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Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery
Gale Force Nine, LLC · 2012
3–4120–180 min17+ yrs2.7/5 complexity7.5 BGG#508 BGG13,2 K
⚡ short answer
How do you play Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery?
The primary objective of Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery is to become the most influential house in Capua. Players achieve this by being the first Dominus to accumulate 12 influence points at the end of any of the three main phases (Intrigue, Market, or Arena). It is critical that you are the only Dominus to reach 12 influence at that moment to claim victory.
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FromRON 239
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the rules in 60 seconds▶ auto · 1/6
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01
Setup
Each turn starts with upkeep: refresh assets, heal gladiators, and balance ledgers, paying one coin per gladiator and gaining one per ready slave.
The rules, step by step
Setup
Each turn begins with an upkeep stage. During upkeep, players refresh their exhausted assets by flipping them face up and heal their gladiators' injuries. Players must also balance their ledgers, paying one coin for each gladiator they own and receiving one coin for each ready slave they possess. This phase is crucial for preparing for the upcoming Intrigue, Market, and Arena phases.
Objective
The primary objective of Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery is to become the most influential house in Capua. Players achieve this by being the first Dominus to accumulate 12 influence points at the end of any of the three main phases (Intrigue, Market, or Arena). It is critical that you are the only Dominus to reach 12 influence at that moment to claim victory.
On your turn
A turn in Spartacus is structured into three main phases: the Intrigue phase, the Market phase, and the Arena phase. In the Intrigue phase, houses play schemes to affect their fortunes, influence their house, or undermine rivals. The Market phase involves buying, selling, and trading assets through an open market and a concealed bidding auction, culminating in a bid for hosting the games. Finally, the Arena phase features gladiatorial combat where two combatants are pitted against each other for favor and influence.
Scoring
Influence is a key scoring metric. Players can gain influence by successfully playing schemes during the Intrigue phase, winning gladiatorial games in the Arena phase, and by successfully bidding to host the games. The host of the games automatically receives one influence point. Additionally, owners of favored combatants in the Arena receive coins, which can indirectly contribute to influence by allowing for better asset acquisition.
Game end
The game concludes when a Dominus reaches 12 influence points at the end of the Intrigue, Market, or Arena phase, and no other Dominus has also reached 12 influence. If two or more Dominus achieve 12 influence simultaneously at the end of a phase, the winner is determined by a gladiatorial tournament, with the victor claiming overall triumph.
Tips
To succeed, players should leverage their house's special rules and the unique abilities of their slaves and gladiators, especially during the Intrigue phase to launch schemes or defend against rivals. The open market is a chaotic free-for-all where coin values are fluid, so strategic bartering and understanding what cards are worth to opponents can be more valuable than selling to the bank. In combat, strategy is paramount; consider movement and attack order, and hope for favorable dice rolls, as both brains and brawn are needed to win.
game anatomy
Complexity2.7 / 5
BGG rating7.5 / 10
Language dependence
Moderate text — a crib sheet helps
Play time
120–180 min
Players
3–4
Recommended age
17+ yrs
BGG rank
#508
from Trișache · verified
Frequently asked questions
Q1What is the goal of the game?
The primary objective of Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery is to become the most influential house in Capua. Players achieve this by being the first Dominus to accumulate 12 influence points at the end of any of the three main phases (Intrigue, Market, or Arena). It is critical that you are the only Dominus to reach 12 influence at that moment to claim victory.
Q2How do you set up the game?
Each turn begins with an upkeep stage. During upkeep, players refresh their exhausted assets by flipping them face up and heal their gladiators' injuries. Players must also balance their ledgers, paying one coin for each gladiator they own and receiving one coin for each ready slave they possess. This phase is crucial for preparing for the upcoming Intrigue, Market, and Arena phases.
Q3How does a turn work?
A turn in Spartacus is structured into three main phases: the Intrigue phase, the Market phase, and the Arena phase. In the Intrigue phase, houses play schemes to affect their fortunes, influence their house, or undermine rivals. The Market phase involves buying, selling, and trading assets through an open market and a concealed bidding auction, culminating in a bid for hosting the games. Finally, the Arena phase features gladiatorial combat where two combatants are pitted against each other for favor and influence.
Q4How is scoring calculated?
Influence is a key scoring metric. Players can gain influence by successfully playing schemes during the Intrigue phase, winning gladiatorial games in the Arena phase, and by successfully bidding to host the games. The host of the games automatically receives one influence point. Additionally, owners of favored combatants in the Arena receive coins, which can indirectly contribute to influence by allowing for better asset acquisition.
Q5When and how does the game end?
The game concludes when a Dominus reaches 12 influence points at the end of the Intrigue, Market, or Arena phase, and no other Dominus has also reached 12 influence. If two or more Dominus achieve 12 influence simultaneously at the end of a phase, the winner is determined by a gladiatorial tournament, with the victor claiming overall triumph.
Q6What tips are there for beginners?
To succeed, players should leverage their house's special rules and the unique abilities of their slaves and gladiators, especially during the Intrigue phase to launch schemes or defend against rivals. The open market is a chaotic free-for-all where coin values are fluid, so strategic bartering and understanding what cards are worth to opponents can be more valuable than selling to the bank. In combat, strategy is paramount; consider movement and attack order, and hope for favorable dice rolls, as both brains and brawn are needed to win.
Q7How much does Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery cost?
Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery costs around 239 RON in Romania.
Q8Where can I buy Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery cheapest?
The lowest price for Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery right now is 239 RON at Regatul Jocurilor. The Prices tab lists every store currently tracking it.
Q9How do you play Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery?
Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery is a ancient game, for 3–4 players, taking ~120–180 minutes, featuring auction / bidding. Check the Rules tab for setup, gameplay, and scoring, or ask Trișache anything about Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery — our AI assistant built by howtoplay.ro and trained specifically on board game rulebooks.
Q10How many players does Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery support?
Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery is played by 3–4 players.
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Regatul JocurilorCHEAPESTEnglish second editioneasybox
Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery (2021 English 2nd Ed)
free over RON 149
● in stock
RON 239
Buy →Regatul JocurilorEd. 2easybox
Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery (2021 English 2nd Ed)
free over RON 149
● in stock
RON 239
Buy →LexShopeasyboxFANbox
Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery
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Price history
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Price trend over the last 90 days: minimum 143 lei, maximum 239 lei, now 239 lei.
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