It is 1458. Ladislaus the Posthumous, the young Habsburg king of Hungary and Bohemia, has died. Both the Habsburgs of Austria and the Jagiellons of Poland lay claim to his inheritance. However, the nobles of Bohemia and Hungary elect their own candidates: the Hussite George of Poděbrady in Bohemia and Matthias Corvinus, son of the famous war hero John Hunyadi, in Hungary. Meanwhile, the once-powerful Teutonic Order struggles to hold onto its remaining territories along the Baltic coast, while the growing Ottoman threat looms over the entire region. The dynastic, political and, ultimately, military struggle for power begins.
In the game Aurea Mediocritas: Central Europe on the Verge of the Renaissance (1458–1500), players take on the role of one of five states — the Kingdom of Hungary, the Archduchy of Austria, the Kingdom of Bohemia, the Kingdom of Poland, or the Teutonic Order — fighting for dominance in Central Europe in the second half of the 15th century.
This is a historical card-driven wargame for 2-5 players featuring a map divided into areas. The core aspect of the game is the military sphere – players muster knights from their lands or recruit mercenaries, and then use them to fight against other players’ armies and lay siege to the castles they control. Waging war requires money, so players must collect taxes in the form of ducats. To do this, players must call estate assemblies to consult with them on their actions; if they fail to do so, the estates will make their displeasure known, limiting the players’ options.
The game includes several scenarios:
Full campaign (5 players): 7 turns covering the entire period 1458–1500.
Four-player scenario (without the Teutonic Order): 5 turns (1470–1500).
Three-player scenario: The struggle between Austria, Bohemia and Poland for the Hungarian throne after the death of Matthias Corvinus (last two turns).
Two-player introductory scenario: The Thirteen Years’ War between Poland and the Teutonic Order (first two turns).
—description from the publisher
Medieval, Political, Renaissance, Wargame · Action Points, Area Movement, Campaign / Battle Card Driven, Dice Rolling, Events, Hand Management, Movement Points, Simulation, Variable Set-up
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