Mare Nostrum: Empires – Atlas Expansion
Mare Nostrum: Empires – Atlas Expansion Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
2 Player Expansion - The Punic War
In the 2-Player expansion, a Roman player faces off against a Carthaginian player to reenact the Punic Wars. Northern Barbarians represent a third power that is controlled by both players during the game.
Standard Mare Nostrum - Empire rules are used, with the following modifications:
- Barbarian Setup.
- Trade Phase Overseas Markets. These simulate Foreign Trade markets from which both players can claim Resources.
- Move and Battle Phase Barbarian manipulations.
- 2 modified Victory Conditions.
The 2 Player Punic War Expansion Set includes:
- 8 Barbarian, 3 Trireme, and 3 Fortress Miniatures.
Wonder Tiles Ability Changes
- Hanging Gardens: You can store a total of 3 Gold in addition to the 2 Coins you can normally store after the Build Phase, for a total of 5 stored Gold and Coin Resources. These Gold and Coins can be used to move the Barbarians up to a maximum of 5 moves.
- Statue of Zeus: You may declare yourself at peace with the Barbarians, as if they were a real opponent.
- Antigone is set aside and is not used in the game.
1.1 Game Setup
Babylon and Egypt are covered up on the map and are not in play.
The players place their Units according to the standard Roman and Carthaginian Empire Screen setup.
Leader Tracks are marked as follows:
- Carthage is the Trade Leader and Culture Leader.
- Rome is the Military Leader.
Barbarian Setup: Place Barbarian units as follows:
- Achaea: 4 Legions, 1 Fortress.
- Macedonia: 2 Legions, 1 Fortress.
- Thracia: 2 Legions, 1 Fortress.
- Mare Ionium, Mare Aegaeum, Pontus Euxinus: 1 Trireme each.
1.2 Trade Resources Phase
Draw 3 Legendary Commodities and place them face up next to the game board. These will represent Foreign Trade Resources available during this Trade Resources Phase (MN 2.0).
The Trade Leader determines how many Resources both players must choose from their Resource Supply and place face down in front of their Empire screens. The players then reveal their Resources and the Trade Leader claims either a Resource offered by his opponent or one of the face up Foreign Trade Legendary Commodities.
Players may claim as many of each other's Resources as they want and are not limited by the twice in a row limitation of the standard game. When a player claims a Foreign Trade Legendary Commodity, his opponent must immediately choose one of his own face up Resources and discard it into the Resources pool. Note: This simulates the Barbarians claiming a Resource.
Trade continues until all Player Resources are claimed. Any unchosen Foreign Trade Resources remain face up and are replenished to 3 Resources during the next Trade Phase.
1.3 Move and Battle Phase
Stored Gold and Coins can be used to move Barbarian Legions and Triremes during the Move and Battle Phase. Any unused Gold is discarded at the end of the this phase.
The Active Player can move or transport Barbarians during his turn by paying 1 Coin or Gold per Barbarian Legion or Trireme moved.
Barbarian Triremes can never attack or be attacked. Only Barbarian Triremes may transport Barbarian Legions, this for no extra cost. Player Units may not be transported by Barbarian Triremes.
Barbarians fight like player units, but if they win a battle they can only pillage a Building (MN 4.3.1), as decided by the Active Player. The Active Player removes the pillaged Building and collects the Pillage Resource.
Barbarians, that you moved, fought for you, and remain with your units in a Province at the end of your tunr, will attack you during your opponent's turn!
All other 3-5 Player game rules apply.
1.4 Victory Conditions
Pyramids and Five Heroes and/or Wonders Victory Conditions are the same as in a normal game (MN 6.0).
But to win by Conquest or Leadership a player needs to:
- Control any 4 Capital and/or Legendary Cities for two Move & Battle Phases in a row. (Which 4 Cities are controlled may vary between the two phases, as long as 4 remain under control).
- Claim all three Leader Titles (Trade, Culture, and Military) for two Claim Leadership Phases in a row.
6 Player Expansion
In a 6-Player game, the Atlantis Expansion Board is added to the game. The sixth player leads the Empire of Atlantis and begins the game with 'Atlas' as his starting hero.
