At the start of each player’s Round, Event Cards are drawn which change the strategic situation (such as Plague or Bounty) or benefit a player in various ways. The descriptions of the Events contain a great deal of historical information, adding much interest to the game.

Each player may attempt to perform up to five “Endeavors” per 25-year long Turn.

There are six types of Endeavors: Conquest, Pillage, Diplomacy, Defense, Fortification (including building Armies/Fleets) and Ruling. Additionally, moving Armies/Fleets and Taxation may always be performed.

Endeavor resolution is diceless; instead “Year Cards” which show an array of results for each type of Endeavor are drawn. The card might also require a Leader Stature Check, which can change the player’s Combat, Administration, and Diplomacy ratings.

Endeavor resolution is affected by the appropriate Leader rating, and the involved areas’ language, religion, population, and Social State (which changes frequently). Poor performance can lead to Unrest or Rebellion in an Area.

An area’s Social State value rises and falls as a result of Events and Endeavors, and improving the Social State of your empire is an important object of play.

~ BGG

Intro

Review

DAR

Enrico

Recovering hobo, one-time actor and street corner philosopher, now trying to enjoy the less fine things in life (like everyone else does).

One thing has been nearly constant in my life – gaming. Even before discovering wargames (at the tender age of 10 or so – purely fortuitous), I would play out family games (including the 3M series) solitaire. But, life situations interfered not too long ago, and I was largely without board gaming for the better part of a decade. The last couple of years have seen me devoting myself to the hobby again – and learning a lot of the newer designs – so, I’m looking from the eyes of an old grognard (ah, how I fought against THAT term when first used on me) but an open mind and willingness to see if newer games appeal.