Kabal is an intricate semi-cooperative deckbuilding and area control game that also features worker placement. It immerses players in a high-stakes battle between two opposing factions—the Black Hat team and the White Hat team—while also contending with a powerful AI adversary known as Nemesis. In this game, players can switch allegiances between the two teams, adding a layer of unpredictability and strategic depth. The ultimate objective is to accumulate the most Victory Points (VPs). Individual VPs are earned by completing missions, winning battles, activating heroes, and acquiring powerful asset cards. Team VPs are awarded based on the status of two critical tracks, Alpha and Omega. In addition, there are end of game scoring cards.
**Gameplay Mechanics and Flow**
Player Turns
During a round players take their turns in turn order. First players decide whether to switch sides. Next the player draws 5 cards, receives income and action symbols. Income comes in various forms such as M0 or M9 money, blue power tokens, or 5D steps. Action symbols are crucial for executing actions, which are governed by Action Points (APs). Every player is guaranteed 1 AP from their HQ, and additional APs can be obtained through control of Antarctica (which depends on a player’s political strength there) or from empowered artefacts or crystals. In addition, one AP can come from Blue Power. The APs allow HQ operations staff to execute different actions. With a maximum of 7 APs available per turn, players must carefully choose how to use their actions.
Player Actions
On their turn, players can select from five main actions. The first option is to complete a mission, which involves the movement of M9 money and the use of a white intel symbol. These earn individual VPs. The second option is a board action, where players move operatives on the map using red military symbols or gain control of regions using yellow political symbols. Thirdly, players can purchase asset cards or other items using M0 money, enhancing their deck or gaining strategic advantages. The fourth option allows players to trash unwanted cards from their hand or discard pile, which streamlines their deck for future turns. Finally, players can perform special actions based on their allegiance; Black Hat players can engage in battles to earn Black VPs or Loki points, while White Hat players can activate heroes to gain White VPs or Angel points.
Alpha and Omega tracks
The Alpha and Omega tracks are central to the game's strategy, reflecting the influence and power of the Black Hat and White Hat factions. These tracks advance based on the flow of money in the game. The game can end in one of three ways: if the money track reaches $92 trillion, if the Alpha track reaches its maximum level of 15, or if the Omega track hits its peak of 15. When the game concludes, the winner is determined by the total VPs, which includes both individual VPs plus team VPs along with end game scoring cards.
End of game victory determination
Upon reaching the end of the game, the winner is determined by calculating each player's VPs. This total includes individual VPs from missions, battles, and other actions, plus VPs derived from their team allegiance based on the Alpha and Omega tracks. There are also additional VPs awarded from end-of-game scoring cards.
Nemesis's VPs are calculated similarly. If Nemesis ends up with the highest VPs, all players are considered losers, underscoring the semi-cooperative nature of the game where players must balance their competitive and cooperative efforts.
Kabal presents a unique blend of strategy, cooperation, and competition. Players must navigate their way through dynamic interactions and shifting alliances while keeping an eye on the ever-present threat of Nemesis. Whether you remain a black hat or switch to a white hat, every decision impacts not just your path to victory, but the overall outcome of the game.
