Imperial

2006

In Imperial, you're an international investor in Europe's age of imperialism. Strategize, expand influence, build empires, and outsmart opponents in this dice-free board game.

180
minutes

2 - 6
player(s)

13+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Welcome to the world of Imperial, a strategy board game that takes you back to the era of empires in the early 20th century. This game, designed by Mac Gerdts, is a unique blend of economic strategy, political maneuvering, and warfare.

In Imperial, you step into the shoes of an international investor, controlling various European powers to grow your wealth. The setting is as intriguing as the historical period it represents – the geopolitical landscape of Europe during the age of empires. You will find yourself immersed in a time of great nations vying for dominance and influence.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Imperial is a strategy board game that requires players to manipulate economic and military conditions to gain control of Europe. The components of the game are designed to facilitate this objective. Here is a detailed list of the components included in Imperial and their roles in the game:

1. Game Board: The game board is a map of Europe divided into different regions. Players move their units across these regions to implement their strategies. The board also has a rondel, a circular action track which determines the available actions for the players.

2. 114 Unit Tokens: These tokens represent the armies and fleets of the six imperial nations. Players use these units to defend their nations, attack others, and control areas on the board.

3. 60 Bank Notes: These notes represent the money in the game. Players use them to invest in nations, buy units, pay interest, and earn dividends.

4. 6 Nation Cards: These cards represent the six different nations in the game. Each card shows the unique attributes of the nation, including its initial resources and income. The cards are used by the players to keep track of their assets and investments.

5. 84 Investor Cards: These cards are used by players to invest in nations. The cards show the amount of money invested and the potential return on investment.

6. 1 Investor Card Tray: This tray holds the investor cards. It helps to organize the cards and keep the game board tidy.

7. 6 Nation Markers: These markers are used to track the progress of each nation on the power grid on the game board. They show the current power level of the nations, which determines their ability to perform actions.

8. 1 Start Player Marker: This marker indicates the player who starts the game. The start player changes each round in a clockwise direction.

9. 1 Game Round Marker: This marker tracks the number of rounds in the game. It helps players to know the stage of the game and plan their strategies accordingly.

10. 24 Flag Markers: These markers are used to claim control of regions on the board. The player with the majority of flags in a region controls it and earns income from it.

11. 6 Bond Certificates: These certificates represent the players’ investments in the nations. The players with the highest investments control the nations and make decisions for them.

Each component in Imperial interacts with the others to create a dynamic, intricate game of strategy and negotiation. Players must use their components wisely to gain control of Europe and win the game.

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

Imperial is a strategy board game designed by Mac Gerdts. The game is about investing in great powers, expanding imperialistic activities, and controlling the European power balance during the age of imperialism. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set up ‘Imperial’.

Step 1: Board Placement

Place the game board in the center of the table. All players should have free access to view the board. The game board represents Europe in 1900 with the six imperial nations: Germany, Great Britain, France, Austria-Hungary, Italy, and Russia.

Step 2: Player Roles

Each player will take on the role of an international investor. However, unlike most games, players do not represent a particular nation. Instead, they can invest in any of the six imperial nations at any time.

Step 3: Initial Resources

Each player begins the game with 2 million in cash. The game’s currency is represented by bank notes. These notes are in denominations of 2, 5, and 10 million.

Step 4: Nation’s Resources

Each nation begins with a certain amount of factories, ships, and armies. The number depends on the nation and is marked on the game board.

Step 5: Investment Cards

Deal each player one investment card from each nation. These cards allow players to invest in the different nations.

Step 6: Random Elements

The turn order is determined randomly. Use a method of your choice (dice, card draw, etc.) to select the first player.

Step 7: Bond Placement

Each player places their bond of choice on the investor card in their play area. The value of the bond determines the player’s initial influence over a nation.

Step 8: National Control

The player who has the highest total of bonds in each nation becomes the controller of that nation. If there is a tie, the player with the single highest bond takes control. The controller can make decisions for the nation, such as moving units and initiating combat.

Once these steps are completed, the game is set up and ready to play. The goal is to earn the most money by investing in the most successful nations.

