A Story of Discovering History with Imperium: Classics
Discover the intricate ways history intersects and crafts a memorable tale with the nations of Imperium: Classics.
After a fairly excellent time exploring the Macedonians from Imperium: Classics, it was time to move onto another new nation! Despite having owned the first couple of games since they were released years ago, I can safely say I haven’t played anywhere near enough. Time to remedy that by exploring the tributaries strategy of the Persians!
Game Overview
Game Name: Imperium: Classics
Publication Year: 2021
Designer: Nigel Buckle & Dávid Turczi
Artist: Mihajlo Dimitrievski
Publisher: Osprey Games
Solo Mode: Included in Imperium: Horizons
A nation rises to focus on all sorts of elements, such as regions, developments, technologies, fame, tributaries, and individual leaders. Just 12 rounds make up the solo practice mode, which offers a fantastic way to see all of the nuances that go into telling these historical tales!
First Play
March 20, 2024
Complexity
4
Latest Play
March 29, 2024
Expansions
2
Setup Time
10 Minutes
Lifetime Plays
8
Play Time
50 Minutes
High Score
100
Game Area
36" x 22"
Low Score
57
Persian… Alpacas?
It seems customary to pair all of these nations with some of my Calico Critters! The Macedonians showcased many lions, which I was able to pull off with a few cats.
Camels, though? I found the closest stand-in, who was all too adorable not to include! Although billed as an alpaca, the acting skills on this one were excellent. Ha ha!
The Persians were up next, and might be one of the more focused nations. Tributaries make up their strategy.
That doesn’t mean I wasn’t trying out new ideas or finding neat ways to use garrisoned cards better, though!
All the Tributaries
Even playing with the basic side of the Persian power card, it was quite apparent what I needed to do. Whereas I had some leeway with Macedonian strategies, this was clear!
But don’t think that led to a boring play… This resulted in my best score yet, which was in the category of being excellent. Definitely felt like I knew what I was doing!
Maybe it also came down to me minimizing the inefficient decisions. Leftover resources were kept to a minimum.
The Persians might not have the most exciting rounds, yet I still found plenty of ways to appreciate their play style.
Ruling as Darius I
More history to uncover! I was inspired to learn a little bit about Darius I, also known as Darius the Great.
Picking up a bunch of uncivilized cards might not have felt very thematic, but I enjoyed how all of these made sense. The vague titles, like city or town, certainly fit anywhere.
There are a lot of common cards to see, and although most of these are seen with each play, they always feel unique.
I’m excited to keep looking at all of the new downloads that are coming out! Of particular interest is the Imperium Mixed Common Card Sets. So many possibilities!
Glorious Victory
As I learned the optimal strategies, I felt like I grew up like this camel that is clearly not an alpaca. Ha ha!
It might have held true that the Persians were all about acquiring and breaking through for tributaries, but each of these cards was different with scoring conditions.
Both of my plays were similar on the surface, yet I kept on trying to find new synergies… That didn’t always work.
For me, I still enjoy starting with low complexity nations. I don’t expect to play the solo practice mode forever. The knowledge I’m gaining will definitely come in handy!
Finding More with Fewer Bells and Whistles
Many of the more complex nations come with their own unique decks or completely different play styles, and I’m excited to eventually discover them! Sometimes, the idea of starting off with the easy or less complicated options might feel limiting. I personally love to start out at the easiest difficulty level and build up from there.
Those who have played this game series over the years might not return to play nations like the Macedonians and Persians that much. And that’s OK! For me, I would be overwhelmed if I had too much to learn at the start. The things I’m learning aren’t specific to these nations, either, and I have a better understanding of how everything works.
Playing board games, particularly solo, is a process of discovery and learning. At its core, the experience is also very fun and joyful, yet I love seeing the pieces click together as I make different decisions. Does that mean I expect to master every game? Not at all… The fun and joy are also important! Yet this series aligns with a lot of what I love in games.
Session Overview
Play Number: 5 & 6
Expansion: Imperium: Horizons
Solo Mode: Included in Imperium: Horizons
Play Details: Solo Practice Mode, Persians A & B
Outcome: 95, 69 (1 Win & 1 Loss)
Such an excellent game! I even had a chance to pivot over to picking up a lot of empire cards early on. Garrisoning those made for an excellent idea, which might be obvious to long-time players, but that sense of discovery is what keeps me so excited to continue playing each nation. There are still 28 left to explore and keep me busy!
%
1 Play
Affordability
Price & Value
10
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
9
Originality
Design & Theme
6
Quality
Components & Rules
8
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
10
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
10
+ Pros (Positives)
- Nations play differently, but also don’t necessarily force each play to progress in exactly the same way.
- Every decision feels meaningful, to the point that inefficient choices can actually be seen in leftover resources.
- Although playing purely for mechanics can work, the heart of gameplay is about seeing history unfold.
- Generic card names might seem too vague at first, but these easily slot into the story of each nation’s history.
- Overall, there aren’t a lot of icons to memorize, and most rules are straightforward enough to memorize.
- Lots of additional resources are available to highlight how customizable the experience is with various modules.
– Cons (Negatives)
- Sorting all of the cards to play again takes a bit of time that can drag on a little bit, although it’s not too bad.
- Final scoring can be rather tedious and frustrating without an easy way to categorize each card individually.
- There aren’t necessarily a lot of rules, yet there are plenty of edge cases that aren’t always clearly defined.
- Acquiring tokens constantly can get a little annoying, and it seems like a dial or tracker might have been useful.
Victory Conditions
Score 80+ Points in the Practice Mode
- Overall Goal Progress 86%
Goals and Milestones
Score at least 80 points in at least 1 practice mode game.
Score at least 90 points in at least 1 practice mode game.
Score at least 100 points in at least 1 practice mode game.
Win at least 1 practice mode game as the Macedonians.
Win at least 1 practice mode game as the Persians.
Win at least 1 practice mode game as the Romans.
Score at least 110 points in at least 1 practice mode game.
Continue the Conversation
How have your recent plays of Imperium: Classics gone? Do you have a preferred way to play solo? Although there are specific rule sets, I’ve been digging into more modules and helpful documents to make the game even better. I’m so happy I gave it another chance! This series is going to offer many hours of entertainment and the inspiration to learn!
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