About Dubious Alliance

It is a Fantasy Game

Dubious Alliance translates years of rolling d20s in search of monsters and treasure into a fast, fun card game. Players race to get the best weapons, fight horrible monsters, hoard magic items and collect treasure, all while avoiding traps, curses and other ways to look foolish. Dubious Alliance has the action of a fantasy RPG, with the speed and ease of a card game. Even players who do not come from a fantasy background quickly adopt to the game world (treasure good, trap bad!) and enjoy playing.

It is a Cooperative Backstabber

Players love the balance between 'someone wins or everyone loses'. To win, a Player must 'lie, cheat and steal' to get the highest Prestige. However, because you are a band, you can't out right kill your competition. If an Orc player dies, the game ends and everyone loses! So on the one hand, you are working together to survive and on the other, you need to keep your competition weak so you can win... truly a Dubious Alliance.

Unique Fantasy Art

Picture
Once upon a time, fantasy games were not art galleries. Images were pen and ink affairs in modules. Often your favorite image was that cool picture your cousin drew during 4th period English. Dubious Alliance has fantastic illustrations that capture the feel of 'old school' role playing games and home grown adventures. Some art is as simple as the game card is weak... when you find a bag of copper pieces you deserve limited illustrations! Meanwhile Dubious Alliance features photos of the Orcs, heroic images of the colossal dragon Snarl and wonderful illustrations on every card.

Unique Game Mechanics

Picture
The rules are easy to learn. However, the challenge is in the negotiations. By focusing on bluffing and trading, this game has the feel of a role play session, but with the speed of a card game. 

The most exciting feature of the game is the 'one player wins, or everyone loses' rule. Players must choose between selfish trading to win, and cooperative play to stay alive. Read the DUBIOUS ALLIANCE RULES SHEET for more. 
Picture
Learn to play in 144 seconds
Dubious Alliance offers other unique game mechanics, such as the Trade Tracker card. As you horde your magic and treasures, the pressure mounts to make a trade... because if you don't share the treasure your 'friends' will eventually force you to. You may even have to threaten your allies with a menacing "Tusks Up!" to keep your control of your treasures.

Hear what other's have to say about Dubious Alliance...