Have you ever watched a classic Hollywood sword fight—the clash of steel, the gravity-defying maneuvers, the perfectly timed, cutting insults—and wished you could step right into that whirlwind of action? Now you can. We are thrilled to introduce Touché, a dynamic two-player swashbuckling game created by Orin Bishop, designed to replicate the cinematic thrill of a duel in a fast, furious, and fun 5- to 15-minute package. If you’re looking for a quick, competitive game that rewards tactical thinking and encourages outrageous theatricality, draw your sword and read on.
The Art of the Cinematic Clash
Touché is not just a card game; it is a rapid-fire simulation of elegant swordplay, recommended for ages 8 and up. The core of the game revolves around managing your hand of dueling deck cards (Light or Dark), which represent the key maneuvers of a true fencing master. Players start by selecting their unique Swashbuckling hero, utilizing 14 Character cards (comprising separate Head and Body cards).
The flow of play mimics the tension of a fight: each turn, players either play a card or pass. Cards are typically designated as either high or low height. Whether you execute a precise maneuver or resort to a strategic retreat depends entirely on the previous card played, as cards include instructions on which types of cards they can be played upon. The action is built around four fundamental card types:
- Parry Cards: These are your defense maneuvers, representing all blade contact, such as deflections and blade beats. A Parry can be played on any card of the same height, or on a Disengage card.
- Disengage Cards: These represent dodges and retreating—moving around or outside the opponent’s blade range to prepare a counter-attack. A Disengage can be played on any card. If the Disengage matches the height of the previous card, the player draws one card, and critically, after a Disengage, you may play any card or pass, simulating the preparation for a new strike, or a redoublement if followed by a Lunge.
- Lunge Cards: The aggressive strikes, representing direct threats, including remiredoublements. A Lunge can be played on a Parry of the opposite height, or a Disengage card.
- Riposte Cards: Technically representing a Parry followed by an attack, these can be played on Lunge or Riposte cards of the same height or a Disengage card.
The tension culminates when a player is forced to pass after an Attack. If your Lunge or Riposte forces the opponent to concede the active exchange, you wound them. A high hit flips the Head card to its wound side, and a low hit flips the Body card. The first player to take two hits to the same location loses the game, making every strike count.
Insult to Injury: The Power of the Taunt
What truly elevates Touché from a simple card game to a full theatrical experience is the Taunt mechanic—and this is where the appeal truly lies. The rules explicitly encourage players to incorporate sound effects and comments, and when claiming a Taunt, reading it out loud is a must.
Eight Taunt cards are laid face-up during setup. When your opponent passes, you seize the moment! You claim a Taunt card, selecting one from the table or even taking one from your opponent if all are taken. This isn’t just for flavor; each Taunt token dictates a crucial action: the draw power.
After claiming the Taunt, the taunting player draws the number of cards indicated on the token first, followed by the opponent. The play pile is then discarded, and the taunting player begins a new play pile. Taunts are vital for refreshing your hand and maintaining momentum. Need a massive hand reset? Grab a Taunt token that grants a massive advantage, such as one associated with the cutting remark: “Did you lose your nerve or were you born without one?”, or perhaps, “Your blade is as dull as your wit, and I fear neither!”, both of which lead to drawing 4 cards.
Need a quick insult, even if it doesn’t give you a card advantage? Perhaps you’ll lean into the low-draw options (Draw 0), like accusing your opponent: “I didn’t realize they allowed novices on the battlefield!”, or observing that “Your sword sings of your defeat—off-key and out of rhythm!”.
For those middle-of-the-road strategic insults, you might draw 1 card while declaring: “You’ve mastered the art of missing spectacularly!”, or mocking them: “I expected a challenge, not a comedy routine!”. If you’re feeling especially cutting and want a moderate resource boost, declaring “If cowardice were an art, you’d be the grandmaster!” allows you to draw 2 cards. And finally, for a significant resource injection, grab the Taunt that declares: “Your sword sings a song of defeat, and I am the composer!”, letting you draw 3 cards.
Beyond Insults: Activating Your Swashbuckling Power
Taunt tokens serve a double purpose: they are necessary for strategic card renewal, and they are the fuel for your hero’s ultimate move. As a free action on your turn, you may return the number of Taunt tokens specified on your character card to activate your character’s unique Swashbuckling ability. This powerful ability, printed on the body card, ensures that collecting Taunts—even if they only grant a draw of 0—is always critical to victory.
The Depth of Advanced Play
While the basic game provides thrilling duels right out of the box, Touché offers impressive strategic depth through its Advanced Rules and Special cards. The game includes 21 Special cards, which introduce complex and often game-changing maneuvers.
Under the advanced setup, players receive specific Special cards tied to their hero. These cards allow for advanced tactics like:
- High Fleche: If this attack is successful, the attacking player wins instantly! However, if it fails to score a hit, the attacking player is temporarily penalized, unable to play a Lunge or Riposte until the round ends.
- Grab Blade: This maneuver forces the opponent to discard all attack cards (Lunge and Riposte cards) currently in their hand, allowing the active player to then follow up with any Duel card.
- High/Low Feint: Requires the opponent to trash (remove from play for the rest of the game) on High or Low Defense card from their hand, followed by playing any Duel card.
- Hidden Dagger: A defensive move allowing the defender to play up to two cards to block both a High and Low attack, potentially preventing a pass and subsequent wound.
These Special cards—including others like Bind, Cloak Sweep, Corps-a-corps, and Flourish—ensure that Touché remains fresh and highly strategic, offering infinite replayability for seasoned gamers.
Claim Your Glory!
Touché delivers the excitement of a high-stakes duel, blending strategic card play based on real fencing maneuvers (Parry cards represent deflections; Lunge cards are aggressive strikes) with an essential element of theatrical fun. With components including 24 Dueling deck cards, 14 Character cards, 8 Taunt tokens, and the 21 Special cards, this game is perfect for anyone seeking a quick, compelling two-player experience.
Don’t just defeat your opponent—humiliate them! Master the blade, perfect your timing, and, above all, be ready with the perfect insult when your rival falters. Draw your deck, sharpen your wit, and get your copy of Touché today!