- BGG rank
- BGG #769
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Struggle of Empires
- 2–7 players
- 180–240 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 2004
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,267
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Age of Reason
2011
Rules assistance for Age of Reason
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–7 players
- 150 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.4/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Age of Reason
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Age of Reason is a board game released in 2011 for 3–7 players, 150 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Martin Wallace and its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Dice Rolling, and Area Majority / Influence.
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About the game
Set in the latter half of the 18th century, Age of Reason (a.k.a. Zeitalter der Vernunft) makes players take on the role of regents for Great Britain, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Prussia, Austria and Russia who want to increase their home country's power in Europe while simultaneously establishing colonial empires in Africa, India and the Western Hemisphere. One country working on its own will not be able to achieve its goals, so players must take part in shifting alliances, with whose help they hope to achieve their plans - or at least stave off direct competition from a potential enemy. While Age of Reason can be played with only two players with the existing rules, the publisher recommends against this.
Designers
Publishers
- Stronghold Games
- Spielworxx
Questions and answers
Age of Reason supports 3–7 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Age of Reason is 150 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Age of Reason for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Age of Reason has a complexity rating of 3.4 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Age of Reason belongs to these categories: Wargame, Territory Building, and Political. Its main mechanics are Auction / Bidding, Dice Rolling, and Area Majority / Influence. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Age of Reason are: Martin Wallace. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Age of Reason as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.