Clash of Cultures

2012

Unleash your strategic prowess in Clash of Cultures, a civilization game where you explore, conquer, and shape the course of history. Each choice defines your legacy!

240
minutes

2 - 4
player(s)

14+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Clash of Cultures is a captivating board game that transports you into an epoch of discovery, exploration, and civilization building. Set in the ancient world, this game allows you to experience the thrill and challenge of leading a civilization from a single small settlement to a powerful empire.

The theme and setting of Clash of Cultures is one of its most engaging aspects. It combines elements of history, strategy, and diplomacy, offering players a rich and immersive gaming experience. The game board portrays an expansive, uncharted landscape where each player’s civilization will grow and evolve. The dynamic nature of the game means that the board will look vastly different at the end of the game, reflecting the unique paths each civilization has taken.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Clash of Cultures is a complex and compelling strategy board game that allows players to create civilizations and guide them through historical progress. The game is packed with numerous components, each with its unique role. Here is an outline of every part included in the game and how they interact.

1. Game Board: The game board represents the world map where civilizations will expand and clash. It is modular and consists of several hexagonal tiles that can be arranged differently in every game for variability.

2. Civilization Cards: These cards are the backbone of your civilization’s progress. Players use these cards to develop their civilization’s culture, government, and technology. They directly impact the abilities and strengths of your civilization.

3. Player Boards: These are personal boards for each player that track the status of their civilization, including advancements, resources, and city developments.

4. Culture Tokens: These tokens represent the cultural influence of a civilization. They are used to track the culture points, which are essential for winning the game.

5. City Miniatures: These are the physical representations of your cities on the game board. Building and upgrading cities is a crucial part of a player’s strategy.

6. Unit Miniatures: These miniatures represent various units, such as infantry, cavalry, and ships. Units are used for exploration, defense, and warfare.

7. Resource Cubes: These cubes represent the resources your civilization has gathered. Resources are used for various actions such as building cities, developing technologies, and supporting units.

8. Dice: Dice in Clash of Cultures are used to resolve combat and certain other actions. The outcomes are often unpredictable, adding an element of luck to the game.

9. Objective Cards: These cards provide players with specific goals to achieve for extra points. They add another layer of strategy to the game, as players must balance pursuing these objectives with their broader game plan.

10. Event Cards: These cards represent random events that can have positive or negative effects on players. They are drawn at specific points in the game and can significantly impact the game’s direction.

11. Player Markers: These markers represent each player’s civilization. They are used on the player boards to track advancement and on the game board to signify control of cities and territories.

12. Barbarian Tokens: These tokens represent non-player entities that can attack players’ cities. They add an element of risk and unpredictability to the game.

Each component in Clash of Cultures plays a critical role in shaping the game’s strategic depth and immersive gameplay. Understanding how these components interact is key to mastering the game and leading your civilization to glory.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Clash of Cultures is an exciting and strategic board game that requires careful planning and tactical thinking. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up the game:

Step 1: Player Roles

Each player in the game represents the leader of a civilization, tasked with expanding their empire, advancing their culture, and dealing with challenges from other players. The goal is to become the most powerful and advanced civilization by the end of the game.

Step 2: Board Placement

The game board should be placed in the center of the table, within reach of all players. The board is made up of separate hexagonal tiles that are arranged randomly at the beginning of the game. Each tile represents different types of terrain, such as plains, forests, mountains, and seas.

Step 3: Initial Resources

Each player begins the game with a certain number of resources. These are represented by resource tokens, which can be spent to build cities, advance technology, recruit armies, and more. The exact number and type of resources each player starts with can vary based on the number of players and the chosen difficulty level of the game.

The players each start with three cities, two infantry units, and one settler unit.
Each player also begins with a set number of resource tokens, which can be used to carry out actions on their turn.
All players start with the same number of resources, ensuring a balanced and fair start to the game.

Step 4: Random Elements

Clash of Cultures includes a number of random elements to keep each game unique and unpredictable. These include:

Event Cards: At the beginning of each turn, the active player draws an event card. These cards can have a variety of effects, both positive and negative, which can drastically alter the course of the game.
Action Cards: Each player has a hand of action cards, which can be played at any time. These cards can provide a crucial advantage at the right moment, or be used to disrupt the plans of your opponents.
Technology Advancements: Each player has a technology tree that they can advance along throughout the game. The technologies available to each player are determined randomly at the start of the game, ensuring a different experience each time you play.