Game flow Round and round we go

‘Imperial’ is a strategy game where players take on the roles of international investors in the early 20th century. The aim of the game is to earn the most money by investing in the right nations and manipulating them to your advantage.

The overall structure of the game involves playing through several rounds until one nation has reached a set amount of power points, which then triggers the end of the game. Each round is divided into several phases:

Player Actions – In turn order, each player performs one action. They may choose to:
- Invest: Pay money to the bank to increase their investment in a nation.
- Take a Bond: Take a bond of a nation, which will provide them with income each round.
- Control a Nation: If a player is the biggest investor in a nation, they can choose to control that nation’s actions for the round.
Nation Actions – Nations, controlled by the players who invested the most in them, perform actions in order of their power rating. They may choose to:
- Produce: Generate income based on their factories and provinces.
- Import: Pay money to import goods from other nations.
- Export: Sell goods to other nations for profit.
- Move: Move units around the board, potentially setting up for future battles.
- Attack: Initiate battles with other nations.
Scoring – After all nations have performed their actions, players earn income from their bonds, and nations earn power points based on their current status on the board.
Reinvestment – Players can choose to reinvest their earnings, buying more bonds or investing in nations once again.

Players repeat these phases in order until the game reaches its end condition: when one nation reaches a predetermined number of power points. The player who has the most money at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

‘Imperial’ is a strategic board game where players take on the roles of international investors in the early 20th century. During each turn, the player has several actions and strategic choices available that can significantly impact gameplay.

I. Investor Card

Playing an Investor Card allows the player to perform several actions:

Collect Dividends: The player collects 2 million for each bond they have in their possession.
Buy Bonds: The player can purchase bonds from a nation to increase their influence. The higher the bond’s value, the more influence they gain.

II. Nation Actions

If a player has the most influence in a nation, they control the nation’s actions. These actions include:

Import: The player can choose to import new units into their nation. This can strengthen their military, but it costs money.
Production: The player can choose to produce goods. This will increase their income during the dividend phase.
Maneuver: The player can move their units around the board. This can be used to either attack other nations or defend their own territory.
Taxation: The player can impose taxes to increase the nation’s treasury. However, this reduces the dividends paid to investors.

III. Strategic Choices

There are several strategic choices that a player can make during their turn:

Investing: The player can choose to invest in different nations. Investing in a nation not only gives the player an income but also influence over the nation’s actions.
Diversifying: The player can choose to diversify their investments across several nations. This can provide a safety net in case one nation falls.
Concentration: The player can choose to concentrate their investments in one nation. This can potentially give them more control, but it is also riskier.

The choices a player makes during their turn can significantly affect gameplay. Choosing the right actions and making smart strategic choices can lead a player to victory in ‘Imperial’.

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

The game of ‘Imperial’ ends when either one of the following two conditions is met:

End of the Investment Phase: The game ends immediately if, at the end of the investment phase, all of the nation markers are in the ‘Investor’ section of the Rondel. This means that all nations have been financed to their maximum potential.
End of the National Loan Phase: The game also ends immediately if, during the national loan phase, the money in the treasury of a nation reaches or exceeds 200 million Euros. This signifies that the nation has grown significantly in wealth and power.

In either case, the game moves to final scoring. Before final scoring, players must take the following actions:

Players should calculate and record the value of their personal cash. The current value of a player’s bonds is not considered at this stage.
Players must then calculate the value of each nation. This is done by adding the value of the treasury and the bond value of each nation. The bond value is calculated by multiplying the current bond price by the number of bonds issued.
Finally, players calculate their personal wealth by adding their personal cash to the value of their bonds in each nation. The value of a bond in a nation is calculated by multiplying the current bond value in that nation by the number of bonds the player owns.

After these steps, the player with the highest personal wealth is declared the winner. In the case of a tie, the player with the most personal cash wins. If there is still a tie, the player with the most bonds in the most valuable nation wins.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Imperial is a strategic board game where players represent international investors in the early 20th century. The objective of the game is to earn the most points through careful management of resources and strategic investments. The game ends when the Rondel has completed its full cycle and reached its starting position or when one nation has reached 25 on the power track. Here are the details of how scoring works in Imperial.

