King Me - A Defense of King-Making in Board Game Design

Explore a defense of king-making in competitive multiplayer board game design through Cole Wehrle's 2019 GDC Board Game Design Day talk. Delve into the concept of player disruption and its impact on gameplay dynamics. Examine historical examples, game theory, and design philosophies that challenge conventional wisdom about fair play. Discover how embracing king-making can enhance storytelling, risk-taking, and player agency in board games. Analyze case studies from popular titles and learn how to implement these principles in game development. Gain insights into balancing player interactions, victory conditions, and consent in multiplayer experiences. Question traditional notions of "playing to win" and explore alternative approaches to creating engaging and memorable gameplay moments.

Introduction
Root
Kyle Fair
The Pitch
Meanness
Richard Neville
The Twilight Imperium
Why We Dont Like KingMaking
The Trojan War
The Queen of Spades
Trial by Ordeal and Combat
Victorian Morality
Fun Fair Design
The Game Ethic
The Imperial School
Harry Potter
KingMaking
KingMaking as Storytelling
The Goal is to Win
Playing to Win vs Having to Win
Consent
Risk
Victory Conditions
High Frontier
Battle Royale
Questions
King Breaking