couple inches all around) of air around the board and cubes. We complained about that, and a representative agreed it's annoying when game boxes take up unnecessary space on your shelf, but said that most companies do this for marketing reasons, so buyers will feel they're getting more game for their money. "If most companies jump off a cliff, would you do that too?" I hope Dr. Wood games don't continue in this trend of pretty marketing over functionality.

The cube faces do have (small!!!) icons on them that are identical for all players to identify the six characters. Those icons need to be more prominent (if not the only thing on the cubes!)

On the plus side, the gameplay seems reasonably interesting, although cumbersome until you get to know the (mercifully unique) cube layout (as you are continually having to check what is on the other sides of cubes).

Thread: Re: New artwork?

Karlsen — 2008-10-29T03:36:00+00:00

It is not entirely obvious which one is the Queen and which one is the S Princess ]]>

Eeek and they are a different set of images for each player

Thematic? Maybe

Useful when playing? No.

Thread: New artwork?

melissa — 2008-10-29T01:55:01+00:00

Just back from Essen where I noticed that the box and cubes have 'fantasy' artwork rather than the photo-style pictures in the original edition.

Is this specific for the European market, or is it a general facelift for the game?

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hillep — 2008-10-29T00:04:43+00:00

Demo play at Essen '08

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onegodoneloveoneway — 2008-10-19T21:50:32+00:00

The Kingdom Quest board

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onegodoneloveoneway — 2008-10-19T20:57:01+00:00

Three game pieces showing the genie cube and each side of the kingdom cubes.

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BlackDragon1200 — 2008-05-07T07:50:47+00:00

Thread: Re: Answers to some questions

Karlsen — 2008-04-03T22:41:29+00:00

[q="RichardV"]
The best first stop is the summary rules which include the game end conditions:
http://www.kingdomq.com/kingdomq/pdf/kingdom_quest.pdf

They have changed their website, the rules are now here

Thread: Re: Question on Genie

madhujith — 2008-02-29T16:57:05+00:00

Hadn't checked this as I thought no one would respond, but you are a savior. I really thought of shucking out this game, but after your clarifications, I'm going to give it another try.

Thanks a lot.

Thread: Re: Availability?

Karlsen — 2008-02-27T10:41:58+00:00

Make sure you get the rules from the website too. The ones in the box have a slight omission. The end of the game conditions

Thread: Re: Availability?

White Stone — 2008-02-27T10:37:38+00:00

Hmmm. Gives some interesting suggestions for stores, but none of them seem to have it in stock at all. Guess I'll just have to try and order it via one of them.

Thanks for the link!

Thread: Re: Availability?

Karlsen — 2008-02-17T22:28:41+00:00

Have you tried here?

http://www.drwood.com/challengecenter/ourgames/kingdom-quest...

It has a list of authorised retailers and a store locator down the bottom of the page.

Thread: Availability?

White Stone — 2008-02-14T09:51:56+00:00

Hey all,

I've been looking around for this game for some time now. I saw a copy at the Games Expo last year in Birmingham, but I didn't buy it at the time. There didn't seem to be an option to actually try it out, and it was the first time I'd actually seen the game. Now that I know more about it, I would rather like to have a copy. However, the website has sofar turned up nothing (and is currently not working, it seems), and any other links I could find here didn't give me a buying option either.

So, any tips?

Thread: Re: Quickie review from one game

RichardV — 2008-02-10T23:25:16+00:00

Now confirmed from Frank Dyksterhuis:
If you use the power of the genie to make a match between adjacent blocks (kingdoms) that both belong to opponents, there is no capture.

Thread: Re: Question on Genie

RichardV — 2008-02-10T00:03:28+00:00

Answers (with reasonably high confidence) ;-)
1. You can move onto a vacant genie square.
2. The opponent cannot capture: you may only capture as a result of rolling and making a match directly, or by rolling and then activating the genie, or by bringing in a block and making a match.
3. Jesters affect all neighbouring Princes and Princesses.
4. No, Genie power is only activated by rolling up next to it.
5. Depends on your board position, but in principle each available move will throw up a new character. This means the choices could be up to 4 if you are able to move freely in each direction, but could be down to only 1 or zero if your movement options are severely restricted by the board edge and other blocks.

Thread: Answers to some questions

RichardV — 2008-02-09T23:55:12+00:00

These answers are from the designer Frank Dyksterhuis and from the official website.

The best first stop is the summary rules which include the game end conditions:
http://www.kingdomq.com/kingdomq/pdf/kingdom_quest.pdf

Here are some further clarifications:

1. Can you only capture after rolling? i.e. if you start your turn with a valid match (perhaps the opponent made two matches) you can not claim the capture.

