You are head of a family in an Italian city-state, a city run by a weak and corrupt court. You need to manipulate, bluff and bribe your way to power. Your object is to destroy the influence of all the other families, forcing them into exile. Only one family will survive.

In Coup, you want to be the last player with influence in the game, with influence being represented by face-down character cards in your playing area. Each player starts the game with two coins and two influence – i.e., two face-down character cards; the fifteen card deck consists of three copies of five different characters, each with a distinct set of powers. When you take one of the character actions – whether actively on your turn, or defensively in response to someone else’s action – that character’s action automatically succeeds unless an opponent challenges you. In this case, if you can’t (or don’t) reveal the appropriate character, you lose an influence, turning one of your characters face-up. Face-up characters cannot be used, and if both of your characters are face-up, you’re out of the game. If you do have the character in question and choose to reveal it, the opponent loses an influence, then you shuffle that character into the deck and draw a new one, perhaps getting the same character again and perhaps not. The last player to still have influence – that is, a face-down character – wins the game.

Dystopian lives

In the not too distant future, the government is run for profit by a new “royal class” of multi-national CEOs. Their greed and absolute control of the economy has reduced all but a privileged few to lives of poverty and desperation. Out of the oppressed masses rose The Resistance – an underground organization focused on overthrowing these powerful rulers. The valiant efforts of The Resistance have created discord, intrigue and weakness in the political courts of the new royals, bringing the government to brink of collapse. But for you, a powerful government official, this is your opportunity to manipulate, bribe and bluff your way into absolute power. To be successful, you must destroy the influence of your rivals and drive them into exile. In these turbulent times there is only room for one to survive.

Secret identities

Players start the game with two coins and two face-down character cards each with a unique set of powers – the goal is simple: be the last one standing. On each turn, if a player claims a character action it automatically succeeds unless an opponent challenges your identity. When challenged, if you can’t reveal the appropriate character, you lose a character, turning it face-up. Face-up characters cannot be used, and if both of your characters are face-up, you’re out of the game. If you do have the character in question, you reveal it, the opponent loses a character and your card gets shuffled into the deck only to draw a new one, perhaps getting the same character again and perhaps not. The last player to still have a face-down character (or two) – wins the game!

Who do you think you are?

The Court deck consists of fifteen cards – three copies of five different characters: Duke, Assassin, Contessa, Captain or Ambassador – each with its own special abilities (the Duke can claim tax, the Assassin can attempt an assassination, the Captain can steal coins from another player, etc). As players start claiming actions identities are revealed, the seeds of doubt are planted and poker faces are tested.

Strike a coup

Trick players into losing their cards or gather up the money to overthrow them. At 7 coins any player can use their turn to assassinate another player’s character, a strike that not even the highly influential and powerful Countessa can stop.

The choice is yours!

Box Contains

• 15 character cards (three each of Duke, Assassin, Captain, Ambassador, Contessa)
  6 summary cards
• About the Startup
• Describe your product in 3 words.
• hidden-identities, bluffing, deduction
• How did you come up with the idea for this product?
• The original Coup was an independent smash hit in 2012, we worked with the original designer Rikki Tahta & La Mame Games to make this fantastic game more readily available for everyone to enjoy. We added some exciting new artwork that really complimented the theme and mechanics and brought it a much broader appeal.
• What makes your product special?
• Coup is quick to learn and quick to play but has enough depth to keep experienced players come back game after game.