Customer Reviews

Shadow of the Emperor Board Game

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's very difficult to review "Shadow of the Emperor" because it's almost certainly unlike any other boardgame you've played. In Germany and most of Europe, board games have a far greater element of strategy, no dice rolling, and take a while to understand the rules and play the game. Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Puerto Rico are examples of excellent games in this category.

In Shadow of the Emperor, the theme is a set of aristocratic families in the late middle ages in Germany who seek to acquire the crown. Votes are hard to come by, but power lies in the hands of the electors, who can be swayed by knights, intermarriage and other forms of influence. On top of all that, you actually have to consider your barons and electors aging. You must manage your money, your actions, and your election influence.

The game is remarkably deep and rich for 90 minutes. It handles 2-4 players, but is really best with four. It's published by Rio Grande Games, known for their quality board games. If strategic board games are a new idea, you might want to try something lighter first, but if you've taken up an interest in these kinds of European boardgames, Shadow of the Emperor is definitely a fun, novel and interesting game that has become a favorite at our game table!

This is a very deep and complex game, and it needs exactly four to play right. Once you internalize the rules, it all fits together like a delightful little clock, with multiple gears and sub-mechanisms. There is a lot of game here, and it can be had for a good price. There are strategic paths and tactical wrinkles to be discovered.

Each player is a Royal in the court of Medieval Germany, and trying to become 'elector' of any of 7 provinces. Some provinces are secular and some are papal diocese (is that a correct plural?). Each province gives its elector a special ability. One must try to control the provinces by placing one's aristocrats. Aristocrats will age however, and after reaching the age of 45, they are near the end of their lifespan. They can also marry, and have progeny, both of which benefit the players in various amusingly thematic ways. For example, if one of your electors has a daughter, you can try to marry her off to another player's aristocrat. If your offer is accepted you receive victory points, he receives greater influence. If there is no suitable marriage for her, you can send her to a convent, and receive payment from the church!

When the electors are determined, there is a round of voting to determine which player's aristocrat may be emperor. You might think that voting with only four players at the board would be trivial and uninteresting, but the opposite is true. The silent politicking of the voting is by far the most interesting and subtle part of the game. Becoming emperor is not an overwhelming advantage. It is a strategy, like several others, full of pitfalls and risks. This is a stunningly good game for four players.

This is a great game for 2 or 4 people. There is no luck and there are only 5 rounds (each one equivalent to 10 years in the history). Each move is important and can make a big difference.
The game uses a number of mechanisms that are unique (to my knowledge). People are aging, sons or daughters are born depending on your actions etc.
Great thinking game!

ItSotE is a guilty pleasure for me. On one hand, it is not a well designed game. Lots of fiddly/fussy bits here and direct conflict that can promote ganging up on players in an annoying way but something charming comes out of this otherwise average Euro. Maybe it's the idea that everyone is always getting older (and closer to death)? maybe it's the funny uselessness of having female children? Maybe it's the ability to send doctors to make other player's family members 'get older' (bad medicine)? Whatever the reason, I can't bring myself to hate this game for all the normal reasons.

My husband and I play a lot of strategy games, from Settlers to Powergrid to Forbidden Island, etc. I bought this game because it was relatively cheap and I was trying to expand our collection. It turned out to have far too many pieces and rules for game play. It took awhile to learn and play and by the end we were all just tired of playing. It might be more fun on future game plays, but only if we didn't play with anyone new.

I'd say the game is OK for the price, but not one I'd necessarily recommend to others.