Stats:
No. of players: 2-4
Amount of time to play: 30-60 min
Age requirements: 12+
Set-up time: minimal

Fealty Rules Description:

Fealty is an abstract strategy, area control game with a puzzle-like feel to it. You and your fellow players are possible heirs to the throne. You win if you can exert the most influence in all the land.

You start Fealty by setting up the board. There are small double-sided boards that represent a Duchy. You use one more of these than you the number of players you have.

Each player also has a deck of cards they shuffle. Each card represents one of the nine pieces you may place on the board. You draw a hand of three cards and secretly choose which you’d like to place on the board. After eight pieces have been placed you exert their influence.

Once all players choose which piece they want to place, they all simultaneously reveal their cards. Lower numbered pieces are place first.

There are two restrictions on piece placement. First you cannot place on a Duchy that has already been played on this turn. Second you cannot place in a row or column that already contains one of your pieces.

Some pieces have special abilities you can activate if you like. Mostly they move other pieces or add conflict markers to the board. Conflict markers block influence.

After all eight pieces have been placed you place influence on the board. Each piece has a different range of influence. Lower numbered pieces place influence first but have a smaller range. Some pieces can only influence a specific terrain type. If you and your opponent both have the same numbered piece equidistant from a space you can both influence no one gets to add their influence. Mountains, other players pieces and their influence block your influence.

After all influence is placed you total your influence on the board. If you have the most you win.

Quick Review of Fealty:

Fealty is a fun abstract that feels like a puzzle. As the game goes on you have less places to play. You have to try to maximize your influence range and yet keep good options open for future placements.

I like the replay value of Fealty too. You can start with a different set of pieces or have all nine pieces available from the start of the game. With the double-sided Duchys, and variations of the setup you can play a lot of this game without getting bored.

The components are good quality, but the rules are a bit hard to follow. Our first game we just started with out knowing exactly how to play. After a couple plays I think we figured it all out, but the rules could be more understandable.

If you want to try out a quick-playing, abstract strategy area control game Fealty should be on your list.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 5 out of 6
Luck 2 out of 6
Player Interaction 5 out of 6
Replay Value 4 out of 6
Complexity 4 out of 6
Fun 4 out of 6
Overall 4 out of 6