- Empire of Atlantis set includes:
- 8 Legion, 5 Trireme, 5 Fortress Miniatures.
- 7 Atlantis Control Markers.
- 5 Atlantis Leader Track Markers.
- 1 Centaurs Miniature.
- 1 Atlantis Player Summary Sheet, Empire Mat, and Screen.
- Additional Resources: Commodities (7 types) and Coins
| Commodity or Coin | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Ceramic | 2 |
| Gold | 2 |
| Grain | 2 |
| Metal | 2 |
| Oil | 2 |
| Sheep | 2 |
| Wine | 2 |
| Coin | 6 |
- Additional Buildings: Caravan, Market, City, Capital City, and Temple
| Building | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Caravan | 6 |
| Market | 4 |
| City | 2 |
| Capital City | 1 |
| Temple | 3 |
- Atlas Starting Hero, plus 5 additional Heroes.
The five additional Atlantis Hero tiles are mixed in with the base game's tiles and 6 are placed face up. Additional tile spaces are provided in the top left hand corner of the Atlantis Expansion Board. The Atlantis Heroes are purchased like any of the other Heroes in the base game.
All other 3-5 Player game rules apply.
Atlantean Heroes
Atlas (Starting Hero) — Phase III: Build
Build Triremes for a cost of only 2 Resources each (instead of 3). Ex: The Atlantis player builds a Trireme for 2 Coins and then another Trireme for 2 different Commodities.
Chiron — Upon purchase, the player immediately builds and places the special Centaurs unit for free.
Centaurs: The Centaurs destroy one opponent Legion before commencing battle. The Centaurs battle, pillage, occupy and convert like normal Legions but do not count for Military Leadership nor benefit from Legion bonuses. The Centaurs can be rebuilt at a cost of 6 Resources.
Additional Hero Abilities
The source prints the four hero tiles below on page 3, beneath the Atlas map, without a section heading (the heading bars on that page are blank). They are placed here in the order printed.
Medea — Phase IV: Move and Battle
Once per round, you may place the Medea Marker in a Sea occupied by your and opponent Triremes. All of the opponent's Triremes that occupy or later enter this Sea are petrified. Petrified Triremes cannot move, transport, or battle for the rest of the Round. You may not choose the same Sea twice in a row.
Leader Bonus: 1 Trade, 1 Military
Pegasus
Once per round, fly (move) a group of Legions up to two Province and/or Sea zones. Provinces and Seas moved over can be occupied by opponent forces. When moving over a Sea, the player does not need Triremes, since his Legions are flying.
Medusa
Once per round, you may place the Medusa Marker in a Province occupied by your and opponent Units. All of the opponent's Units that occupy or later enter this Province are petrified. Petrified Units cannot move, battle, or occupy for the rest of the Round. You may not choose the same Province twice in a row.
Leader Bonus: 1 Military
Orpheus
Once per round, at the conclusion of one of your battles, resurrect one of your own destroyed units and place it on the Orpheus tile. It will be built for free during the next Building Phase.
Leader Bonus: 1 Culture
Legendary City Expansions
Legendary Cities' Overview
There are 3 Legendary City Expansions, one for each of the Legendary Cities depicted on the map: Troia, Ierusalem, and Syracusae. Each Legendary City has a theme associated with it, based on its role in history, that can influence game play in different ways. Troia towards Military, Ierusalem towards Culture, and Syracusae towards Trade.
Each expansion includes unique new Heroes, Objective Tiles, and Bonus Cards. Players will attempt to fulfill Objectives to then be able to draw Bonus Cards. The right Bonus Card can hopefully help a player in a powerful way.
1. Game Component Details
3 Legendary City Expansions
- Troia (Section 4): 6 Military Heroes, 3 War Objective Tiles, 15 War Bonus Cards, 1 Myrmidons Miniature, 10 Battle Victory Markers.
- Ierusalem (Section 5): 5 Heroes, 1 Wonder, 3 Divine Objective Tiles, 15 Divine Bonus Cards, 1 Halicarnassus Building Miniature.
