History of the World (2018) Board Game

The History of the World board game was first released in 1991 and has since been re-released in 2018 by Arclight Games. It was designed by Gary Dicken, Steve Kendall, and Phil Kendall, and features artwork by Steve Kendall and Mateusz Lenart. The game covers different epochs of history, including the Age of Reason, Ancient times, Medieval period, and Napoleonic era.

Game Components of History of the World

Beautifully illustrated board

Revised rules

Empire and Event cards

Colored army pawns

Region tokens

Honor tokens

Area tokens

Gold collection mechanics

Cheap cardboard fortifications pieces (instead of prefabricated metal ones)

Standardized pawn pieces (replacing era-specific units)

How To Setup History of the World

To set up the game, each player chooses a color and takes the corresponding score marker and armies. The game board is divided into 13 colored regions, each representing large portions of the world. At the start of each epoch, players update region tokens to reflect the point values for that era and choose an Empire Card and an Event Card. The Empire Card determines the player’s empire for the current epoch, including its starting location, number of armies, and special abilities.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Area Control: Players expand their empires across the globe by placing armies in adjacent territories.

Drafting: Players draft a new empire and an Event Card at the start of each epoch.

Combat: Dice-based combat rules apply when a player’s unit is placed in a territory already occupied by another player’s forces.

Event Cards: Players use Greater Events and Lesser Events cards to gain advantages.

Empire Management: Players manage the rise and fall of their empires, with resigned armies remaining on the board.

Game Objective

The objective is to have the most points by the end of the game, achieved by controlling territories, capitals, cities, and monuments across five epochs.

Player Experience

**History of the World** offers a dynamic and engaging experience, particularly for history enthusiasts. Players command various empires throughout different historical periods, from ancient Sumeria to the twentieth century. The game balances tactical depth with a light touch, making it accessible yet challenging. Players must strategically expand their empires, manage resources, and utilize event cards to outmaneuver their opponents.

Pros

Tactical Depth: The game has a lot of tactical depth despite its relatively light gameplay.

Historical Theme: It delivers a strong historical theme, making it enjoyable for history buffs.

Accessible Gameplay: The mechanics are simple to learn, although the rules can be cumbersome for some players.

Replayability: The drafting mechanic and event cards ensure high replayability.

Cons

Learning Curve: Some players find the rules cumbersome to learn.

Aesthetic Changes: The use of standardized pawn pieces instead of era-specific units has been criticized for reducing the game’s narrative and historical flair.

Combat Mechanics: The new siege mechanic has been criticized for favoring attackers too heavily.

Components: Cheap cardboard fortifications and less detailed empire cards are seen as drawbacks.

Personal Thoughts on History of the World

**History of the World** is ideal for players who enjoy strategic games with a strong historical context. It is particularly appealing to those who appreciate area control and empire-building mechanics. While it may have some drawbacks, such as the aesthetic changes and the learning curve, the game’s depth and replayability make it a valuable addition to any board game collection. It is best suited for players who enjoy games like Sid Meier’s Civilization and are looking for a board game equivalent with a similar thematic beat.

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