The Barracks Emperors

The Barracks Emperors is a strategy card game set against the backdrop of the Roman Crisis of the Third Century, during which at least 45 different men made a claim... (read more)

Reviews
mostly positive, 70% of all reviews are favorable
Playtime
30 minutes
Published
2023
Age
12+
Publisher
GMT Games
Players
1 to 4 players
Designers
Brad Johnson (I) and Wray Ferrell
Playstyle
Involved
Game's Categories
War Game, GMT Games, Solo / Solitaire Game, Hand Management, Ancient Civilization, Roman Empire, and Mark Simonitch
The Barracks Emperors preview image

Description

The Barracks Emperors is a strategy card game set against the backdrop of the Roman Crisis of the Third Century, during which at least 45 different men made a claim to the throne of the Roman Empire.

In this game, 1-4 players represent prominent political factions attempting to gain control over the men who would be Emperors of Rome. Players deploy the influence available to them (represented by the cards in their hands) to claim imperial reigns (represented by the historical Emperor cards arrayed on the board.) But they must be very careful, because politics is a complex game, and sometimes attempting to exert your influence necessitates aiding someone else in their own plots. Play your cards cleverly to capture Emperors and score the most points to win.

At its heart, The Barracks Emperors is a trick-taking game, but not one like you've ever seen before. In this innovative design, all 13 tricks are available for play simultaneously, in an interlocking grid that forces you to balance the value of every card you play against the value that same card may have for another player on a different trick. Plus, every card grants you an additional special ability that you might be able to use to spring a surprise on your unwitting opponents.

Features:

 • Historical emperors, co-emperors, pretenders, and even Gallic Emperors who broke away from Rome during the Crisis of the Third Century are all represented as individual cards in the game, each with interesting facts about the rise and demise of the man depicted.

 • For fans of Time of Crisis and The Age of Iron and Rust, you will find some of the concepts and flavor from that deck-building wargame, adapted in this all new standalone game. You don't need Time of Crisis to play The Barracks Emperors, but you'll recognize Influence Cards such as Praetorian Guard, Foederati, and Pretender, now used in an entirely new way.

 • An innovative card drafting mechanic adds an extra layer of strategy to how you play your cards while also mitigating the luck that would come with being dealt a full hand of cards at the start of each round.

 • This game is designed for 4 players, but also includes options for 2 or 3 players, plus an easy-to-play solitaire adaptation for the solo player.

Contents

  • 1 Rulebook
  • 1 Game Board
  • 45 Emperor Cards
  • 42 Influence Cards
  • 18 Barbarian Cards
  • 4 Player Aid Cards
  • 7 Solo Variant Cards
  • 6 Counters

Mechanisms:• Hand Management• Open Drafting• Set Collection• Team-Based Game• Trick-taking

Purchase options

Buy The Barracks Emperors
from Noble Knight Games logoNoble Knight Games

$42.95
USD 32.00

Buy The Barracks Emperors
from Miniature Market logoMiniature Market

$49.00
USD 36.99
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