Castle Knights
Castle Knights Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Idea
A cooperative building game for 2 to 4 brave knights, ages 5 to 99.
With an "All for One and One for All" variant for 3 to 4 players.
Idea: Christian Tiggemann Illustration: Ulrike Fischer Length of the game: approx. 10 - 15 minutes
Contents
- 1 knight's castle (= bottom of the box with insert)
- 1 game board
- 1 constructing tool
- 1 King Duncan
- 1 princess
- 1 prince
- 1 ghost
- 6 colored building blocks
- 24 cards
- 1 sand timer
- 1 set of game instructions
Object of the Game
Will you manage to build three towers before King Duncan reaches the castle?
Setup
The bottom of the box and its insert represent the castle: place them in the middle of the table.
On one side of the castle you will see a large gate. Place the game board against the gate so that the drawbridge is directly in front of the gate. King Duncan arrives by carriage, so place him on the carriage space of the game board.
Place the six building blocks and the three wooden figures (princess, prince, ghost) around the castle. Make sure that the blocks and the figures are spaced at least one hand's width apart from each other and from the castle.
Shuffle the cards, which show various towers, and make a face-down pile of them. Get the constructing tool and the sand timer ready.
How to Build a Tower
A tower must be built using only the constructing tool. Before you start playing, try out the constructing tool: it takes a little practice, and you will need to work well together for the tower building to succeed.
Share out the cords of the constructing tool according to the number of players:
- With two players, each player takes two cords: one in each hand!
- With three players, each player takes one cord of the constructing tool in either hand. One player additionally takes the fourth cord of the constructing tool and holds it in their other hand.
- With four players, each player takes one cord of the constructing tool and holds it in either hand.
Hold the cords by the ball fixed at the end.
Tips:
- Make sure the blocks are placed exactly on top of one another so the tower does not fall over while it is being built.
- You will only succeed at this construction if you coordinate your movements. This will work if you exchange as many instructions and pieces of advice as possible with each other.
- You are allowed to stand up to move the constructing tool during construction.
Practice Run
Choose any block. Each player pulls on the cords of the constructing tool. The elastic band at the center of the constructing tool stretches, and the opening widens.
Hold the cords taut and move the constructing tool so as to place the opening over the chosen block.
Loosen the cords slightly. The elastic band grips the block. You can then lift it carefully and carry it.
The castle has three inner courtyards, set at three different levels: place the block in any inner courtyard.
To remove the block from the constructing tool, pull on the cords again, tautening them. This releases the block by loosening the elastic band.
The other blocks must be placed in turn on the tower, which grows taller and taller.
To finish building a tower, you must carry one of the wooden figures (princess, prince, or ghost) and place it on top of the tower.
Playing the Game
You always play together as a team. The oldest player turns over the top card of the pile and places it next to the castle so that it is clearly visible to everyone. Share out the cords of the constructing tool among the players (see "How to Build a Tower" above).
Building the tower
Look at the tower shown on the card. Decide together in which inner courtyard you want to build this tower.
The oldest player then turns the sand timer over. Together, you all give the starting signal: "Together we are strong!"
Then quickly begin building the tower.
Important construction rules:
- You must stack the blocks in the order shown on the card.
- Do blocks or figures tip over, come out of the constructing tool, or fall off the tower during construction? Pick up these pieces by hand and set them down next to the castle.
- Have you placed one or more wrong pieces on the tower by mistake? Take them off by hand and set them down next to the castle.
- Have you knocked over the sand timer? Hurry and stand it back up!
Did you finish building the tower before time ran out? Well done! As a reward, place the card in the inner courtyard where you just built the tower. You are no longer allowed to build another tower there.
Has time run out and the tower is still not finished? Too bad, you were not able to finish the construction in time. King Duncan advances one space toward the castle. Set the card aside.
New round
Put the blocks and the figures back around the castle. Turn over another card, turn over the sand timer: a new round begins.
End of the Game
The game ends when:
- ... there is a card in each of the castle's three inner courtyards. You have finished in time: everything is ready for King Duncan's arrival! If you like, you can make up a song that you all sing together to welcome him.
- ... King Duncan reaches the castle by crossing the drawbridge (= the last space on the game board). Unfortunately, you were not able to get everything ready in time for his arrival, and you lose the game. Better luck next time!
Variant for Young Knights
If younger players are taking part, you can agree not to place the wooden figure (princess, prince, or ghost) shown on the card on top of the tower.
Variant: All for One and One for All
A contest for 3 to 4 valiant knights. Play follows the rules of the basic game, taking into account the additional rules below:
- You no longer play against King Duncan, but against each other.
- The game board and King Duncan are not used.
- You play a total of six towers, in alternating teams of two.
Example with three players:
- Tower 1: Bianca and Imke
- Tower 2: Bianca and Marc
- Tower 3: Imke and Marc
- Towers 4-6: same as towers 1 to 3
Example with four players:
- Tower 1: Bianca and Imke
- Tower 2: Marc and Wolfgang
- Tower 3: Bianca and Marc
- Tower 4: Imke and Wolfgang
- Tower 5: Bianca and Wolfgang
- Tower 6: Imke and Marc
If you manage to build the tower as a team before time runs out, you each get a card as a reward: one player takes the turned-over card, the other takes a card from the pile. Place the cards face down in front of you.
If you do not succeed, you do not get any cards. Slide the turned-over card underneath the pile.
The game ends after six towers. Whoever has collected the most cards wins. In case of a tie, the players win together.