- Syracusae (Section 6): 6 Heroes, 3 Commerce Objective Tiles, 15 Trade Bonus Cards, 1 Greek Fire Trireme Miniature.
Note on section numbering: the source numbers the Troia, Ierusalem and Syracusae sections 5, 6 and 7 in their headings, while the component list and overview refer to them as Sections 4, 5 and 6. Both are transcribed as printed.
2. Game Setup
Choose which Legendary City Expansion you want to include in the game.
Each Expansion section details which Heroes from the base game should be removed and replaced with the Legendary City's 6 Hero/Wonder Tiles. The base game and Legendary City tiles are now placed on the Heroes & Wonders Board as described in the base game rules.
Place the chosen Legendary City Expansion's three Objective Tiles face up next to the game board.
Shuffle and place the chosen expansion's 15 Bonus Cards face down next to the Objective Tiles.
3. Game Play
3.1 Objective Tiles
Each Objective Tile has a game Objective listed on it. The first player to fulfill an Objective chooses to draw between 1-5 Bonus Cards.
Each Objective Tile can be fulfilled by only one player and is then flipped to its used side for the remainder of the game.
3.2 Drawing Bonus Cards
When a player fulfills an Objective, he states how many cards he will draw and then draws between 1 and 5 Bonus Cards.
He looks at all drawn cards and chooses one without revealing it to the other players. He then gives any remaining cards to a player of his choice, who chooses a card and gives any remaining cards to a player of his choice who has not yet received a card, and so on until all drawn cards are taken or each player has received a card (any leftover cards are discarded). The number of cards drawn determines how many players will receive a card.
Designer's Note: A player that fulfills an Objective needs to decide how many Bonus Cards to draw. If he draws only 1 card, it may be a Decoy Fortune Teller - a card of little value to him. If he draws several cards, he can choose the best card for himself, but then must give any remaining cards to an opponent of his choice. This system adds a lot of strategy to the game, since you may be forced to choose a card that does not help you just to prevents an opponent from getting it. Or you may pass cards along to an opponent who can choose one to use against a different opponent. As the ancient proverb says: 'The Enemy of mine Enemy is my Friend'.
3.3 Playing Bonus Cards
Once chosen, a Bonus Card is held until played. There is no limit to the number of Bonus Cards a player can hold. A player can play as many Bonus Cards as he wishes during a round, even during an opponent's turn.
Some Bonus Cards are unique to an expansion and others are included in several of the expansions. Cards vary in how powerful their game effects are, including some that are decoys with no effect. Players may attempt to bluff opponents with their Decoy Cards in order to influence their actions and decisions.
Once played, a Bonus Card is discarded to the Bonus Card discard pile.
Designer's Note: Players can concentrate on fulfilling Objective goals or not. Each game can play out differently: sometimes the players will fulfill all of the Objectives, other times no Objectives will be fulfilled.
4. Multiple Expansions
Players may decide to include more than one Expansion in a game. This affects setup as follows:
- 1 Expansion: Replace the 6 basic game Hero & Wonder Tiles detailed in sections 4 - 6 with the Expansion's 6 Hero & Wonder tiles. Place the three Objective Tiles face up next to the game board. Place the Bonus Card Deck face down next to the Objective Tiles.
- 2 Expansions: Randomly remove and replace 8 basic game Hero & Wonder Tiles with 4 randomly drawn Hero & Wonder Tiles from each chosen Legendary City Expansion. Randomly place one Objective Tile from each chosen expansion face up next to the game board. Shuffle the remaining Objectives from both expansions and randomly draw one, placing it face up next to the two previously drawn Objectives. Place both expansion Bonus Card Decks separately face down next to their corresponding Objective Tiles.
- 3 Expansions: Randomly remove and replace 9 basic game Hero & Wonder Tiles with 3 randomly drawn Hero & Wonder Tiles from each expansion. Randomly place one Objective Tile from each expansion face up next to the game board. Place all three expansion Bonus Card Decks separately face down next to their corresponding Objective Tiles.
Troia Expansion
Troia - 'The city of a thousand treasures, which brought the war and caused its fall.'
