2018 · Political

Donning the Purple

Players lead rival aristocratic families in late 2nd-century Rome and vie for influence over the imperial throne. Play unfolds over four rounds of asymmetric, king‑of‑the‑hill competition with light worker‑placement elements: assign family members to actions, muster support, and maneuver to place a family member on the imperial seat. Holding the emperorship yields substantial points but also draws attacks and political intrigue as other players attempt to dethrone and replace the ruler. Players balance cooperation against the external threats to the empire and tactical backstabbing to maximize victory points by game end.

groupPlayers

1–3 best 3

schedulePlaying time

70–90 min

cakeAge

14+

psychologyComplexity

3 / 5