Rurik: Dawn of Kiev Prince Pledge plus Playmat Bundle (Kickstarter Special) PieceKeeper Games

Board Game Geek Avg Player Rating: 8.00
Players: 2 to 4
Published: 2019
Content Notes: Kickstarter “Prince” Pledge plus deluxe oversized play mat for Rurik: Dawn of Kiev by Piecekeeper Games. Includes core game, 11 Kickstarter Limited intrigue cards, 36 metal coins, play mat, and all other unlocked stretch goals. Please note: unless otherwise stated paid add ons from the Kickstarter Campaign are not included.

Includes:
  🏰 1 Core Game
      🗡️ 71 miniatures (40+ mm and 28 mm scale)
      🗡️ 64 custom wood resources
      🗡️ 24 silk screened player pawns
      🗡️ Novel mechanics
      🗡️ Solo mode automa opponent who changes tactics
  💥 36 Metal Coins
  💥 1 Deluxe oversized play mat and
  💥 All unlocked stretch goals

The land of Kievan Rus’ is in turmoil following the death of the renowned Vladimir the Great in 1015. The people need a capable ruler to inspire and lead them and Vladimir’s children are embroiled in a fierce power struggle for the right to rule as the next Grand Prince or Princess of Kiev.

Rurik: Dawn of Kiev is a 4X medieval realm building euro-style board game featuring “auction programming,” resource management, and area control set in an 11th century Eastern European kingdom. You play as one of several potential heirs to the throne, and although deploying your troops for warfare seems to be the easiest path for success, the people value a ruler who leads well in a variety of endeavors. Win over the hearts of the people and prove your worth. Establish your legacy by constructing buildings and performing great deeds or pursue your own agenda by ruling large areas of land and collecting tribute. Only then will you earn the right to rule Kievan Rus’ as the Grand Prince(ss)!

In Rurik, players plan their actions openly by determining how much influence to exert for them. You can spend more influence on an action to reap greater benefits at the cost of performing that action later than other players. Conversely, you can spend less influence on an action for lesser benefits but perform that action quickly. This planning mechanism (“auction programming”) adds tension and strategic depth beyond the typical action-selection in other euro-style area control games. No two games of Rurik are alike due to a variety of prince(ss) powers, household abilities, hidden agendas, and additional scenarios.

Rurik brings to life the ancient culture of Kievan Rus – the precursor to both Russia and Ukraine – with game design by Russian game designer Stanislav Kordonskiy and illustrations by Ukrainian artist Yaroslav Radeckyi.

• No guarantees of wide release. Limited retailer network and not in distribution yet. 
• Kickstarter limited components. The 4 Player Trays with Lids, Intrigue Cards, Metal Coins, and Playmat will only be available directly through PKG (at a higher price).
• Receive the game first. Receive Rurik at least a month before the retail release.
• Add-ons.  Get Metal Coins and Plus Deluxe Playmat with your order.  

Auction Programming. The gameplay in Rurik revolves around a central strategy board. Openly bid for actions with your advisors in this novel “auction programming” mechanic. Higher numbered advisors earn greater benefits, but lower numbered advisors resolve their actions sooner.

Action Resolution. Take turns resolving advisors. Always resolve your lowest numbered advisor, regardless of which action column it is on, and perform the action.

Ruling lands is important! It’s easier to build and tax in lands you rule, although you can pay more to perform those actions even when you don’t rule.

Scheme to keep a reward for yourself and potentially lay a trap for opponents that may attack you! After attacking another player, you must flip over scheme cards – if you find a casualty icon you also lose a troop.

Instead of fighting each other, you can also clear the land of rebels and earn rewards for your efforts.

Claim to the Throne. At the end of the round, determine how far you advance in your quest to claim the throne.

At the end of four rounds, the player with the most points wins! You score points primarily based on your success in ruling lands, building, and trading. You may also score points from warfare, your great deeds, and your secret agenda.

     

In Solo Mode, the AI changes between 3 modes throughout the game and within each mode has a different approach to bidding and resolving actions. 

Its bidding is only revealed one bid at a time so you are never quite sure how it will play! The dynamic automa opponent has received a lot of high praise from playtesters and reviewers alike. You can watch a full playthrough of solo mode below.

 –From the publisher

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