Rating: 7.5 Very Good
Popularity:21
Difficulty:Easy
Year:2010
Players: 1-4 players
Playing time: 90 minutes
Age:13+

Official Site: Defenders of the Realm on Eggrules


Created by: Richard Launius, Larry Elmore

Published by: Eagle-Gryphon Games

Description:

"We are in desperate hour! I know not what grievous cause has provoked these accursed races to arise, but Orcs, Dragons, Demons and the Dead make haste toward Monarch City. The King and the entire Realm are in need of valiant Heroes!"

Will you answer the King's call?

In the ancient Citadel of Monarch City, the King calls to arms the finest Heroes to defend against a Darkness that engulfs the land. You and your allies must embark on a journey to defend the countryside, repair the tainted lands, and defeat the four creature factions before any of them enter the Citadel.

And they approach from all sides! Fast populating Orcs! Fierce Dragons! Undead that bring Fear! An d D emons! All tainting the land in their wake. There are several paths to defeat, but only one path to victory, and only the most valiant Hero will be named King's Champion.

Defenders of the Realm is a cooperative fantasy board game in which 1-4 players take a role as one of the Realm's heroes (Choose from Cleric, Dwarf, Eagle Rider, Paladin, Ranger, Rog ue, Sorcerer and Wizard).

You, as one of the heroes answering the King's call, make use of strategy, special abilities, cooperation, card play and a little luck in Defenders of the Realm for a unique experience every adventure.

But be forewarned! There is never time to rest. As each Enemy General is struck down in battle, the remaining dark forces only grow more difficult to vanquish and their march to Monarch City gets faster with each Hero victory!

In the ancient Citadel of Monarch City, the King calls to arms the finest Heroes to defend against a Darkness that engulfs the land. You and your allies must embark on a journey to defend the countryside, repair the tainted lands, and defeat the four creature factions before any of them enter the City. And they approach from all sides!

Fast populating Orcs! Fierce Dragons! Undead that bring Fear! And Demons! All tainting the land in their wake. There are several paths to defeat, but only one path to victory, and only the most valiant Hero will be named King's Champion.

Defenders of the Realm is a cooperative fantasy board game in which 1-4 players take a role as one of the King's Champions (Choose from Cleric, Dwarf, Eagle Rider, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer and Wizard). You, as one of the King's Heroes make use of strategy, special abilities, cooperation, card play and a little luck in Defenders of the Realm for a unique experience every adventure.

But be forewarned! There is never time to rest. As each Enemy General is struck down in battle, the remaining dark forces only grow more difficult to vanquish and their march to Monarch City gets faster with each Hero victory!

Prices:
Retail Price:$68
Amazon:$54
Ebay:$84
Expansions:
Defenders of the Realm: Additional Darkness Spreads Cards
Defenders of the Realm: Generals Expansion
Defenders of the Realm: Global Effects Cards
Defenders of the Realm: Hero Expansion #1
More (18)
Awards:
Origins Awards Best Board Game Nominee 2010
Golden Geek Best Thematic Board Game Nominee 2010


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Components

  • Game Board
  • 8 Hero Character Cards
  • 8 Hero Miniatures
  • 4 General Character Cards
  • 4 General Miniatures
  • 100 Minions
  • War Status Board
  • Deck of Darkness Spreads Cards
  • Deck of Hero Cards
  • Deck of Quest Cards
  • 12 Tainted Crystals
  • 5 Magic Gate Tokens
  • 12 Dice - 3 per color
  • 7 Status Tokens
  • -42 Life Tokens

Object of the Game

Players win by defeating all 4 Generals.

Players lose if any of the following occurs:

  • Any of the 4 Generals move into Monarch City
  • If a Darkness Spreads Card identifies minions to be placed on the board and you do not have enough minions to meet the requirements of the card.
  • The last of the 12 Tainted Crystals is added to the board.
  • If 5 enemy minions are in Monarch City at any time.

The King's Champion: While the players win or lose as a group, there is also an overall winner that is hailed as the legendary King's Champion. …



Darkness Spreads Cards

The majority of the cards show 2 locations and either 1 or 2 minions that will be placed there. Additionally there are some special Darkness Spreads cards that should be noted - Orc Activity, All is Quiet, and the Monarch City Card.

Each Card also has an A General Advances section at the bottom that identifies the General to be moved and the location it may advance to...

Orc Activity

"Fear my wrath weaklings! My Orcs will never stop until Monarch City falls!" …



Variant - Want an Easier Game

If the players are losing too often they can make one or more of the rule changes to make the game easier. It is suggested that you do not add multiple changes unless you continue to lose after making one change.

  1. During setup, instead of drawing 3 & 3 Darkness Spreads Cards (for a total of 6) only draw 2 & 2 Darkness Spreads cards (so instead of 30 minions on the board to start the game, there will be 24).

  2. Players suffer no penalty if they lose a battle against a General. …



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