Designers: Jesse Meunier, Nathan Meunier (The Blessed Dark)

Artist: Nathan Meunier (The Blessed Dark)

Publisher:  Immolation Rite

Genre/Mechanisms: 2 players, card drafting, card game, solo/solitaire game, tile placement

Funding Status: At the time of this posting, Usurper is already fully-funded. Pledges currently total more than 2x the initial funding goal with less than 1 day to go on the campaign.

Player Count: 1-2

Solo Mode: no

Complexity: light

Risk: HIGH

What It’s About: “A fast-paced, highly strategic card drafting and grid placement game for 2 players. In this dark fantasy game, you’ll recruit followers from the realm’s four distinct factions, then unite them in a bid to dominate your adversary and seize the throne.”

How It Works: “As rivals vying for control of the throne, your objective in Usurper is to recruit followers from the realm’s four distinct factions, then unite them and dominate your adversary! The goal of the game is to earn the highest score by the end of the scoring phase in order to win.”

“Starting with the first player, take turns drawing a card from the recruitment row until each player has a hand of 9 cards. Each time a card is drawn from the recruitment row, immediately replace it with another card from the main deck. Keep your hand concealed during play. At the end of the drafting phase, players may each discard one card from their hand and draw a new card at random from the main deck. Then, discard any remaining cards in the recruitment row. Each player then draws a card from the bonus scoring deck and places it face down in front of them, marking the center position of their 3×3 grid. This card is a marker only and is not in play. As such, a card may be played on it.”

“Players then take alternating turns placing a card face up on their own 3×3 grid, following any grid placement restrictions on their cards (if applicable). The player who drafted first places first. When all players can no longer place cards on their 3×3 grid, the game enters the scoring phase. If a player cannot legally place any more of their cards, they must wait until the other player has finished before proceeding to the scoring phase.”

“Players tally the base score of each card on their 3×3 grid, adding in any ability modifiers to their score. You may activate abilities in any order to maximize score. Scoring Abilities that score based on cards/symbols “in play” count both players’ grids. Points from your secret bonus card are tallied and added last. The player with the most points overall win.”

Comparisons: Some other light card games featuring card drafting include 7 Wonders, 7 Wonders Duel, Among the Stars, Bunny Kingdom, Cat Lady, Century: Golem Edition, Century: Spice Road, Coloretto, Dale of Merchants, Dream Home, Eight Minute Empire: Legends, Fairy Tale, Fantastic Factories, Fantasy Realms, Hanamikoji, It’s a Wonderful World, Jaipur, Kanagawa, Machi Koro, Majesty: For the Realm, Mandala, Morels, Point Salad, Port Royal, Roll Player, Splendor, Sushi Go!, Sushi Go Party!, Valeria: Card Kingdoms, Villagers, and World’s Fair 1893.

What Should I Pledge?:
$16 Physical Copy of Usurper: a physical copy of the game, plus access to the PnP assets.

Add-Ons:
None.

KS Exclusives
No. Although, as small as the company as, it’s possible the game may not make it to retail at all.

All-In Total: In the continental U.S. you’re looking at $16 for the Physical Copy of Usurper plus $6 in shipping for a total of $22.

Usurper completes its Kickstarter on Thursday, November 12th and tentatively ships in May 2021.