The King has proclaimed a contest shall be held to establish a new Champion. As a local noble, sponsoring the winning champion would earn you considerable royal notoriety. In this strategic card game, players use their noble influence to guide their sponsored characters in currying regal favor, initiating duels with their opponents, and conspiring against their rivals to determine the winner of The King's Tournament! To win the game you must earn the favor of the King by advancing one of your Characters from the starting White Level of Distinction through the Red Level up to the Blue Level. Once one of your characters reaches the Blue Level of Distinction, you have won the game! On your turn you may curry favor with the King by playing a Favor Point card. These cards each contain a numerical value. and have different titles representing the various aspects of life in the Royal Court, but all essentially have the same effect - gaining Favor with the King. In addition to showing off their manners in Court, the most aggressive way for your sponsored heroes to earn the King’s attention is to challenge their fellow competitors to duels of honor. There are three basic Duel cards: Attack, Defend, and Counterattack. Additionally, there are Enhancer cards such as Weapons and Spells that will increase the strength of a Character's attack or defense in a Duel. As the Royal Court acts as the heart of the political system in Fleissen, it is a site of intense competition. Nobles vie to attract the King’s notice, but also use the Court to attack the reputation of their opponents. Intrigue cards represent ways a Character can be effected by rumor, innuendo, and sabotage by such cards as Poison, Intimidation, and Humiliation. Navigating your sponsored heroes through the Royal Courts and coaching them through rounds of duels to win the King's favor will earn them the rank of the King's Champion - and earn you considerable influence and renown within the Four Kingdoms! —description from the designer