With these steps, you should have a good understanding of how to set up a game of Clash of Cultures. Remember, the key to victory is not only in building a powerful civilization, but also in adapting to the ever-changing game board and the actions of your opponents.

Game flow Round and round we go

Clash of Cultures is a strategy board game where players lead a civilization from a single settlement to a mighty empire. The game is played in turns and each turn is divided into three phases: the Action Phase, the City Management Phase, and the Event Phase.

Action Phase: In this phase, the active player has the opportunity to perform up to two actions. The available actions include:

Move: The player has the option to move their units from one region to another.
Settle: A player may choose to establish a new city in a region occupied by their units.
Build: A player can build a city building, a unit, a ship, or a fort in a city they control.
Advance: The player can develop a cultural advance in a city they control.
Attack: A player can initiate a battle against a city or a unit controlled by another player.
Special: The player can carry out a special action tied to a specific cultural advance they have developed.

City Management Phase: After the Action Phase, the player enters the City Management Phase. In this phase, players can manage their cities by increasing their population, producing resources, or activating the special abilities of their cities. The available actions are:

Grow Population: Increase the population of a city by one.
Produce: Produce a unit, a ship, or a fort in a city.
Activate City Ability: Activate the special ability of a city.

Event Phase: The final phase of a turn is the Event Phase. In this phase, the player draws an event card and resolves it. The events can have a variety of effects ranging from beneficial to harmful. After the Event Phase, the turn passes to the next player in clockwise order.

The game continues in this manner until a player achieves one of the victory conditions, such as controlling a certain number of cities, developing a certain number of cultural advances, or defeating other players in battle.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

In Clash of Cultures, each player’s turn comprises three phases: Start, Action, and End. Here are the detailed actions and strategic choices a player can make during each phase:

Start Phase:

During the Start phase, a player resets their action markers and collects resources from their cities. The number of resources collected is determined by the city’s advancement level.

Action Phase:

In this phase, a player can take up to three actions. Each action is marked by placing an action marker on the chosen action space. Here are the possible actions:

Move: Move one or more units from one land area to an adjacent land area. The player can decide to move as many units as they want, but they should be from the same area.
Build: The player can construct a city or add a building to an existing city. This action affects gameplay by allowing the player to collect more resources and potentially unlock new abilities.
Grow: The player can add a new unit (Settler, Ship or Infantry) to one of their cities. This action can expand a player’s influence on the game board and aid in combat.
Advance: The player can advance their civilization by choosing a new advancement from their player board. This action can give the player new abilities or bonuses that can help them in various aspects of the game.
Attack: The player can initiate combat with another player. This action can change the dynamic of the game, potentially allowing a player to take control of another player’s city or units.
Special: The player can perform a special action, such as playing a card or using a special ability of their civilization or a building in their cities. Each special action can provide different strategic advantages.

End Phase:

During the End phase, the player checks for city support, resolves any event cards, and then passes the turn to the next player. Properly managing city support and planning for event cards can have significant strategic implications, potentially influencing the outcome of the game.

Each action and strategic choice in Clash of Cultures can affect the game in different ways, and understanding how they interact is key to mastering the game.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

Clash of Cultures is a sophisticated and strategic board game that tasks players with building and expanding their own unique civilizations. The game ends and the final scoring takes place at the end of the current round once any player has achieved one of the specified victory conditions, or when the predetermined number of rounds (usually seven) has been completed.

Victory Conditions: There are various ways to win in Clash of Cultures. Players must strategize and make decisions based on their civilizations’ strengths and weaknesses to achieve one of the following victory conditions:

Cultural Victory: A player achieves a Cultural Victory by advancing their civilization’s culture to the highest level on their culture track. This requires careful management of resources and strategic planning.
Technological Victory: A player achieves a Technological Victory by developing all five of their civilization’s technologies to the maximum level. This requires a focus on innovation and scientific advancement.
Military Victory: A player achieves a Military Victory by controlling the majority of the cities on the board at the end of a round. This requires a focus on military power and territorial expansion.
Economic Victory: A player achieves an Economic Victory by accumulating a set amount of wealth (usually 40 gold) by the end of a round. This requires a focus on trade and economic growth.

Actions before Final Scoring: Before the final scoring, players must complete the following actions:

Ensure that all of their actions for the current round have been completed and that their civilization’s status is accurately represented on the game board.
Calculate their civilization’s culture, technology, military power, and wealth. This involves adding up the respective points from their culture track, technology track, controlled cities, and accumulated wealth.
Compare their civilization’s total points with the other players’ points to determine the game’s winner. In the case of a tie, the player with the most advanced culture is the winner.

