It’s been a while since I last previewed a roll-and-write game, and now Dragon vs Kingdom is lengthening that list. Time for a new sub-category, maybe? Anyway, this game comes from No Box Games, a company that truly lives up to its name — they specialize in print-and-play titles. Dragon vs Kingdom is currently live on Kickstarter, and through this preview, I hope to convince you to take a closer look at it.
Dragon vs Kingdom is, as the title suggests, about a furious dragon facing off against a kingdom. Or a bunch of them, actually. Each player receives his/her own sheet — it represents his/her dragon’s side. Meanwhile, the rest of the player will act as the kingdoms’ rulers on that dragon’s sheet. It might sound like a complex setup at the first glance, but practically, it’s much more straightforward. And what’s important: it’s entertaining.
The game sets itself apart from most roll-and-write games, where they have that common zen-game feel. Dragon vs Kingdom thrives on conflict and player interaction. The solitary experience is practically null — our sheet here does not stay with us for long. It’s frequently passed to the other players instead. This creates a dynamic where everyone, except the dragon, is involved in shaping the kingdoms. And this distinct identity makes the game more engaging.
Playing as the ruler of the kingdom
When not being the dragon, we have the opportunity to build structures. This develops the part of kingdoms plaguing that particular dragon’s sheet, sharing the common goal: to attack and defeat the dragon. Points are earned through construction efforts. And by attacking the dragons successfully.
Once enough buildings have been constructed, the game concludes. There are three types of buildings in Dragon vs Kingdom: towers, houses, and shops — each with its own scoring method. In a game more than two players, as we practically spend most of the game acting as the rulers rather than the dragon, it’s clear that buildings play the vital role to reap the most points. And the strategic placement is key to earn the highest scores.
The buildings we build will interact with the other buildings from other players. Placing them not only can benefit us, but also our opponents. A dynamic landscape from the player interaction. Vast possibilities and strategies, if not limitless.
The rampaging dragons
As the dragon, our objective is to roam across the map, destroying the kingdom encroaching on your dragon’s sheet. A contrasting goal compared to the kingdoms. The dragon’s actions are powered by Energy. This is sort of resources, similar to action points, which can be used to perform various moves and attacks. Since different buildings provide varying victory points, we can’t just rampage aimlessly. Strategic movement and careful action management are key. As the dragon takes turn sporadically, it’s crucial to net the victory points in the most efficient way.
We have tried the game with several player counts. I would say, this game is enjoyable the most with 3-4 players on the table. Dragon vs Kingdom is playable in a duel. Fair enough to say that it’s more strategic because we have less diversion from other players’ construction. Yet, I don’t really feel the tense and intense player interaction.
We tested Dragon vs Kingdom with different player counts. It became clear that this game shines best with 3-4 players on the table. With this setup, more player interaction makes the game more lively. And the dynamic is more engaging. While the game remains playable in the duel format, it kinds of a bummer for me, though.
Fair to say that it leans more toward a strategic focus, thanks to fewer disruptions from other players’ builds. Nevertheless, it reduces the intensity. And this aspect is, just like mentioned afore, the highlight of the game. The main difference that sets Dragon vs Kingdom apart from the similar games in the market.
Verdict
Dragon vs Kingdom is available as a print-and-play game. This makes it incredibly portable and perfect for on-the-go play. We only need a die and some pens. Ideal for travel, the game helps you kill time easily. However, the visually chaotic shared sheet can be our enemy. Thus, it’s a good idea for each player to use different colours of inks. It makes it much easier to identify which buildings belong to whom. Trust me, this helps the game running smoothly.
I am a full-time food technologist during weekdays. However, when the calendar hits weekends, I transform into an avid board gamer. I am a hardcore Legend of the Five Rings (L5R) LCG player from Fantasy Flight Games (FFG). Current hobby: buying board games. My shelf of shame’s list is getting longer, thanks to you, Kickstarter.
