Beasts & Diplomacy
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The FroGames card
You choose a rare beast. Another player takes it before you. You change your plan, look for another combination, and suddenly discover that the card nobody wanted has become the key to your victory.
WHAT IT IS ABOUT
Knights, rare beasts, and diplomacy in an exhibition worthy of a kingdom
Designed by Mike Kribel and published by Dragon Dawn Productions, Beasts and Diplomacy is a drafting and tableau-building game set in the fantasy land of Aterra. You are a Knight who must assemble the best Exhibition of wild and rare creatures to impress the kingdom's Diplomats. The illustrations, created with Midjourney AI under Kribel's direction, create a diverse and evocative bestiary.
At the table, you draw cards, choose which ones to keep and which to pass, and build your tableau by looking for patterns and sets. But each beast has an upkeep cost that grows turn after turn: you must balance ambition and resources, complete secret quests, and constantly react to opponents' moves. The game promises increasing depth: the first few games will only scratch the surface, then you will learn to manage risk, finances, and action sequences for tense and competitive games.
What they say abroad
"Beasts and Diplomacy is a card drafting, tableau-building game where players become Knights of the land of Aterra, competing to assemble the best Exhibition of wild and rare Beasts that appeal to the Diplomats of the land."
— Dragon Dawn Games
Beasts and Diplomacy is a game that grows with you. Each game reveals new combinations, new paths to victory. Replayability is very high.
— FroGames
Beasts and Diplomacy
The game includes an official solo mode with dedicated rules. The experience is complete and the optimization puzzle works well even without opponents, but it loses the interaction of competitive drafting: in solo mode, you don't have to worry about who snatches the key cards from you.
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews and game sessionsYour bestiary
What you build at the table
Beasts
Each creature is worth influence points if placed in the right pattern. But each has an upkeep cost in Hours (the game's resource) that increases daily. Choose carefully.
Diplomats
They are the final arbiters of your exhibition. Each evaluates different aspects of your tableau: sets of creatures, icon patterns, balanced composition. You need to understand which ones to please.
Secret quests
Personal objectives that only you know. Completing them earns extra influence points, but reveals part of your strategy to others. Crucial timing.
Hours (resource)
Used to maintain beasts and activate certain actions. Costs increase daily. If you run out of Hours, you must discard creatures or forego key moves. Management is everything.
Recommended sleeves 384 cards in 2 sizes ▼
If you play often, we recommend protecting cards with clear sleeves to make them last longer.
| Size | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 57 × 88.9 mm | 336 |
| 44 × 67 mm | 48 |
| Total cards | 384 |
🎯 COME SI GIOCA
🧤 BUSTINE
📜 REGOLAMENTO
Come si gioca
Video dimostrativo di gameplay.
🎲How to playThe rules in four steps▼
How to play
The flow of each day
Beasts and Diplomacy is played over three days (rounds), each divided into four phases. Drafting, building, upkeep, bonus actions.
You draw cards from a central deck or specific piles. You choose which ones to keep and which to pass to your opponents. It's not simultaneous drafting: you see what others take and react accordingly.
You place beasts in your tableau, trying to create sets, icon patterns, and combinations that your Diplomats like. Some cards have immediate or permanent effects that modify your engine.
You pay Hours for each beast in your tableau. Costs increase each day. If you don't have enough Hours, you must discard creatures or forgo actions. Resource management is crucial.
You can spend Hours to activate abilities, complete quests, or manipulate the drafting of the next round. Timing and sequencing are everything: every action now can unlock or block future moves.
⏱️Your first gameThe story, moment by moment▼
A game in five moments
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
Drafting and first choices
You draw the first cards, look at the available beasts. Everyone wants the rare creature in the middle of the table. Someone takes it, you settle for another. You've already changed strategy and haven't even finished the first round. Welcome to the game of opportunity.
First patterns and costs
You start to see the synergies: two beasts sharing an icon, a diplomat rewarding that type. You add creatures to the tableau. Then comes the first upkeep payment. Hours quickly run low. You realize you can't keep everything.
Quests and adaptation
Someone reveals a quest. Others react, change drafting. You realize your secret quest requires beasts no one wants: it becomes your hidden advantage. You start building towards that goal while pretending to aim elsewhere.
Day 3 and soaring costs
Upkeep costs have doubled. Someone has to discard a key beast. Others pay everything and give up important actions. Every choice is painful. The table is tense: those who managed resources best emerge. Those who aimed too high crumble.
