In Her Majesty's Name: The Rise of Akhenaton

In Her Majesty's Name: The Rise of Akhenaton is set in a Steampunk world of 1895, the players represent the major nations of the Victorian era competing for both mechanical & mystical advantage.

Three decks of cards (Destination, Mission & Adversary) create challenges all around the world and the players compete to accumulate Fame Points by travelling to destinations and claiming the cards for successfully completing the challenge at that location. Challenges involve Shooting, Fighting or Mystic traits; they are resolved using a dice roll adjusted by skill level, 'Operation' cards played and money spent.

During a challenge all players can opt to play cards to either help or hinder the current player. Six of the challenges in the game involve the 'Regalia of Ra', if players obtain these items they increase their Mystic powers. However Akhenaton’s agents are also searching for the Regalia of Ra and on every player’s turn all regalia in play will move towards their headquarters in Cairo, if a regalia item reaches Cairo then Akhenaton claims it.

When the sixth regalia item is revealed Akhenaton himself appears on the board and moves on London, if he reaches London he wins, if he is defeated then the player with the most Fame Points wins.

—description from the designer

Feedback from playtester Mark T “it’s an atmospheric, retro experience with simple, fast, well balanced, logical game play. We all loved the subtle balance of co-op and every man for himself. The pain of taking one for the team by compromising an intended mission to help someone else pick up a Regalia rather than let it get to Cairo makes for some fantastic gameplay with all the deal making/breaking that goes with that. The end game is a lovely ramping of tension and the option of going for total loss rather than helping someone who has previously screwed you over win outright is also a very nice/nasty touch.”