This article is about the board game. For the real-world computer game, see Lords of Waterdeep (mobile game).
For other uses, see Lords of Waterdeep.
Lords of Waterdeep is a strategy board game set in the Forgotten Realms setting. Play occurs in the city of Waterdeep.
“
Waterdeep, the City of Splendors – the most resplendent jewel in the Forgotten Realms, and a den of political intrigue and shady back-alley dealings. In this game, the players are powerful lords vying for control of this great city. Its treasures and resources are ripe for the taking, and that which cannot be gained through trickery and negotiation must be taken by force! [1]
”
Gameplay[]
In Lords of Waterdeep, you take on the role of one of the masked Lords of Waterdeep, secret rulers of the city. Through your agents, you recruit adventurers to go on quests on your behalf, earning rewards and increasing your influence over the city. Expand the city by purchasing new buildings that open up new actions on the board, and hinder – or help – the other lords by playing Intrigue cards to enact your carefully laid plans. [1]
During the course of play, you may gain points or resources through completing quests, constructing buildings, playing intrigue cards or having other players utilize the buildings you have constructed. At the end of 8 rounds of play, the player who has accrued the most points wins the game. [1]
- Agents
At the beginning of the game, each player chooses a color, which represent agents of a secret society. [2]
- Yellow: Knights of the Shield
- Black: City Guard
- Blue: Silverstars
- Green: Harpers
- Red: Red Sashes
Electronic Version[]
Lords of Waterdeep is a mobile game of Lords of Waterdeep that was developed by Playdek and released by Wizards of the Coast on November 21, 2013.
Expansion[]
An expansion, Lords of Waterdeep: Scoundrels of Skullport, was released in 2013.
Index[]
Characters
- Brianne Byndraeth • Caladorn Cassalanter • Durnan "the Wanderer" • Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun • Kyriani Agrivar • Larissa Neathal • Mirt the Moneylender • Nindil Jalbuck • Nymara "Kitten" Scheiron • Piergeiron the Paladinson • Sammereza "Sammer" Sulphontis
Buildings
- Caravan Court • Dragon Tower • Fetlock Court • The Golden Horn • Helmstar Warehouse • Heroes’ Garden • House of Good Spirits • House of Heroes • House of the Moon • House of Wonder • Jester’s Court • New Olamn • Northgate • The Palace of Waterdeep • The Skulkway • Smuggler’s Dock • Spires of the Morning • The Stone House • The Three Pearls • Tower of Luck • Tower of Order • The Waymoot • Yawning Portal • The Zoarstar
Creatures
Contents[]
A promotional photo of the game's contents.
- Game board
- Rulebook
- 5 card stock player mats
- 121 Intrigue, Quest, and Role cards
- 130 wooden cubes, pawns, and score pieces
- Wooden player markers
- Card stock tiles and tokens representing buildings, gold coins, and victory points
Cards[]
Lord Cards[]
At the beginning of the game, each player selects a Lord Card from the deck. This card represents the character for the player. The card is kept secret from the other players. [2]
Quest Cards[]
Quest Cards are how Victory Points are gained. They are given at the Cliffwatch Inn. Quests are completed by paying the required resources shown on the card. There are 5 different types of quests, and a quest’s type indicates what sort of Adventurers are most important to completing it: [2]
- Arcana (Wizard)
