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Lords of Waterdeep box art

Base game

Lords of Waterdeep

Kritiku rating

Early

7.5

Published
2012
Reach
Well known
Players
2–5
Play time
60–120 min
Weight
Medium
Ratings
1

How it plays

Score the most points by completing quests, building structures, and fulfilling your hidden Lord’s goals. On your turn, place an agent on an open action space to recruit adventurers, gain coins, take quests, build, or play intrigue cards, then complete any quest you can afford. After eight rounds, add points from completed quests, buildings, resources, and your secret Lord bonus; highest score wins.

Main mechanics

  • Trading & negotiation
  • Hidden roles & bluffing
  • Set collection
  • Direct conflict
  • Worker placement
  • Trading & negotiation: Deals between players move the game forward.
  • Hidden roles & bluffing: Somebody at the table is not who they claim to be.
  • Set collection: Scoring comes from completing the right combinations.
  • Direct conflict: Players attack each other head-on.
Full publisher description

Waterdeep, the City of Splendors the most resplendent jewel in the Forgotten Realms, and a den of political intrigue and shady back-alley dealings. In Lords of Waterdeep , a strategy board game for 2-5 players, you take on the role of one of the masked Lords of Waterdeep, secret rulers of the city. Through your agents, you recruit adventurers to go on quests on your behalf, earning rewards and increasing your influence over the city. Expand the city by purchasing new buildings that open up new actions on the board, and hinder or help the other lords by playing intrigue cards to enact your carefully laid plans. During the course of play, you may gain points or resources by completing quests, constructing buildings, playing intrigue cards, or having other players use the buildings you have constructed. After eight rounds, the player with the most points wins.

Criterion breakdown

ComplexityDepthSkillInteractionTable ExpProduction
  • Kritiku average
Criterion
Kritiku
Complexity

Standard

3.0
Depth

Robust

3.0
Luck vs Skill

Balanced

3.0
Player Interaction

Low Conflict

2.0
Table Experience

Pleasant

3.0
Production

Solid

3.0