Barbarian Kings (1980)

Political and military wargame set in a fantasy world. The players assume the roles of provincial kings set on conquest and consolidation. Two original editions of this appeared, one in Ares Magazine #3 and one in an SPI boxed edition. A revised edition was published 2001 by Jolly Roger Games. from the Basic Description section of the rulebook: "Barbarian Kings is a simulation of the Red Age of political and military turmoil on the island continent of Castafon in the northern quadrant of the Fira Ocean on the planet Hypastia. This is a world where magic works (sometimes), and men and near-men are as treacherous and territorial as anywhere in the Universes. "The Players (from two to five) assume the roles of Provincial kings, bent on conquest and consolidation. By force and deceit, maneuver and manipulation, each has the goal of bringing under his control sufficient numbers of provinces to win the game (in other words achieving the game equivalent of the Peace of King Coth, which marked the end of the Red Age in 87,805 HE). "Each Player begins the game with one or more provinces under his control and is given a limited amount of money with which to raise and army (represented by the various die-cut cardboard pieces). Each turn in the game, Players write movement orders for their leaders and armies, make alliances, and have battle. In all these activities, the influence of magic is felt through the casting of spells by the various kings and wizards."