Clash of Cultures is a game of strategy and planning, where the path to victory can be achieved through various means. Whether a player decides to focus on culture, technology, military power, or wealth, their decision will influence the course of their civilization and potentially lead them to victory.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game Clash of Cultures, players earn points by creating a flourishing civilization. There are several ways to earn points, including through the establishment of cities, the development of cultural traits, and the completion of objective cards.

Establishment of Cities:

Each city a player has in play at the end of the game earns them points. The number of points depends on the size of the city: one point for a small city, two for a medium city, and three for a large city.

Cultural Traits:

Players earn points by developing cultural traits. Each cultural trait that a player has developed by the end of the game earns them one point.

Objective Cards:

Players can earn points by completing objective cards. The number of points depends on the difficulty of the objective, with more difficult objectives earning more points.

End of Game:

At the end of the game, the player with the highest total number of points is declared the winner.

If there is a tie at the end of the game, the tie-breaking rules are applied as follows:

The player with the most advanced cultural traits wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most cities wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most completed objective cards wins.
If there is still a tie after all these steps, the game is declared a draw.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Clash of Cultures is a complex board game with various rules and exceptions. It’s essential to understand these for a smooth and fair gameplay. Here are some important ones to remember:

1. Game Piece Limitations:

Each player has a limited number of pieces available. Once a player has used all of their available pieces, they cannot place more on the board until some of their existing pieces have been removed. This includes cities, units, and settlers.

2. City Expansion:

When a city expands, the player must place the new city tile adjacent to one of their existing city tiles. If there are no available adjacent spaces, the city cannot expand.

3. Special Abilities:

Each culture has unique abilities that can be used to their advantage. However, each ability can only be used once per turn, and can’t be used if the culture’s happiness level is too low.

4. Combat:

In a combat scenario, the attacker always rolls first. The defender only rolls if they have surviving units after the attacker’s roll. If both sides have surviving units after the first round of combat, the attacker can choose to retreat, or continue the attack.

5. Happiness:

Happiness is a crucial factor in the game. A city’s happiness level can affect the player’s ability to use their culture’s special abilities. If a city’s happiness level drops too low, it could potentially revolt, leading to negative consequences for the player.

6. Objective Cards:

Objective cards can provide players with additional victory points, but they must be completed within the time limit specified on the card. If a player fails to complete an objective within the time limit, the card is discarded and the potential victory points are lost.

7. Technology Tree:

The technology tree is a vital part of the game. Players must strategically plan their technological advancements to gain an advantage over their opponents. Each technology provides different benefits, but some technologies also have prerequisites that must be met before they can be researched.

8. Event Cards:

Event cards can introduce unexpected elements into the game. These cards are drawn at the beginning of each player’s turn and can have a variety of effects, both positive and negative.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies:

Expand Strategically: Expanding too quickly can leave your civilization vulnerable. Choose your settlements wisely, focusing on locations that provide the resources you need.
Invest in Technology: Investing in your civilization’s technology tree is crucial for late-game success. Make sure to have a clear tech strategy early on.
Use Your Leaders: Leaders in Clash of Cultures are a powerful resource. Make sure to use them strategically to boost your civilization’s development and fend off threats.

Beginner Tips:

Start with the basics. Understand the rules, the purpose of each game element, and the different strategies you can employ.
Plan your moves. Before you make any decision, think about how it will affect your future turns and overall strategy.
Don’t ignore your opponents. Pay attention to what they’re doing and adjust your strategy as needed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Overexpansion: This is a common mistake among new players. Expanding too quickly can leave your civilization vulnerable to attack.
Ignoring Technology: Many beginners overlook the importance of technology. Remember, investing in your civilization’s technology tree is crucial for late-game success.
Not Adapting: Each game of Clash of Cultures is unique, and sticking to one strategy won’t always lead to victory. Be flexible and adapt to the changing game conditions.

Optimizing Gameplay:

Maximize Your Actions: Each turn, you should aim to use all of your actions. Wasted actions are wasted opportunities.
Balance Your Civilization: A well-rounded civilization is often the most successful. Balance your resources, military, and technology to stay ahead.
Plan for the Long Game: Clash of Cultures isn’t won in the early turns. Plan for the end game and position your civilization for a strong finish.