Hispania

About this board game

Hispania is a historical board game for 4–5 players that re-enacts the changing powers of Spain and Portugal over approximately 1,540 years, with games lasting about 300 minutes. Its timeline runs from the arrival of Carthage in 320 BC through Roman, Germanic, Byzantine, and Muslim conquests to the early Reconquista, ending as late as 1220 AD.

Adapting the basic system of Britannia, Hispania places the action in Ancient and early Medieval Iberia while introducing additional rules and changes. In the advanced game, players bid against one another in an auction for up to 30 different tribes and peoples. Because the auction determines who leads which nations, each playthrough can present a different combination of powers and challenges.

Every people has victory conditions modeled on historical requirements, asking players to adapt their plans as control passes between successive cultures and kingdoms. Nations can also undergo transformations, including the Romans becoming Hispano-Romans. Naval invasions are available to some powers, while special unit types such as Knights, Castles, and Elites add further distinctions to the campaign.

Five scenarios offer different historical spans and game lengths:

• 320 BC–961 AD, 13 turns
• 205 BC–1030 AD, 12 turns
• 205 BC–1100 AD, 16 turns
• 320 BC–1100 AD, 19 turns
• 320 BC–1220 AD, 21 turns

The game includes a large 84 × 59 cm map, 640 counters, a 24-page rule booklet, four player aids, and two ten-sided dice. With its broad historical scope and variable nation auction, Hispania offers a distinct re-enactment of Iberian history in every session.