ANS: Yes: you can only capture after rolling alongside an opponent's kingdom cube and creating a successful match. If you start your turn with a valid match (such as described by you) you do NOT claim a capture.
The exceptions are:
When a successful match is created by using the power of the genie (naturally you do not roll into this one); OR
By placing a fresh cube into your staring square such that a successful match is made with an adjacent opponent's cube (this does happen, so watch for it).

2. Can you only use the genie's power after rolling next to it? i.e. if you start next to the genie you can not use it's power.

ANS: Yes: you can only invoke the Genie's power after rolling next to it. If you start next to the genie, you can NOT use its power.

3. Can you use the genie's power even if you choose not to move the genie?

ANS: Yes, of course. Provided that you have rolled alongside the genie in that turn to invoke it's power.

4. Are you permitted to roll a Kingdom onto a vacant genie square? If yes, presumably the genie can not be moved to an occupied square?

ANS: YES and YES. It is a legitimate way of ensuring that the Genie cannot be placed in that specific Genie square.

Thread: Re: Quickie review from one game

RichardV — 2008-02-09T23:49:34+00:00

BlackDragon1200 wrote:
Having been taught to play this game by people who work for the Dr Wood Challenge Centre i will try to answer your rules questions.

Q. When does the game actually end?
A. When there are only 2 blocks left on the field.

Q. What happens if you cause a match between two opponent's pieces? (The Genie can do that.)
A. Actually he can't, you can only effect your blocks or blocks which your blocks are adjacent to.

Q. If you don't move the Genie, can you still use its special power?
A. Yes, you don't have to move the Genie to use it's ability.

Hope this helped.

Sorry but not too helpful!
Game end: Brian Stephens post is correct.

Genie: You can use the genie's power on your own or an opponent's block provided the block is adjacent to the genie. I am not sure what would happen if you made two opponent's blocks match, but I am guessing there would be no effect.
It is correct that you do not need to move the genie to a new space to be entitled to use its power, though of course you do need to have rolled a cube next to it to activate it.

Thread: Re: Quickie review from one game

Karlsen — 2008-01-24T10:07:37+00:00

Brian Stephens wrote:
From the makers of the game:

The player who captures most Kingdoms at the end of play: WINS!

2 players: Be the first player to acquire 4 Kingdoms (cubes) and WIN

3 players: Be the first player to acquire 5 Kingdoms (cubes) and WIN

4 players: Be the first player to acquire 6 Kingdoms (cubes) and WIN

Ah, now that would avoid some of the stalemate issues that were evident in the way we were taught it (as per my previous post by the makers of the game at Albury last year).

Although to be nit picky the first condition seems to contradict the rest of them slightly unless there is a definition of "end of play" including if all players get the same number of turns when "end of play" is triggered.

Thread: Re: Quickie review from one game

Brian Stephens — 2008-01-23T06:25:15+00:00

From the makers of the game:

The player who captures most Kingdoms at the end of play: WINS!

2 players: Be the first player to acquire 4 Kingdoms (cubes) and WIN

3 players: Be the first player to acquire 5 Kingdoms (cubes) and WIN

4 players: Be the first player to acquire 6 Kingdoms (cubes) and WIN

Thread: Re: Quickie review from one game

leece — 2007-12-25T09:53:44+00:00

I don't have the rules here, but I believe it's optional to use the genie power.

Thread: Re: Quickie review from one game

elscarta — 2007-12-25T08:23:22+00:00

Hi, just played the game and it was great. Just one question re rules: Can a piece roll onto a Genie square blocking it?

Thread: Re: Question on Genie

madhujith — 2007-12-06T16:19:43+00:00

More questions after 1st play.

1. What happens when 2 kingdoms(blue)one having prince (face up) and the other having princess face up are encountered by a Jester?Will it affect both the kingdoms?

---------Jester(Red)--Prince(Blue)----
--------Princess(Blue)------

2. If a genie is moved from the center to one of the other squares and stays there for the next turn, but there is a kingdom adjacent to it (it was lying there before as well, as the person chose to use the Genie's power on the opponents coin adjacent in the previous turn), can this adjacent kingdom use the power of Genie??

3. When we are moving, if I understand the rules, we have the choice of only 3 charecters that it can throw up (as we cannot change the orientation of the cubes(rotate on its axis) because if that happens except the bottom unexposed face all faces can be used?

Help please!!!!

Thread: Question on Genie

madhujith — 2007-12-06T11:00:43+00:00

Hi,

I got this game yesterday and thanks to the earlier postings that I got most of the rules clarified, but I was just wondering about a trivial point: can we move our cubes onto any of the spaces alloted for the Genie (lets say the Genie is at the center an there are 4 places where the Genie can go) so are we allowed to occupy any of these spaces?? also if we occupy and one of the opponent goes to the genie at the center, he cannot move the Genie to this space occupied by me right??

