Conquest (1974) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Conquest is an abstract strategy board game that was first released in 1974 by self-published designer Donald Benge. The game is set in an ancient world and revolves around tactical warfare and conquest. With a runtime of about 120 minutes, Conquest is designed for 2 to 4 players aged 10 and up.

Game Components of Conquest

Game Board: Printed with a land and water map.

Pieces: Initially cardboard, later versions included plastic, metal, or pewter pieces such as soldiers, elephants, chariots, knights, ships, and galleons.

Additional Pieces: Later editions added fortifications, bridges, camels, and siege equipment.

Capital Spaces: Five red spaces on each side of the board marking the capital.

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 the sea spaces near the capital. The game board is divided into land and water areas, with roads and sea lanes connecting various spaces.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Turns: Each player makes 20 moves per turn, with options to move different combinations of pieces.

Piece Movement: Soldiers move one or two spaces, elephants one to six spaces, chariots one to eight spaces, and knights one to six spaces. Ships and galleons move one to six and one to eight spaces respectively.

Capture Mechanics: Pieces capture by moving onto an opponent’s space and replacing it. Soldiers cannot capture elephants.

Recapture: Defensive capture allowed during the opponent’s turn if possible within one or two moves.

Game Objective: Occupy all five spaces in the opponent’s capital or capture all of their pieces.

Player Experience

Conquest offers a strategic and engaging experience, especially for those who enjoy grand strategy games. The game’s design, inspired by World War II combat maps and chess, provides a more dynamic and expansive gameplay compared to traditional chess. Players must manage their pieces efficiently, utilizing the unique movement and capture rules to outmaneuver their opponent.

Pros

Strategic Depth: Offers a rich strategic experience with various movement and capture options.

Variety of Pieces: Different types of pieces provide diverse gameplay mechanics.

Easy to Learn: Despite its complexity, the game is relatively easy to understand and start playing.

Historical Context: Based on World War II strategic maps, adding a historical element to the gameplay.

Cons

Complex Rules: While the basic rules are simple, the game has many nuances that can be overwhelming for new players.

Time Commitment: Games can take around 30 minutes, which may not be suitable for all players.

Piece Management: Managing 20 moves per turn can be challenging, especially with the various types of pieces.

Personal Thoughts on Conquest

Conquest is ideal for players looking to transition from simpler strategy games like chess to more complex and dynamic games. It is a great introduction to grand strategy games and is suitable for both casual and experienced players. The game’s historical basis and the addition of various pieces make it an engaging and challenging experience. If you’re looking for a game that offers more leeway and strategic options compared to traditional chess, Conquest is definitely worth considering.

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