Board Game Review: Coup | Geek Node Archive

Published December 14, 2015

Coup is a bluffing card game for 2 – 6 players. Based in the future where the government is run for profit (okay maybe it’s not set in the future!), all but a privileged few live lives of poverty and desperation. The Resistance rises out of these oppressed masses in revolt and throws the government into chaos.

Many see hope for a brighter future for the first time in their lives. Others see opportunity for absolute power. To take command, you must destroy the influence of your rivals and drive them into exile.

ONLY ONE CAN SURVIVE.

Game Components:

The small box the game comes in contains the 3 of each character card (15 cards in total) and the tokens representing the currency / coins. This and your poker face is all that would be required to play this game!

How to Play:

The game starts with everyone receiving 2 cards which represents their influence within the world. These cards are super important, once you lose both you are out of the game. The 5 characters you could receive are: Duke, Captain, Assassin, Contessa or Ambassador. Each character has their own special abilities. You also receive 2 coins/credits to start out with. Once the 1st player has been decided (Rules state that the person who won the last game goes 1st) the bluffing begins. You are only allowed to do one of 8 actions each round:

Income – Take 1 Coin (This cannot be blocked or challenged)

Foreign Aid – Take 2 Coins (Cannot be challenged. Can be blocked by a player claiming to be Duke)

Duke – Tax – Take 3 Coins (Cannot be blocked. Can be challenged)

Captain – Steal – Take 2 Coins from another player (Can be blocked by Captain or Ambassador. Can be challenged)

Assassin – Assassinate – Pay 3 coins, choose player to lose 1 influence. (Can be blocked by Contessa. Can be challenged)

Contessa – Block assassination (Cannot be blocked. Can be challenged)

Ambassador – Exchange – Draw 2 cards, return 2 cards to court deck (Cannot be Blocked. Can be challenged)

Coup – Pay 7 coins, choose player to lose 1 influence. (Cannot be blocked or challenged) At 10+ coins you have no choice but to Coup.

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Naturally since this is a bluffing game you do not need to actually own any of the cards mentioned above to perform any of the actions. Be careful though most of the actions can be challenged if someone thinks you don’t have the card in question. If you take 3 coins as tax claiming to be duke and you are challenged you need to reveal the duke that you used to gather taxes. If you can show your duke the person that challenged you needs to lose one influence. If you cannot show a duke and you are caught bluffing you lose one influence for being naughty! Once you lose both of your influence you are out of the game and last person to still have at least 1 influence wins the game. Most games I’ve played thus far lasted about 15min and the game really shows you which of your friends are the best liars/bluffers!

Positive Nodes:

Easy to learn

The suspense when you bluff is insane

Extremely fun

Negative Nodes:

Player elimination (If you are kicked out early you need to sit and wait for the game to end.)

Coup is a bluffing card game for 2 - 6 players. Based in the future where the government is run for profit (okay maybe it's not set in the future!), all but a privileged few live lives of poverty and desperation. The Resistance rises out of these oppressed masses in revolt and throws the government into chaos. Many see hope for a brighter future for the first time in their lives. Others see opportunity for absolute power. To take command, you must destroy the influence of your rivals and drive them into exile. ONLY ONE CAN SURVIVE. Game Components: The small box the game comes in contains the 3 of each character card (15 cards in total) and the tokens representing the currency / coins. This and your poker face is all that would be required to play this game! How to Play: The game starts with everyone receiving 2 cards which represents their influence within the world. These cards are super important, once you lose both you are out of the game. The 5 characters you could receive are: Duke, Captain, Assassin, Contessa or Ambassador. Each character has their own special abilities. You also receive 2 coins/credits to start out with. Once the 1st player has been decided (Rules state that the person who won the last game goes 1st) the bluffing begins. You are only allowed to do one of 8 actions each round: Income - Take 1 Coin (This cannot be blocked or challenged) Foreign Aid - Take 2 Coins (Cannot be challenged. Can be blocked by a player claiming to be Duke) Duke - Tax - Take 3 Coins (Cannot be blocked. Can be challenged) Captain - Steal - Take 2 Coins from another player (Can be blocked by Captain or Ambassador. Can be challenged) Assassin - Assassinate - Pay 3 coins, choose player to lose 1 influence. (Can be blocked by Contessa. Can be challenged) Contessa - Block assassination (Cannot be blocked. Can be challenged) Ambassador - Exchange - Draw 2 cards, return 2 cards to court deck (Cannot be Blocked. Can be challenged) Coup - Pay 7 coins, choose player to lose 1 influence. (Cannot be blocked or challenged) At 10+ coins you have no choice but to Coup. Naturally since this is a bluffing game you do not need to actually own any of the cards mentioned above to perform any of the actions. Be careful though most of the actions can be challenged if someone thinks you don't have the card in question. If you take 3 coins as tax claiming to be duke and you are challenged you need to reveal the duke that you used to gather taxes. If you can show your duke the person that challenged you needs to lose one influence. If you cannot show a duke and you are caught bluffing you lose one influence for being naughty! Once you lose both of your influence you are out of the game and last person to still…

Board Game Review: Coup

2015-12-14

Pyro

Total - 8

80 8

I enjoy this fast paced card game a lot. With quick setup and game play it fits in well with the games I love to play before the 1-2 hour long games.

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User Rating: Be the first one !

Finally a game I can win at! If you’re a good liar (check) & can keep a straight face…then this is a game you can master. Lots of chance & gambling involved…but this heightens the fun & gives you the danger element. Do I have the Duke? Or am I just bluffing to pull coinage? If you challenge my Captain & he exists…you could lose your Captain & risk being assassinated. Are you prepared to take that risk? My Ambassador could be real. ..so could my Contessa…but can you read my face…is it worth challenging me? An easy enough game that’s fast paced and tense…had me biting my nails…inwardly of course.! Thoroughly enjoyed the game & highly recommend it! – Inka

A fun, simple and quick game of deduction, deception and daring… A game where you bluff your way to eliminating your opponents before they eliminate you. – Robert ( Red Shirt Tabletop )

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Pyro

Guest Contributor - Tabletop at Geek Node

Pyro is a rambling pyromaniac of unknown origin who has a burning passion for all things fire related. (And board games). Controller by day gamer by night. He turns caffeine into reviews.