This review continues my series of detailed reviews that attempt to be part review, part resource for anyone not totally familiar with the game. For this reason I expect readers to skip to the sections that are of most interest.
Summary
Game Type - Card Game
Play Time: 20-50 Minutes
Number of Players: 3-5 (Best 4-5)
Mechanics - Hand Management, Set Collection
Difficulty - Pick-up & Play (Can be learned in 10 minutes)
Components - Good
Release - 2007
Designer(s) - <PERSON> the World in 80 Days, Cuba, Dracula, The Pillars of the Earth, World Without End)
Image Courtesy of WasQ
Overview
Something is stirring on the wind and the King's Court is a buzz with murmurings and secret whispers. People are not happy and various members are conspiring in the shadows. But lookout because the King is ever watchful and ready to punish any character caught dealing behind his back!
Welcome to Palastgefluster, the game of Palace Whisperings. Here we have a quick, highly sociable card game experience that is every bit as good as my last reviewed card game was bad (Poo: The Card Game).
I understand that this is not widely available but it is well worth the cost of entry. Let's take a closer look.
The Components
The small box line of games from Adlung Spiele have a good reputation. They tend to be clever card games that are all about intelligent play. As such the game is all about the cards and they won't take up any more shelf space than they need too. Thank you Germany...thank you.
Character Cards – Each player has 7 cards in their colour, which represent members of the King's Court. These are joined by an additional set of 14 cards of the same types (2 of each), which feature a generic brown colouring to form the play deck.
The cards themselves feature nice artwork that is colourful and suitable to the theme. The art isn't outstanding but it is pleasant to look at as the game unfolds.
The key information though is located at the top of each card as a series of symbols remind players what impact each Character will have when played.
The names are in German at the bottom of each card, which ups the learning curve just a little. In truth though after a game or too the players will only be focused on one thing and that is the actions of each Character. 299
The names become irrelevant except to see if the King has silenced them or not (more on that later).
Image Courtesy of visard
King Cards - The King Cards are kept separate to the draw deck and are only brought into play via the Marshal Character.
These feature a central image of the King and a Character is named at the top of the card, which represents the King's Decree (more on that later).
Image Courtesy of visard
Reference & Score Cards - Each player also receives a Summary and Scoring Card. The Reference Card simply outlines the impact of each Character, which saves many trips to the rulebook in that first play or two. This card is used to cover up the Scoring Card, which simply has the numbers 1-6 on it. As a player scores the Reference Card is slid down to show a player's current score (not unlike how The Adventurers tracks a character's weight/loot from memory).
Image Courtesy of visard
Rules – The rules are small enough to fit into the small box and they don't fuss with any glossy presentation. They are a simple paper booklet and require only 4-5 small pages to outline the game.
Image Courtesy of bluef0x
All in all the components are quite nice without being amazing. People will tend to love or hate the art but I land on the love side as they have a Tarot kind of charm to them.
Image Courtesy of tsayirong
The Set-Up
Each player selects a colour and takes the Reference and Scoring Cards. The Reference Card must completely cover the Scoring Card to reflect that players begin on 0 points. These cards also help remind each other of what colour each player is.
The draw deck is then constructed by taking the 7 Character Cards in each player's colour and adding them to the 14 generic brown coloured Character Cards. These cards are shuffled up to form a draw deck and 6 cards are dealt to each player to form their starting hand.
The Set-up is then completed by shuffling the 6 King Cards and placing them centrally, ready for use as the game unfolds. The eldest player then gets play underway.
The Play
One of the greatest strengths of Palastgefluster is that the game works on no more than 4 rules. Everything else comes from the implications of each Character Card that is played. It is devilishly simple.
A Player Turn - Requires the active player to play a card from their hand. 872