Dogs with Jobs

Manipulate the queue, outsmart rival executioners, and collect the most prestigious noble heads during the height of the French Revolution in a darkly comedic, fast-paced card-drafting classic.

Guillotine (designed by Paul Peterson and published under Avalon Hill / Wizards of the Coast) is a light, macabre card game set during the French Revolution. Stepping away from heavy historical simulations or dry war games, this title takes a tongue-in-cheek approach where players compete as rival executioners trying to gain the favor of the revolutionary public. The primary gameplay objective centers on queue manipulation and point collection: over the course of three "days" (rounds), twelve noble cards are laid out in a straight line waiting for the guillotine, and players manipulate their order to collect the most valuable historical heads by the end of the game.

The primary mechanical hurdle stems from the strict execution rule: on your turn, you must collect the noble card at the front of the line. Before taking that front card, you may play one Action card from your hand to alter the sequence—shuffling the queue, skipping places, sending low-value commoners or negative-point martyrs to your opponents, or pulling high-value figures like King Louis XVI or Marie Antoinette to the front of your own basket. Some nobles carry continuous traits that alter points, limit plays, or reshuffle the line upon capture. Designed for 2 to 5 players aged 12 and up, a full match plays out over a lively 30 minutes. To win, you must string together combos, read the line, and maximize your execution tally across all three days.

Game Specs at a Glance:
Age Range: 12+ Years
Publisher: Avalon Hill / Wizards of the Coast
Play Time: 30 Minutes
Player Count: 2-5 Players
Complexity: Light (Queue Management, Hand Management, Card Drafting, Take-That, Set Collection)

What's in the Box?

• 50 Illustrated Noble Cards
• 60 Action Cards
• 1 Pop-Up Cardboard Guillotine Standee
• 1 Rule Sheet