Courtisans

Courtisans

Gameplay and Mechanics Courtisans is a strategic social board game of influence, manipulation, and hidden agendas set within the lavish yet treacherous halls of a royal court. Players take on the roles of ambitious courtiers, each with unique abilities, secret goals, and shifting alliances. The core of the gameplay lies in maneuvering through political intrigue, earning favor, sabotaging rivals, and securing influence over key figures in the kingdom.

Turns are driven by card play, negotiation, and positional tactics on a modular court board. Players attend events, sway nobles, forge or betray alliances, and manipulate courtly rumors to gain prestige. Victory is achieved by accumulating influence in specific factions — military, clergy, nobility, or royal family — or by fulfilling hidden objectives tied to character backstories.

Theme and Atmosphere Courtisans captures the elegance and danger of life behind velvet curtains. Every gesture can mask a threat, and every alliance may hide a dagger. The game blends 17th–18th century European aristocratic aesthetics with subtle power dynamics, dramatic reversals, and social tension. Themes of ambition, charm, loyalty, and deception are at the heart of the experience.

Design and Components The game includes illustrated character cards with asymmetric abilities, intrigue cards, influence tokens, and a modular court map with areas like the ballroom, council chamber, and royal gardens. The art style is ornate and detailed, inspired by baroque portraiture and classical costume design. Optional mechanics for hidden roles and real-time negotiation allow for deeper immersion and replayability.