Imperius

Description from the publisher: The ruling house of the empire is in decline and in their weakness an opportunity presents itself. The throne is within the grasp of any rival faction bold and cunning enough to grab power for themselves. However, this is a nuanced conflict, one where diplomacy cuts just as sharply as the weapons of an army, but half as so as the assassin’s blade. There are wheels within wheels and machinations beyond your view. Players represent powerful houses, each seeking to ascend to the throne. Every player has the same six cards, which provide Strength, Favor, Victory Points, and bonuses. Unfortunately, the path forward is shrouded in fog, forcing players to manage the uncertainty of the times. Imperius builds on the existing mechanisms of Solstice: Fall of Empire by adding asymmetrical factions, less secret information, and varied planet effects that can grant additional special abilities to players. Every round, players draft a hand of cards, choosing a mix of their cards, their opponents’, and powerful Events. The key is building a viable strategy with your own cards and events, while denying key cards from your opponents. Then, cards are played to the Planets, with no more than two of these cards per Planet being played facedown. Players are forced to make decisions with imperfect information gained during the draft and by reading your opponents. Finally, the cards are revealed and resolved. In most cases, players want to be the Strongest or Favored faction to score Victory Points.