Feudal

Hide your medieval army behind a screen, then fight a chess-like battle on a square grid.

Designer: Fred Buestchler
Published by: 3M
Editions by: Schmidt Spiele, The Avalon Hill Game Co, Dujardin, Schmidt International

A chess-like duel in a medieval costume. Feudal (1967) comes from 3M's Bookshelf Series and plays on a 16 inch by 16 inch map board. The box holds six armies of 14 characters each, a divider screen to hide your setup and four screen holders. Because of the screen your starting arrangement stays secret, and the game brings line of sight, grid movement and captures, with players eliminated as their armies fall. It can be played as a duel, in teams, or with more people. A ninety-minute abstract with a mean streak and real period charm.

Hidden setup behind a divider screenArmies of 14 medieval charactersChess-like moves with line of sight

Who it's for

You like abstract strategy with hidden setup and a vintage feel, as a duel or two against two.

Not for you if…

You want something modern and quick. It is a 1967 game with old-school rules that runs about ninety minutes.

Vibe's take

Cat and mouse. You do not know what the enemy brought, so every probe is a bluff and every capture an educated guess.