Back of card
Age of Empires: Expandable Card Game is an out-of-print trading card game by Journeyman Press. Originally released in 2000, the game was based on the Ensemble Studios computer game, Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings. The cards used in the game feature original artwork by a number of artists. Due to the bankruptcy of Journeyman Press in 2001, only the base set and the first expansion were published.
Gameplay[]
| “ | The Age of Empires: Expandable card game is a game of conquest, enlightenment, and civilization advancement. Just as in the computer game, you are the leader of a civilization that has begun to rise after the fall of Rome. Only you can lead your people out of the Dark Ages and into their place in history. This highly strategic game has the feel of a historical game combined with the fast-paced and continuously changing atmosphere of an expandable card game. Do you have what it takes to crush your foes? | ” |
| —Rulebook description | ||
Players build their own deck based on one of the included civilizations. Typical gameplay is designed for two players, but there are rules for multiplayer battles and scenarios that allow for three or more. Similar to other entries in the series, gameplay involves advancement through four Ages; the Dark Age, the Feudal Age, the Castle Age, and the Imperial Age. The object of the game is to complete one of the following win conditions:
- Destroy all opponent's Town Centers.
- Destroy all opponent's Villagers and prevent creation of any new Villagers.
- Collect five relics and enshrine them in a Monastery for six turns.
- Advance to the Imperial Age, build a Wonder, and protect it for six turns.
Turn sequence[]
Each turn is broken down into the following phases:
- Collection/Upkeep: During this phase the player collects resources and pay any upkeep that they have on any of their cards.
- Construction: During this phase the player may play any buildings, Relics, and Wonders. The player may also begin research on technologies, upgrades, and age advancement.
- Movement: During this phase unit cards may move. Movement is either within the player's own village, to the opponent's village or to no-man's-land.
- Attack declaration: If the player has units in place to attack the opponent's buildings or units, the player may declare an attack on that target.
- Attack resolution: During this phase the damage for each round of combat is calculated and casualties are removed.
- Enlistment: During this phase the player may bring any new unit cards into play or add additional tokens to any existing units. This is also the phase in which Villagers and Monks can be played.
- Discard and draw: During this phase the player discards any unwanted cards from their hand and redraws back to seven cards. Cards may be placed in either the discard or snuffed pile when discarding.
- Allocation: During this phase players remove one Villager token from any cards being researched and allocate their Villagers to different tasks, such as gathering materials or getting ready to produce buildings or technologies.
Deck[]
The deck is divided into four sections corresponding to the four Ages. The first section contains cards that have an Age I symbol on them and are the cards used in the Dark Age. The second, third, and fourth sections each correspond to their respective Age. There is a minimum of 90 cards in the total deck, with up to five of any specific card. The only two exceptions are Walls, which may have an unlimited number, and Militia, of which up to ten are allowed. Some cards list specific civilizations that may play it, any civilization not listed may not use the card.
Types of cards[]
- Civilization cards: Civilization cards list any civilization specific bonuses the player receives. Similar to the PC games, each civilization receives unique bonuses. Also listed on the front of the card are the play costs and statistics for Villagers and Monks. On the back of civilization cards is the key to the icons used in the game, a listing of the technologies, upgrades, units, and buildings which that civilization can not use, and a listing of the turn sequence.
- Building cards: Building cards represent the structures that make up a player's village. Buildings are used to gather resources, build units, and research technologies.
- Unit cards: Unit cards represent military troops. Each unit represents multiple troops and, as such, will have tokens on it. Each token represents one of that troop type. Military troops are produced in the Barracks, Stable, Archery Range, Castle, and Siege Workshop. The site of production is listed on the bottom of the unit card.
- Upgrade cards: Upgrade cards are used to upgrade units and buildings. When an upgrade is complete, all cards that it affects gain the new statistics noted on the upgrade card.
- Technology cards: Technologies are used to give civilizations new abilities. Once created, these technologies are put off to the side of the village in the technology section and remain in effect until they are replaced or removed.
- Age cards: Age cards denote a player's progress through the Ages. They are placed on top of the respective Age Deck. Age cards are played like technology cards.
- Event cards: Event cards represent special occurrences that affect specific aspects of the game. Event cards may or may not have a play cost. When played, the effect takes place immediately. Event cards must be played before the discard and draw phase. Some event cards are labeled as attachment cards, these are a special subclass of cards that are attached to units or buildings and affect the target card only. Event cards are placed into the snuffed pile after being played.
- Wonders: Wonders are used in the Imperial Age. Wonders function the same as buildings. If a player puts a Wonder into play their opponents then have six turns to destroy it. If not destroyed in six turns, the player who played the Wonder wins the game.
- Relics: If five Relics are gathered and enshrined in a Monastery for six turns, the player who does so wins the game. Once a player enshrines a Relic in their Monastery they will receive three gold per Relic during their collection phase.
Sets[]
- Base Set: Includes the Britons, Celts, Goths, Mongols, and Persians. (2000)
- Nautical: Includes the Franks, Japanese, Saracens, and Vikings. (2001)
- An unreleased second expansion was planned, titled Smoke and Saints, and was to include the Byzantines, Chinese, Teutons, and Turks.
Gallery[]
