Contents
Gameboard depicting geo-political map of the world.
Set of 49 Empire Cards
Set of 63 Event Cards
6 sets of counters, each set containing: 85 army counters, spread over four types; 10 fleet counters; 10 fort counters.
25 Capital counters
25 City counters
30 Monument counters
6 Player Mats
5 Dice
Comprehensive rules, including introductory game and historical overview.
Difficulty: The game system is not complicated, but players are faced with fresh strategic decisions in each of the seven Epochs into which the game is divided.
History of the World is the boldest board game concept yet attempted, capturing in a few hours play the entire sweep of the human race across 5,000 years of history, and the entire face of the globe.
Throughout the game the nations and Empires of history will emerge onto the world stage for hteir period of glory, only to be submerged by the next wave of land hungry power seeking peoples.
The game is divided into seven Epochs, and in each Epoch, each player will control the fate of a different Empire. All the major Empires in world history are represented, but not all will necessarily achieve their historical destiny. It is quite possible that Carthiginia, not Rome, will control the Mediterranean World in pre-Christian times; that the Mongol hordes will not sweep form China to Europe in the Middle Ages; and that it will be the French, not the British, who will dominate as the 19th Century closes.
Each Empire which appears has the potential strength to achieve its historical goals; it is in the hands of the players themsleves as to whether this potential is realised. It is important to expand each Empire to its strategic limits, scoring Victory Points for occupying lands, and dominating regions. It is also important to maintain each Empire as long as possible in succeeding Epochs, so it continues to score Victory Points. The trappings of Civilisation which an Empire creates--Capitals, Cities and Monuments--also increase the value of Empire.
But the more success an Empire achieves, the more it will be preyed upon by others. Natural defensive barriers--mountains and forests--become of strategic importance; fortifications may be constructed, extra armies deployed, all in the interests of preserving waht has been created.
Within this broad framework occur the individual events which have tipped the balance of history over the millenia. Natural disasters; flood, earthquake, pestilence, famine; man made disasters; plague, the Black Death, religious eruptions, Christian and Moslem; technological advances in Weaponry and Engineering; and inevitably the consequences of human nature; Treachery, Rebellion and Civil War.
Above all, come the leaders of Nations, the individuals who have indeed shaped history: Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Attila, Charlemagne, Genghis Khan, Tamerlane, Peter the Great and Napoleon Bonaparte. And not only these names so familiar to European ears, but also the men who built the great Civilsations of China and India--which far outlasted the restless West; the Arabians and Turks who have straddled both Orient and Occident for so long; and finally the fulfilment of the New World as it cast off the shackles of colonialism.
History of the World is a game which has brought together a simple but original game system, detailed historical research and a vision of what the ultimate game should achieve.
The result is a challenge which puts you, the player, into the robes of imperial purple and asks you to prove yourself against history and the men who forged it. Will you accept that Challenge? |
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