Shadows Over Camelot: My Favorite Mechanism

Jamey discusses his favorite mechanism in the mostly cooperative game about the Knights of the Round Table, Shadows Over Camelot.
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[@thewaysect]

We have it and the Merlin’s Company expansion. On top of adding an 8th knight ( player), Sir Bedivere, the expansion adds a ton of difficulty to the game and we love it. For example when Merlin is with you on a completed quest, he remains to block those cards from adding siege engines when drawn. Also before you travel to a quest, you must draw from the travel deck which is mostly bad lol. The expansion also adds the possibility of two traitors.
The traitor was one of the reasons I wanted the game in the first place and when we are able to play with one who really knows what they’re doing, IT. IS. EPIC. That said, it really does require a group of player who’ve played the game enough times to really manipulate things so that their subversion goes undetected. That doesn’t happen often. Secondly, you NEVER under any circumstances want to out the traitor for two reasons: the intrigue vanished immediately, and it is a death bow to the knights and an automatic win for the traitor. There is no possible way to keep up UNLESS you can somehow correctly expose him as a game ending tactic so that two white swords aren’t turned to black. Two traitors are quite possibly impossible to beat.
Anyway we love the game and have a ton of fun playing.

[@jameystegmaier]

This makes me excited to get it back to the table!

[@Chris_Roy]

I really enjoy how the white cards are used for the different mini games - the Grail and Excalibur are tug of war, and the numbered cards are used in various combinations depending on the area (2 pair, straight, full house, or 3 sets of 3 of a kind)

[@felicitycarter79]

One of our all time favourites. Always gets down to the last siege engine (catapult). Wish it wasn’t out of print.

[@janwillem_vl]

What makes the uncertainty of there being a traitor extra powerful is that you can try to reveal the traitor by accusing a player. If you are right, the players get a benefit but if you are wrong the players are penalized, bringing them closer to defeat. In games without traitor it can happen that the players still lose because they accuse each other.
Another cool element is that if there is a traitor and he is exposed, he turns around his player card and can now do other evil stuff. I don't remember what exactly.

[@nib71286]

The traitor is less powerful exposed, they just put a siege engine on their turn, or put a black card out if they already had Lancelots armor. However there are player made modules that allow them to do other things. The key to the game, imo, is to make them more powerful unexposed.

[@janwillem_vl]

@@nib71286 thanks for the refresher! They may get less powerful, but even when exposed the traitor can still win. In fact, I remember a game where the traitor was exposed but only after two false accusations had been made which left the rest with an impossible game and the exposed traitor to watch us scramble and still lose, while he was smiling.

[@nib71286]

@@janwillem_vl for sure. Other hidden traitor games make it so when exposed, they get more powerful, which takes away the tension of staying hidden 🤔

[@AnthonyFreyC]

I wish it wasn't out of print, been looking for it for years

[@jkledis]

This game has always intrigued me. I wish I was able to play it. Perhaps a new SM game with this theme.

[@jameystegmaier]

I do love the medieval theme, though I must admit I'm a little hesitant to pursue it, as the theme has been done quite a bit in modern games. :)

[@mshahrukh92]

I hope this game gets a reprint/reimplementation. Would love to try it