Making the Medieval Trilogies - Part 4: The East Empire

[@StevenStJohn-kj9eb]

13th game: Journey to the Center of the Earth

[@OmegaLinkira]

I knew it was going to be about Byzance ! Because in Paladins, the realm is being attacked by Vikings, Sarasins and... Byzantiums ! Can't wait to play Sagasaga, composed of the four Saga games 😂

[@Boozephreaks]

Powerful works of art, powerful stories, and our lives themselves are meaningless without endings. Use that creativity and sense of wonder to create something new after the four compass points are completed… Thank you for making these beautiful games.

[@rudybotha4398]

I hope one of the games of the the east will be more in line with Architects of the West Kingdom in terms of complexity while being no less fun.

[@ScytheNoire]

I like the idea of the East Empire being more central board focused. It has been a complaint by some that a few of the games have been too much of a solo tablet build. It would be amazing if there was a 13th game that was a huge civilization game of that made use of the civilizations from each of them. I'm just a huge civilization game fan, love them. I'd also like to see you one day do another tile-laying style game, it's one of our favorite mechanics and Explorers is extremely under-rated. We always have so much fun with it.

[@TylerAndToast]

I agree. Solo Tableau building is not fun. I want to play with others. One of the reasons I love architects

[@AxelPaul307]

A trilogy about the Eastern Roman Empire? Take my money!

[@Domokus]

Byzantium is an underated theme. I am happy you making something with this theme.

[@donorush]

In my opinion, you guys are the best in the industry. Thanks for giving us a peek at the process and people behind the games. As long as you keep making games, I'll keep buying them.

[@HM-yv2wt]

I agree with this - my wife and I have found that now we are firmly entrenched in the hobby, and with living costs rising, we tend to just buy games from our favourite designers. We have all the Garphill ones, and look forward to buying any new ones too!

[@acm2215]

Wow the fourth trilogy! How time flies.

[@thomazcunha1338]

Mihajlo Dimitrievski is amazing!!! Such a pleasure to enjoy his art!!! Please, give us more!!! =)

[@JeremyPowellFab]

This video series has been so well done. Quality games, quality videos, quality folks! Excited for what you'll bring to the table in the future!

[@andyrichdale]

Excited to see what you guys come up with in terms of central player interaction, sounds fun :)

[@Excuse711]

I am amazed over and over. Just got Shipwrights to play solo and it is perfectly challenging. Acquired Scholars a few months ago and it is amazing. Legacy of Yu was my favorite of the year. Anything you make is an instant-back! I even acquired Shelfie Stacker this year. Architects is still a favorite!

[@peterpalena3410]

Thematically I love the South Trilogy but sadly my game group falls into the category of these games being too heavy for us. I'm hoping for a return to Raiders/West Kingdom levels of complexity in at least one of the games in the East.

[@Exozik]

The 13th game has to be in the Fertile Crescent where human's civilization started.

[@renefrank3030]

You guys really rock, just played Wayfarers the other day, ordered it. Today I just came back from a Scholars session and its great too. Looking forward already to your upcoming games.

[@garphillgames]

Thanks René!

[@deemich1815]

Love what you guys do! Having some sort of game with the focus being resistance within the empire would be neat or playing as the underdogs or something along those lines. Lots of people get crushed by empires, what about them?

[@TheEternal792]

East Empire has a very nice ring to it. Can't wait for more info!

[@travelinwithTODD]

these videos are so cool. to bring us, the game enthusiasts, into the process. so so good. all of the games from Shem and all the others involved, are fantastic. thank you for all of them.

[@Muffysb]

This is great! I'm excited to see how the East works out.

[@TylerAndToast]

The stories and setting of the east should be so good!

[@Summ3rFru1tz]

So stoked you went with this theme, Byzantium is one of the most fascinating periods of history! The last game needs to be Conquerors of the East Empire! Build Basilica and blow down the walls of Constantinople! 😍

[@ncreson]

There's actually been a pattern with the names that would make Conquerers of the East Empire not work. North Sea started towards the end of the alphabet and worked forward, West Kingdom did the opposite, and South Tigris did same as North Sea, so I wouldn't be surprised if East Empire did the same as West Kingdom. Plus, the names on the middle installments are grouped in the middle. West A1, North E3, South I3, West P2, North R3, South Sc2, North Sh1, West V3, South W1. So the East Empire games should start with something before P, then be something between I and Sh, but also after the first, and then after Sc but after the second.

[@DaniCha]

These videos are amazing! Thank you for giving us an inside look into your work!

[@obiezeoputa7748]

I can’t wait! The Byzantine empire and history is one of of favourites

[@justinwebb2214]

Next series of N,E,S,W … The Americas. Bitter cold of the north, swamp lands or blue waters of the east, ancient empires of the south (or maybe Easter islands for an underused theme), and the Polynesian islands of the west!

[@user-iq5lv4zm9c]

Sounds really good!!!

[@ncreson]

I like this. I was thinking Far East (Asia), Far West (The Americas), Far South (Africa), though Far North would be hard, though could be more cold and snow and ice based, since North Sea is just Southern Scandinavia and Scotland based. Maybe Siberia?

[@SamLanky128]

I'm looking forward to what you guys create! My favourite of yours that I've played is still Raiders of Scythia. Something about the pacing of that game and the multiuse cards just hits really well with me, really clean design. It helps that it's the sort of weight and playtime that makes it easy to table compared to the heavier ones (plus being solid at 2, my most common play count). The others I've played (Scholars, Legacy of Yu, Viscounts, Architects, Explorers) havent hit quite the same, though still good (or great) games in their own right (well Yu wasn't a hit for me). For what it's worth, I'll echo what others are saying - I'm keen to see the East trilogy return to lighter, like midweight games. I would quite like more player interaction, too!

