Conquest of the Empire
Encyclopedia
Conquest of the Empire is a board game
created in 1984
by Milton Bradley
and re-released in the summer of 2005 by Eagle Games
, designed by Glenn Drover. Part of the Gamemaster
series, Conquest of the Empire is very similar to the popular Axis & Allies of the same series. That may be because it was designed by the same designer, Larry Harris
. A military strategy game set in the Roman Empire
after the death of Marcus Aurelius, 2 to 6 players pit their armies against each other in an attempt to become the ruler of Rome
. The original MB game is out of print and now very highly prized by collectors.
, six general
s, a small number of combat units 4 infantry
, and a home province
. There are six home provinces
: Hispania
, Italia
, Macedonia
, Numidia
, Egypt
, and Galatia
-- each of which contains a fortified city. The selection of home provinces available to the players is determined by how many are playing. The goal is to capture the other Caesars.
All units (with the exception of trireme
s) must be grouped in a legion
containing any number of up to six units. Each legion must be under the control of a general or Caesar to move, although a legion may be stationed without a commander in a province containing a city
. All reinforcements are placed in the home province, and cannot be moved to the battlefronts until the beginning of the following turn.
at the end of their turn (measured in talents), that pays for their military expenditures. In addition to combat units, a player may decide to build a city on the province, which provides additional tribute, and fortifications for the city, which provides a combat advantage in battle. Players may only collect tribute when in control of their home province. In addition, a talent bonus is awarded for the capture of another player's home province or Caesar.
Roads can be automatically built between cities of neighboring provinces under a player's control. This allows a legion to travel to any part of the road network in only one movement. Cities may also be destroyed, along with its roads and any fortifications, to prevent an enemy from collecting its tribute and extending a road network.
Tributes are measured with a player's marker placed along the tribute scale at the bottom of the game map. When any player reaches a level of 100 talents, single inflation
is triggered, permanently doubling the cost of items from their original cost for all players for the rest of the game, starting with the turn of the next player. At the 200 talent level, inflation (called double inflation this time) is triggered once again, permanently making the cost of all items triple the original cost with the next player's turn.
Players can undertake any number of actions within their turn, provided that they have the ability to make them by not exceeding a legion's ability to move. Captured leaders may be held prisoner in a player's home province (or with the Caesar if the home province has been captured) for ransom or exchange, or executed and permanently removed from the board.
When a player captures an opposing Caesar, that opponent loses the game, and all remaining forces and territories are placed under the control of conquering player. The conquering player may not build new triremes using the opponent's color, but may use existing triremes as his own, as well as using the captured generals to lead a legion. A player wins the game when the last opposing Caesar has been captured.
To battle, starting with the attacker, each player alternates turns in which they declare an opposing piece to attack and roll the dice. If the number rolled (including any combat advantage) equals or exceeds the attacked piece's strength, the attacked piece is removed from the board. An attacker may attack with more than one legion at a time, and from more than one direction. Only the attacking forces have the option of retreating to their original positions (with each general having their own option). If a force has been completely destroyed, the losing general(s) is captured by the ultimate winner of the battle, and the loser's triremes destroyed, although the die must be rolled for this to occur in a naval battle, and a trireme can only be attacked after all legions have been destroyed.
Since an overwhelming number of catapults can effectively increase their advantage through eliminating the opposing catapults, experienced game players feel that the catapult piece is too powerful, hurting the game's playability.
now featured images on all sides which represented your units. If you'd roll an infantry, an infantry unit from your army would make a hit. Catapults are now more balanced.
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
created in 1984
1984 in games
This page lists board and card games, wargames, miniatures games, and table-top role-playing games published in 1984. For video and console games, see 1984 in video gaming.-Game awards given in 1984:...
by Milton Bradley
Milton Bradley Company
The Milton Bradley Company is an American game company established by Milton Bradley in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1860. In 1920, it absorbed the game production of McLoughlin Brothers, formerly the largest game manufacturer in the United States, and in 1987, it purchased Selchow and Righter,...
and re-released in the summer of 2005 by Eagle Games
Eagle Games
-Background:Founded in 2001, the Eagle Games company is based in Plainfield, Illinois and was found by Glenn Drover.In 2007, the company was bought by Ashland, Oregon-based Gryphon Games. In 2010, the company produced 28 new board games designed principally by other gamers from around the world...
