Category
Alea iacta est (the die is cast)
Make something relating to period games, chance, or fate
Entrant
Master Edward Braythwayte
Entry
Herkle
I have take a modern shape and colour matching game and created an heraldic version of it. It can be played with 2 or more players but it is best not to beyond 6 as you would not get many turns.
It is simple to learn and play. It has been played at recent SCA events and has proved to be very popular.
It consists of 108 painted oak blocks and a rather snazzy bag (made by Bess). The blocks are painted with 6 different heraldic charges; Pale. fess, bend. chevron, cross and saltaire. For each charge there are 6 different colours creating a set of 36 tiles. There are 3 sets in the bag.
To play the game each player takes 6 tiles from the bag. The player who can make the longest line of tiles with either matching shapes or matching colours starts and lays them down.
The next player must lay a row of tiles to match tiles in either colour or heraldic charge, placing them next to those already played.
Each turn a row of tiles are placed next to the existing ones so that they extend, or are adjacent to, an existing row, creating a crossword type layout and the player replaces the tiles laid by taking new tiles from the bag to maintain a set of 6 to choose from.
Each row can on consist of matching charges or matching shapes. The longest row that can be made is the full set of 6 charges or colours.
Points are scored according to the number of tiles in each row created (or extended). -It is possible to place a row of tiles adjacent to others in a way that creates or extends multiple rows. Each row counts towards the player’s score.
If a player completes the full set of 6 in a line (called a Herkle) they get double points for that line (12).
The game ends when there are no tiles left in the bag and one player plays their last tile. The player that ends the game gets a bonus 6 points.
Have fun!
