Chicken Caesar (2012) Board Game

Chicken Caesar is a board game released in 2012, designed by Bryan Fischer and illustrated by Nevermore Games. The game is set in ancient Rome and combines elements of humor, negotiation, and politics. Players take on the roles of chicken senators trying to gain power and influence in the Roman Senate.

Game Components of Chicken Caesar

Gameboard featuring various political offices

Chicken tokens (roosters) representing players’ family members

Insignia (badges of office) for scoring

Guard cards to protect against invading foxes

Suffragium marker for voting

Veto tokens for the Caesar

Monument cards for assigning additional insignia

How To Setup Chicken Caesar

To set up Chicken Caesar, players place their chicken tokens onto the five different areas of the gameboard until all areas are filled. Each area represents a different political office, such as Aedile, Praetor, Censor, Consul, and Caesar. Once the setup is complete, the game is ready to begin.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Area Majority / Influence: Players compete to dominate different political offices.

Voting: Players vote to promote chickens to higher offices or to select chickens to be killed off by invading foxes.

Negotiation: Players can bribe or form alliances to influence votes.

Game Objective

The objective is to accumulate the most prestigious set of insignia by placing your chickens in high-ranking offices and protecting them from being killed by foxes. The game ends when one set of insignia is depleted, there aren’t enough living chickens to fill all the open offices, or a player has all their chickens die off. Players then score points based on the insignia assigned to their surviving and deceased chickens.

Player Experience

In Chicken Caesar, players take on the roles of aristocratic ancient Roman chicken families vying to create a legacy. The game is filled with intrigue, negotiation, and strategic voting. Players must balance promoting their chickens to higher offices, using the actions of each office to their advantage, and navigating the risks of fox invasions. Alliances are fragile, and bribes are common, making the game a dynamic and interactive experience.

Pros

Humorous Theme: The game’s ancient Roman chicken setting adds a humorous and unique twist.

Strategic Depth: Voting, negotiation, and office management offer multiple layers of strategy.

Interactive Gameplay: Players are constantly engaging with each other through voting and negotiation.

Cons

Complex Rules: The game has several intricate mechanics, which can be overwhelming for new players.

Long Playing Time: Games can last up to 90 minutes, which may deter players looking for quicker experiences.

High Dependence on Luck: The assignment of guard cards and the outcome of fox invasions can introduce significant elements of luck.

Personal Thoughts on Chicken Caesar

Chicken Caesar is ideal for players who enjoy negotiation, strategy, and humor in their board games. It is suited for a group of 3 to 6 players, making it a great option for game nights with friends or family. However, due to its complexity and lengthy gameplay, it may not be the best fit for casual or younger players. If you enjoy games like “Agricola” or “El Grande” but with a lighter, more humorous tone, Chicken Caesar could be an excellent addition to your board game collection.

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