Nicaea

It's the year 325 AD, and Christianity is no longer a persecuted faith, thanks to Emperor Constantine, who saw it as a way to unite the Roman Empire. But, oh, peace is short-lived! As soon as the bishops gather in Nicaea, they start bickering over theological debates that the common folk neither understand nor care about. Constantine just wants them to reach an agreement, any agreement, to maintain order.

Nicaea, by Amabel Holland, takes all this drama and throws it into a blender with a dash of irreverence. Here, theological positions are worth what politics dictates, not what doctrine says. What matters is personal ambition, rivalries, and who aligns with whom. It's a game of betting on which side will gather the most support, managing your hand of cards, and trying to guess the majority's thinking to score points.

But beware! The game has a twist: the player with the fewest points, but the most political influence, can pull off a masterstroke, cause a schism, and steal the victory. To prevent this, you need to keep an eye on your allies and ensure no one is left out when the final scores are tallied. Nicaea blends tableau-building with volatile alliances, giving a cheeky but affectionate nod to one of the most crucial moments in Christian history.