Tellstones: King's Gambit - How to Play?

Tellstone Kings Gambit
Tellstones: King's Gambit - Riot's newest board game (Image credit: Riot Games)

Since this morning it is finally time! Riot Games Boardgame Tellstones: King's Gambit is out there and can be ordered through their website.

The boardgame was announced in august and we’ve been patiently waiting to see what Riot has in stores for us. The game is finally here and we’re here to tell you just how it works! You can buy everything on the official Riot Games website and costs 30$. Sadly the game is only available for order in specific regions. Europe isn’t on the list just yet. The games’ rule book is available in multiple languages though on their website, which means it’s only a matter of time until European Boardgame fans can indulge in this fun game.

To add to the excitement, let's take a look at how to play Tellstones: King's Gambit.

How Does Tellstones: King's Gambit Even Work?

The board game consists of a playing mat, 7 tiles with unique symbols, also called the pool, 2 point tiles, and 2 player reference cards.

On both cards you will find the "Actions" as well as an illustration of the 7 stones, so that you don't forget which possibilities are available to you.

The game can be played by two or four players, but let's look at the 2-player version first.

You start by placing the mat horizontally between you and your opponent. Each player is given a reference card and a scoring stone, then a random token is placed face up in the middle of the mat which is called "The Line".After you have decided who may start, the game begins. Most actions work by letting your opponent do something. But there are also actions that you do yourself. Let's take a closer look at these actions, because they make up the whole gameplay.

  • Place

Your opponent must place a stone from the pool onto the line on a spot which you indicate.

  • Hide

You point at a stone on the line which your opponent must then turn around so that the symbol on top is invisible. The stone is now considered ‘hidden’.

  • Swap

Your opponent is supposed to swap the two pieces which you point at (overt or hidden). You do not flip any over!

  • Challenge

When you challenge your opponent, he must be able to tell you the symbol of the hidden stone you are pointing at. The stone is then turned over to see the solution. If your opponent guessed correctly, he gets one point. If it was wrong, you get the point.

  • Peek

If you use the Action Peek, you may briefly look at a flipped stone and put it back as it was before.

  • Boast

Boast is the all-in move in Tellstone: Kings Gambit. If you want to use your Action Boast, there are 3 more possibilities.

If you want to boast you tell your opponent that you can name all the marks on the stones which are on the line. If your opponent believes you - "I Believe You", you get one point and the game continues. If your opponent doesn't believe you and says that you have to prove it "Prove it!", the interesting part starts. Because now you have to prove that you really know the pieces. If you name them all correctly, you have automatically won the game and the round is over. But if you get even one symbol wrong, the round goes to your opponent.

Be careful though, because your opponent can also steal your boast and claim that he can also name the stones and then you are forced to asses the situation. Is the other merely bluffing or are they telling the truth?Boasting isn't the only way to win the game, but by gaining 3 points before your opponent.

As previously mentioned, the game can also be played by four people, where 2 people form a team and sit diagonally opposite each other, so that the opponents sit in front of one and next to one. The round is then played clockwise and the actions that you would order your opponent opposite yourself to do are performed by the opponent sitting to your left. Peeking at the cards is then also split up within the team and naming the symbols on the stones when you decide to boast is then done alternately by both team members.

The game's simple design seems super fun and makes us want to go out and play with our friends right off the bat. What are your thoughts on this game? Are you going to play it? Let us know on our Twitter and Facebook!

Want to know about other Riot Games releases? Are you excited about the new Mobile game Wild Rift and want to know when it's released? Are you interested in ranking up in TFT? We've got you covered right here on EarlyGame.

Sabrina Ahn

Sabrina Ahn is the League of Legends and Riftfeed Lead. During her time at Concordia University in 2014 she fell in love with LoL and is playing it since – how she hasn't lost her sanity is still unclear....