Fief is an interesting board game. Set in medieval France, players assume the roles of nobles trying to acquire and consolidate power. Fief is a game about diplomacy, alliances, strategy and tactics. Make no mistake, this isn’t your gateway euro game. This game almost defies a firm category for what it is. Fief has more conflict than any euro but more diplomacy, state building, and intrigue than a typical war game.
From everything that I’ve seen, Fief looks awesome. Each player controls a family of nobles and during the game, they will be gaining control of areas and acquiring titles (both religious and otherwise). Fief can also turn into a semi-cooperative game with strategic marriages between two players which intertwines their houses. If you want to know more about this interesting game, then check out their fantastic Kickstarter video (and I rarely recommend watching those). Here is a few quick bits though:
From their Kickstarter Page:
Each player controls up to four family members, comprised of male and female nobles. These family members will rise in power by gaining Royal and Ecclesiastic Titles.
In ‘Fief – France 1429’, a player may attempt to gain control of all the villages in a Fief to gain the Royal Title of Baron, Earl or Duke. For each Fief a player controls, he gains 1VP. These Titled Lords may now take part in the election for the next King. They may even be a candidate to become King, thus bringing 1VP and more power to the family!
Other members of your family may follow the calling of the Church to gain the Ecclesiastical Titles of Bishop and then Cardinal. These titles allow you to Tithe Bishoprics, taking the Church’s (in this case ‘YOUR’) fair share of income from other Fief Lords! The highest goal your clerical family member can attain is to be elected Pope, bringing 1VP and special privileges to your family!
You win the game as soon as you have 3VPs. This is easier said than done and you may need to form alliances with other players through diplomacy and marriage to obtain your goal. When one of your family members marries a noble of another family, the two of you become allied. You now win the game together with 4VPs and cannot win alone, unless your marriage is annulled by the Pope or your spouse is ‘mysteriously’ murdered or dies of some other foul means!
All-in-all, Fief sounds pretty awesome. The game has already destroyed its funding goal and has unlocked many stretch goals that upgrade your game. A pledge of $65 will get you a copy of the game in your choice of available languages. The game is scheduled to be in backers hands in June of 2014 and you have until Tuesday, Feb 11th to become a backer. So head over today and check it out.
