Imperium: Classics

2021

Imperium: Classics, a game of strategy where you control a historical civilization. Conquer new lands, make scientific advances, and build an empire. Play as one of eight unique civilizations to dominate the world.

120
minutes

1 - 4
player(s)

14+

Medium Heavy

About the game

Welcome to the splendid world of Imperium: Classics, an engaging and strategic board game that teleports you to the era of ancient civilizations and empires. This game boasts a unique blend of civilization management, deck building, and conflict resolution mechanics that are sure to captivate both new and seasoned players alike.

Imagine the setting – you’re in the heart of an ancient civilization, tasked with the daunting yet exhilarating challenge of expanding your empire. The game’s theme is set in a richly detailed historical environment, where each player represents a unique civilization with its own strengths, weaknesses, and special abilities. The civilizations range from the aggressive Macedonians to the cunning Persians, offering a fresh and dynamic experience every time you play.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Imperium: Classics is a deeply strategic and engaging board game that involves a variety of components. Each of these components plays a crucial role in the gameplay and contributes to the overall gaming experience.

1. Game Cards:

Action Cards: These are the primary cards used during gameplay. Each civilization has its own unique set of action cards which offer a variety of strategic options and abilities.
Progress Cards: These represent the development of your civilization. The more you have, the more advanced your civilization becomes.
Nation Cards: Each player has a nation card representing their civilization which contains unique abilities and characteristics.

2. Game Tokens:

Exhaustion Tokens: These are placed on cards to indicate they have been used and cannot be used again until they are refreshed.
Population Tokens: These represent the population of your civilization. The more population you have, the more actions you can perform.
Development Tokens: These are used to track the progress of your civilization’s development. They are gained through progress cards and are necessary for advancing your civilization.

3. Game Boards:

Main Game Board: This is the central area of gameplay where cards are placed and actions are performed.
Civilization Boards: Each player has a civilization board that tracks their progress and holds their action cards.

4. Game Dice:

The game includes a set of dice that are used to determine the outcomes of various actions and events. Each die has different symbols representing different possible outcomes.

5. Game Rulebook:

This component contains the detailed rules and instructions for playing Imperium: Classics. It provides guidance on how to use each component and how they interact with each other.

In Imperium: Classics, the interaction between these components creates a complex and engaging game. The cards provide a variety of strategic options, the tokens track progress and resources, while the dice add an element of chance and unpredictability. All these components work together to create a game that is both challenging and rewarding.

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

Imperium: Classics is a dynamic board game that requires careful planning and strategy. The following guide outlines the setup process to get you started on your journey to empire building.

Player Roles:

Each player in Imperium: Classics assumes the role of a unique civilization, each with its own strengths, weaknesses, and strategies. For the initial setup, players should:

Select a civilization deck. Each civilization has its own deck of cards, which will form the player’s initial draw pile.
Shuffle the chosen civilization deck and draw five cards from it. This will be the player’s starting hand.

Board Placement:

The game board should be placed in the center of the table where all players can easily reach it. The board displays various tracks and zones including the ‘Progress’ track and ‘History’ zone. For the initial setup, observe the following steps:

Place the ‘Fate’ Deck and the ‘Common Deck’ next to the game board. Shuffle both decks separately.
Place the ‘Progress’ tokens on the starting spaces of the ‘Progress’ track on the board.
Place the ‘Unrest’ cards in the ‘Unrest’ pile near the game board.

Initial Resources:

Resources in Imperium: Classics are represented by Materials and Population. For the initial setup:

Each player receives a number of ‘Materials’ and ‘Population’ tokens according to their civilization’s starting resource amounts indicated on their civilization card.
Place the ‘Materials’ and ‘Population’ tokens in the respective spaces on the player’s civilization mat.

Random Elements:

While Imperium: Classics is a game of strategy, there are also elements of luck and chance. For the initial setup:

Draw five cards from the ‘Fate’ deck and place them face up next to the board. These form the ‘Market’ and can be acquired by players during the game.
Draw the top card from each player’s civilization deck to form their initial hand. The order in which these cards are drawn can add an element of unpredictability to the game.

With all these steps completed, you are now ready to start playing Imperium: Classics. Remember, the key to victory lies not just in your resources, but also in the strength of your strategy and decision-making skills.

