Conquest is a two-player abstract strategy board game that was released in in 1972. Designed by Donald Benge, it falls into the categories of ancient and wargame genres. The game involves strategic thinking and tactical maneuvers to outwit your opponent and conquer territories.
Game Components of Conquest
Game Board: Printed with a land and water map, featuring roads, sea lanes, and capital spaces.Pieces: Includes soldiers, elephants, chariots, knights, ships, and galleons. Later versions added camels, catapults, siege engines, and a moat around home points.Materials: Originally with cardboard pieces, later editions used plastic, metal, or pewter.Additional Items: Vinyl roll-out map, puzzle book, and fortifications in newer versions.
How To Setup Conquest
To set up Conquest, each player chooses a side of the board and places their pieces in the capital and adjacent spaces as marked. Ships are placed in sea spaces near the capital. The objective is clearly defined by the starting positions of the pieces and ships.
Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective
Movement: Pieces move along roads or sea lanes, with each piece having specific movement ranges (e.g., soldiers move 1-2 spaces, elephants move 1-6 spaces).Combat: Pieces capture by moving onto an opponent’s space, replacing it with their own. Exceptions include soldiers not capturing elephants.Recapture: Defensive captures can be made during the opponent’s turn if possible within one or two moves.Objective: The game is won by occupying all five spaces in the opponent’s capital or by capturing all of the opponent’s pieces.Turn Structure: Each player makes 20 moves per turn, with the option to pass before using all moves.
Player Experience
Conquest offers a rich strategic experience, appealing to fans of chess and grand strategy games. The game’s design, inspired by World War II strategic maps, provides a more fluid and expansive gameplay experience compared to traditional grid-based games. Players need to manage their pieces efficiently, use their unique abilities, and adapt to defensive and offensive strategies.
Pros
Deep Strategy: Offers complex and engaging gameplay with various piece movements and capture mechanics.Variety of Pieces: Different pieces have unique abilities, adding depth to the game.Easy to Learn: Despite its complexity, the game is relatively easy to understand and start playing.Kid-Friendly: A good introduction to strategic games for younger players.
Cons
Length of Game: While the game itself is about 30 minutes, setup and strategy planning can extend playtime.Component Quality: Earlier versions had cardboard pieces which may not be as durable as later plastic or metal pieces.Complexity for Beginners: New players might find the numerous piece types and movement rules overpowering at first.
Personal Thoughts on Conquest
Conquest is an excellent choice for those looking to step beyond traditional chess or simple strategy games. It is ideal for players who enjoy abstract strategy and are willing to invest time in mastering the game’s mechanics. The game’s historical significance and the evolution of its pieces and rules make it a fascinating piece of gaming history. If you’re seeking a game that offers a balance between strategy and simplicity, Conquest is definitely worth considering.
We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.
