Old North is an area majority game for 2-4 players. Players battle to have the most influence points over several rounds of gameplay by maintaining the strongest loyalties to the four warring Houses in the North. In Old North, you have no armies of your own. Instead, you maintain a court (or open hand) of five nobles belonging to the four Houses to manipulate and use their armies for your benefit. Gameplay revolves around a central board containing six important regions in the realm. Occupying these regions are the armies of the four Houses, vying for control of each one. Over the course of the game, players score points for each noble in their court based on it's House's presence and control of the six regions. Controlling nobles in your court that belong to the most dominant Houses on the board will score you the most points - but comes at a cost. On your turn, you will play a noble from your hand and perform one of over 30 unique actions and events. Playing a noble improves its House’s numbers and advantage on the board, but in turn removes its presence from your court – eliminating its ability to score points. On one hand, maintaining a court of nobles belonging to the most powerful Houses is the key to victory – but that means keeping them tucked away in your court, away from danger and unable to add to their House's strength on the board. —description from the designer