Search Results for: ancient civilizations of the inner sea

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Optional Cultural Development Tracks for Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea (ACIS) and Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East (ACME)

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Introduction: By Game Developer, Fred Schachter – Players desiring a bit more complexity to their games of ACIS and/or ACME (once published, of course) in exchange for adding development of culture to their respective Civilizations should appreciate this offering by designers Chris and Mark. This responds to some ACIS players lamenting the game’s absence of a “Culture Arc”.

When play-testing these rules; we found the added complexity acceptable. What’s nice is that with exception of military-oriented developments, advancing a Civilization’s culture does not entail direct overt aggression towards another player… a nice touch in my opinion to a game which already has plenty of “take that!” opportunities.

What these rules entail is another path to achieving your Civilization’s victory and a new aspect to the fascinating resource allocation “puzzle” the designers provide. When trying this option with Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea, please feel free to tinker with these rules to achieve what your gamer group believes provides the best alternatives. Above all… have fun!

With that, here’s what Chris and Mark offer…

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Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea (& Mark McLaughlin) at TotalCon

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For the first time in my 40+ years of game design I was invited to a convention as an Industry Guest – all expenses paid (they even gave me food and beer). I had never been to TotalCon, even though I live in New England and it is 90 minutes from home. Thanks to podcaster Jonathan Reinhart, who interviewed me last year, however, the invite came and I accepted – and I am so glad I did!

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A Little Less Chaos; A Little More Planning: Optional Rules to Calm the Waters in Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea

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Introduction by ACIS Developer Fred Schachter: The Designers, Mark McLaughlin and Chris Vorder Bruegge, as well as myself, would like as many of our fellow hobbyists as possible to enjoy playing ACIS. We appreciate some gamers sharing how they’ve mitigated the game’s chaos through a variety of house rules and it is grand learning how those customized changes result in more folks having fun with the game and consequently playing it repeatedly.

Upon reading of gamers modifying ACIS, Mark responded… “If they are playing the game and are happy, I am happy… if they are playing the game and making it their own, I am even happier.”

These positive developments inspired Designer Chris Vorder Bruegge to make recommendations of his own, recommendations which mitigate Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea’s chaotic game environment with a menu of choices. For those interested in experiencing this different ACIS milieu, a more merciful environment than the game as published offers, we hope you’ll appreciate and enjoy Chris’ offerings…

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Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East Design Background and Differences from Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea Part 4 of 4: The “Real History” Behind the Game

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Introduction

Part 1 of this series provided General Background regarding GMT’s upcoming Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East (ACME). Part 2, Playing Your Role, covered a recommended player attitude when engaged in a game of ACME to best get into the spirit of the game and have a grand fun time. Part 3 addressed how ACME differs from the first game of the series: Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea (ACIS).  This final installment is my way of sharing what I learned, courtesy of Designers Chris Vorder Brugge and Mark McLaughlin, of the history behind the Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East (ACME) game. And it is a fascinating history indeed. To best appreciate this series of articles, some knowledge of ACIS is helpful.  GMT has a wealth of information regarding ACIS in its site for the game: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-624-ancient-civilizations-of-the-inner-sea.aspx
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Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East Design Background and Differences from Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea Part 3: Differences Between ACME and ACIS

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Introduction by Fred Schachter: Part 1 of this series provided General Background regarding GMT’s upcoming Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East (ACME).  Part 2 covered a recommended player attitude when engaged in a game of ACME (to best get into the spirit of the game and have a grand fun time): Playing Your Role.

This Part 3 is intended to address the curiosity of folks who wonder how ACME differs from the first game of the series: Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea (ACIS).  

To best appreciate this series of articles, some knowledge of ACIS is helpful.  GMT has a wealth of information regarding ACIS in its site for the game: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-624-ancient-civilizations-of-the-inner-sea.aspx .

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Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East Design Background and Differences from Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea Part 2: Playing Your Role

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Introduction by Fred Schachter: Part 1 of this series provided General Background regarding GMT’s upcoming Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East (ACME).

Now that the stage has begun being set; how should players’ attitude be when they consider playing ACME? We all assume a role when playing a game and this installment conveys what perspective an ACME player is encouraged to take to fully appreciate this game’s somewhat unusual design perspective.

To best enjoy this series of articles, some knowledge of ACIS is helpful. GMT has a wealth of information regarding ACIS in its site for the game: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-624-ancient-civilizations-of-the-inner-sea.aspx .

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Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East Design Background and Differences from Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea Part 1: General Background

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Introduction by Fred Schachter: I’m having a Game Developer’s blast working with Designers Chris Vorder Bruegge and Mark McLaughlin on Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea (ACIS)’s successor, Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East (ACME… yeah, we’re aware of the Coyote/Road Runner cartoon alliteration, seems worth a guffaw or two, eh?).

The purpose of this article is two-fold. First, to provide background regarding the historical environment players will experience playing ACME (and why the game contains certain design elements) as well as explain, at least on an overview basis, the differences between ACIS and ACME.

To best appreciate this article, some knowledge of ACIS is helpful. GMT has a wealth of information regarding ACIS on the game page.

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Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea: As Short or As Long a Game as You Wish to Make It

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Recommended Parameters for Short, Standard, Extended, and Campaign ACIS Games

As noted on page 55 of the Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea Playbook, players can choose the length of their game. Players need not play all four Epochs nor commence play with Epoch I (to enable experiencing Epoch IV’s “Imperial Rome”). Any game of any length is a “complete” game.

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Electrifying Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea

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Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea (ACIS) received an overall warm welcome from the gaming public. For many of our fellow hobbyists the game hits a sweet spot with its epic theme served in the frame of quick and simple gameplay. A second game in the series, Ancient Civilizations of the Middle East, was recently announced on GMT‘s P500 list: https://www.gmtgames.com/p-836-ancient-civilizations-of-the-middle-east.aspx .

During the game’s development, I had the pleasure of assisting designers Mark and Chris, as well as developer Fred, by crafting a functional VASSAL Module for internal team use during playtesting. After the game’s publication, the opportunity arose to polish the Module for a public release.  That release was accomplished 9/21/19.

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A Bonus Player Aid for Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea

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Recently at WBC 2019, I ran multiple Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea (ACIS) learn to play sessions. All but one game had six civilizations participating with more than one player occasionally sharing control of a civilization, like Bridge partners, so everyone who stopped by the table and was interested in learning and playing the game had opportunity to do so. That meant DOZENS of gamers got to experience ACIS during WBC. A number of them said they’d visit the GMT Exhibit Booth to order the game while its P500 discount price still applied. As P500 sales increased since WBC that appears to be the case. Your patronage is appreciated.