If Greece's excuse for besieging Troia was to free the beautiful Helen from Paris, it was Troia's fabulous wealth that instigated the war by the Greek leader Agamemnon and the war chiefs who joined him. This war was depicted in Homer's epic Greek poem, The Iliad. This epic saga is disputed by numerous historians today, but no one will ever know with certainty if Homer was a historian or a poet. With the Troia Expansion you can rewrite history with your own words and actions!
5.1 Troia Heroes
Troia introduces 6 new Heroes: Achilles, Aeneas, Agamemnon, Ajax, Helen of Troia, and Odysseus.
When playing with just the Troia Expansion, remove from the base game Antigone, Castor & Pollux, Circe, Gilgamesh, Hamilcar and Spartacus.
Achilles: Upon purchase, the player immediately builds and places the special Myrmidons unit for free.
Myrmidon Warriors: The Myrmidons roll two dice in land battles and cancel any opponent Fortress hit negation. The Fortress still adds 5 to the opponent's Battle Dice roll. The Myrmidons battle, pillage, occupy and convert like normal Legions but do not count for Military Leadership nor benefit from Legion bonuses.
You may rebuild the Myrmidons at a cost of 6 Resources.
Aeneas — Phase IV: Move and Battle
When you are involved in a Land Battle, you may negate 1 hit from your opponent's dice results.
Agamemnon — Phase IV: Move and Battle
When Agamemnon's player pillages an opponent's Market or Temple (MN 4.3.1), the pillaged Market or Temple is immediately rebuilt on one the Agamemnon's Provinces where there is an available empty Market or Temple space.
Leader Bonus: 1 Culture, 1 Military
Ajax — Phase V: Claim Leadership
Once per round, draw one War Bonus Card located in the Bonus Card discard pile. The player does not need to fulfill an Objective in order to use Ajax's ability.
Helen of Troia
No special abilities other than the Military Leader Bonus.
Leader Bonus: 4 Military
Odysseus — Phase IV: Move and Battle
Once per round, the player may transport Land units through any one Sea without a Trireme. The player may choose the Sea at any time during his turn.
Leader Bonus: 1 Military
5.2 Troia Objective Tiles
Troia includes 3 Objectives. The first player to fulfill a card's objective may draw War Bonus Cards. A fulfilled Objective Card is turned face down and is no longer available in the game.
5.2.1 Objective 1 - Alexander's Conquests
The first player to control an Empire of 5 Provinces, each containing at least one of his military units (Legion, Fortress, or special Unit such as the Myrmidons).
5.2.2 Objective 2 - Poseidon's Legacy
The first player to solely occupy 4 Seas with his Triremes.
5.2.3 Objective 3 - Favor of Ares
The first player to win three battles.
To win a battle, a player must have at least one Unit remaining and have eliminated all opposing Units. This can be a Land or Sea Battle.
Battle Victory Markers are used to track how many battles each player has won.
5.3 Troia War Bonus Cards
The Troia Expansion includes 15 War Bonus Cards depicting special Unit and Battle effects.
| Qty | Bonus Card | Name & Effects |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Catapults | Battle Phase: As the Attacker, you destroy an opponent's Fortress at the beginning of a Land Battle, before Battle Dice are rolled. |
| 1 | Chariots | Move Phase: All Land Units may move up to 2 Provinces, with a Sea Transport counting as a 1 Province move. The first Province moved into must be free of opponent Units (unless it is a Sea zone). |
| 2 | Cretan Archers | Battle Phase: Destroy one opponent Unit, of his choice, at the beginning of a Land Battle before Battle Dice are rolled. Archers destroy an opponent Unit before Centaurs and other land Units do. |
| 2 | War Elephants | Battle Phase: For this Battle, Legions each automatically roll a 5 Battle Die result. |
| 2 | Siege Vessels | Battle Phase: Triremes located in Seas adjacent to a Land Battle you are involved in may join in the Land Battle, rolling their Sea Battle Dice. They may not, however, absorb losses. |
| 1 | Greek Phalanxes | Battle Phase: For this Battle your Units take losses based on your opponent dividing his Battle Dice results by 7 instead of 5 . |
Ierusalem Expansion
Ierusalem - The 'three times holy' city.
