Genesis Developer Update – April 2015
As we enter the month of April, the creation of the game’s components is in the final stretch. The map, counters, Event Cards, and Kingdom Display/Victory Point Cards are complete. The rules and the Player Aid cards have moved through the layout and internal edit process, are off to the game’s proofreader and group of the play testers for a final edit. The final component – the Playbook – is in the layout and internal edit process and will be sent to the proofreaders and play testers later this month for a final edit. The Playbook features an extensive Example of Play of a complete game turn of the three person version of one of the shorter scenarios, covering the middle part of the historical period represented in the game.
The game includes eight scenarios:
- one short solitaire learning scenario designed to introduce the player to the basic mechanics of movement and combat
- one full 10 turn Campaign Scenario design primarily for 3-5 players, which also has a two player variant where the players control two empires
- three 3-4 turn scenarios playable by 2-5 players covering portions of the period
- three 3 turn scenarios playable by 2 players or solitaire
Now for the eye candy:
The Map
The map shows Anatolia (modern Turkey), the Levant (Middle East/Egypt) and Mesopotamia as they possibly appeared in The Late Bronze Age, approximately 1700 to 1200 BC.
The Counters
The five types of unit counters are shown below. They are (from left) the all-important King, the powerful Chariots, the versatile Infantry, and the Peasant and Slave non-combatants that are invaluable in fortifying cities and building monuments.
The Kingdom Display Cards
Each player controls a Major Kingdom and has his own Kingdom Display Card. Babylon’s card is depicted here.
The Event Cards
The Event Cards come in two types: those that must be played when drawn, and those that can be held in hand and played at the player’s discretion. The cards can have a significant impact on the course of the game so must factored into a player’s overall strategy.
If you’d like more information about Genesis, or if you want to place a P500 order for the game, check out the P500 page by clicking the banner link below:
Author: Alan J. Ray
I’m curious why the Astarte card uses “1$” instead of standard English notation of “$1”? Is that an international convention, or just a typo? Other than that, the artwork looks very attractive.
The use of the ‘$’ is intentional and indicates bulk silver – from the game rules:
HISTORICAL NOTE: Coinage, or any monetary system as we know it, was unknown at the time. However, everything was measured, by weight, in worth to silver. In this period, 1
shekel (8 grams) of silver could buy 300 liters of barley, 3 kg of wool, 1.5 kg of copper, or 1.5 liters of pig fat. The average price of a slave was ca. 20 shekels. A talent of silver equaled
about 65 lbs. of silver.
Thanks for the clarification. Best wishes on the game!