Up & Away Games
Print on Demand Game
Thu Dec 8 07:40:20 UTC 2016

A N C I E N T   C O L O N I E S




(click to zoom)


Now with wooden ships!

Videos:
See here for the list of updates to the game
since these videos were recorded.




Introduction VISIT SHOP PAGE
In this game of ancient colonization, pilot your fleet of colonists to an unknown Mediterranean shore and establish colonies in fortuitous locations. Some of the decisions you will consider:
  • Land immediately or take time to find the ideal location?
  • Benefit from proximity to others or stay more safely away?
  • Re-invest to grow your colonies or conquer those of others?
  • Send your fleet home or use it as a vehicle of influence?
  • Create more colonies or thrive safely behind strong walls?
  • Pursue speedy growth or avoid disrupting the citizenry?

    In ancient times nearly every vacant Mediterranean coastline was colonized by one group of Greeks or another. In the game you may play
  • the tyrannical Corinthians
  • the belligerent Spartans
  • the Euboean explorers
  • the thrifty Phocaeans founders of ancient Marseilles and famed as the best seafarers of all the Greeks
  • the Phoenicians, whose seafaring and trading abilities are legend to this day

    Notable Features
  • A discovered, modular board that is different every time
  • Variable powers and a large card deck
  • No board means it's easy to take along.

    What Players Say
    “Gotta tell you, [it] really hits the "sweet spot" for me: an historical theme expressed through (as opposed to – German-style – arbitrarily dropped on top of) very tightly crafted game mechanics. I guess it's the Grognard in me that finds this extra dimension of "meaning" so satisfying – game abstractions with a purpose.” —Garry Haggerty

    “Synopsis: Jim Dunnigan and Reiner Knizia are actually one person and the whole direction of historical game design avoids 25 years of specialist dead-ends. I really want to play this game.” —Garry Haggerty

    “It's a good enough game. It's an interesting Euro-style game.... Had it appeared [earlier] would have been a classic. —Enrico Viglino (calandale)

    News
    9/18/2017 Fleet counters replaced with wooden ship tokens! See at right.
    8/30/2017 Rename to Ancient Colonies (from Poleis). Add ice cubes as part of the package instead of sold separately. Replace box with a plastic ziploc to lower cost.
    12/7/2016 Updates since the videos were recorded

    Where to Buy
    Visit Ancient Colonies in the shop.

    Resources
  • Rules
  • At BGG
  • Time Line
  • Pronunciation Guide
  • Background Videos (history)
  • On Twitter


    Created: Sat Nov 5 02:52:00 MDT 2016
    upandawaygames.com