Ierusalem has always been a site of holy and political importance, whether for Jews, Christians, or Muslims. In the Canaanite period Ierusalem also spread its influence as far as Egypt.
6.1 Ierusalem Heroes
Ierusalem introduces 6 new Hero & Wonder Tiles: Adonis, Croesus, Imhotep, Moses, Solomon, and Halicarnassus.
When playing with just the Ierusalem Expansion, remove from the base game Temple of Artemis, Antigone, Castor & Pollux, Circe, Hamilcar and Penthesilea.
Adonis — Phase V: Claim Leadership
Once per round, draw one Divine Bonus Card located in the Bonus Card discard pile. The player does not need to fulfill an Objective in order to use Adonis's ability.
Leader Bonus: 1 Culture
Croesus — Phase III: Build
Once per round, build either one Control marker, City, or Caravan for 1 Coin; or one Market or Temple for 4 Coins.
Leader Bonus: 1 Trade, 1 Culture
Imhotep — Phase III: Build
Build wonders or the Pyramids, but not Heroes, for 1 Resource less.
Moses — Phase IV: Move and Battle
Protects the player's Provinces from Pillage (4.3.1) and Conversion (4.3.3). An opponent may still occupy Buildings (4.3.2).
Solomon — Phase IV: Move and Battle
No opponent may attack your units in your Provinces unless they pay you a Coin per Province attacked.
Halicarnassus
Place the Halicarnassus miniature on any one of your Provinces.
This Province may not be attacked for the rest of the game. (The Baal and Vulcan Bonus Cards cannot be played on this Province.)
Leader Bonus: 2 Culture
6.2 Ierusalem Objective Tiles
Ierusalem includes 3 Objective Tiles. The first player to fulfill a card's objective may draw Divine Bonus Cards. A fulfilled Objective Card is turned over and is no longer available in the game.
6.2.1 Objective 1 - Minos' Might
The first player to claim 2 Leader Titles (5.0). Any two of Trade, Culture, or Military Leadership.
6.2.2 Objective 2 - Solomon's Wisdom
The first player to build a Temple in a Legendary City Province.
6.2.3 Objective 3 - Jehoshua's Conquest
The first player to convert an opponent's Province.
6.3 Ierusalem Divine Bonus Cards
The Ierusalem Expansion includes 15 Divine Bonus Cards depicting City and Leader effects.
| Qty | Bonus Card | Name & Effects |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Athena | Battle Phase: Until the end of the Round, protect a Capital or Legendary City Province from Land Battles, pillaging, or occupations. An opponent that invaded a Province remains in the Province, but may not attack. |
| 2 | Baal | Battle Phase: Destroy a City of your choice (including Capital and Legendary Cities). |
| 1 | Horus | Build Phase: Receive one +2 Leader Track bonus of your choice until the end of the Round. This can help you win the game by claiming all Leader Titles. |
| 2 | Ishtar | Build Phase: Build a Control Marker for the usual cost in any neutral Province, even if not connected to your Empire. Or build any Buildings or Units for the usual cost in one of your Provinces, regardless if occupied by opponent Units. |
| 2 | Isis | Trade Resources Phase: Draw one Legendary Commodity. |
| 2 | Poseidon | Any Phase: Destroy an opponent Trireme of your choice anywhere on the map. |
Syracusae Expansion
Syracusae - 'The city of culture and trade, that shone like a jewel in the middle of our sea.'
Known for its wealth as well as its maritime power, Syracusae was the object of envy and greed from all of its neighbors, including Athens, Carthage, and Rome.
7.1 Syracusae Heroes
Syracusae introduces 6 new Hero Tiles: Archimedes, Dido, Jason, Midas, Minos, and Ptolemy.
When playing with just the Syracusae Expansion, remove from the base game Antigone, Castor & Pollux, Circe, Hamilcar, Penthesilea, and Perseus.
Archimedes: Upon purchase, the player immediately builds and places the Greek Fire Trireme miniature for free.
