Mare Nostrum
Mare Nostrum is a board game for 3 to 5 players, designed by Serge Laget and published in 2003 by Eurogames. It was also the name of a 1983 board game in the Fronte Mare series. In Mare Nostrum: Empires, players assume the roles of one of five Mediterranean empires
– Rome, Greece, Babylon, Egypt or Carthage. The game incorporates many features found in other games, such as Civilization, and prominently features historic personalities such as Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Hammurabi, as well as the Seven Wonders of the World.
Why is Mare Nostrum Popular?
Mare Nostrum: Empires has received positive reviews and is considered a classic in the genre of empire-building games. The game is known for its strategic depth, trading, and diplomacy mechanics, as well as its low chance factor. The game is also significant for its historical theme and the incorporation of real-life historical figures and landmarks.
Game Components of Mare Nostrum
Tiles and Heroes: Includes tiles for Caesar, Hannibal, Pericles, Cleopatra, and Hammurabi as starting heroes, along with additional heroes and wonders.Commodities and Coins: 13 types of commodities, 44 coins, and 13 legendary commodities.Units and Buildings: Caravans, markets, regular cities, capital cities, legendary cities, temples, legions, triremes, and fortresses.Dice: Beige land battle dice and blue sea battle dice.Markers and Screens: Control markers, leader markers, empire sets of miniatures and markers, exchange markers, and player summary sheets.Empire Mats: For each of the five civilizations (Rome, Greece, Egypt, Carthage, and Babylon).
How To Setup Mare Nostrum
Setting up Mare Nostrum involves several steps:
Each player chooses a civilization and places their starting units and buildings on the board.Players receive their starting resources and commodities based on the provinces they control.The game board is divided into provinces, each containing resources such as coins and commodities.The setup phase takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Game Phases
Commerce Phase: Players collect resources based on their controlled provinces. The Director of Commerce determines the number of commodities to be traded among players.Political Phase: The Political Leader sets the order for purchasing buildings, military units, heroes, and wonders.Military Phase: The Military Leader determines the order for military moves and battles. Battles are resolved using dice rolls.
Game Objective
Build the Pyramids: Immediate victory.Build 5 Heroes and/or Wonders: Victory at the end of the build phase.Control 4 Capital or Legendary Cities: Victory at the end of the battle phase.Lead All Three Leadership Tracks: Victory at the end of the leadership phase.
Player Experience
Mare Nostrum offers a dynamic and strategic gameplay experience, blending resource collection, trading, building, and military conquest. Players must balance their efforts across commerce, politics, and military dominance. The game is known for its accessibility, with clear and straightforward phases, but it also requires deep strategic thinking to achieve victory. The game duration is typically between 120 to 180 minutes.
Pros
Strategic Depth: Combines resource management, trading, and military strategy.Historical Theme: Features historical empires and figures, adding a layer of realism.Multiple Victory Paths: Offers various ways to win, catering to different player strategies.Player Asymmetry: Each civilization has unique starting conditions and abilities.Engaging Gameplay: Keeps players engaged with its mix of building, trading, and battling.
Cons
Setup Time: The initial setup can be lengthy, taking about 20 minutes.Complexity in Rules: Some players find the rules confusing, especially in the first few plays.Component Size: Components are smaller than they appear in photos.Inflexibility in Roles: Players are somewhat forced into specific roles early in the game, which can be limiting.
Personal Thoughts on Mare Nostrum
Mare Nostrum is ideal for those who enjoy strategic games with a historical twist. It is suitable for players who appreciate civilization-building and resource management, as well as those who enjoy a mix of diplomacy and military conflict. While it may appeal more to fans of games like Civilization or Cyclades, it offers a unique blend of mechanics that can attract a wide range of players. However, it may not be the best fit for those who prefer lighter, quicker games or those who are put off by complex setup and rules.
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