Soul of the Empire

About this board game

Soul of the Empire is a 2–4 player, 140-minute asymmetric strategy game about life in the first century. Each player takes the perspective of a powerful faction and works toward unique objectives using distinct advantages.

Choose among the Romans, Christians, Jews, or a Coalition of outside cultures—Germanic Tribes, Goths, and Parthians. Every faction faces different pressures and brings its own worldview to the struggle, creating tension between competing goals and motivations.

The game combines several systems to shape its conflict and decision-making:

• Dice-driven action selection determines how factions pursue their plans.
• Deterministic combat keeps battles predictable while faction effects add asymmetry.
• Culturally based Power decks reflect the identities and strengths of the factions.
• An objective point system heightens the tension between competing worldviews.

Rome stands at the height of its power, yet its empire is overextended by internal divisions and external challengers. The Jews fiercely protect their spiritual heritage from a rapidly spreading sect while resisting an increasingly oppressive Rome.

The Coalition struggles against relentless Roman expansion, harsh environments, and confusing beliefs that threaten its old ways. Christians, meanwhile, find strength in weakness, victory in defeat, and purpose among the very people who persecute them.

In Soul of the Empire, the first century becomes a contest of survival, conviction, and influence. Released in 2018, it places four contrasting perspectives into one asymmetric struggle where each faction must pursue its own path to success.