Overview

Fief: France 1429 is a game of political intrigue, diplomacy, and warfare set in medieval France. Players control noble families, competing to control fiefdoms and bishoprics across a map of France. Through marriage alliances, military conquest, political maneuvering, and ecclesiastical influence, players accumulate titles (Fief Lord, Bishop, Cardinal, Pope, King) and victory points. The game combines negotiation, area control, and card-driven combat.

Components

• 1 Game board (map of France divided into villages, fiefs, and bishoprics)
• Lord cards and Lady cards
• Event cards
• Troop cards
• Village and city tokens
• Fortification tokens (Strongholds, Walls, Citadels)
• Mill tokens
• Title cards (Fief, Bishop, Cardinal, Pope, King/Queen)
• Marriage tokens
• Gold coins
• Dice
• Player screens

Setup

1. Place the board centrally.
2. Deal starting Lord/Lady cards to each player.
3. Place starting troops and fortifications per scenario.
4. Distribute starting gold.
5. Place title cards and other components nearby.

Turn Structure

Each round consists of phases:

1. Income Phase

• Collect income from controlled villages and mills.
• Bishops and Cardinals tithe their bishoprics.
• Fief Lords levy tallage on their fiefdoms.

2. Purchase Phase

Buy troops, mills, strongholds, and fief titles with gold.

3. Card Phase

Draw and play event cards that may affect the game state.

4. Action Phase

Players take actions including:

• Move troops between villages
• Attack enemy forces
• Lay siege to fortified positions

5. Political Phase

• Propose marriages between Lords and Ladies of different families.
• Vote on elections for titles (Bishop, Cardinal, Pope, King).
• Negotiate alliances and deals.

Actions

• Purchase Fief Title: If you control all villages and at least one stronghold in a fief, you may purchase the title.
• Recruit Troops: Spend gold to add soldiers, knights, and siege equipment.
• Build Fortifications: Construct mills (for income), strongholds, walls, and citadels.
• March: Move your troops through connected villages.
• Battle: Resolve combat using troop strength and dice.
• Siege: Attack fortified positions over multiple turns.
• Propose Marriage: Alliance two noble houses through matrimony.
• Elect Titles: Participate in elections for ecclesiastical and royal titles.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Victory is achieved by accumulating 3 victory points (adjustable). VP sources:

• Each Fief title = 1 VP
• Each Bishop title = 1 VP
• Cardinal = 1 VP
• Pope = 1 VP
• King/Queen = 1 VP

Marriage alliances allow players to combine VP with their spouse’s family. Players may also win through diplomatic agreements.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Marriages are binding alliances; married Lords/Ladies combine their families’ VP.
• Ecclesiastical titles (Bishop, Cardinal, Pope) are restricted to unmarried male Lords.
• Assassination: Event cards may allow assassination of Lords and Ladies.
• Excommunication: The Pope can excommunicate Lords, removing their titles.
• Weather events affect movement and combat.
• Diplomacy is unrestricted; any deal can be made (and broken).
• Multiple titled Lords can accumulate several VP from different title types.
• Strongholds provide defensive bonuses in combat.

Player Reference

Item	Details
Players	3-6
VP to win	3 (standard)
Title types	Fief Lord, Bishop, Cardinal, Pope, King/Queen
Income sources	Villages, Mills, Tithes, Tallage
Combat resolution	Troop strength + dice
Marriage	Combines VP between allied families