Harald
Harald Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Game Material
66 Cards (6 character cards in 11 duplicates), 1 Game rules, 1 Scoring pad, 4 Reference sheets.
Card Details
- Character's symbol.
- Illustration of the character.
- Effect of the character that you could use when played.
- Condition for attribution of prestige points at the end of the game.
Set-up
With 3 to 4 players use all the cards. With 2 players remove two copies of each character.
Shuffle the cards and distribute 5 to each player. Build a draw pile with the remaining cards face down next to the game area, then reveal 4 of them. This is the reserve.
Each player will choose one card from his/her hand and lay it on their village (players start with one character in their village). The cards are revealed when all the players have made their choices. The game can start.
Set-up for a 3 players game: each player has a hand and a starting character in their village; the draw pile and the reserve sit beside the King's Council (empty at the beginning of the game).
Game Area
In Harald, the gaming surface is separated into various areas. Each village and the King's Council represent areas. In a 3 players game, we distinguish 4 areas: the 3 villages and the King's Council.
The draw pile and the reserve are not a part of the gaming surface so they are not affected by the cards.
Gameplay
Each player possesses 4 cards in hand. At each turn, a player must execute three actions in this order:
- Play one card at the King's Council (in the center of the table).
- Play one card in his village (in front of him/her).
- Draw cards to always hold 4 cards.
Then, the following player executes the same actions.
The King's Council
The cards sent to the Council increase the influence of the six characters of the game and will be used to count up the prestige points (victory points) at the end of the game. The player can not use the effect of the cards that are sent to the Council (unless otherwise indicated on the card).
The Village
Each player possesses their own village. When a player plays a card in their village, they can, if they want to, use the effect written on the card. These effects give them the ability to attack their opponents' villages, influence their own village or the King's Council in order to increase prestige.
The cards in the village or at the King's Council are sorted by character. They are stacked to display the number of cards present at each location.
Complete your hand
Then, the player must complete their hand to hold 4 cards by drawing cards from the draw pile and the reserve. When a card is drawn from the reserve, it must be replaced by one from the draw pile.
Turn order goes clockwise.
Effect of the cards
When a player lays down a character in their village, they have the choice to use or not the effect from the card. A card will never be affected by its own effect. For example, a just played merchant can not be traded with another card (but a previous merchant played in the village can be). The effect of the card gained by exchange can not be activated.
There can never be a void trade. A card must be traded against another card.
The cards face down can always be checked or exchanged.
Finishing the game
With two players, the game lasts 10 rounds. With three players, the game lasts 8 rounds. With four players, the game lasts 6 rounds.
At the end of the game, each player must have as many cards in their village as rounds played + 1 (Starting Character).
During the last round, the players do not send cards to the King's Council. They will only play a card in their village, and can use the effect if desired. Then, they will lay down their hand under the draw pile and add up points.
Each player adds up their points as soon as they finish their last turn, and before the following player starts their last turn. The other players will be able to attack his opponent's village to increase their prestige, but it will not change the final prestige of the player.
Variants
Allegiance to the King: For a better understanding, you can decide to ignore the condition for the Bonus Prestige Points associated with each character. The only Prestige Points used to determine the winner will be the points from the King's Council.
Strength in numbers: With 4 players, you can play in teams. Game play alternates between the players of each team (a player from team A is always followed by a player of team B and vice versa). Add the scores of each team member at the end of the game.
Adding Up the Prestige Points
At each turn the players will send cards to the King's Council. Those cards increase the prestige points of all the villages.
Each card in the village of a player counts as many prestige points as the number of the same cards in the King's Council.
Example: I have 2 warriors in my village, and 3 warriors are at the King's Council. Each warrior in my village counts for 3 Prestige points. So I add 6 Prestige points to my total.
Each character possesses their own condition to score Bonus Prestige Points in its village, usually related to another character. The Bonus Prestige Points preceded by "+" show that extra points are cumulative regarding the number of cards.
Example: I have 2 navigators and 3 merchants in my village at the end of the game, the condition of the merchant lets me score 2 bonus points per merchant (6 Bonus Prestige Points total).
The Bonus Prestige Points which are not marked by "+" show that the extra points apply only once the condition is fulfilled.
Example: I have 4 warriors and 2 blacksmiths at the end of the game, the condition of the blacksmiths allowed me to score 4 Bonus Prestige Points.
The cards face down are not used in the final total of prestige points (with the exception of the scout).
Use the scoring pad to add up the prestige points. For each character the first line indicates the prestige points won at the King's Council, the second line indicates the Bonus Prestige Points.
After all points have been totaled, the player with the most Prestige Points wins the game. Their village wins the favor of the King, who requests the advice of a wise Earl...
Cards Details
Each card has its own effects and condition for Bonus Prestige Points.
Blacksmith / Boar
Effect: Flip up to two cards in two different game areas. Bonus: 4 points if there are more warriors than blacksmiths in your village.
Warrior / Bear
Effect: Remove a card from a village and place it under the draw pile then replace it by a new card drawn from the top of the pile. Bonus: +1 point per bard in your village.
Bard / Fox
Effect: Exchange a card from your hand with a card from your village. It is not possible to play the acquired card in the same turn. Bonus: 4 points if there are more bards than merchants in your village.
Navigator / Goat
Effect: Exchange a card from any village with one at the King's Council. Bonus: 4 points if there are equal numbers of navigators and scouts in your village.
Merchant / Lynx
Effect: Exchange a card from your village with any card from an opponent's village. Bonus: +1 point per navigator in your village.
Scout / Wolf
Effect: Use the power of the card you just sent to the King's Council. If it is a scout, there is no effect. Bonus: +2 points per card face down in your village.