Zhanguo: The First Empire

2023 · Ancient

Zhanguo: The First Empire

Players serve the Emperor of Qin as provincial nobles seeking to earn a place for their family in the terracotta army. Each round, six cards are available that grant permanent benefits or secure imperial approval for actions, and players draft and play those cards to develop their holdings and influence. Gameplay combines engine-building and tactical choices as players expand infrastructure, install officials, commission projects like palaces and walls, send expeditions, and pursue imperial edicts. Victory goes to the player who accumulates the most points by contributing to the Emperor’s reforms and monumental endeavors.

Players
1–4 best 3
Playing time
60–120 min
Age
14+
Complexity
3.8 / 5
7.7 on Ludoyafrom $59.49Solo / Solitaire GameHand ManagementArea Majority / Influence

On Ludoya's tables

Full stats in Ludoya
87
Plays logged
138
Players
2h 34m
Average play
55
In collections
8
On wishlists
1
Pre-ordered

7.7/10

from 19 Ludoya reviews

  • Fun6.0
  • Interaction6.0
  • Replayability10.0
  • Uniqueness8.0
  • Looks6.0
  • Accessibility4.0
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Rules questions

Answered from the rulebook by Ludoya's rules assistant.

Can a region's Unrest go above 3?

No — each region's Unrest track has a maximum of 3 and you cannot perform any action or trigger any effect that would raise Unrest above 3 (see p.7).

How do card abilities get activated — do I need a higher or lower number on the Court card?

Activation depends on the Court card's activation number versus the card immediately below it: Recruit/Search/Install abilities need the Court card to have a lower number, while Hire/Build Palace/Build Wall abilities need it to have a higher number; the first Court play may set the initial reference number (see p.11).

Do I have to play a matching color/type of card to perform a Court Action?

No — any Court Action can be performed with any card regardless of its color or ability; only the activation number matters for activating card abilities (see p.6 and p.11).

When I win a Unification reward, do I have to spend all my tokens to claim it?

To accept a Unification reward you must be the highest in that aspect, be able to immediately take the full reward, and then return all your tokens of that type (small tokens to the supply, large tokens to the board); you may instead pass and let the next player decide (see p.12).

If I build a Palace, do I always get a Palace tile and a large Unification token?

When building a Palace you must spend 2 Workers from that region and 1 from another, place your Palace and then take a Palace tile and a large (value‑2) Unification token only if they are available; if none remain you skip those steps, but you still score the Palace's 6 VP immediately (see p.10).

When I Install a Governor, what Officials do I have to spend and does it affect Unrest?

Installing a Governor requires returning one Official of each type (Alchemist, Architect and General) from that region to your supply, placing a Governor on the map (taking any listed bonus), and resetting that region's Unrest marker to zero (see p.9).

Opens Ludoya's rules assistant, which reads this game's rulebook.

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Game facts (players, playing time, age, credits) from BoardGameGeek.