Final scoring
Quests revealed, influence points counted. Diplomats evaluate the tableaus. You discover that the beast nobody wanted won you a complete set. The winner isn't the one with the best cards, but the one who knew how to build with what they had. Someone already wants to play again.
🐸Good to know beforehandThree honest things, from friends▼
Good to know beforehand
Three things a friend would tell you
Non-trivial learning curve
The first few games seem simple: you draw, choose, place. Then you realize that every choice has ripple effects on future costs and synergies. It takes 2-3 games to grasp the depth of the system and start playing well. Don't expect to dominate immediately.
Tight resource management
Rising upkeep costs are unforgiving. If you don't plan your economy well, you'll find yourself discarding key beasts or giving up crucial actions. The game punishes greed: you can't keep everything. Choose what to sacrifice.
Variable scalability
It works for 1 to 6 players, but the experience changes significantly. With 2-3 players, drafting is more controllable and tactical. With 5-6, it becomes more chaotic, and you have to adapt more. Downtime increases with the number of players: above 4, expect pauses between turns.
🏆Victory and defeatWhat the ending rewards▼
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
After three days of drafting and building, influence points are counted. The winner is the one who built the most balanced Exhibition and impressed the right Diplomats.
Victory
- Influence points from Diplomats: each Diplomat evaluates different aspects of your tableau (sets of beasts, icons, composition)
- Points from completed secret quests: personal objectives revealed at the end of the game
- Bonuses from cards and special abilities activated during the game
Defeat (or disadvantage)
- You can't pay upkeep costs and have to discard key beasts from your tableau
- You don't complete your secret quests and lose easy influence points
- You build an unbalanced tableau that no Diplomat likes
Beasts and Diplomacy doesn't reward those with the best cards, but those who can adapt and build with what the table offers. Each game is a different puzzle.
💬Frequently Asked QuestionsQuick answers before checkout▼
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about Beasts and Diplomacy
What mechanics does Beasts and Diplomacy use?
At its core is open drafting: you draw and choose cards from shared piles, seeing what others take. Then you build a tableau (tableau building) looking for patterns and sets (set collection, pattern recognition). There's also an element of worker placement for special actions.
Is it a family game or does it require experience?
The basic rules are accessible (icon matching, simple drafting), but the strategic depth is high. BGG weight 3.25/5: it requires experience with resource management and optimization games. It's not a gateway game, but not an extreme heavy either. Ideal for regular players looking for something deeper.
How long does a game really last?
The first game can go up to 150 minutes (2 and a half hours) because you need to understand synergies and plan. With experience, it comes down to 60-90 minutes for 2-3 players, 90-120 for 4-6. Downtime increases with the number of people: with 6, expect pauses between turns.
Does the solo mode work well?
Yes, there is an official solo mode with dedicated rules. The experience is complete: the puzzle of optimization and resource management works great even without opponents. It loses the competitive interaction of drafting (no one snatches key cards from you), but remains strategically solid. Solo rating: 4/5.
Is it available in Italian?
This edition is in English. The game contains cards with text (beast names, abilities, quests), so knowledge of English is necessary. Currently, there are no official Italian editions or translations.
The people behind the game
Who invented it, who designed it, who publishes it — and what else they've done.
Beasts and Diplomacy is a game of strategic drafting and tableau building for 1-6 players, ages 14+, lasting 45-150 minutes. Designed by Mike Kribel and published by Dragon Dawn Productions, it puts you in the shoes of a Knight who must assemble the best Exhibition of rare beasts to impress the Diplomats of the fantasy realm of Aterra. The open drafting system rewards tactical adaptation and resource management: each beast has an increasing upkeep cost that forces you to choose what to keep and what to sacrifice. With secret quests, pattern recognition, and a BGG weight of 3.25/5, it offers depth and replayability for experienced players. Available on FroGames.it.
Beasts & Diplomacy
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers you're looking for, no beating around the bush.
📸Do the images match the actual product?
The photos on the website often come from BoardGameGeek and are intended to give you an idea of the game. They may vary slightly from the version you receive. The content declared by the publisher is always binding.
📦Does the content of the box match what is indicated?
We always strive to provide the correct content, but minor variations are possible due to reprints or updates. The information comes directly from the publishers. If you have any questions, please contact us!
⏳How do pre-orders work?
Pre-order the game before release, payment is immediate, and the game is reserved for you. As soon as it arrives, we'll ship it right away! If there are any delays, we'll update you promptly.
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