1. Scoring Points:

Bonds: At the end of the game, each player’s holdings in bonds are counted. The face value of these bonds represents the points you earn. For instance, if you have a bond of 4 million from the French nation, you earn 4 points.
Swiss Bank: Cash in the Swiss Bank is also counted towards the total score. For every 2 million in the Swiss Bank, players earn 1 point. For instance, if a player holds 10 million in the Swiss Bank, they would earn 5 points.
Factories: Factories provide an additional point to the majority investor of the nation that owns the factory. For example, if Italy has 3 factories and you have the majority of Italian bonds, you receive an additional 3 points.

2. Tie-Breaking Rules:

In the event of a tie, the following rules are applied in order to determine the winner:

The player who is the majority investor in more nations wins the tie.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most cash in the Swiss Bank wins.
If there’s yet another tie, the player who first reached their current score is the winner.

By carefully balancing investments and managing resources, players can maximize their scores and potentially claim victory in the world of Imperial.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Imperial is a strategic board game where players represent international investors in the early 20th century. The goal is to gain control of great European powers and earn the highest income. However, there are some special rules, exceptions, and rule clarifications that players should know.

Investor Card: A player who is not in control of a nation can play an investor card during their investor card phase. This allows them to increase their investment in nations without waiting for their bond purchase phase. However, they cannot use the investor card if they are in control of a nation.

The investor card can only be used once per round.
The player using the investor card cannot take control of a nation in the same round they used the card.

Rondel Mechanism: An important feature of ‘Imperial’ is the Rondel mechanism. This is a circular track that determines the actions a player can take during their turn. However, there are rules and exceptions to this mechanism.

Players can only move their marker 1-3 spaces forward for free. Any further movement costs them 2 million per extra space.
Players cannot move their marker backwards on the Rondel.

Swiss Bank: The Swiss Bank is a special rule in the game. Unlike other nations, it cannot be controlled by any player. It acts as a neutral nation and its sole purpose is to issue bonds to players.

End of Game: The game ends immediately when a nation reaches the ’20 million’ space on the scoring track. However, all nations must complete their current round of actions before the game ends.

If multiple nations reach the ’20 million’ space in the same round, the game continues until all nations have had an equal number of rounds. The player with the highest income at the end of these rounds wins.
If a nation reaches the ’20 million’ space but fails to maintain it till the end of the round, the game continues.

Rule Clarifications:

Players can buy bonds from nations they control, but they can’t sell bonds to these nations.
During the investor card phase, a player can’t use the investor card to buy a bond from a nation they control.
The ‘Maneuver’ action allows a player to move their units between regions, but they can’t move units into regions controlled by other nations unless they’re at war.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Imperial is a board game that requires strategic planning, careful management of resources and a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics. The following are some tips, strategies, and common mistakes to avoid in order to optimize gameplay:

Advanced Strategies:

Understanding the bond market is crucial. It’s a good idea to buy bonds in nations that are likely to be successful. This not only gives you a stake in their success, but also provides you with a steady income.
Timing is everything. Knowing when to invest, when to build, and when to make a move is often the difference between victory and defeat. Keep an eye on the game board and plan your moves accordingly.
Don’t underestimate the power of diplomacy. Forming alliances with other players can be very beneficial. Just be sure to keep your own interests in mind, as alliances can be broken as quickly as they are formed.

Beginner Tips:

Take the time to familiarize yourself with the rules and mechanics of the game. Understanding how everything works will allow you to make more informed decisions during gameplay.
Start small. It can be tempting to try and do everything at once, but it’s often more effective to focus on one or two areas of the game at first.
Pay attention to what other players are doing. This can give you valuable insight into what strategies are working and which ones aren’t.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Investing too heavily in one area. It’s important to diversify your investments to protect yourself from unexpected setbacks.
Ignoring the bond market. As mentioned earlier, the bond market is an important aspect of the game that should not be overlooked.
Being too aggressive. While it’s important to be proactive, being too aggressive can often backfire.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay:

Always have a plan. Even if things don’t go exactly as you hoped, having a plan will give you a framework to work with and adapt as necessary.
Keep track of your resources. Knowing what you have and what you need will allow you to make the most effective decisions possible.
Stay flexible. The game can change quickly, and being able to adapt to new circumstances is a key part of success.