Nicaea

About this board game

Nicaea is a political tableau-building game for 4–6 players, played in about 90 minutes. Set in the year 325, it reimagines the First Ecumenical Council as a contest shaped less by theology than by ambition, rivalry, and social dynamics.

Constantine has called the bishops to Nicaea because he wants the divided Roman Empire united. The emperor is not especially concerned with which theological positions prevail, provided the bishops reach an accord. Behind the council’s formal debates, however, players are trying to read the room and turn shared incentives to their advantage.

In each dispute, players commit to one of two sides. The key is not simply choosing the position you personally favor, but anticipating which side the majority will support. Correctly judging the council’s direction earns points, while the evolving political landscape creates opportunities for temporary cooperation and unexpected alliances.

• Shared incentives: Commit to opposing sides of theological disputes and predict the majority.
• Tableau building: Develop your position as the council progresses.
• Emergent alliances: Navigate personal ambition, petty rivalries, and changing social dynamics.
• Schism threat: Watch political influence as closely as your score.

Points alone do not guarantee victory. If the player with the fewest points has accumulated the most political influence, that player may be powerful enough to split the church, provoking a schism and stealing the win. To prevent this outcome, the other players must ensure that an influential figure is not excluded from the final settlement.

With an irreverent but affectionate approach to a pivotal moment in early church history, Nicaea turns doctrinal conflict into a sharp study of negotiation, prediction, and emergent alliances.