Krafting Krowns

From BoardGameGeek:

GAME DESCRIPTION King Krowfell of Krystalia is dead and left no heir. Now it's time to claim the throne by crafting nine Power Krystals to forge the ultimate Krown! In Krafting Krowns, players deploy dice strategically and manipulate their values using cards from six powerful Klans. Transform Raw Krystals (dice showing 1) into Power Krystals (dice showing 3) through clever combinations of Magic, Master, and Menace cards. The game features three distinct phases that create a compelling gameplay loop: Gathering (competitive bidding for cards), Snatching (last-chance card acquisition), and Krafting (strategic dice manipulation). What makes Krafting Krowns unique: Three-phase gameplay cycle with competitive card bidding using dice as currency Dual-purpose dice: bid for cards in Gathering, then manipulate them in Krafting Resource tension: Every Power Krystal you craft reduces your bidding power for future rounds Self-balancing gameplay: Early leaders face disadvantages in later rounds, keeping games competitive Immediate victory: Win the moment you place your 9th Power Krystal VITAL STATS Player Count: 2-4 players Playing Time: 30 minutes to 90 minutes Age: 14+ Complexity: Medium COMPONENTS: 54 Krafting cards (Magic, Master, Menace across 6 Klans) 36 custom 8-sided dice (9 per player) 6 Klan zone cards 4 Krown cards 3 Turn Marker cards 4 Reminder cards Core Mechanics: Dice Rolling & Manipulation Hand Management Auction/Bidding Area Control Take That THE SIX KLANS Master the powers of six distinct magical factions, each with their own Klan zone: SINGING SIRENS SHORE - Mystical shore dwellers with enchanting abilities CURSED HUMANS CITY - Resilient village inhabitants with determined spirit GRAVE UNDEAD YARD - Graveyard dwellers wielding dark powers ELEMENTAL SPIRITS MOUNTAIN - Elemental mountain forces MYSTIC FAERIES FOREST - Forest mystics channeling nature's magic UNSACRIFICEABLE GOATS FIELDS - The stubborn guardians of the realm GAME FLOW The game cycles through three phases until a winner emerges: Gathering Phase: Roll dice one at a time to bid on face-up and face-down cards. Rolling a 3 wins instantly, or accumulate dice totaling 3+. Dice on lost cards become "burnt" and unavailable until Krafting. Snatching Phase: Re-roll idle dice for a final chance at remaining cards. Choose which dice to keep and which to re-roll, then place them strategically on remaining cards. Krafting Phase: First allocate all dice to Klan zones (starting value: 1), then play cards to manipulate dice values. Combine Magic cards (flip to 2) with Master cards (add +1) to create Power Krystals. Menace cards disrupt opponents or provide tactical advantages. Cards carry over between sessions, creating long-term planning opportunities and resource management decisions. DESIGNER NOTES "Krafting Krowns emerged from our desire to create a game where dice serve multiple strategic purposes. The dual-resource system means every decision ripples through multiple phases-aggressive bidding wins cards but leaves fewer dice for future rounds. The self-balancing mechanism naturally prevents runaway victories. Players who craft Power Krystals early have fewer dice for subsequent Gatherings, while conservative players maintain stronger card acquisition potential. Victory goes to whoever best manages the delicate balance between immediate gains and future opportunities." -Stefano Virgilli & Ernestas Jasilionis PERFECT FOR Players seeking meaningful decisions with dice manipulation Groups that enjoy competitive bidding and resource management Fans of tactical card play with "take that" elements Game nights needing something fresh that plays in under an hour Anyone who appreciates hand-crafted artwork (no AI art here!) Launched at SPIEL Essen with the magical kingdom of Krystalia awaiting its next ruler. Crown not included, but glory guaranteed!