The Nights of King Ludd

The Nights of King Ludd is a collaborative game for 2-4 players, leaders of secret societies of English Luddites at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.  Working together, players build a network of conspirators and wreckers who ferry provisions and purchase weapons on the black market and assemble raiding parties.  If all goes as planned, your parties will smash the “dark satanic mills” to cinders, but beware!  Take actions which question the Crown's authority and you will face the vast power of the government: spies, militias, and vindictive judges.

When King Ludd was a threat, the word 'saboteur' was not used.  Instead, those who opposed the march of progress were referred to as malefactors, rioters, insurgents, outragers, conspirators, bandits, and breakers.  Are the Luddites righteous warriors of the people or misguided men or disaffected persons engaged in "lawless combinations" and "dangerous confederacies".   Are you a threat?  Are you dangerous?  Will you lash out in anger--or are you working to save modern man from heartless machines and their over-wealthy owners?

The game is designed by award-winning Yoni Goldstein (Chicago '68) with development by Ronen Goldstein and Joe Dewhurst with art/layout by Lenais Goumon.

The Game

The Nights of King Ludd is a 'tableau-building game'.  Players have conspiratorial abilities and addition actions based on their chosen persona.  Played over three rounds, players must rally textile workers to the cause and incite mobs, seeking the right moment to wreck the machines.

How to Play

Gameplay is typically 30-45 minutes per player, featuring 5 unique “Personae” and 6 asymmetric “Roles”. Player actions come from a shared tableau of cards called "The Commons." These multi-use cards allow players to more effectively mobilise their forces, infiltrate mills with wreckers, and destroy mill operations. Coordinated card play permits a powerful shared engine to take shape. The catch?  Each player's faction also has a unique victory condition required for an individual win … and woes will plague their progress and the crusade's. 

Components

The board (is currently) designed with the card market on one side with the other side featuring the leading Manufacturer, the Stocking Market (which tracks wages and goods), as well as workers who have been banished to Australia.  The center will have the mills as well as the establishment's police/constabulary.  The layout is not yet finished as we're seeking the right layout for intuitive gameplay.

The playing cards will be made to be the same size as those used in 1811 (roughly 2.5x3.5") rather than standard American sizing.  In addition, the font used for card text is also from London newspapers of the early 19th century.

Much like the cards being sized to 1811 standards, the intent is for the chess pieces to be crafted in English Slope or Old English stylings.

Victory

In addition to the need to smash the workshops and alter the greed of the factory owners, each player has a personal 'Motivation'.  This is a personal victory condition beyond disabling the mills and these often are in conflict.

For instance, Lord Byron seeks to prevent the Regency from getting overly involved in the situation, but this is almost an opposite of George Mellor, assassin, who constantly seeks to murder the Manufacturer--and no surprise, assassinations bring government intervention!  In contrast, if John Baines and the Molyneux are chosen, the game will tend towards cooperation rather than conflict.  In the end, will you sacrifice your fortune, home, or life for the greater good?  (the greater good)

First Impressions

"I've been fortunate enough to play this throughout its development and look forward to its release.  Whether you are interested in early modern labor politics or just want to smash a stocking frame, this is worth checking out." --Cole Wehrle, designer of "Root" and "John Company"

"Yoni has a unique ability to bring social movements to life on a table.  Organize a worker's movement and take on capitalism along the way, all in one box?  Count me in." --Fred Serval, designer of "A Gest of Robin Hood", host of Youtube's Homo Ludens

"The Nights of King Ludd is such a neat little collaborative game with just the right amount of crunch. It's great for anyone interested in playing history and looking at the labor movement of the Luddites. Remember kids, sometimes collective bargaining is most effective by starting a fire..." --Ashlyn Sparrow, University of Chicago