Also the other question is if I cause a 3 way fork, like I come in the middle of 3 opponent cubes (in a 4 player scenario) and I choose to take one of the cubes though there are more than one cube that I could hace taken

----------Green King-----------
Red King--Blue Queen-Yellow King

I'm playing Blue, I moved mine from a previous square to the current position and decide to take the Green King....Now in the next turn, let's say it is Red, he/She moves some other cube but because there is a match with my Blue King, can he take it??..

Thanks for your help,

Madhu

Thread: Determining who goes first

BlackDragon1200 — 2007-08-31T13:28:03+00:00

A little trick i developed to determine who goes first is to get each of the players to roll one of their cubes. Highest goes first and the sides are ranked as follows;

King -Highest
Queen
Knight
Prince
Princess
Jester - Lowest

Thread: Re: Quickie review from one game

Wezley — 2007-07-05T07:06:03+00:00

Yes! I have found that using the Queen and Jesters can give you the strategic upperhand.

I played a game last night and my friend wiped us all out with the power of the Genie.

So I am determined to master the strategy of that cunning character.

It's seriously mind-bendingly-addictive.

Thread: Re: Quickie review from one game

leece — 2007-06-17T12:00:23+00:00

We bought this yesterday on the strength of the look of the board, price and the fact that our FLGS let us read the rules - and furthermore let us have a Eurogamesfest discount even though we didn't have flyers!

We've had two three player games of this. I seriously need to practice this one to get any good, but unlike many pure strategy games I'm willing to do this.

It's extremely challenging, simple to play, and difficult to master.

It's very exciting. A bit like playing chess on six different boards at once.

My goodness the 4 player game must be...er...interesting.

A quite amusing moment was had when one of my jesters had one of Rob's princesses spellboud with a jester, until my mother took him out with a prince that eventually ambled up.

(Rob so stonged us in the first game that it was not-so-tacitly-agreed that it was dogpile on Rob the next game.)

Thread: Re: Quickie review from one game

BlackDragon1200 — 2007-06-13T12:08:09+00:00

Karlsen wrote:
BlackDragon1200 wrote:
Having been taught to play this game by people who work for the Dr Wood Challenge Centre i will try to answer your rules questions.

Q. When does the game actually end?

A. When there are only 2 blocks left on the field.

We were told by one of the official demo people at the Australian Games Expo that it ended when only one player had blocks left on the board.
Yeah, sorry, my mistake. I was going to go back and clarify but i have just had exams so i have been a little preoccupied. Anyhow, obviously if a player is the only one left with cubes the game ends as you can not capture your own cubes. The reason for my answer was i had a discussion in the back of my mind about what would happen if you only had 2 opposing cubes left on the board. Would it be possible to play on or would you declare the game over? We ended up deciding you would probably just declare it over but i guess that's technically just a house rule.

Thread: Re: Quickie review from one game

Karlsen — 2007-06-12T13:37:18+00:00

BlackDragon1200 wrote:
Having been taught to play this game by people who work for the Dr Wood Challenge Centre i will try to answer your rules questions.

Q. When does the game actually end?

A. When there are only 2 blocks left on the field.

We were told by one of the official demo people at the Australian Games Expo that it ended when only one player had blocks left on the board.

Thread: Re: Quickie review from one game

melissa — 2007-06-12T11:13:53+00:00

Krisjohn wrote:
Misc comments

The graphical design and overall producting is seriously cheesy. The King looks like Jean-Luc Picard. The Princess looks like a porn star with a tiara Photoshopped onto her.

Ha!

We call her the Slutty Princess.

Thread: Re: Question on rolling your cube

BlackDragon1200 — 2007-06-09T17:20:01+00:00

You are not allowed to rotate your cube before rolling it. When you move your cube the only way to choose which of the four chracters ends up on top is the direction you decide to roll it.

Thread: Question on rolling your cube

Sabavana — 2007-06-09T11:33:49+00:00

We bought this game today, and have so far only played it once. We struggled a bit through the rules (lots of repetition), and we found it didn't specify the action of rolling your cube quite enough. So, we want to know if you're allowed to spin your cube before you roll it. We thought not, because then it only leaves 2 characters who you cannot be next turn (the one you currently are and the one on the bottom), but the rules don't really say either way, so any clarification??? Help appreciated -- thanks.

Thread: Re: Quickie review from one game

BlackDragon1200 — 2007-06-02T08:37:17+00:00

Krisjohn wrote:
Thanks. One thing:

BlackDragon1200 wrote:
Q. What happens if you cause a match between two opponent's pieces? (The Genie can do that.)

