Objective of the Game
Löwenherz is a strategic board game where players assume the roles of medieval rulers expanding their territories and surpassing rivals. The primary goal is to establish the largest and most powerful kingdom by skillfully placing knights, castles, and challenging other players.
Game Components
- A hexagonal game board representing a landscape
- 56 boundary pieces for marking territories
- 36 castles, 12 of each player color (red, blue, yellow)
- 60 knight tokens, 20 in each player color
- 60 coins
- 5 terrain cards for territory control
- Event cards
- Action cards
- A start player marker
Setup
- Place the game board in the center of the table.
- Each player selects a color and receives the corresponding castles, knights, and coins.
- Shuffle and place the boundary markers and terrain tiles face down.
- Place the event cards within reach of all players.
- Each player draws 3 action cards to their hand.
- The player who last saw a royal crown receives the start player marker.
Gameplay
The game is played over several rounds, each comprising a series of phases:
-
Action Card Phase: Each player simultaneously plays an action card face down, revealing them at the same time. Action order is then determined.
-
Further Actions: In this phase, players perform their chosen actions:
- Expand Territory: Place knights or castles to expand your control.
- Place Boundary Pieces: These are used to mark off territory limits.
-
Play Event Cards: Certain events may influence the game in this and following rounds.
-
Income Phase: Players generate income from their controlled territories in the form of coins.
-
Event Phase: A new action card is revealed, and the described event occurs.
-
Round End: Players draw new action cards to maintain three in their hands.
End of the Game
The game ends when a specific event occurs, or there are no more pieces to place. Players then tally victory points based on controlled territories and other factors.
Strategic Considerations
- Timing and Tactics: The sequence and choice of actions are crucial for victory. Act swiftly to expand your kingdom.
- Resource Management: Ensure stable income to have more options during the game.
- Opponent Interaction: Be ready for other players' moves and strategically block their expansions if needed.
Löwenherz is a deep and strategically demanding game, requiring players to plan, adapt, and accurately gauge competitive situations.
