The Duke is a two-player
abstract strategy
Abstract may refer to:
*"Abstract", a 2017 episode of the animated television series ''Adventure Time''
* ''Abstract'' (album), 1962 album by Joe Harriott
* Abstract algebra, sets with specific operations acting on their elements
* Abstract of ti ...
board game
A board game is a type of tabletop game that involves small objects () that are placed and moved in particular ways on a specially designed patterned game board, potentially including other components, e.g. dice. The earliest known uses of the ...
played on a square-tiled gameboard, with 36 squares arranged in a 6×6
grid.
The game has been compared to
chess
Chess is a board game for two players. It is an abstract strategy game that involves Perfect information, no hidden information and no elements of game of chance, chance. It is played on a square chessboard, board consisting of 64 squares arran ...
and
chess variants, while retaining notable differences in unit movement and overall gameplay.
Gameplay
Each player begins game with three pieces: two ''footmen'' and one eponymous ''duke'' tile. Each piece, a flat, wooden tile (known as ''troop tiles'') has its movement options graphically portrayed on its two sides, giving it alternating movement options based upon which side of the piece is currently facing upwards. Pieces are moved to either an unoccupied square or one occupied by an opponent's piece, which is then captured and removed from play. Each turn, players must move a piece, place another piece on the board, and use any special powers if applicable. The objective in a standard game is to
capture the opponent's duke, by first placing the duke into ''guard'', a condition paralleling
check in chess.
The Duke is designed with
game expansions and allots for special powers beyond those provided in the main game. It comes with extra pieces (known as ''terrain pieces'') which are used to modify gameplay and blank tiles which can be used to create unique, customized pieces.
Awards
The Duke was a 2014
Mensa Select winner and was nominated for the Dice Tower Gaming Awards 2013 ‘Best Two Player Game’.
References
External links
Wild Wood – The Duke reviewGame Review: The Duke''The Duke - How to Play''
by YouTube channel ''Watch it Played''
Board games introduced in 2013
American board games
Abstract strategy games
Mensa Select winners
{{Board-game-stub