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Emperor's Choice
2017
Rules assistance for Emperor's Choice
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–5 players
- 90–120 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.3/5
For 3 players
Rules assistant for Emperor's Choice
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Emperor's Choice is a board game released in 2017 for 3–5 players, 90–120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Hisashi Hayashi and its main mechanics are Set Collection and Auction / Bidding.
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About the game
In 221 BC, Emperor Qin Shihuang finally united China after a long period of internal conflict in which China was divided by warring provinces. With this unprecedented authority, Emperor Qin made a number of influential lasting reforms and carried out impactful large-scale projects which would last for centuries. Players are powerful subordinates of the Emperor, promoting the Emperor’s various policies and projects while manipulating their own standing within the Imperial Court. To do so, they need to build sections of the Great Wall, amass troops and carriages, recruit philosophers and academics as well as collect important literature. Players will also need to employ and properly utilize characters within the Imperial Court. Which player can exert the greatest influence and make their achievements go down in the annals of history? The player with the most victory points (VP) at the end of 6 rounds will be the winner. Players earn VP by presenting their achievements according to the Emperor’s policies. However, the Emperor’s policies are constantly subject to influence and change…
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- OKAZU Brand
Questions and answers
Emperor's Choice supports 3–5 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 Emperor's Choice is 90–120 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 Emperor's Choice 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.
Emperor's Choice has a complexity rating of 3.3 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.
Emperor's Choice belongs to these categories: Ancient. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and Auction / Bidding. 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 Emperor's Choice are: Hisashi Hayashi. 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 Emperor's Choice 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.