Imperial Settlers (2014) Board Game

Imperial Settlers is a card-based strategy game designed by Ignacy Trzewiczek and published by Portal Games in in 2014. The game is set in a fictional world where players take on the roles of different civilizations competing to build the most prosperous empire.

Game Components of Imperial Settlers

Faction cards: Each faction (Romans, Barbarians, Egyptians, Japanese) has unique cards and abilities.

Common deck: Contains basic buildings and resources.

Resource tokens: Food, stone, wood, people, and raze tokens.

Building cards: Represent various structures that provide resources and victory points.

Worker tokens: Used to perform actions.

How To Setup Imperial Settlers

To set up the game, each player chooses a faction, which determines their starting resources and bankable resource type. Players begin with seven cards – three faction cards and four common cards – and a small amount of resources. The game is divided into rounds, with each round having four phases: Lookout (acquiring new cards), Production (gaining resources), Action (performing actions), and Cleanup (discarding unbanked resources).

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Card drafting: Players acquire new cards each round.

Engine building: Players build up their civilization by constructing buildings and managing resources.

Hand management: Managing cards and resources efficiently.

Resource management: Balancing food, stone, wood, people, and raze tokens.

Asymmetric gameplay: Each faction has unique abilities and resource needs.

Game Objective

The goal is to gain the most victory points over five rounds by building and maintaining structures, and undertaking specific actions. Victory points are earned from buildings in play and from actions taken during the game.

Player Experience

Imperial Settlers offers a challenging and rewarding experience, particularly for those who enjoy strategic depth and complexity. The game requires players to master their faction’s unique abilities and understand how to disrupt their opponents effectively. The inclusion of raze tokens adds an aggressive layer, allowing players to sabotage each other’s buildings. The solo mode is also robust, providing a compelling experience against a dummy player.

Pros

Deep strategy: Rewards mastery and planning.

Asymmetric factions: Each faction offers a different playstyle.

High replayability: Multiple expansions and variable setups.

Strong solo mode: Effective solo gameplay against a dummy player.

Balanced gameplay: No faction is notably better than the others, but each requires different strategies.

Cons

Steep learning curve: Requires several plays to fully grasp the mechanics and strategies.

Luck factor: Drawing key cards can significantly impact the game outcome.

Potential for slow gameplay with four players: Managing multiple opponents’ buildings can become complex.

Personal Thoughts on Imperial Settlers

Imperial Settlers is for players who enjoy intricate strategy, engine building, and a bit of aggression. It’s ideal for those willing to invest time in learning the intricacies of each faction and mastering the game’s mechanics. If you’re looking for a game that rewards careful planning and execution, and don’t mind a bit of competition and sabotage, Imperial Settlers is an excellent choice. However, it may not be the best fit for those seeking a more casual or cooperative gaming experience.

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