, designed by Glenn Drover. Part of the Gamemaster
Gamemaster (board game series)
The Gamemaster Series of board games consists of five war simulation games created by the game company Milton Bradley, beginning in 1984 with the introduction of the popular Axis & Allies board game...
series, Conquest of the Empire is very similar to the popular Axis & Allies of the same series. That may be because it was designed by the same designer, Larry Harris
Larry Harris (game designer)
Larry Harris, Jr., is a game designer most famous for creating the board game Axis & Allies, as well as all of its sequels. His other significant games include Conquest of the Empire, Broadsides and Boarding Parties, LionHeart and more. He has also assisted in the further development of Trivial...
. A military strategy game set in the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
after the death of Marcus Aurelius, 2 to 6 players pit their armies against each other in an attempt to become the ruler of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. The original MB game is out of print and now very highly prized by collectors.
Original version
Players begin with a CaesarCaesar (title)
Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator...
, six general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
s, a small number of combat units 4 infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, and a home province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
. There are six home provinces
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
: Hispania
Hispania
Another theory holds that the name derives from Ezpanna, the Basque word for "border" or "edge", thus meaning the farthest area or place. Isidore of Sevilla considered Hispania derived from Hispalis....
, Italia
Italia (Roman province)
Italia was the name of the Italian peninsula of the Roman Empire.-Under the Republic and Augustan organization:During the Republic and the first centuries of the empire, Italia was not a province, but rather the territory of the city of Rome, thus having a special status: for example, military...
, Macedonia
Macedonia (Roman province)
The Roman province of Macedonia was officially established in 146 BC, after the Roman general Quintus Caecilius Metellus defeated Andriscus of Macedon, the last Ancient King of Macedon in 148 BC, and after the four client republics established by Rome in the region were dissolved...
, Numidia
Numidia
Numidia was an ancient Berber kingdom in part of present-day Eastern Algeria and Western Tunisia in North Africa. It is known today as the Chawi-land, the land of the Chawi people , the direct descendants of the historical Numidians or the Massyles The kingdom began as a sovereign state and later...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, and Galatia
Galatia
Ancient Galatia was an area in the highlands of central Anatolia in modern Turkey. Galatia was named for the immigrant Gauls from Thrace , who settled here and became its ruling caste in the 3rd century BC, following the Gallic invasion of the Balkans in 279 BC. It has been called the "Gallia" of...
-- each of which contains a fortified city. The selection of home provinces available to the players is determined by how many are playing. The goal is to capture the other Caesars.
All units (with the exception of trireme
Trireme
A trireme was a type of galley, a Hellenistic-era warship that was used by the ancient maritime civilizations of the Mediterranean, especially the Phoenicians, ancient Greeks and Romans.The trireme derives its name from its three rows of oars on each side, manned with one man per oar...
s) must be grouped in a legion
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
containing any number of up to six units. Each legion must be under the control of a general or Caesar to move, although a legion may be stationed without a commander in a province containing a city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
. All reinforcements are placed in the home province, and cannot be moved to the battlefronts until the beginning of the following turn.
Combat Units
| Unit Type | Original Cost | Strength | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infantry Infantry Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies... |
10 | 4 | 1 |
| Cavalry Cavalry Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms... |
25 | 5 | 2 |
| Catapult Catapult A catapult is a device used to throw or hurl a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines. Although the catapult has been used since ancient times, it has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during... s |
40 | 6 | 1 |
| Trireme Trireme A trireme was a type of galley, a Hellenistic-era warship that was used by the ancient maritime civilizations of the Mediterranean, especially the Phoenicians, ancient Greeks and Romans.The trireme derives its name from its three rows of oars on each side, manned with one man per oar... s |
25 | 3(when empty at sea) | 2 |
- TriremeTriremeA trireme was a type of galley, a Hellenistic-era warship that was used by the ancient maritime civilizations of the Mediterranean, especially the Phoenicians, ancient Greeks and Romans.The trireme derives its name from its three rows of oars on each side, manned with one man per oar...
s-- a naval unit required for a legion to cross the Mediterranean. Only one general per trireme may be on board. Reinforcement triremes are placed on the coast of the home province, and a player may own a maximum of six under the home color at any given time. Embarking or disembarking from a coast requires one troop movement.
