# Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2019
- **BGG Rating**: 6.5
- **BGG Rank**: #6203
- **Players**: 1-6 (Best with: 4)
- **Duration**: 120-300 min
- **Weight**: 2.48 / 5
- **Designers**: Chris Vorder Bruegge, Mark McLaughlin
- **Artists**: Blackwell Hird, Chechu Nieto, Kurt Miller
- **Publishers**: GMT Games
- **Categories**: Ancient, Civilization, Wargame
- **Mechanics**: Area Majority / Influence, Area Movement, Card Play Conflict Resolution, Chaining, Hand Management, Solo / Solitaire Game, Sudden Death Ending, Take That, Variable Player Powers

## Verdict
If you enjoy civilization and wargames with a touch of abstraction and high replayability, Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea is a fantastic choice! It throws you into the Ancient Mediterranean to build empires or conquer everything, and best of all: no dice, focusing on card strategy. It's an experience that adapts to various durations and player counts, with constant tension from event cards. Get ready for a time-traveling journey full of decisions and twists.Many civilizations to playNo dice rollingHigh replayabilityVaried and flexible scenariosEasy to learn rulesCan be long for someDirect interaction (Take That)Language dependentRECOMMENDED

## Description
Embark on an epic journey with Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea, a game that lets you build or conquer empires in the Ancient Mediterranean, all in a single night and without rolling a single die! You can erect wonders for a peaceful, thriving commercial empire, or sack cities and expand your dominion by land and sea, spreading your influence across the shores of the Mare Internum. The game offers incredible flexibility, starting with scenarios that place you in isolated settlements at the dawn of the Bronze Age, or jumping ahead to lead powerful civilizations like Troy, Egypt, Carthage, Rome, and many others, all vying for supremacy and survival in diverse historical contexts. If you enjoy a solo experience, there are challenging scenarios like defending Rome from barbarians or leading the Greeks against Persia. The 110 Event Cards are the heart of the game, bringing legendary generals, prophets, and architects, along with military and commercial advantages—from chariots to triremes, from caravans to traders. But beware! These cards can also unleash plagues, famines, civil wars, barbarian invasions, and even apocalyptic natural disasters. With a concise rulebook, Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea is quick to learn, easy to play, yet challenging to master. It's an abstract game that reinvents itself with each play, where you guide legendary civilizations that rose and fell around the Mediterranean. It's not just one game, but many, with 1 to 6 players each taking on the role of one, two, or even three civilizations, competing across up to four epochs, each with up to four turns, on land and sea, seeking to leave their indelible mark on history. Scenarios are shorter, lasting only a few turns, depending on your choice. Get ready to rewrite the past!

## FAQ
### What is the average playtime for Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea?
Playtime can vary significantly, from 120 to 300 minutes, depending on the chosen scenario and the number of players. Shorter scenarios can be completed in a few turns, while full campaigns take longer.

### How many players can participate?
Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea supports 1 to 6 players. It offers a robust solo experience with dedicated scenarios, in addition to being great for larger groups.

### Is it a complex game to learn?
The rules are described as 'very short' and easy to learn, allowing players to get into the action quickly. However, mastering it and its strategic nuances is the real challenge.

### Does the game involve dice?
No! One of the distinctive features of Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea is that it does not use dice rolling. Conflict and event resolution is done through card play, which adds a strategic element of hand management.

### Who is this game recommended for?
It is highly recommended for fans of civilization games and wargames who appreciate card-driven strategy, high replayability, and the ability to play both solo and in a group. If you enjoy rewriting history and dealing with unpredictable events, you'll love it!

### Does the game have expansions?
The description does not mention specific expansions, but the game itself is presented as 'not just one game but many,' due to the variety of civilizations, scenarios, and epochs that can be explored, offering great diversity within the base box.

## Price Comparison
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