- Commerce (any + gold)
- Piety (Cleric)
- Skullduggery (Rogue)
- Warfare (Fighter)
| Name | Quest Type |
|---|---|
| Ally With House Thann | Commerce |
| Ambush Artor Morlin | Warfare |
| Bolster City Guard | Warfare |
| Bolster Griffon Cavalry | Warfare |
| Bribe The Shipwrights | Commerce |
| Build A Reputation In Skullport | Skullduggery |
| Confront The Xanathar | Warfare |
| Convert A Noble To Lathander | Piety |
| Create A Shrine To Oghma | Piety |
| Defeat Uprising From Undermountain | Warfare |
| Defend The Tower Of Luck | Piety |
| Deliver An Ultimatum | Warfare |
| Deliver Weapons To Selune's Temple | Warfare |
| Discover Hidden Temple Of Lolth | Piety |
| Domesticate Owlbears | Arcana |
| Eliminate Vampire Coven | Piety |
| Establish Harpers Safe House | Skullduggery |
| Establish New Merchant Guild | Commerce |
| Establish Shadow Thieves' Guild | Skullduggery |
| Explore Ahghairon's Tower | Arcana |
| Expose Cult Corruption | Skullduggery |
| Expose Red Wizards' Spies | Arcana |
| Fence Goods For Duke Of Darkness | Skullduggery |
| Form An Alliance With The Rashemi | Piety |
| Heal Fallen Gray Hand Soldiers | Piety |
| Host Festival For Sune | Arcana |
| Impersonate Adarbrent Noble | Commerce |
| Infiltrate Builder's Hall | Commerce |
| Infiltrate Halaster's Circle | Arcana |
| Install A Spy In Castle Waterdeep | Skullduggery |
| Investigate Aberrant Infestation | Arcana |
| Loot The Crypt Of Chauntea | Commerce |
| Lure Artisans Of Mirabar | Commerce |
| Perform The Penance Of Duty | Piety |
| Placate The Walking Statue | Commerce |
| Place A Sleeper Agent In Skullport | Skullduggery |
| Prison Break | Skullduggery |
| Procure Stolen Goods | Skullduggery |
| Produce Miracle For The Masses | Piety |
| Protect The House Of Wonder | Piety |
| Quell Mercenary uprising | Warfare |
| Raid On Undermountain | Skullduggery |
| Raid Orc Stronghold | Warfare |
| Recover The Magister's Orb | Arcana |
| Recruit For Blackstaff Academy | Arcana |
| Recruit Leiutenant | Warfare |
| Recruit Paladins For Tyr | Piety |
| Repel Seawraiths | Warfare |
| Research Chronomancy | Arcana |
| Retrieve Ancient Artifacts | Arcana |
| Safeguard Eltorchul Mage | Commerce |
| Seal Gate To Cyric's Realm | Piety |
| Send Aid To The Harpers | Commerce |
| Spy On The Lighthouse | Commerce |
| Steal From House Adarbrent | Skullduggery |
| Steal Spellbook From Silverhand | Arcana |
| Study The Illusk Arch | Arcana |
| Take Over Rival Organization | Skullduggery |
| Thin The City Watch | Commerce |
| Train Bladesingers | Warfare |
Intrigue Cards[]
Intrigue cards are random bonus or effect cards. [2]
| Name | Intrigue Type |
|---|---|
| Accelerated Plans | Utility |
| Ambush | Attack |
| Arcane Mishap | Attack |
| Assassination | Attack |
| Bidding War | Utility |
| Bribe Agent | Attack |
| Call For Adventurers | Utility |
| Call In A Favor | Utility |
| Change Of Plans | Utility |
| Conscription | Utility |
| Crime Wave | Utility |
| Fend Off Bandits | Mandatory Quest |
| Foil The Zhentarim | Mandatory Quest |
| Free Drinks | Attack |
| Good Faith | Utility |
| Graduation Day | Utility |
| Lack Of Faith | Attack |
| Placate Angry Merchants | Mandatory Quest |
| Quell Riots | Mandatory Quest |
| Real Estate Deal | Utility |
| Recall Agent | Utility |
| Recruit Spies | Utility |
| Repel Drow Invaders | Mandatory Quest |
| Request Assistance | Utility |
| Research Agreement | Utility |
| Sample Wares | Utility |
