- BGG rating
- 7.4
Donning the Purple: Votes & Virtue expansion
- 1–4 players
- 70–120 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2020
- BGG rank
- BGG #4,406
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Donning the Purple
2018
Rules assistance for Donning the Purple
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–3 players
- 70–90 min
- 14+
- Complexity 3.0/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Donning the Purple
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Donning the Purple is a board game released in 2018 for 1–3 players, 70–90 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Petter Schanke Olsen and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Take That.
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About the game
It is the year 193 AD. The Roman Empire is not as great as it once was. Hordes of enemies are crossing the borders, famine spreads throughout the provinces and the political intrigues are tearing the empire apart from within. The previous emperor was killed by his own Praetorian bodyguard and has left a power vacuum that the powerful families in Rome are trying to fill. Are you ready to don the purple yourself and take on the stressful job as emperor? If you fail, the other families are ready to take over at a moment's notice. While they wait for your doom, they won't hesitate to backstab or undermine you as much as they can. However you all have to work together as the fall of the Roman Empire is closing in. Donning the Purple is an asymmetrical king of the hill game with a bit of worker placement. Each player leads a powerful family in ancient Rome, trying to get the most victory points during 4 rounds. If your family member becomes the emperor and manages to hold the position he can earn lots of points. However he will also become the target of the other players as they will try to dethrone him and become the new emperor themselves.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Ediciones MasQueOca
- Treetato Studio
- Tompet Games
Questions and answers
Donning the Purple supports 1–3 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 Donning the Purple is 70–90 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 Donning the Purple for ages 14 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.
Donning the Purple has a complexity rating of 3.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light 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.
Donning the Purple belongs to these categories: Fighting, Economic, and Political. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Take That. 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 Donning the Purple are: Petter Schanke Olsen. 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 Donning the Purple 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.