Gamehelploveletter

Theme

In the wake of the arrest of Queen Marianna for high treason, none was more heartbroken than her daughter, Princess Annette. Suitors throughout the City-State of Tempest sought to ease Annette's sorrow by courting her to bring some joy into her life.

You are one of these suitors, trying to get your love letter to the princess. Unfortunately, she has locked herself in the palace, so you must rely on intermediaries to carry your message.

During the game, you hold one secret card in your hand. This is who currently carries your message of love for the princess.

Make sure that the person closest to the princess holds your love letter at the end of the day, so it reaches her first!

Setup

• One of the 16 playing cards is removed at the beginning of each round and the others are shuffled.
• Every player is dealt one card.
• The remaining cards form a pile in the centre of the table.

Game play

• Players take turns drawing one card (making two cards in hand) and discarding one card (returning to one card in hand).
• When a player discards a card, its effect is applied.

Card effects - 2-4 players

Value	№	Name	Simplified effect description	Full effect description
8	1	Princess Annette	Discard = out!	If you discard the Princess — no matter how or why — she has tossed your letter into the fire. You are knocked out of the round.
7	1	Countess Wilhelmina	Must discard with King or Prince in hand	Unlike other cards which take effect when discarded, the text on the Countess applies while she is in your hand. In fact, she has no effect when you discard her. If you ever have the Countess and either the King or Prince in your hand, you must discard the Countess. You do not have to reveal the other card in your hand. Of course, you can also discard the Countess even if you do not have a royal family member in your hand. She likes to play mind games.
6	1	King Arnaud IV	Swap hands	When you discard King Arnaud IV, trade the card in your hand with the card held by another player of your choice. You cannot trade with a player who is out of the round, nor with someone protected by the Handmaid. If all other players still in the round are protected by the Handmaid, this card does nothing.
5	2	Prince Arnaud	A player must discard	When you discard Prince Arnaud, choose one player still in the round (including yourself). That player discards their hand (do not apply its effect, unless it's Princess Annette) and draws a new card. If the deck is empty, that player draws the card that was removed at the start of the round. If all other players are protected by the Handmaid, you must choose yourself.
4	2	Handmaid Susannah	May not be targeted	When you discard the Handmaid, you are immune to the effects of other players’ cards until the start of your next turn.
3	2	Baron Talus	Compare -> lower = out	When discarded, choose one other player still in the round. You and that player secretly compare your hands. The player with the lower rank is knocked out of the round. In case of a tie, nothing happens. If all other players still in the round are protected by the Handmaid, this card does nothing.
2	2	Priest Tomas	Look at one	When you discard the Priest, you can look at one other player’s hand. DO NOT reveal the hand to all players.
1	5	Guard Odette	Guess value -> out	When you discard the Guard, choose a player and name a card value (other than 1). If that player has a card with that value, that player is knocked out of the round. If all other players still in the round are protected by the Handmaid, this card does nothing. If your opponent holds an Assassin, you're out (even if you guess correctly!)

Card effects for additional cards - 5-8 players

Value	№	Name	Simplified effect description	Full effect description
9	1	Bishop Vinizio	Guess value -> +1★	Similar to a Guard, name a number other than 1 and choose another player. If they have that number card in their hand, gain 1 ★. If the guess is correct, the targeted player can choose whether to keep or discard the card. Despite his impressive 9, the Bishop always loses to the Princess at the end of the round.
7	1	Dowager Queen Tummia	Compare -> higher = out	Acts as a Baron, but the highest card is eliminated instead of the lowest.
6	1	Constable Viktor	Out -> +1★	If this card is in your discard pile then this gives you 1 ★ if you are knocked out of the round.
5	2	Count Guntram	+1 value @round end	Add +1 to your card value at the end of the round.
4	2	Sycophant Morris	Choose target	Lets you decide who will be the target of the next card played.
3	2	Baroness Fiona	Look at two	Allows you to see TWO hands.
2	2	Cardinal Vesper	Swap two hands + look at one	Exchanges the hands of 2 players. You may see one of the hands.
1	+3	Guard Odette	Guess value -> out	When you discard the Guard, choose a player and name a card value (other than 1). If that player has a card with that value, that player is knocked out of the round. If all other players still in the round are protected by the Handmaid, this card does nothing.
0	1	Jester Darius	Guess winner -> +1★	Allows you to guess who will win the round and score 1 ★ if this is the case.
0	1	Assassin	Guard = out	Kills your opponent if they use a guard against you.

Round End

1. No cards in the deck or
2. One player remains.

• The player holding the Princess or card with the highest value earns 1 ★ token.

Tiebreak

• Sum of the value of each player's discarded cards.
• If a tie remains, nobody gets a ★ token.

Game end

Winning № of ★s

№ Players	№ ★ tokens
2	7
3	5
4	4
5-8	4