Baltic Empires The Northern Wars of 1558-1721

Baltic Empires The Northern Wars of 1558-1721“The fear of invasion, the concern to keep possible invasion-ports out of the hands of enemies, reinforced a determination not to permit the existence of a hostile fleet within the Baltic. This determination found expression in the concept dominium maris Baltici.” – Michael Roberts, The Swedish Imperial Experience  Baltic Empires is an approachable 2-5 player strategy game about conflicts between the states of the Baltic region during the early modern era, a transformative period of religious conflict, large scale warfare, and constant struggles for power. Players will have to develop their economy, strengthen their administration, secure trade hubs, and finally build armies to become the dominant power of the Baltics. Denmark-Norway, Sweden, Russia, Poland-Lithuania, and Prussia will fight for hegemony, using variable victory conditions that reflect their respective historical objectives. Prototype Game BoardDuring the 16th & 17th centuries, religious conflicts between Protestants and Catholics swept Europe, vast colonies were established by the maritime powers, and a series of wars were fought against Louis XIV’s Kingdom of France to maintain the balance of power, eventually culminating in the War of Spanish Succession. While this history might be familiar to many, the related conflicts around the Baltic Sea that took place during these centuries are less well-known.King Christian IV of DenmarkBaltic Empires presents these less well-known conflicts in a fun and accessible format, while also doing justice to the fascinating history of the Baltic Sea region during this period. The game features 5 asymmetric factions with different strengths, forces, and historical objectives, along with the capacity to develop their states by investing in economic infrastructure and recruiting key historical characters that offer unique game effects. The game also includes several scenarios for variable player counts and durations, offering additional flexibility and replayability.Prototype Dramatis Personae cardsHighlights:Five asymmetric factions with unique abilities and objectivesA highly thematic deck of historical Dramatis Personae to constitute your royal courtA simple yet deep economic system that forces players to make tough decisions regarding their finances and wage war for key resourcesA streamlined battle system based on custom dice per unit typeVariable player counts, from 2 to 5 players, and variable game lengths, with scenarios ranging from a tight duel to a diplomatic heavy conflict with alliances and betrayalsPolish winged hussars charge the Swedish lines at the Battle of KircholmGame Components1 mounted mapboard3 full-color countersheets51 regular sized playing cards118 embossed wooden discs9 custom dice5 player mats5 player aids1 Rulebook1 PlaybookPlayer Count: 2 to 5Play Time: 2 to 6 hours depending on scenario (and amount of table talk)Game Designer: Brian Asklev Game Developers: Fred Serval & Joe Dewhurst