A. Actually he can't, you can only effect your blocks or blocks which your blocks are adjacent to.

There's nothing in the rules that even vaguely implies this limitation. Are you sure?
Straight from the horses mouth (i ask the very same question myself). You can only cause a match involving one of your own blocks using the Genie.

Thread: Re: Quickie review from one game

Krisjohn — 2007-06-02T08:30:17+00:00

Thanks. One thing:

BlackDragon1200 wrote:
Q. What happens if you cause a match between two opponent's pieces? (The Genie can do that.)

A. Actually he can't, you can only effect your blocks or blocks which your blocks are adjacent to.

There's nothing in the rules that even vaguely implies this limitation. Are you sure?

Thread: Re: Quickie review from one game

BlackDragon1200 — 2007-06-02T08:13:27+00:00

Having been taught to play this game by people who work for the Dr Wood Challenge Centre i will try to answer your rules questions.

Q. When does the game actually end?

A. When there are only 2 blocks left on the field.

Q. What happens if you cause a match between two opponent's pieces? (The Genie can do that.)

A. Actually he can't, you can only effect your blocks or blocks which your blocks are adjacent to.

Q. If you don't move the Genie, can you still use its special power?

A. Yes, you don't have to move the Genie to use it's ability.

Hope this helped.

Thread: Quickie review from one game

Krisjohn — 2007-05-27T23:57:50+00:00

I wouldn't normally write a review after just one game, but there aren't any other reviews at this time, so I thought this might be useful.

Basic game

Kingdom Quest is a game for 2, 3 or 4 players. It's played on a 7x7 board with a basic square grid. There are nine special squares on the board; A starting square for each player and five "Genie" squares.

Starting configuration:
]]>

Most noticable is that the pieces are cubes. Each player has six, plus there's one Genie. All the pieces except the genie have a different character on each side; King, Queen, Prince, Princess, Knight, Jester.

The aim of the game is to capture other players' cubes, known as "Kingdoms", to form the largest "Empire". You capture other pieces by making a match; King/Queen, Prince/Princess or Queen/Knight. The Jester and the Genie behave a bit differently, and there are rules as to how the other five Kingdoms are added to the board. I won't go into full details or I'll basically be publishing the rules.

Anyway, the way you match the characters is related to how you move. You don't move by sliding the pieces, you move by rolling them. So, if we look at the picture above, if the red player wanted to move his piece towards the Genie it would roll in a way such that the Knight face would become the one on the top.

So, is it any good?

The game is seriously promising. Imagine four-player chess where to move any piece you cause it to become a different piece, based on how you move it. It kinda does your head in, but in a good way. I certainly felt like I wanted to play it a bunch of times to see the tactics emerge.

And having four players, rather than two, multiplies the complexity -- particularly as you're looking ahead to plan moves so that you can capture a piece without being captured by the time your turn comes around again.

However, the rules have some serious holes in them. When does the game actually end? Seriously, the person that's captured the most Kingdoms at the end of the game wins, but how does the game actually end? The rules don't say. What happens if you cause a match between two opponent's pieces? (The Genie can do that.) If you don't move the Genie, can you still use its special power? The rules aren't even written in a way that makes sense, gramatically, once you've played your second Kingdom; "the" when it should be "a", that sort of thing.

Misc comments

The graphical design and overall producting is seriously cheesy. The King looks like Jean-Luc Picard. The Princess looks like a porn star with a tiara Photoshopped onto her. The picture of the land on the board is obviously a bunch of satellite photos compositied together; the same city can be seen three or four times, there's a river that goes from nowhere to nowhere and there are a bunch of cruise ships at the ports. These are all forgivable, but no less tacky.

Closing summary

Kingdom Quest needs errata badly. (Say it like "Green Elf needs food badly".) There's a "coming soon" website at "kingdomq.com" that I'll certainly be checking out for updates. Meanwhile I'll probably write up a half-page or so of house rules to fill in the holes.

I got my copy for half price from a very FLGS. I wouldn't recommend anyone pick this up at full price, the quality just isn't there. However, as a game that I have it's not going to just be tossed onto the pile and forgotten. It looks like it could be a lot of fun.

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Krisjohn — 2007-05-26T10:14:35+00:00

Underside of box.

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Krisjohn — 2007-05-26T10:14:11+00:00

The playing pieces all nested in the box, top view.

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Krisjohn — 2007-05-26T10:13:39+00:00

Box lid art.

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Krisjohn — 2007-05-26T10:13:05+00:00

Box contents. Board, pieces, instructions.

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Krisjohn — 2007-05-26T10:12:26+00:00

Starting positions. The player's cubes do not have to be this way up, they may have any face at the top.

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Krisjohn — 2007-05-26T10:11:36+00:00

The underside of the board, fitted inside the box as a kind of second lid. Top view.