Naturelich Games

Louis XIV - Two-player game
The game is extended to last six instead of four turns. In addition to neutral color three, another fourth neutral color is also added to the game. This color is used to place 4x1 influencing tiles on the cards. Compared to the three-player game, the mechanism of how these tiles get into play has changed. They are not played at the beginning of phase two. Instead, only two tiles of the third color are played at the beginning of phase two. They need to be put onto the same character card as currently occupied by Louis XIV. The first tile of the fourth color joins the game by uncovering the uppermost card from the deck of influencing cards. Afterwards, both (real-life) players get to play their first influencing card. Afterwards the second round of neutral tiles is brought into play: draw the next influencing card to place an additional two tiles of the third color, then, draw another influencing card to play one tile of the fourth color. This is followed by the two real players using their influencing cards as usual. This cyclic mechanism is continued a third and a foruth time until all 12 (8+4) neutral tiles have been brought into play. The rest of the game continues as usual.

Variant in scoring for crests
Before revealing and scoring the crests the player(s) with the smallest amount of crests return one crest to the supply. Afterwards, the player(s) with the most crests each takes one crest from the supply. After this maneuvre has been completed, all players reveal their crests and score as described in the original rules.

Naturelich my opinion
In general, it is not uncommon for some games to suffer if played by two players. However, since you people may not always have a large gaming group at hand, a two-player game is all they are looking for. Now, why does Louis XIV. need a two-player variant? I am not so sure, whether this is really needed. Louis XIV. is not a game I would really want to play with only 2 players. Most of the tension is generated by having four players around. There are far better two-player games out there. As the German idiom says: Schuster, bleib bei Deinen Leisten (Cobbler, stick to your trade) or in this particular case: Even Louis XIV. should stick to his trade.

In addition I cannot see the value added by the variant for scoring the crests.
*Naturelich raises his eyebrows*
Maybe I am too blind to see it. The crests have never been a problem in our gaming group. Can someone please try and enlighten me?