Objective
In Polis: Fight for the Hegemony, two players vie for control of Greece during the Peloponnesian War. Each player takes on the role of a polis (Athens or Sparta) and tries to expand their power and influence through military and diplomatic strategies.
Components
- A game board depicting Greece and the eastern Mediterranean
- Resource tokens: grain, silver
- Unit trays for armies and fleets
- Action cards providing players with special actions and advantages
- Influence markers
- Event cards introducing historical events into the game
- Politics cards offering advantages and actions to players
Gameplay
The game consists of several rounds, each comprising multiple turns where players alternatively perform actions.
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Start of Round: Draw an event card that sets specific rules or events for the round.
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Action Phase: Players take turns performing actions enabled by playing action cards:
- Military Actions: troop movements, attacking other poleis, besieging cities
- Diplomatic Actions: negotiating treaties, placing influence markers in neutral cities
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Economic Actions: resource management, trading goods to obtain grain or silver
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Supply Phase: Players must supply their units with grain. Units that cannot be supplied suffer losses.
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Round End: Players check their objectives and balance their resources and influence.
End of the Game
The game ends after a set number of rounds or upon fulfilling a specific condition (e.g., city dominance, resource exhaustion). The player with the most hegemony, measured in resources and controlled cities, wins the game.
Strategic Aspects
- Resource Management: Effective management of grain and silver is crucial to maintain armies and fleets.
- Diplomacy: Building alliances and placing influence in neutral cities can determine victory.
- Military Tactics: Balancing attack and defense; excessive aggression might lead to resource depletion.
Polis: Fight for the Hegemony requires strategic thinking, demanding resource management, and tactical planning to outwit the opponent.