Game flow Round and round we go

Imperium: Classics is a card-driven strategy board game that involves civilization building, and it is played in a series of rounds until the game ends when one of the end game conditions is met. Each round can be broken down into the following phases:

1. Start of Round Phase:

Progress Marker: Players move the progress marker one space forward on the progress track.
Refresh Regions: Players refresh their exhausted regions.
Refresh Cards: Players refresh their exhausted cards from the previous round.
Draw Cards: Players draw 5 cards from their nation deck to form their hand. If the deck runs out of cards, the discard pile is reshuffled to form a new deck.

2. Action Phase:

Play Card: Players play one card from their hand and perform the action indicated on the card. This may involve gaining resources, drawing cards, attacking opponents, etc.
Develop or Innovate: Players may choose to develop a card from their development deck by paying its cost, or innovate by adding a card from the common deck to their discard pile.
Revolt: A player may choose to revolt, changing their state from a Barbarian to an Empire.

3. Clean-Up Phase:

Discard Cards: Players discard any cards remaining in their hand that they do not wish to keep for the next round.
Refresh Tokens: Players refresh their population and materials tokens, if they have any.

The game continues in this manner, round after round, until one of the end game conditions is met: either a player reaches the last space of the progress track, or a player is unable to draw a card when required to do so. At this point, the player with the most victory points, calculated from their achievements, cards, and progress on the track, is declared the winner.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Imperium: Classics is a rich and complex card-driven board game where players take on the roles of ancient civilizations. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what happens during a player’s turn and the possible actions they can take:

Each turn in Imperium: Classics is divided into two main phases – the Action Phase and the Clean-Up Phase.

Action Phase: During this phase, the active player can take any number of actions up to their action limit, which is usually three. The available actions are:

Play a Card: The player can play a card from their hand. The effect of the card depends on its type and text. Playing a card uses up one action.
Innovate: The player can discard a number of cards from their hand to draw a card from the innovation deck. The number of cards discarded depends on the card drawn. Innovating uses up one action.
Revolt: The player can initiate a revolt, changing their civilization’s status from ‘Empire’ to ‘Republic’. This action can only be taken once per game.
Expand: The player can discard a number of cards from their hand to place a ‘population’ marker on a region they control. Expanding uses up one action.

Clean-Up Phase: After the player has taken all their actions, they move to the Clean-Up phase. The steps in this phase are:

Discard Excess Cards: If the player has more than six cards in their hand, they must discard until they only have six.
Draw New Cards: The player refills their hand up to their hand limit, which is usually six. They can draw from either their nation deck or their progress deck.
Advance the History Card: The player moves the history card one space to the right. If the card moves off the history track, the game ends.

Strategic choices can significantly influence the outcome of the game. Players must balance their actions between building their civilization, expanding their influence, and keeping an eye on the progress of the history card. The innovation deck provides powerful abilities, but at the cost of discarding valuable cards. Revolting can provide a significant advantage, but timing is crucial. Finally, controlling regions provides a steady income of population, but players must guard against over-expansion.

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

Imperium: Classics is a strategic board game where players compete as ancient civilizations. The game ends under specific conditions, which also indicate the victory condition for the players. Below are the detailed rules on how and when the game ends, and the actions players need to take before final scoring:

The game of Imperium: Classics can end in two ways:

Exhaustion of the Progress Deck: This happens when the last card from the progress deck is drawn. When this occurs, the current round is completed so that each player takes an equal number of turns. After this, the game ends, and players proceed to final scoring.
Imperial Achievement: A player can also end the game by claiming the Imperial Achievement, but only if they have achieved an empire status. This requires the player to spend an action on their turn to claim the Imperial Achievement if they meet the requirements, which typically involve having a certain number of points, cards, or specific territories. Claiming the Imperial Achievement immediately ends the game, and players proceed to final scoring.

Before proceeding to the final scoring, players must perform the following actions:

Each player must check their civilization’s deck, hand, and play area for any cards with abilities that trigger or provide points at the end of the game. They should resolve these effects in an order of their choosing.
Players then have to ensure that all remaining cards in their decks, hands, and play areas are counted towards their final score, as some cards provide victory points.
Any unresolved progress cards are also scored at this time, and their points are added to the player’s total.

The player with the highest total points after final scoring is the winner. In case of a tie, the player who claimed the Imperial Achievement wins. If there is still a tie, or no one claimed the Imperial Achievement, the player with the most cards in their history wins. If there is still a tie, then the game is a draw.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Imperium: Classics is a highly strategic and engaging board game where victory points play a crucial role in determining the winner. The scoring system is based on a variety of factors, each contributing to the overall score of a player.

