SibachianAug 13, 2025

I've completely rebuilt the page design and updated the text and illustrations on my #itchio page as well as created a sales page on #TGC for the upcoming release of my custom deck design for #crowns

https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/crowns6

https://sibachian.itch.io/crowns

i also cleared up the rules a bit on the joker.

#playingcards #boardgamedesign #tabletopgamedesign #cardgamedesign #cardgames #cardgame #indiegamedesign #boardgames #chess #tcg #lcg #gamedesign #indiegame #52cards #boardgame #itch #folkgames #mtg

White Eagle LodgeAug 3, 2025
#FolkGames #Kapela #Medieval #Poland #Shepards
SibachianJun 30, 2025

I just uploaded a print friendly version to https://sibachian.itch.io/crowns :)

#itch #crowns #playingcards #cardgames #boardgames #folkgames #boardgamedesign #mtg #cardgamedesign #standard52

Crowns by sibachian

Where chess meets cards in a battle of wit, will, and war.

itch.io
SibachianJun 28, 2025

Me and the wife put together a playthrough video to try and teach the game!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0Lb-6c1EGA

#crowns #playingcards #cardgames #boardgames #folkgames #boardgamedesign #mtg #cardgamedesign #standard52

Crowns - An areal control card game for two!

YouTube
SibachianJun 27, 2025

It's official, I got a page on #BGG for my game! I also tossed the rules up on #wordpress, thinking - if there is one free place on the internet that will stay around for another 50+ years, it's wordpress, immune to change, not even AI will take their relevance down.

I will use the wordpress page as the main rules ref page for the game.

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/448970/crowns

https://playcrowns.wordpress.com

#crowns #playingcards #cardgames #boardgames #folkgames #boardgamedesign #mtg #cardgamedesign #standard52

Crowns

A tactical area control card game for two.

BoardGameGeek
SibachianJun 27, 2025

Finally finished the play example sheet (going to start working on the new rules sheet now). Hopefully I covered all the rules questions in active play 😅

#crowns #playingcards #cardgames #boardgames #folkgames #boardgamedesign #mtg #cardgamedesign #standard52

SibachianJun 27, 2025

Finally managed to convince strangers to read through my rules over at #lemmy! Sadly it seems I hadn't been as clear as I though. I made some clarifications and you can check them out at the lemmy post https://lemmy.ml/post/32310100

#crowns #playingcards #cardgames #boardgames #folkgames #boardgamedesign #mtg #cardgamedesign #standard52

Crowns, a tactical standard 52 card deck area control game for two! - Lemmy

updated 2025-06-27 at 10:04 to clarify some rules. I designed an easy-to-learn but tactically deep card game and have been testing it several times with my traditional cards and MTG-player friends who love it, now I’m looking for outside feedback! The game is super light and easy to learn, less than 400 words on the rules. Despite that, it has great depth, making it feel more like a modern battle card game like MTG rather than a traditional card game like Palace - so if you like MTG or similar games, you’ll probably love this one! Here are the rules and details: [https://lemmy.ml/pictrs/image/43192ee7-de0f-422c-b696-80d219664051.png] # Introduction Crowns is an area control card game for two, where sharp positioning and smart plays decide the match. The objective of the game is to win by controlling the majority of squares on the board. # Preparation The game requires only a standard deck of 52 cards and enough table space to place said cards in an 5x5 row. Split the deck up by color. Each player then take their respective color, shuffle it, and place it on the table. Both players then draw 5 cards from their draw pile and keeps their cards hidden from their opponent. # Rules Red player starts the game. The game is played in rounds where each player places a card from their hand onto the board. On the very first round, each player must place a card in any empty square of choice in their home row - which is the row nearest them, then draw a new card finishing their round. A player must always have no less than 5 cards in hand unless the draw pile is empty. The players then take turn placing cards orthogonally adjecent to their current placed card connected to the home row, filling out the unclaimed squares across the board or placing more cards in their home row. An unconnected card may always be played in the home row to fortify their connections later. Upon reaching the opponents claims, the opponents square can be stolen by placing a higher value card on top. Cards need to connect back to the first row in order to advance outside the home row. If the connection is broken by the opponent, no new squares can be claimed from the broken off position. In situations where a player cannot claim an empty square or steal an opponents square, they must place a lower card on top of one of their existing non-connected cards anywhere on the board to draw a new card. Players are always allowed to place higher cards on their existing connected cards to fortify them or to draw a new card in a situation where that may be a better play. Once there are no more cards to play, the player with the most claimed squares on the board wins. If a player is unable to place any cards despite still having cards in their hand, they must fold. ## Special Cards Mechanics [https://lemmy.ml/pictrs/image/9b1bfdda-c087-4aeb-b464-4741cf236c5a.png] Kings Are permanent cards that can never be claimed by the opponent. A Queen can however strategically move a Kings position on the board. [https://lemmy.ml/pictrs/image/2610ff53-a5bf-46df-919d-23fbdd3d18f1.png] Queens When being placed in connection to one of your cards, must swap position with any orthogonally adjecent square of choice, claimed and unclaimed. [https://lemmy.ml/pictrs/image/56cf3414-16d7-45fc-b9ae-629565b78a4b.png] Jacks Must leap over one claimed or unclaimed square from the position of one of your claimed and connected squares. Cannot be placed on top of Kings or Queens. [https://lemmy.ml/pictrs/image/28688bd4-5f24-430b-929e-c0263908d639.png] Aces Must be placed diagonally adjacent to one of your claimed and connected squares. Can be played on any non-face card. Aces function as a blank card, allowing any other card to be placed on top. # Board Example [https://lemmy.ml/pictrs/image/cd3155b7-046b-4abb-a166-61998f1e038e.png]

SibachianJun 26, 2025

Me & my friend played 6 games of Crowns in a row during our lunch break today. The flow of the game, at least based on these 6 tests, was butterly smooth! Both of us discussed practical tactical strategies during play & the decision space felt massive. Mistakes were also easy to punish.

I will run way more tests of course, but it actually feels like the game is nearing completion!

#crowns #playingcards #cardgames #boardgames #folkgames #boardgamedesign #mtg #cardgamedesign #standard52

SibachianJun 26, 2025

I made some minor refinement of the rules and tossed them into #chatgpt, running around 100,000 different simulations of my game.

Conclusively, the win rate for each player playing a perfect game is as follows:
• Black 48.46%
• Red 47.12%
• Draw 4.42%

edit: new rule source link! https://playcrowns.wordpress.com

#crowns #playingcards #cardgames #boardgames #folkgames #boardgamedesign #mtg #cardgamedesign #standard52

SibachianJun 25, 2025

Another night, another set of flaws! Arrr...

The addition of Aces was a grand slam hit of awesome, but the jokers rebalance needs to go. They already added too much luck for the initial draw, and the update made it feel forced. Also changed the rule for how to deal with low cards in end game - not perfect yet.

edit: new rule source link! https://playcrowns.wordpress.com

#crowns #playingcards #cardgames #cardgame #boardgaming #boardgame #standard52 #boardgamedesign #folkgames #folkgaming