LANCASTER

OBJECTIVE OF LANCASTER: The objective of Lancaster is to be the player with the most power points when the game comes to an end.  

NUMBER OF PLAYERS: 2 to 5 Players 

MATERIALS: 1 Game Board, 2 Supply Boards, 37 Squires, 37 Gold Pieces, 37 voting Markers, 36 Nobleman Cards, 1 Start Player Marker, 12 Conflict Cards, 6 King Favors, 1 Parliament Board, 18 Law Cards, 1 Instruction Manual, 5 Player Meeples, 35 Knights, 5 Player Boards, 30 Extensions, 5 Screens, 10 Voting Tiles, and 1 Sticker Sheet 

TYPE OF GAME: Area Control Board Game 

AUDIENCE: Ages 10 and Up 

OVERVIEW OF LANCASTER 

In Lancaster, players battle to be the most powerful ally of the new king of England, Henry V of Lancaster. Each player will act as an aristocratic family that wishes to strengthen their tires to the king by developing their knighthood and pushing laws that will benefit themselves. During each turn, players will send their knights to various locations trying to enact their laws.  

SETUP 

To begin setup, place the game board in the middle of the playing area. The supply boards are placed at both ends of the board to ensure that players can reach the supplies easily. Players will space out around the board so that everyone will be able to sit comfortably, while still being able to access the board.  

Each player will choose a color to represent them throughout the game. They will then collect a marker, 7 knights, a castle board, 6 extension tiles, a screen, and two voting tiles that match their color. Players will place their boards directly in front of them, with their screen being placed to the side. The game is then ready to begin. 

GAMEPLAY 

The start player is randomly decided, and they are then given the start player marker. Player’s turn will rotate clockwise around the group. The game is played over the course of five rounds, and each round consists of three phases.  

Phase 1 

During this phase, players will place their knights. During their turn, the player will take a knight and relocate them from the court to a knight’s space. The next player will do the same, and it will continue until everyone has placed their knights. Players can skip their turn if they do not have any knights to place.  

Players can place their knights in the county, castle, or conflict. In order to place their knights in the county, the knight must meet or exceed the necessary strength for the space. If they place their knight in the castle, the spot must be unoccupied, as there can only be one knight in each space. If a player decides to engage in conflict, they will choose a conflict and place their knight.  

Phase 2 

When the last knight is placed, the parliament is gathering. Players have to vote on the three new laws, in order. They begin in the bottom left corner and continue to the right. The players vote at the same time and secretly by placing a voting tile in front of them, face down. The voting tiles are shuffled and then counted. The law is either approved or declined.  

Phase 3 

After Phase 2 is completed, then the counties, castles, and conflicts are evaluated. All counties yield their rewards in a certain order, A to I. The player can choose to collect a nobleman from it, take another reward, or collecting both by paying three gold. Beginning with the start player, they score their castles, going clockwise around the group. They receive rewards for knights, extensions, or company at the table.  

The game continues in this manner until all five rounds have been played.  

END OF GAME 

The game comes to an end after five rounds of gameplay. Players will tally their points. Eight points are given to the player with the highest strength, and four are given to the runner up. Eight power points are also given to the player with the most extension tiles, and four are given to the runner up. Players that have more than one nobleman attending their company also score power points.  

Nobleman 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 
Points 0 1 3 6 10 15 21 28 36 

After the points are tallied, the winner is announced. The player who has collected the most power points wins the game.  

Ellie Phillips
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