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Handcrafted in Vermont. Inspired by a classic Swedish lawn game.
V:King is based on a centuries old Swedish viking game that continues to gain popularity across the globe. Play V:King on your lawn, in a park, at the beach or even on snow. Age, strength and speed are unimportant, enthusiasm is! A mix of luck, skill and strategy make V:King a unique outdoor game for family and friends.
Object of V:King: is simple. Use your Battle Axes to topple all of your opponent's Shields; the first team to conquer the King claims the crown.
Included in this set:
Sizes of all V:King pieces are approximate and may vary slightly. V:King is made of unfinished northern hardwoods; wood characteristics such as knots, variances in cosmetics, color and grain are not uncommon.
Players:
You can have anywhere from 2 to 12 players, ages 5 and up, split into two teams. Teams do not need to have an even number of players.
Setting up V:King Playing Area:
V:King can be played anywhere you have a flat, open area: grass, snow, sand, and dirt are all acceptable playing surfaces. Using the Field Markers, lay out a rectangular playing field that measures approximately 15' x 25'. The field size can be adjusted; the bigger the playing field, the more challenging it is to play V:King. Place the King on end in the middle of the playing field. On the shorter sides of the playing field, set five (5) Shields on end and equally distant from one another. See set up below.
Game Pieces:
- Shields: At the start of the game, each team begins with five (5) Baseline Shields that act as a barrier between them and the King. As the Baseline Shields are knocked over by the Battle Axes throughout the game, they are thrown to the opposite side of the playing area and become Field Shields. Field Shields add an additional layer of protection to the King and allow for more strategic play.
- Battle Axes: Each team will throw all six (6) Battle Axes during their turn. The Battle Axes must be held at one end and thrown underhand. Sidewinding, helicopter style or overhanded throws are not allowed.
- King: The King divides the playing field in half. If a team knocks over the King while throwing a Battle Axe or a Field Shield before all of the opponent's Shields are knocked over, that team loses that game.
Winning V:King: The team that knocks over all of the opposing team's Shields and finally, the King, wins the game. Matches are decided by best out of three games.
Beginning Play: Each team simultaneously throws one (1) Battle Axe towards the King from behind their own baseline. The team whose Battle Axe lands closest to the King, without knocking it over, starts the game and will be referred to as Team I.
Rules of V:King:
- The object is for Team I to knock down as many of Team II's Baseline Shields as possible and vice versa. Team I's players must stand behind their baseline while tossing the six (6) Battle Axes, one at a time, at the opponent's Baseline Shields.
- For safety reasons the team that is not throwing should not stand behind their baseline while Battle Axes are being tossed.
**If Team I does not knock any Baseline Shields over disregard the next step; it's now Team II's turn to throw the Battle Axes.**
- Once Team I has thrown all six (6) of the Battle Axes, Team II must throw the toppled Baseline Shields (if any), one at a time from behind their baseline, to the opposite side of the playing field. One strategy is to land the Shields as close as possible to the centerline and each other without getting too near the King. This will increase Team II's chances of knocking them down during their upcoming turn. Once the Shields have been thrown, Team I stands them upright where they came to rest and they are now considered Field Shields.
In the example below, Team I knocked over three of Team II's Baseline Shields during their six throwing attempts. Team II then threw the three Shields into Team I's playing area where they were placed upright.
- Now it's time for Team II to toss the Battle Axes. But, before they can aim for any of the opponent's Baseline Shields they must first knock over all of the Field Shields (if any), being careful to avoid the King. This may take more than one turn to accomplish.
**Team II should first try to knock down the Field Shields closest to the centerline of the playing field. If they do not topple all of the Field Shields during their turn, Team I will be allowed to throw while standing directly behind the Field Shield that’s closest to the centerline during their next turn. This creates a definite advantage for Team I since they now have a shorter distance to toss their Battle Axes and aim for Team II’s remaining Baseline Shields.**
- After Team II has completed their throws, Team I removes any toppled Field Shields from the playing area. Team I then tosses all of their fallen Baseline Shields (if any) to the opposite side of the field (as described above) where Team II stands them on end. Team I must knock these new Field Shields down before they can aim for any of the opponent’s remaining Baseline Shields. If no Baseline Shields were knocked down during Team II’s turn, Team I may aim directly for their opponent’s Baseline Shields.
- The game continues like this until all of the opponent's Shields have been knocked over. Once a Shield has been knocked down twice (once as a Baseline Shield and once as a Field Shield) it is removed from the playing field and is no longer in play.
- Once a team topples all of their opponent’s Shields, they may aim for the King from behind their own baseline. They will have only one (1) throwing attempt to topple the King per turn, no matter how many Battle Axes they have left to throw. Play continues until the King is conquered, ending the game.
Additional Rules:
- If the team throwing the fallen Baseline Shield can not land it inside the playing field after two attempts, the other team may place the Shield anywhere they like, but it must be at least the length of one Battle Axe away from the King.
- If any Baseline Shields are knocked down while Field Shields are still standing, the Baseline Shield(s) should be placed upright again.
- An optional rule: if any of the Shields hit each other when they are thrown to the opposite side of the playing field to become Field Shields, they may be stacked on top of each other to build a Tower, as shown below. This increases the chances of knocking over multiple Field Shields with one Battle Axe and speeds the game up.
