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Any Fool Can Build an Empire – It Takes a Great Ruler to Keep It

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or Why spend your precious game time researching pottery when you can defend an empire?

There are no shortage of civilization building games out there. Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea, however, is MORE than just another Civilization BUILDING game – it is a Civilization SURVIVAL game – and one with an elegantly built-in, if subtle, TECH TREE.

The Civilization building part is easy. Much like other games you build a Civilization by creating cities and spreading camps and settlements across the map. These help you gain more disks that allow you to create even more cities and take over more territory. Now comes the hard part: holding on to the civilization you have created, and holding on to it in the face of opposing civilizations (any or all of which can be played either by other gamers or the Solitaire Rules for NPCs- Non-Player Civilizations). These civilizations will put you to the test by hurling cards at you that include everything from natural disasters to civil wars and massive invasions. They will also try to bring you down by more direct methods – war (or, as the game calls it, “Competition” – which represents a clash of civilizations through cultural, religious, commercial, political and, of course, military conflict.

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Introduction to The Weimar Republic: Factions

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The Weimar Republic was a complex and dynamic period in German history. The years between the Great War and Hitler’s appointment as chancellor witnessed both economic collapse and severe political violence – some of which almost led to civil war – but also major cultural and scientific achievements. The fledgling democracy was under constant attack from extremist groups of all kinds and struggled with enormous war reparations, hyperinflation, mass unemployment, and a disgruntled army. But at the same time it proved to be a fertile ground for progressive reforms, creative movements, and innovative individuals, some of whom came to define the very essence of modernity.

Freikorps militiamen in Berlin, 1924
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Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East Design Background and Differences from Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea Part 1: General Background

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Introduction by Fred Schachter: I’m having a Game Developer’s blast working with Designers Chris Vorder Bruegge and Mark McLaughlin on Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea (ACIS)’s successor, Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East (ACME… yeah, we’re aware of the Coyote/Road Runner cartoon alliteration, seems worth a guffaw or two, eh?).

The purpose of this article is two-fold. First, to provide background regarding the historical environment players will experience playing ACME (and why the game contains certain design elements) as well as explain, at least on an overview basis, the differences between ACIS and ACME.

To best appreciate this article, some knowledge of ACIS is helpful. GMT has a wealth of information regarding ACIS on the game page.

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Commands & Colors: Medieval vs Ancients Comparison Part 3: Comparative Play

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Welcome to my third and final part of the Commands & Colors Medieval and Commands & Colors: Ancients series. In my effort to compare the two series, I have focused my first two publications on major changes (here) and minor changes and subtleties (here). But enough of looking into the rules and paragraphs–what better way to see the difference in game flow than to play actual scenarios in both systems?

Ok, you might ask which scenarios would be fitting for such a comparative play. Well, C&C Medieval has a very good answer for this. The first three scenarios in the rulebook take place in the 5th century, during the the Roman Empire’s wars with the Huns. On one hand, they chronologically fall under the Ancients umbrella. However, from the tactics and weapons perspective, this is definitely the early Medieval epoch. The three scenarios are Utus River (447 AD) and Catalaunian Fields (451 AD) Parts 1 & 2. For our test, we used Utus River–a perfect choice to compare both systems.

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Historic Characters in Banish the Snakes: Iserninus

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Like Patrick, Iserninus was born in Roman Britain, but he was apparently a fluent Celtic speaker; perhaps his family stayed with the old language of the Britons instead of fully adopting Latin as their language at home. Tradition says that he was ordained as a deacon at Auxerre in Burgundy along with Patrick and Auxilius. According to the Annals of Ulster, he began his mission to Ireland in 439 AD, and eventually became a bishop.

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Norway 1940 Campaign: Nobody Expects…

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The three Operational scenarios, WESERÃœBUNG (the initial invasion), SICKLE (Allied counter-landings and evacuation), and JUNO (the final Allied evacuation), allow players to refight three key episodes in the Norway campaign that were hotly contested. To really appreciate the difficulties and decisions faced by the opposing sides, however, players can essay the Campaign Scenario.

Unlike the extended 1942 Campaign in PQ-17, the Norway Campaign lasts only five Fortnights, and can be completed in a weekend. Both sides must plan for the long haul with logistical support of their ground forces in Norway a vital factor.

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Paths of Glory — 1917 Scenario Variant

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Below is another fantastic article from The Boardgames Chronicle, this time discussing the 1917 Scenario variant for Paths of Glory. You can check out his previous series discussing the major and minor similarities/differences between Commands & Colors: Ancients and Commands & Colors: Medieval here. Enjoy! -Rachel

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Introduction to FAB: Crusader Part 1 – Why We Fight

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Why did we decide to do a game of Operation Crusader? Despite the fact that we love making games, we’re not entirely sure ourselves. There are many reasons why we think that the battles of North Africa make great gaming stuff and why the campaign was so fascinating, but at the forefront must be the place itself and the mystery and spectacle that surrounds it. At first we thought that the desert, is in a sense, a (nearly) literal sandbox where we can study tank to tank combat and fighting in near laboratory conditions. But as we read on and on, piling combat histories, academic studies, and oral narratives upon each other, we discovered that desert combat was anything but clinical.

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Historic Characters in Banish the Snakes: Ciarán

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The first of the early Irish missionaries to actually be born in Ireland was Ciarán. He was born into the ruling family of Osraige, but before this, his mother had a dream that a star fell into her mouth. The druids interpreted the dream to mean that she would bear a son who would be famous throughout the land.

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Space Empires: Close Encounters — More Ways to use Alien Technology

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The Alien Technology deck is a fun feature of the Close Encounters expansion that rewards you for colonizing deep space planets by giving you access to unique technological upgrades. You could end up with Cryogenic Stasis Pods that reduce the maintenance costs of your boarding ships and troop transports, or a Microwarp Drive that increases the attack strength of your BC’s. The cards are highly thematic, and work alongside the Empire Advantage deck to diversify each empire.