| Special Assignment | Utility |
| Spread The Wealth | Utility |
| Stamp Out Cultists | Mandatory Quest |
| Summon The Faithful | Utility |
| Tax Collection | Utility |
Appendix[]
Awards[]
- 2012 Meeples' Choice (Nominee)
- 2012 Guldbrikken Special Jury Prize Winner [3]
- 2012 Golden Geek Best Strategy Board Game (Nominee) [4]
- 2012 Golden Geek Best Family Board Game (Nominee) [4]
- 2012 Golden Geek Best Board Game Artwork/Presentation (Nominee) [4]
- 2012 ENnie for Best RPG Related Product Silver Winner [5]
- 2012 ENnie for Best RPG Related Product (Nominee) [5]
- 2012 Charles S. Roberts Best Science-Fiction or Fantasy Board Wargame (Nominee)
- 2012 Origins Awards Best Board Game Winner [6]
- 2012 Origins Awards Best Board Game (Nominee) [6]
- 2013 Origins Awards Best Board Games (Nominee)[7]
Game Credits[]
- Design: Rodney Thompson, Peter Lee
- Development: Joe Huber, Peter Lee, Mons Johnson
- Additional Development: Mike Turian
- Editing: Jennifer Clarke Wilkes
- D&D R&D Senior Group Manager: Mike Mearls
- D&D Tabletop Games Manager: Rodney Thompson
- D&D Senior Creative Director: Jon Schindehette
- Art Director: Keven Smith
- Graphic Design: Emi Tanji
- Cover Illustration: Ralph Horsley
- Game Board Illustration: Mike Schley
- Card Illustrations: Eric Belisle, Steven Belledin, Zoltan Boros, Noah Bradley, Eric Deschamps, Wayne England, Jason Engle, Tony Foti, Tyler Jacobson, Todd Harris, Ron Lemen, Howard Lyon, Warren Mahy, Patrick McEvoy, Jim Nelson, Ralph Horsley, William O’Connor, Adam Paquette, Lucio Parrillo, David Rapoza, Richard Sardinha, Andrew Silver, Anne Stokes, Gabor Szikszai, Matias Tapia, Kev Walker, Tyler Walpole, Eva Widermann, Eric L. Williams, Matthew D. Wilson, Sam Wood, Ben Wootten, James Zhang
- Prepress Manager: Jefferson Dunlap
- D&D Brand Team: Liz Schuh, Kierin Chase, Laura Tommervik, Shelly Mazzanoble, Chris Lindsay, Hilary Ross
- Imaging Technician: Carmen Cheung
- Production Manager: Godot Gutierre
- Playtesting: Mark Anderson, Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, Mark Globus, Genevieve Gorman, Joe Huber, Mons Johnson, Scott Larabee, Peter Lee, Joe Ludwig, Nissa Ludwig, Mike Mearls, Christopher Perkins, Bill Slavicsek, Rodney Thompson, Jennifer Tatroe, Kevin Tatroe, Mike Turian
Further Reading[]
- Matt Chapman (2016-02-18). Finding the Fun: D&D Board Games (Web). In Matt Chapman ed. Dragon+ #6. Wizards of the Coast. p. 11. Retrieved on 2018-05-23.
External Links[]
- TableTop Extended: Lords of Waterdeep | Geek and Sundry
- Map of Waterdeep, DM and player versions, free download for personal use
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lords of Waterdeep Board Game Website. (2012). Retrieved on 2018-05-18.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 (2012). Lords of Waterdeep Rulebook. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 5. ISBN 978-0-7869-5991-4.
- ↑ Guldbrikken 2012. (2012). Retrieved on 2018-05-18.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 2012 Golden Geek Awards - Nominees Announced. (2012). Retrieved on 2018-05-18.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Congratulations to the 2012 ENnie Award winners!. (2012). Retrieved on 2018-05-18.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The 2012 Origins Awards. (2012). Retrieved on 2018-05-18.
- ↑ Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design Announces 2013 Origins Awards Nominees (Web). (2013). Retrieved on 2018-11-20.