[@jamielehn6926]

Exiting! There’s a great book I can recommend about the history of Constantinople - Ghost Empire - Richard Fidler

[@user-iq5lv4zm9c]

I am looking forward to many more of your games after playing Scholars nonstop.

[@loves2tinker]

Thank you for the inspiring games. Every year I buy 1, learn it, then teach it at board game nights to show how story and mechanics makes a wonderful adventure.

[@marklambert84]

I love you guys so much, these insight videos have been great. I cannot wait for the East Empire!

[@timjones990]

I'm definitely keen on Founders of the East Empire, Rulers of the East Empire or Conquests of the East Empire. Obviously very much depending on what the actual gameplay and theme is lol. but i like those titles.

[@Zonk696]

more interaction on shared board - YES PLEASE!!! :)

[@zacharyvalentin]

I think we can compromise and get Sam's 5th trilogy 13, 14, 15 and Shem's one extra game 16. 😉🙂

[@theterror987]

Two more trilogies! One set in the depths of the oceans and one set in deep space!

[@TheBrothersMurph]

This is the correct answer

[@mrquatch]

Yes!!

[@elvaliente8772]

The East Empire, sounds nice

[@phunkysai]

I know this is the last of these, but I wouldn’t mind seeing one of these for all of your other games too!

[@Oaklestat]

You guys are rock stars 🤟

[@jareduxr]

Generals of East Kingdom (Justinian) Diplomats of East Kingdom (Macedonian) Restorers of East Kingdom (Komnenoi dynasty) Looking forward to whatever you come up with!

[@ursgurtler1731]

Merchants of the East Empire Generals of the East Empire Builders of the East Empire

[@eaidem1239]

Oh... something about the Silk Road...

[@ncreson]

​@@eaidem1239Traders of the East Empire

[@IvanMallia]

Love your work guys. Keep it up!

[@LordAsteroth]

One of them should be "Bureaucrats of the East Empire" given that the bureaucracy was one of the best known elements of the Byzantine Empire.

[@sirelrond0]

I wish you to make us three more great games ! 😃

[@ultimate-voyage]

Very much looking forward to the East series! Thank you for making these videos. After the 4 directions, how about making another trilogies of the above (the gods), or a civilization kinda game where players play one of the directions?

[@TabletopExpress]

Can't wait

[@danielluckenbaugh5674]

Have you considered games about China, Korea, or Japan? A fifth trilogy could be one game honoring the cultural and technological achievements of each country. The Far East has some of humanity's richest history! Good to see the Byzantine Empire getting attention in the hobby. I own the Istanbul set, base and both expansion, BTW 🙂.

[@garphillgames]

We would love to for our Ancient Anthology. We've already gone to China with Legacy of Yu.

[@andregauvin9429]

That’s exciting !!

[@chriseccleston2394]

Next trilogy - Game Designers of the Southeast-by-South

[@e.l.2386]

Check out the book Gold Wars. The Bezant was the most stable currency for 600 years and used all over the world. It was trusted mainly because it was made of real gold and its supply was never artificially inflated (unlike modern currencies). Lots of interesting stories from that!

[@cb-nz]

There already is a 13th game, Shipwrights of the North Sea redux 😂

[@Lerenwordtleuker]

The Nosecutting Usurpers of the East Empire The Mercenaries Extorting the East Empire The Bribes and Diplomats of the East Empire With an expansion about Anna Komnena🥰, about Manzikert😱 and about the Venetian backstab of the Fourth Crusade😭

[@133sinister]

Istanbul baby!

[@NandoVP48]

great games as always, 5th trilogy migth be ocean theme or lost civilizations in same time space of trilogies. But whatever comes after will surley honored the trilogy legacy.

[@eaidem1239]

Ooh! I wonder... Dynasties of the East Empire Warriors of the East Empire Geishas of the East Empire Or perhaps, Gardeners of the East Empire

[@ScytheNoire]

Byzantine Empire is not as far east as you are thinking. :)

[@2010MewDeeK]

How about Eastern Silk Route....That will bring Central Asia and China into the game.

[@AleksandarDaGr8]

5th trilogy: of the Central Civilization

[@tonkabeanicecream5698]

I hope the last trilogy is a bit lighter than some of the newer games, more like raiders or architects.

[@tonkabeanicecream5698]

13th Game, the papacy in Rome.

[@Chabklem2073]

Byzantium! Yeah!😊

[@andrewburnett6215]

I was expecting a Middle Kingdom trilogy set in China to round out the series 😂

[@wiblick]

Byzantines is fabulous but I will buy anything that has been inspired, however loosely, by the social stratification embodied in the buildings, and political structure of the forbidden city… Just so you know!

[@thegamesninja3119]

Byzantinism is a ripe target for a game. Other parts of the Byzantine Empire would be in interest.

[@thegamesninja3119]

Aka, Byzantine Intrigue. The game In the Shadow of the Emperor, feels like it would be worth looking at. The positioning of political mechanations mixing Game of Thones with Dune, next to Orthodox Chrisitianity is an interesting mix. On another note, turning Ezra and Nehemiah into a Bible Trilogy would be cool.

[@maxvincent8997]

Exciting stuff. My vote is don't do a 13th game. Maybe start another 10-12 game series based on something other than a compass. 🧭 I'd like to see more Bible stuff like Ezra and Nehemiah. Perhaps that's the first of a series.