View source for Down with the King (game)

{{Infobox game
| name = ''Down with the King''
| subtitle = 
| logo = 
| logo_size = 
| logo_alt = 
| logo_caption = 
| image = Down With The King.jpg
| image_size = 200
| image_alt = 
| caption = 
| width = 
| label_width = 
| other_names = ''Krone von Alba''
| AKA = 
| manufacturer = 
| designer = Glenn Rahman <br> Kenneth Rahman <br>[[Alan R. Moon]]
| director =
| illustrator = {{collapsible list|
* Ulrich Allgaier
* Jost Amman
* Albrecht Dürer
* Charles Kibler
* Thomas Lamm
* Alan R. Moon
* Dale Sheaffer
* Charles Wheatley
* Mark Wheatley
}}
| writer =
| actor = 
| voice_over = 
| publisher = [[Avalon Hill]]
| date = {{Start date and age|1981}} 
| years = 1981–?
| genre = [[Board game]]
| language = English 
| system = 
| parent_game =
| series =
| players = 2–6
| setup_time = 
| playing_time = 120' 
| random_chance =
| ages = 12+
| skills = 
| materials = 
| movement =
| media_type = 
| blank_label = 
| blank_data = 
| related = 
| website = 
| isbn =
| isbn_note = 
| footnotes = 
}}
{{italic title}}'''''Down With the King''''' is a political [[card game]] for 2-6 players produced by [[Avalon Hill]] in [[1981 in games|1981]]. Each player takes the role of a [[Nobility|noble]] in the fictional nation of Fandonia during the [[Europe]]an [[Baroque]] age (roughly 1600-1750), and by diplomacy, betrayal, and political maneuvering, attempts to depose the current monarch, and place his lackey on the throne.

The game was designed by Glenn Rahman, Kenneth Rahman, and [[Alan R. Moon]]. It is sometimes described as a "[[Fantasy]] Political Game", but has no inherently [[supernatural]] elements.

==Gameplay==
Each turn consists of a sequence of random events and player actions. Player actions include trying to increase their character's skills, influence, and prestige, gain the loyalty of non-player characters, political offices for characters, destabilize the current king, and interfere with other players' factions trying to do the same. Eventually, when a player feels his faction has enough power, and the current monarch is sufficiently destabilized, they may try to ''usurp'' the throne, and replace the monarch with a royal character (or pretender) under their control. A player controlling the monarch for three consecutive turns wins the game.

Besides characters, represented as cards, a player controls a certain number of Influence Points, or IPs, spent as "money" to accomplish actions, and Prestige Points, or PPs, which serve as a limit to the number of characters they can control. The player also has a set of cards and opportunity counters that restrict the actions they can take.  Actions include a vast array of options, including Dueling, Assassination, Travel Abroad, Advising the Monarch (requires an office), Escape (from abroad or hiding), Extradite a Wrongdoer (from abroad), Expose a Scandal, Intrigue (try to steal an opponent's card), Recruit a Character, Court Monarch's Favor, Fill a Vacant Office, Recruit by Treachery, Seduce a Character, Hold a Wedding, Consult Prestige Tables, and Solicit Bribes (requires an office). All these actions tend to award or take away PPs and IPs.

==Reception==
Paul Manz reviewed ''Down with the King'' in ''[[The Space Gamer]]'' No. 48.<ref name="SG">{{cite journal|last=Manz |first=Paul |date=February 1982 |title=Capsule Reviews|journal=[[The Space Gamer]]|publisher=[[Steve Jackson Games]]|issue=48|pages=28}}</ref> Manz commented that "''Down with the King'' is a pleasant change of pace, and a very enjoyable group game."<ref name="SG"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{bgg|1593|''Down with the King''}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050416055559/http://www.polytropos.org/web/dwtk.html ''Down with the King''] Fan site contains the rules and a Windows program for the game, with source code
* [http://www.spotlightongames.com/summary/dwtk.html ''Down With the King'' - Summary] Rules notes, and political parties variant

{{Avalon Hill}}

[[Category:Alan R. Moon games]]
[[Category:Avalon Hill games]]
[[Category:Card games introduced in 1981]]
[[Category:Dedicated deck card games]]