ENTHRONE

An ages-old game of intrigue, guile and deduction for two players.

You are the silent hand. One of 8 unwitting pawns will be your key to securing ultimate power. But your rival hides their own machinations to challenge you. Can you deduce their identity and eliminate them? Remove three key political targets? Or simply waltz in undetected and seize the throne?

Enthrone is an abstract, two-player deduction game. The roughly octagonal, diecut board is ringed by 8 beautifully crafted figures, busts representing the potential heir to the throne; the reigning King, the Priestess, the Knight, the Jester, the Demon, the Assassin, the Archer and the Wizard.

Each player is dealt three identity cards, each showing one of the above pawns. You will choose one whom you intend to Enthrone. You also know the other two identities you did not choose – are not the identity of your opponent. They have the same knowledge – and two identities are left forever unknown by any player.

You win if you can advance your pawn to the throne space at the center of the board. Or you can win by deducing who your opponent is and capturing and eliminating their pawn. Or you can have the three target identities listed on the bottom of your card eliminated from the game (by you or your opponent’s handiwork).

But the magic of the game is which pieces can be activated each turn – and what they are capable of, based on their position on the tile track. Hex Tiles on the bottom three positions are locked and cannot be moved. The top five can move by placing the tile on the bottom of the Hex tiles and pushing all tiles above it up one notch. Tiles in the top two spaces are the only ones capable of capturing and eliminating a piece. Tiles in the top three positions are the only once who can be moved to the Throne space (so long as it is your pawn). Manipulating and strategizing how to move and position these tiles to suit your agenda is critical. Keeping your identity secret, while unveiling your opponents is the tension.

An abstract strategy game like no other – and absolutely stunning on the table. A game fit for Kings – or those who would enthrone them.