Détente

After countless years of squabbling over the throne, the noble houses have finally agreed to unite under a common rule. At least that's what they've publically stated. Tonight, at the coronation of the Duke, each house has hidden an assassin amongst the crowd. As the future King, can you navigate this poisonous ballroom? As the noble houses, can you ensure that he never sees the light of day?

Détente is an asymmetrical game for 2-4 players, centered around hidden information, bluffing, and strategic planning. The player who controls the Duke must use deductive reasoning to sort the assassins apart from the crowd. Do you shake hands with a noble and risk a knife in your side for the trouble? Or do you snub his greeting, straining already thin relations, and bring the countryside one step closer to another war?

As the noble houses, your aims are twofold: to expose the enemy houses and to assassinate the Duke. Through eavesdropping and clever maneuvering of your lords and ladies, you can place your opponents under the watchful eye of the Duke's bodyguards. By keeping your own strategy fluid, you can dance your assassin around the ballroom floor, always one step ahead of the Duke.