Blood & Crowns

Blood & Crowns is puts players in the midst of late medieval Western European conflicts, especially the Hundred Years’ War. Blood & Crowns allows players to recreate the countless skirmishes, raids, sallies, acts of piracy and all manner of small-scale engagements that hide in the shadows of history between battles such as Crecy, Poitiers, Najera, Agincourt and Castillion. It is not a game with hordes of faceless masses, but of individual warriors that puts players in the armor of the combatants at the level of fighting where personal combat was the most visceral. Where blood was spilled and crowns were won and lost!

Game Focus & Setting

Period:

Late medieval Western Europe, specifically the Hundred Years’ War (14th-15th centuries).
Scope:

Small-scale skirmishes, raids, ambushes, and other chaotic engagements that occurred between major battles.
Scale:

Players command individual warriors and small companies, focusing on the personal level of combat.

Key Features

Flexible Forces:

Players can build their companies by drawing from a common roster of units, allowing for historical accuracy and varied combatant styles.
Legendary Leaders:

The game includes notable historical figures like Joan of Arc and the Black Prince, who can command and inspire their companies.
Card-Based Initiative:

A unique card-based system is used for both initiative and unit activation, where card value and unit skill determine the number of actions.
Fatigue System:

A mechanic to represent physical and mental exhaustion, which units must overcome to maintain performance.
Leader Capture:

Leaders and characters can be captured, allowing for tactical gameplay involving rescues and earning players “Renown”.
Accessibility:

Designed with a lower model count and simplified rules compared to some historical games, making it a good starting point for new players.

Gameplay Experience

Tactical Depth:

The game offers tactical challenges through mechanics like unit fatigue, strategic use of leaders, and a card-based activation system.
Historical Immersion:

Players are immersed in the chaotic period, recreating the feeling of personal combat where blood was spilled and crowns were won.