Key of Solomon is a card laying game themed from the ancient grimoire of renaissance magic attributed to King Solomon

Drawing from the game play of Dots and Boxes, Key of Solomon is a card game of matching symbols for multiple players.

SPECS

• Conceived in 2020
• 2-6 players
• Card based
• Renaissance magic
• Ages 8 and up
• 1 square deck of 96 cards.
• Being play tested    

GENESIS

I’ve been designing lately using smaller components with multiple uses. Using the cards in Key of Solomon as both the game mechanism and the way to track scoring fits right in this pocket. The bright colors and simple game mechanism should appeal to a wide range of players. King Solomon derived his magic from several pentacles which were used in the completion of his magic spells. Through his magic he believed he could find lost objects, protect himself by becoming invisible, and call upon the spirits of the dead to do his bidding.

GAME PLAY

Game play is 30-60 minutes and plays with little set up time. Players receive 4 cards in their starting hand, while 1 card is placed on the table as the “invocation” card. On your turn you place a card on the table, matching the symbols on any other cards touching the side of your card, 1, 2, 3 or all 4 sides. If you matched the 4th side of a previously played card, you have finished that “spell” and take that card from the table, flipping it over for the reward on the back (1 - 3 coins). If you completed one of the 4 “incantations”, you may take the 1 coin reward on the back, or sue it for its power.

Skull = steal a reward from another player

Hand - take the top card off the draw pile for its reward

Rings - link one of your opponents cards to your score. Both you and the opponent now score those points

Eye - protect one of your cards from other players stealing or linking it

Wild - multiply one reward by 2