
- BGG rank
- BGG #6,519
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Napoleon in Europe
- 2–7 players
- 360 min
- Complexity 3.5/5
- 2001

1981
Rules assistance for Empire (Third Edition)
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Empire (Third Edition) is a board game released in 1981 for 2 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Jim Getz and Scotty Bowden and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling.
As Marshal Murat, you ride at the head of thousands of frenzied cavalry, or as Archduke Charles, you inspire Herculean efforts by tough Austrian grenadiers, or as the Duke of Wellington, you calmly ready your troops to meet the next French attack. With EMPIRE 3rd, historical personalities come alive, Now you make the critical decisions and fight with the troops as did famous Napoleonic commanders. Can you succeed where they failed? This game features a set of miniature rules that allows players to recreate the command control problems that were inherent with Napoleonic times. Expanded by: Empire Campaign System
Empire (Third Edition) supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Empire (Third Edition) is 180 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 Empire (Third Edition) 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.
Empire (Third Edition) has a complexity rating of 4.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a heavy 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.
Empire (Third Edition) belongs to these categories: Wargame, Napoleonic, and Miniatures. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling. 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 Empire (Third Edition) are: Jim Getz and Scotty Bowden. 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 Empire (Third Edition) 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.