1. Players join by
/in
. After 48 hours of joining, the Moderator will randomly select 4 players.
2. If there are more than 4 players interested, the Moderator may start multiple games.
In the wake of the arrest of Queen Marianna for high treason, none was more heartbroken than her daughter, Princess Annette. Suitors throughout the City-State of Tempest sought to ease Annette's sorrow by courting her to bring some joy into her life. You are one of these suitors, trying to get your love letter to the princess. Unfortunately, she has locked herself in the palace, so you must rely on intermediaries to carry your message.
During the game, you hold one secret card in your hand. This is who currently carries your message of love for the princess. Make sure that the person closest to the princess holds your love letter at the end of the day, so it reaches her first!
The game has 16 cards. Each different card name represents someone at the royal residence. Each card has a value in brackets - the higher the number, the closer that person is to the princess. Along with the card name and value, text describes the effect when the card is discarded.
These are used to track Princess Annette's ever-growing affection for those suitors whose letters reach her. They are indicated by red hearts below the player's name on the first post of the thread and in end-of-round updates.
The 16 cards will be randomized. The first card will be removed from the game without being divulged to the players. Each player will be dealt one card. Players will be PMed their starting card, which must be kept secret from the others. Starting player for the first round will be the first player listed in the player list.
Love Letter
is played in a series of rounds. Each round represents one day. At the end of each round, one player's letter reaches Princess Annette, and she reads it. When she reads enough letters from one suitor, she becomes enamored and grants that suitor permission to court her. That player wins the princess's heart and the game.
On your turn, you will be PMed your current card and the top card of the draw pile. The player will choose one of the two cards in their hand and play it (
play <card>
). The card's effect will be applied, even if it negatively effects the current player. Below are the effects of each card and special cases regarding them.
All played hands by each player will be listed on the status post, with the most-recent card played above the others; the older cards will also have a
strike-through
. This helps the other players figure out which cards might be held.
Once the card's effects are completed, the turn passes to the next player.
If a player is knocked out of the round, that player will reveal the card in their hand (do not apply the card's effect) and takes no more turns until the next round.
A round ends if the deck is empty at the end of a turn. The royal residence closes for the evening, the person closest to the princess delivers the love letter, and Princess Annette retires to her chambers to read it.
All players still in the round reveal their hands. The player with the highest ranked person wins the round. In case of a tie, the player who discarded the highest total value of cards wins.
A round also ends if all players but one are out of the round, in which case the remaining player wins.
The winner receives a token of affection. A new round will begin. The winner of the previous round goes first, because the princess speaks kindly of them at breakfast.
A player wins the game after winning a number of tokens based on the number of players:
2 players - 7 tokens
3 players - 5 tokens
4 players - 4 tokens
The Moderator is all-knowing and will know if a player cheats or lies. Any obvious case of cheating or repeated mistakes will lead to negative actions being taken against the offender. These actions may include sitting out a round, losing a Token, or being removed from the game.
Here are brief profiles of the people in the game, along with how the card's effects will be played in the forum:
Princess Annette [8]
- 1 in deck
If you discard the Princess - no matter how or why - she has tossed your letter into the fire. You are knocked out of the round.
Forum Play:
No change.
Countess Wilhelmina [7]
- 1 in deck
Unlike other cards, which take effect when discarded, the text on the Countess applies while she is in your hand. In fact, she has no effect when you discard her. If you ever have the Countess and either the King or Prince in your hand, you must discard the Countess. You do not have to reveal the other card in your hand. Of course, you can also discard the Countess even if you do not have a royal family member in your hand. She likes to play mind games....
Forum Play:
No change.
King Arnauud IV [6]
- 1 in deck
When you discard the King, trade the card in your hand with the card held by another player of your choice. You cannot trade with a player who is out of the round, nor with someone protected by the Handmaid. If all other players still in the round are protected by the Handmaid, this card does nothing.
Forum Play:
After choosing a player, the Moderator will PM each player their new hands.
Prince Arnaud [5]
- 2 in deck
When you discard the Prince, choose one player still in the round (including yourself). That player discards his or her hand (do not apply its effect) and will receive a new card. If the deck is empty, that player will receive the card that was removed at the start of the round. If all other players are protected by the Handmaid, you must choose yourself.
Forum Play:
After choosing a player, the Moderator will announce the player's hand and, if needed, PM the player their new hand. The chosen player
may
divulge their hand prior to the Moderator doing so.
Handmaid Susannah [4]
- 2 in deck
When you discard the Handmaid, you are immune to the effects of other players' cards until the start of your next turn. If all players other than the player whose turn it is are protected by Susannah, the player must choose him- or herself if possible.
Forum Play:
The player's Round Status will change to "Protected" until their next turn.
Baron Talus [3]
- 2 in deck
When discarded, choose one other player still in the round. The player with the lower rank is knocked out of the round. In case of a tie, nothing happens. If all other players still in the round are protected by the Handmaid, this card does nothing.
Forum Play:
After choosing a player, the Moderator will announce the player who was eliminated, as well as their card.
Priest Tomas [2]
- 2 in deck
When you discard the Priest, choose one other player still in the round. You will receive by PM the other player's hand. Do not reveal the hand to other players.
Forum Play:
After choosing a player, the Moderator will PM the active player the hand of the chosen player.
Guard Odette [1]
- 5 in deck
When you discard the Guard, choose a player and name a card (other than Guard). If that player has that card, that player is knocked out of the round. If all other players still in the round are protected by the Handmaid, this card does nothing.
Forum Play:
After choosing a player and a card, the Moderator will announce if the choice was correct. The chosen player
may
respond "yes" or "no" prior to the Moderator doing so.
