Unpub 3View: Intrigue

As we approach Unpub 3 we’re featuring many of the games being presented at the big event.

Jay Treat is bringing several games to Unpub 3 (including a personal favorite Assault on Khyber Station.) Today, we're going to talk about one his big guns, Intrigue which is already being reviewed by some publishers.

Intrigue is a trick taking card game set in the renaissance. Each player will serve as a powerful leader scheming to control the city-state amid the chaos of the times.

Let's hear what Jay has to say about the creation and development of his intriguing new game...

What was your inspiration for Intrigue? Originally, I wanted to make a trick-taking game where each player owned one of the four suits. ~12 years later and 3 versions later, it's more about shifting alliances and strategies unique to the genre.

What is your favorite part of Intrigue? I love seeing how players adapt to a game where they can't score without another player. The way competitors work together is fascinating and usually hilarious.

To your knowledge, What do other people find most interesting about Intrigue?  Beyond the spymaster theme, a lot of players call out the novelty of being able to craft your hand over time by 'redrafting' some of the cards played each round.

What has been the most challenging part of designing Intrigue? Finding the right balance between simplicity and complexity took years, and I'm still wrestling with the sweet spot between interaction and politics.

What advice would you give to players attempting Intrigue for the first time? Play for the long game, but seize opportunity when it arises unexpectedly. Remember that you can't win without helping your allies.

What has surprised you most in play-tests of Intrigue? On the plus side, the depth of play once you finally get is quite gratifying. On the down side, the number of players that dismiss it as trivial before they figure out how it really works is a very real frustration.

People who like_______will like Intrigue. Why? Tichu, Bridge, Land Unter, Die Sieben Siegel, Spades, etc.

What do you hope to accomplish at Unpub 3? Play with friends, make some new ones, show off my games and learn how to improve them.

Tell us anything else you want to say about Intrigue that I haven't asked or you haven't said already. The most recent version of the game really embraces the Renaissance spymaster theme and cleans up the execution of asymmetrical alliances of previous versions. In particular, I love the way the Scheme cards from the advanced game both spice up play drastically and push the theme even harder.

Check out the Intrigue page  on Unpub.net!

Find out more on the 64 other games coming to Unpub 3!