TDG: Mare Nostrum: Empires

Don't you hate it when you're trying to create an epic civilization, and then someone builds the pyramids before you? Well, here's your chance to rectify that in this civilization building game from Academy Games! Will it conquer the empire that is your heart? Or will it trade away your good times? Cody investigates!

[@vondeekin287]

Great review, Cody. Glad to see you finally got to play this one. I backed it, on Kickstarter, & have never regretted it. ENJOY!!

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thank you, sir! It's a great game.

[@michaelwild888]

I played it first in a con. I bought a copy and play it often. One of the best games I have played.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Great!

[@TylerDeLisle]

Agree with you as usual Cody. Love Mare Nostrum: Empires. It's a bit fiddly with the tracks, but amazing how quickly it moves along with high player counts. I've had 6 player learning games take under 3 hours and still feel like a grand, epic experience. Very simple systems, but still room to get some fun combo's with the heroes. Wish I could play this more often.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Yes! Great game!

[@JimCrimmins]

This is a terrific civ game that has flown under the radar.. Perhaps cuz it's a republishing / revamp of the first version which had some victory condition problems.. Those are gone, and what's left is an excellent multi-player civ game that ends in 2.5 hours.. Which is a rare find. Superb production doesn't hurt. If u get a chance to play on the huge neoprene mat they offer - highly recommended, it's sweet

[@JimCrimmins]

Also, great review par usual Cody.. So glad you've been able to keep tdg rolling in Texas, we dig all the same stuff

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Fantastic! You correct about this game, sir. Glad to keep bring you content.

[@jossy4132]

My gaming group has played this dozens of times over the past few years. Got the game on kickstarter with all the expansions. What we have found is once players are familiar with all the mechanics, the games will last a maximum of 5 turns, often finishing on turn 3.

[@raymyers700]

Great review! I have everything for this but haven't been able to play as I REALLY want to play it with 5 and that is a tall order it seems. I have everything for it, but I've set it up twice now and then plans change...so I'm getting close to getting 'set up fatigue' because this one is a real beast since EVERYONE has different set up on the maps, tracks and their own personal starting resources.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Please don't let that deter you! Keep at it, because its' worth it.

[@Uther1313]

You gotta try the 6 player expansion, it opens up a whole new adventure on the seas with Atlantis flanking Rome and Carthage.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I want to for sure!

[@user-hk5fo1nm9h]

My sister won the third round as Carthage and couldn’t figure out what we did wrong. She bought the pyramids.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Very good!

[@adavis5926]

Funny seeing this review just now. I backed the expansion on KS but still haven't got it to the table. I just dusted it off and pulled out the box yesterday.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Hopefully you'll get a chance to play it soon. Great game!

[@Kbarr54]

Nice review. Wanted to love this game, but couldn't get pass the map... You know... Turkey.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

I'm afraid I don't... You know... Chicken... Is that what we're doing?

[@Cerhob]

Wait, wait. Let me try... You know... Penguin

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Now you're catchin' on!

[@Cerhob]

Nice review. I'm still on the fence about the game due to the dice based combat. Wouldn't the whole divide by 5 thing just mean that a 5 or 6 means you score a kill? When you said you love civilization games, especially for the negotiations, I'd recommend playing Archapeligo. I just picked it up myself (not sure how as it's OOP) but if you ever get a chance to play it, you should try it.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks for the suggestion. I really liked the combat in Mare Nostrum: Empires, however.

[@TylerDeLisle]

It's a really simplified combat system, and nice for that reason. It takes a lot to buy an army, you might send just 2 or 3 at your opponent. Just one army is unlikely to score a kill, 2 is likely to get one kill, 3 you are nearly guaranteed a kill, maybe two. Various things can give you an extra point or two. It's a very clean system with a good amount of predictability and the right amount of risk to simulate the unknowns of war back then. If you are scared of getting killed, you can purchase defensive buildings with guaranteed hits and focus more on your infrastructure.

[@Cerhob]

Tyler DeLisle but if I roll nothing but 1's, (or I's in this game) I'm still going to lose, right? Correct me if I am wrong but this is how I understand combat. Move two guys in. Roll two dice. They come up a 6 and a 4. So that's one kill, right? And if you have 3 guys and I have 1 but you roll nothing but 1s, I win?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

If the roll is a 6 and a 4, that adds up to 10, so two hits total, (divide by five). If three units each rolled one there would be no hits, correct. Remember your Clauswitz- war is the realm of chance.

[@TylerDeLisle]

One's will get you, but the fun part you're missing is it's the total divided by 5. So your example of a 6 and a 4 would be two hits. So if you roll a 3 and a 2 with two troops, that's still one kill. The odds are much better to guess and predict. If you roll 1's and 2's though, you're still pretty hosed. Attacking with 3 troops is nearly guaranteed at least one hit, even if you roll, 2, 2, 1. That's why it's a nice system.

[@flyworld9620]

what a strange coincidence. Yesterday I was thinking about buying this game ..hmmm.... Is there a lot of text in the game? cards, etc?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

There is a some text, yes, but not a ton compared to some games.

[@flyworld9620]

thanks :) just ordered it

[@darkodineon]

nice

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Thanks!

[@NCTarheel55]

I guess I should take the shrink off my copy

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Indeed, you should!

[@UnfilteredGamer]

Hey there, just found this channel and it's really cool. We'd love to do a collab with you at some point - giveaway - video - whatever. Big fan already, let me know if that sounds like something interesting! Okay, gonna go back to watching the top 10 horror games you like as I'm a big fan of them! You can contact us from our site - I won't post it here but I'm pretty sure you'll easily find it.

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Possibly. Message me and we'll talk.

[@mikolajwitkowski8093]

1. Many reviewers presents the game's components at the beginning but none do it as well as you. 2. As to the game I wonder why have high number dice and divide by 5 instead of low numbers and maybe some zeros?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Because high numbers are more fun!

[@mikolajwitkowski8093]

Why fractions? Roll d10s 9&10 are a hit.

[@mikolajwitkowski8093]

I am not saying it's exactly the same, that was just a rough example. I am saying though, that this is not the best way to do it, it is possible to get similar probability without that convoluted mechanisms.

[@tcp1623]

@Discriminating Gamer - Here´s a joke for you... What did Tarzan say, when he saw the elephants in the horizon coming towards him?

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Night Hawk I dunno. What?

[@tcp1623]

He said: "Here comes the elephants". :) What did Tarzan say, when he saw the elephants in the horizon, wearing sun glasses, coming towards him?

[@showmicr]

Night Hawk ...

[@TheDiscriminatingGamer]

Fantastic!

[@tcp1623]

NO, he didn´t say anything - he didn´t recognise them ;) ;)