- A Caesar or general may travel unaccompanied up to two movements in provinces under the players control. He does not have any combat strength of his own, and may be capturedPrisoner of warA prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
if the province is invaded by another player.
- Cavalry have different strength characteristics when involved in a naval battle.
Gameplay
Players take turns, using their legions to conquer other provinces, for which they exact a tributeTribute
A tribute is wealth, often in kind, that one party gives to another as a sign of respect or, as was often the case in historical contexts, of submission or allegiance. Various ancient states, which could be called suzerains, exacted tribute from areas they had conquered or threatened to conquer...
at the end of their turn (measured in talents), that pays for their military expenditures. In addition to combat units, a player may decide to build a city on the province, which provides additional tribute, and fortifications for the city, which provides a combat advantage in battle. Players may only collect tribute when in control of their home province. In addition, a talent bonus is awarded for the capture of another player's home province or Caesar.
Roads can be automatically built between cities of neighboring provinces under a player's control. This allows a legion to travel to any part of the road network in only one movement. Cities may also be destroyed, along with its roads and any fortifications, to prevent an enemy from collecting its tribute and extending a road network.
Tributes are measured with a player's marker placed along the tribute scale at the bottom of the game map. When any player reaches a level of 100 talents, single inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
is triggered, permanently doubling the cost of items from their original cost for all players for the rest of the game, starting with the turn of the next player. At the 200 talent level, inflation (called double inflation this time) is triggered once again, permanently making the cost of all items triple the original cost with the next player's turn.
Players can undertake any number of actions within their turn, provided that they have the ability to make them by not exceeding a legion's ability to move. Captured leaders may be held prisoner in a player's home province (or with the Caesar if the home province has been captured) for ransom or exchange, or executed and permanently removed from the board.
When a player captures an opposing Caesar, that opponent loses the game, and all remaining forces and territories are placed under the control of conquering player. The conquering player may not build new triremes using the opponent's color, but may use existing triremes as his own, as well as using the captured generals to lead a legion. A player wins the game when the last opposing Caesar has been captured.
Combat advantage and battle
A combat advantage is given to the player who has more catapults in the battle, equal to the difference between the number of catapults of the opposing forces. A fortified city gives the defending legions an additional advantage of +1 for this calculation, and the fortifications/catapults cannot attack. When the player with the combat advantage attacks, the advantage is added to their dice roll to determine if that roll eliminates a combat unit.To battle, starting with the attacker, each player alternates turns in which they declare an opposing piece to attack and roll the dice. If the number rolled (including any combat advantage) equals or exceeds the attacked piece's strength, the attacked piece is removed from the board. An attacker may attack with more than one legion at a time, and from more than one direction. Only the attacking forces have the option of retreating to their original positions (with each general having their own option). If a force has been completely destroyed, the losing general(s) is captured by the ultimate winner of the battle, and the loser's triremes destroyed, although the die must be rolled for this to occur in a naval battle, and a trireme can only be attacked after all legions have been destroyed.
Since an overwhelming number of catapults can effectively increase their advantage through eliminating the opposing catapults, experienced game players feel that the catapult piece is too powerful, hurting the game's playability.
2005 Version
The 2005 re-release featured a tweaked version of the original rules as Conquest of the Empire: Classic. In this version the combat system was changed. DiceDice
A die is a small throwable object with multiple resting positions, used for generating random numbers...
now featured images on all sides which represented your units. If you'd roll an infantry, an infantry unit from your army would make a hit. Catapults are now more balanced.