Scoring during the game:

Progress cards: Players earn victory points for each progress card they have in their deck or discard pile at the end of the game. The number of victory points varies depending on the specific progress card.
Developments: Certain developments will award players with victory points when they are completed. These points are typically earned immediately upon completion of the development.

Scoring at the end of the game:

Nations: Each player earns victory points based on the nation they represent. The point values for each nation are indicated on the nation card.
Landmarks: Players can earn additional victory points for each landmark card they have acquired and placed into their tableau over the course of the game. The specific number of points awarded varies by landmark.
Unrest cards: Players lose one victory point for each unrest card remaining in their deck or discard pile at the end of the game.

Tie-breaking rules:

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

The player with the fewest unrest cards wins.
If there is still a tie, the player with the most cards in their deck and discard pile wins.
If a tie still persists, the player who did not go first at the start of the game wins.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Imperium: Classics is a complex and strategic card game, and while the rulebook provides a comprehensive overview, there are some special rules and exceptions that players often overlook. Understanding these can greatly enhance gameplay.

1. The Innovation Rule:

The innovation rule is a unique aspect of Imperium: Classics. It states that a civilization cannot develop the same advance twice. This means that if a player already has an advance in their deck or tableau, they cannot acquire a duplicate.

2. The Progress Rule:

Progress cards are shuffled into the nation deck during setup, but they are not drawn like regular cards. Instead, they become available when a player achieves a history card that corresponds to the progress card.

3. The Unrest Rule:

Unrest cards are unique because they cannot be removed from a player’s hand using regular actions. Instead, they require specific actions or abilities to remove. If a player ends their turn with Unrest cards in their hand, they lose victory points.

4. The Solitaire Rule:

Imperium: Classics can be played solitaire, with a player controlling one civilization against an automated opponent. However, the rules for this mode are significantly different, and players should refer to the Solitaire section of the rulebook for more information.

5. The Region Rule:

Each region card has a unique ability that can be used by the player who controls it. However, if another player conquers that region, they will then gain access to that ability.

It’s important to remember that these rules are exceptions, meaning they override the general rules when they come into play. Always make sure to carefully read the text on your cards, as the specifics can often change the dynamics of the game.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Imperium: Classics is a unique, asymmetric civilization-building game where each player represents a civilization trying to leave its mark on history. Below are some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay.

Advanced Strategies

Master the Art of Deck Building: The key to winning Imperium: Classics is to build an effective deck. Make sure to balance your deck with powerful civilizations, action cards, and progress cards.
Know Your Civilization’s Strengths: Every civilization has unique abilities and strategies. Play to your civilization’s strengths and tailor your strategy accordingly.
Manage Your Resources Wisely: Resources are crucial in this game. Be sure to keep an eye on your population, materials, and land. Making the most efficient use of your resources can be the difference between victory and defeat.

Beginner Tips

Start with Easier Civilizations: If you are new to Imperium: Classics, start with the easier civilizations like the Romans or Egyptians. They have straightforward strategies and can provide a good foundation for learning the game mechanics.
Understand Card Interactions: Spend some time learning how different cards interact with each other. This understanding will help you make better decisions during gameplay.
Focus on Progress Cards: Progress cards can provide powerful benefits. Try to acquire these cards as early as possible to gain a competitive edge.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring Your Opponent’s Strategy: It’s easy to get caught up in your own plans, but don’t forget to pay attention to your opponent’s strategy. Anticipating their moves can help you counter them effectively.
Not Balancing Your Deck: While powerful cards can give you an edge, having only powerful cards can leave you vulnerable. Make sure your deck is balanced with a mix of action, progress, and civilization cards.
Not Utilizing All Resources: All resources in the game have their uses. Don’t neglect any of them, as doing so could limit your options during gameplay.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay

Plan Ahead: Try to plan your moves several turns in advance. This will allow you to better anticipate your opponent’s actions and respond accordingly.
Adapt Your Strategy: The game can change quickly, so be ready to adapt your strategy as needed. Flexibility can be a significant advantage in Imperium: Classics.
Practice: Like any game, the more you play, the better you’ll become. Take the time to practice and learn from each game, whether you win or lose.