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7 Ages is a game of world history from 4000 BC/E to 2000 AD/CE. Players represent dynasties that decide the fate of the world across the millennia.
You, as a dynastic head of one or more empires must guide your empires through history gaining glory points for historical, scientific, religious and cultural advances as you increase their health, wealth and prestige. All the leading figures of history are included, as they attempt to influence events and their society through their great words and deeds.
Players can play multiple civilizations simultaneously (though the counter set limits the total number of civilizations that can be in play), but the first civilization card played determines the time frame in which the game starts, restricting which additional civilizations may actually be played and/or what historical leaders civilizations in play may use. This makes the secret bids to get the first move important to all players.
The game features playing cards that represent either a historical civilization, an action, or a civilization advance, depending on the context in which the card is played. Each card also has a numeric value, used for making bids and trading. The game also features a system of a limited number of action options per player based on chits secretly selected by players each turn -- for example, if you are playing more than one civilization, only one can declare war, only one can take production, etc. There is a "wild" chit each player can use to let two of his or her civilizations take the same action, but the civilization using the wild chit pays a penalty.
Victory points and civilization levels are plotted using an on-board scoring area. Game play can be quite long with more than two or three players, so most games end at a predetermined time or turn with the player with the most victory points from all his or her civilizations combined winning.
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- the biggest tool out there is boardgamegeek.com
- this does favor kind of the heavy strategic games just the general sort of user base of this website
- people that like azul also like these other games so this gives you a nice jumping off point there
- rodney smith he does probably the best how to play videos in the whole industry
- the bigger the community the worse it is it seems like
- i find that these targeted groups are very good
- the weight rating is kind of in the middle range whereas if we go back here we can take a look on the side here and we'll go to azul remember it was a 2.4 for wingspan this one is a 1.76 so the order of magnitude in the weight is very very important here
- two players is not really that good i mean it works and it plays fine but compared to playing with three four maybe even five players it's going to be a kind of a different experience
- the main thing is having a good welcoming fun group that you can get along with and become friends with over the course of this hobby
References (from this video)
- Potential for epic and grandiose gameplay.
- The $66 price point is considered reasonable, especially when expansions are included.
- The game has a strong reputation and is considered a classic by some.
- The inclusion of a solo mode is a positive new feature.
- The game's ability to create lasting stories and a sense of writing history is highly praised.
- Disappointing and uninspired main image and box art.
- Lack of a compelling video presentation.
- The playtime listed (2 hours) is questioned, with the game being described as potentially very lengthy (8 hours mentioned).
- The project page is text-heavy and lacks sufficient graphics and explanations.
- Confusion surrounding different editions (deluxe, collector's) and what is included.
- The presentation does not feel special or showcase the game's potential.
- The game's components are described as basic cardboard and cards, not feeling deluxe at the $99 price point.
- Lack of clear information about expansions and their value.
- The presentation fails to meet industry standards.
- The game doesn't feel like it's trying to attract new players.
- leading dynasties to decide the fate of the world's empires across the ages by gaining glory in all fields of human endeavor: art, science, geography, history, and architecture, while defending people from international intrigue.
- human history
- Apex Clash: The Game
- Crown and War and Kingdom
- Scythe
- GMT Churchill
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- civilization building — Referred to as a 'civ builder'.
- Deck Building — Mentioned as a potential mechanic, but not confirmed.
- Political Game — Described as a political game.
- strategy game — Described as a strategy game.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- There's so much text here. That's the graphic. I was like, man, I really wish we had a GIF or an image.
- Your game is not special to 99% of the people who back it.
- The fact that there's not plastic in this and like that just from eight hours to 1 hour 17 minutes that's some serious streamlining or did they drop a zero from the SEVEN THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING LIKE IF YOU HAVE AN EIGHT HOUR GAME you lean into that like come on you have to know that that's a selling point it's not a detractor because there's going to be a group of people like me and I'm going to guess like myrr who just will have this game on their shelf and they'll play it once and think that was an amazing experience
- It's the deluxe edition and nothing about it feels deluxe.
- And here's the thing. If you want to maintain what you're doing, you're just like we don't care. This is how we want to do it. Then give us organization. There's a stretch GOAL FOR YOU. ORGANIZE ALL THOSE FREAKING SHITS in a convenient way.
References (from this video)
- epic scope
- lots of cards
- very long game
- bad quality
- 480 minutes playtime
- Civilization
- Historical
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Drafting — People can just play a card that implodes your whole civilization. It doesn't matter cuz you got three other civilizations. It's full of all sorts of cards. Each card can be a civilization, but it also can be a wonder of the world.
- civilization building — you control different civilizations and you will control different civilizations cuz your civilizations will be destroyed.
Video topics + discussion points
Quotes (from this video)
- Carcassonne: Over Hill and Dale, this is one of those expansions that I just missed.
- This is a big, grandiose game with a lot going on, and it's too slow and too boring for me to enjoy it.
- This is my least favorite Carcassonne game. I hate this game.
- This is one of the biggest, longest games I've ever played.
- It's the bad quality's bad.
- This one is fine. Um this one is not as bad as the other one I played was that you go around and you find stuff. It doesn't look very good though, does it?
- Leaders on the other hand are a great two-player game where you have a bunch of leaders and you're trying to capture your opponent's leader.
- Of all the games I talked about today, I think my favorite is actually Leaders.
- Leaders is a very, very excellent two-player game.
- This is a re-implementation of Survive: Escape from Atlantis.
- A little auction game. There was just some really neat like there wasn't many games like this. Now, there are many, many, many games like it.