Corduba

The year is 49 B.C. when Julius Caesar gathers the leaders of the main colonies in Hispania Ulterior in Corduba, where he expresses gratitude for their support during the war. The conflict between Caesar and Pompey was coming to an end with a clear victor, but not all Roman citizens were in favor of Caesar.

A year later, the cruel governor and right-hand man of Caesar in the province, the praetor Quintus Cassius Longinus, suffered an attack while heading to the city's basilica. This act was a prelude to what would happen two years later when, leveraging the power granted by the name of Pompey and exploiting the resources of the Roman province itself, Cnaeus and Sextus, sons of a former ally and enemy of Caesar, had taken control of all of Hispania, including the Roman colonies of Italica and Corduba. Cnaeus and Sextus Pompey had assembled an army of thirteen legions composed of Pompey's loyal veterans, Roman citizens of Hispania, and remnants of their defeated army in Africa.

The year is 49 B.C. when Julius Caesar gathers the leaders of the main colonies in Hispania Ulterior in Corduba, where he expresses gratitude for their support during the war. The conflict between Caesar and Pompey was coming to an end with a clear victor, but not all Roman citizens were in favor of Caesar.

A year later, the cruel governor and right-hand man of Caesar in the province, the praetor Quintus Cassius Longinus, suffered an attack while heading to the city's basilica. This act was a prelude to what would happen two years later when, leveraging the power granted by the name of Pompey and exploiting the resources of the Roman province itself, Cnaeus and Sextus, sons of a former ally and enemy of Caesar, had taken control of all of Hispania, including the Roman colonies of Italica and Corduba. Cnaeus and Sextus Pompey had assembled an army of thirteen legions composed of Pompey's loyal veterans, Roman citizens of Hispania, and remnants of their defeated army in Africa.

Caesar traveled to the capital of Hispania to crush the rebellion. After losing an initial battle against Cnaeus for control of the bridge, Caesar was forced to spend the winter in Ategua, resulting in the plundering of the area to supply his army. Many joined the rebellion of Pompey's sons, but it was not enough. Forced to take refuge in the city after the Battle of Munda, Cnaeus and Sextus are besieged by Caesar's army, which takes the city by storm. Sextus manages to escape Caesar's wrath, but his brother Cnaeus dies alongside 22,000 Cordubans. As punishment for supporting the rebellion and harboring its instigators, the city is practically destroyed.

In 27 B.C., almost two decades later, the first emperor, Augustus, sends representatives of the most influential Roman families to Corduba to restore the city's status. To achieve this, they must rebuild the city and address the needs of its inhabitants. All under the watchful gaze of Rome.

Players, heirs of different patrician families sent from Rome, will vie for the right to be proclaimed the next Governor, but to do so, they must earn the vote of the people and of Rome.

The game unfolds over three decades, each divided into three rounds. During a round, players will take turns performing actions until everyone decides to pass. Through these actions, players will generate resources, construct buildings and monuments, train legions, and address the religious needs of the population. Players will have a number of workers and specialists that will increase as the city's population grows.

It's crucial to note that Corduba is not a standard tile-laying game. It is an action-building game with worker placement and resource management mechanics. The available actions at the start of the game are limited and all relate to obtaining basic resources for building or training troops. However, as players construct new buildings, the available actions will increase since each building grants a new action to the game. The combinations and strategic possibilities are overwhelming.

Another strength of Corduba is its evolution. The game unfolds over nine rounds grouped into three decades. At the end of each round, buildings are freed up from workers, making them available again for the next round. This means that all buildings constructed are available to all players, regardless of who built them. Additionally, with more actions becoming available, strategic possibilities multiply. Every action is important, leading to a continuous sense that someone has beaten you to the move and occupied the building you wanted to activate or built what you intended to construct. While the rules don't change from one round to the next, you'll notice that the game itself does. The experiences during the initial rounds differ significantly from those in the final ones.

Corduba does not have victory points. To win the game, you must earn the favor of the citizens of the city and that of Rome. Constructing buildings in different neighborhoods will increase your reputation there. Contributing the largest army to the Roman cohorts or making the most significant offering to the gods also helps you gain the favor of the Senate. And, of course, helping the city meet the demands of Rome. At the end of each decade, players will have the opportunity to add Senators to the Senate Chamber.

But all that glitters is not gold, and at times, citizens will rebel. Revolts are something players will have to contend with. This doesn't mean they have to cooperate against them, but if they are neglected, the entire city can fall, causing everyone to lose the game.

Corduba represents the epitome of strategic possibilities. Each game unfolds based on the buildings and monuments constructed, the combinations of chosen families and inheritances, the demands of Rome, the fluctuation of the resource market, and the available Res gestae (milestones)... Even if you try to play the same way as in a previous game, you won't achieve the same experience. In essence, no game of Corduba will be identical to another you've played, and in each game, you'll discover different strategies and combinations.

Corduba is a game with simple rules that allows anyone to quickly grasp it, but with a depth that makes it a challenge for enthusiasts of highly complex games.

And now, for a limited time and while supplies last, the promotional Family card (double-sided) will be included with the game, along with 2 exclusive Inheritance cards (unless otherwise expressly stated, all orders will include the exclusive cards).

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