The Greek Fire Trireme and other friendly Triremes in the same Sea roll Land Battle Dice. The Greek Fire Trireme transports like normal Triremes, but does not count for Military Leadership. You may rebuild the Greek Fire Trireme at a cost of 3 Resources.
Leader Bonus: 1 Military
Dido — Phase III: Build
Take and store up to two unused Commodities lost by opponents at the end of the Build Phase (3.0).
Leader Bonus: 1 Trade, 1 Culture
Jason — Phase III: Build
Once per round, recruit Heroes, but nor Wonders or the Pyramids, for 1 Resource less.
Midas — Phase I: Collect Resources
Receive 2 Gold Commodities from Reserves. If Midas is in play, add 2 Gold commodity tokens, from the Atlas expansion, to the commodity reserve pile.
Minos — Phase V: Claim Leadership
Once per round, draw one Commerce Bonus Card located in the Bonus Card discard pile.
Leader Bonus: 1 Trade
Ptolemy: Upon purchase, the player immediately builds 1 Trireme (for free) on a Sea adjacent to one of his Provinces. Player may refuse any Sea Battle.
Leader Bonus: 2 Trade
7.2 Syracusae Objective Tiles
Syracusae includes 3 Objective Tiles. The first player to fulfill a card's Objective may draw Commerce Bonus Cards. A fulfilled Objective Tile is turned over and is no longer available in the game.
7.2.1 Objective 1 - Horn of Plenty
The first player to collect 8 different Commodities OR 9 Coins during a Build Phase. Hannibal's and Cleopatra's powers are not counted towards this Objective.
7.2.2 Objective 2 - Daedalus' Plans
The first player to control 12 Buildings. These include Caravans, Markets, Cities, Legendary Cities, Temples, and occupied opponent Buildings (4.3.2).
7.2.3 Objective 3 - Hermes' disciples
The first player to control 3 Markets and/or Temples. Occupied Markets and Temples count towards this Objective (4.3.2).
7.3 Syracusae Commercial Bonus Cards
The Syracusae Expansion includes 15 Commerce Bonus Cards depicting City and Leader effects.
| Qty | Bonus Card | Name & Effects |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Oracle of Delphi | Trade Phase: Change the Resources you are offering after you see what your opponents have offered. |
| 2 | Parthenon of Athens | Trade Phase: Force an opponent to draw one of your own offered Resources. |
| 1 | Circus Maximus | Any Phase: Receive a +1 Leader Bonus on each Leader Track until the end of the Round. Note: This can win you the game by claiming all Leader Titles. |
| 3 | Trajan's Market | Resource Phase: After all players have taken their Resources, collect 2 additional Resources, chosen from those you produce. |
| 2 | The Port of Piraeus | Build Phase: Build 1 Trireme and 2 Legions for a cost of 6 different Resources (instead of three separate costs of 3 Resources). These Units come from the Barbarian set, but are treated as your own from this point on. |
| 2 | Tower of Babel | Build Phase: Build for free a Provincial Control Marker on a neutral Province anywhere on the map. |
Alternative Game Setups
In the Regular Mare Nostrum - Empires rulebook, players either play a full 5 player game on the standard map or cover portions of the map for 3 and 4 player games. Below are alternate setup options that offer variability of game play.
3 Players
- Place the Leader Track board and the Heroes & Wonders board on top of the left hand side of the game map, covering Rome and Carthage.
- Starting heroes Caesar and Hannibal are discarded and not used in the game. Players will lead Greece, Babylon, and Egypt.
4 Players
- Lay out the base game map and the Atlas expansion map. Then place the Leader Track board and the Heroes & Wonders board on top of the right hand side of the game map, covering Egypt and Babylonia.
- Starting heroes Hammurabi and Cleopatra are discarded and not used in the game. Players will lead Rome, Greece, Carthage, and Atlas.
5 Players
- Place the Leader Track board on top of the right hand side of the game map, covering Babylonia.
- Starting hero Hammurabi is discarded and not used in the game. Players will lead Rome, Greece, Egypt, Carthage, and Atlas.