Althingi: Expansion: Saga Heroes
Althingi is a quick set-up, fast-play game of strength and influence for 2-4 players based in Viking-Age Iceland. Each player takes on the role of a powerful Chieftain and tries to take control of the annual gathering known as the Althingi through bribery, coercion, and intimidation.
Creator: Josh Gillingham (Game Design), Ladda Shustova (Artist)
Category: Strategy Card Game
Age Range: 12+
Suggested Players: 2-4
Play Time: 30-40 min
Vibes: Strategy, Viking, Control, Historical
In Short: An expansion to the Althingi card game, Althingi: Saga Heroes adds additional Viking Heroes, a new Blood Feud mechanic, Kinship cards, and new Loot!
What's It About: Each player takes on the role of a powerful Chieftain and tries to take control of the annual gathering known as the Althingi through bribery, coercion, and intimidation.
The game takes place over a series of rounds representing times: Morning, Afternoon, and Evening over several days. In the morning, Chieftains gather Loot, which has value both in bribing Vikings and in equipping them for holmgang (a duel). In the afternoon phase, Chieftains strategically bribe the new Vikings that arrive that round to join their camp, using their Loot cards while retaining enough resources to defend themselves in the Evening phase. During the Evening, Chieftains can use Vikings in their camp to challenge holmgang (a duel) against Vikings from other camps. The aim of the game is to gain the most influence, which is acquired by having Vikings join your camp and by winning holmgangs (duels). The player with the most influence at the end of the game controls the Althingi and wins!
The aesthetic of this game is gritty and raw, with striking original illustrations by Lada Shustova. Special attention was paid to historical details such as clothing, weapons, and bartering goods, so rest assured that there are no horned helmets in this game! If you’ve visited Iceland, then you’ll recognize the landscape art as the fields of Thingvellir. And Viking history buffs might recognize the meaning of the two runes used in the game, symbols for Strength and for Influence.
Joshua Gillingham is a published author, board game designer, and freelance editor from Vancouver Island off Canada's west coast. Best known for his troll-hunting fantasy trilogy The Saga of Torin Ten-Trees, Joshua is also the Worldsmith of the transmedia historical fiction Althingi universe set in Viking Age Iceland which includes the card game Althingi: One Will Rise (with expansion Saga Heroes), an in-world anthology titled Althingi: The Crescent & the Northern Star co-edited with Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad, and the full-length novel Ran's Daughters written Kaitlin Felix for which he served as editor. Joshua is also an assistant editor for Black Cat Books in Victoria, Canada and has a forthcoming serialized sci-fi audiodrama called The Dreadcore (released under the pseudonym Aran Voss) in collaboration with Scottish voice actor Alex C. Stewart. Connect with Joshua on Twitter at @JoshMGillingham and find out more about his upcoming projects at joshuagillingham.ca.