- BGG rank
- BGG #14,210
- BGG rating
- 7.4
History of the Ancient Seas I: HELLAS
- 1–2 players
- 120–360 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,842
- BGG rating
- 8.0
History of the Ancient Seas II: DIES IRAE
2024
Rules assistance for History of the Ancient Seas II: DIES IRAE
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–3 players
- 120–360 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for History of the Ancient Seas II: DIES IRAE
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
History of the Ancient Seas II: DIES IRAE is a board game released in 2024 for 1–3 players, 120–360 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Karl Hausser and its main mechanics are Action Points.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,211
- BGG rating
- 7.4
History of the Ancient Seas III: MARE NOSTRUM
- 3–5 players
- 180–720 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2024
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,474
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Kaivai
- 3–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2005
- BGG rank
- BGG #233
- BGG rating
- 8.3
Clash of Cultures: Monumental Edition
- 2–4 players
- 180–240 min
- Complexity 3.8/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #586
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Clash of Cultures
- 2–4 players
- 180–240 min
- Complexity 3.6/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,120
- BGG rating
- 7.2
Akrotiri
- 2 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.6/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,526
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Coin & Crown
- 1–4 players
- 45–60 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,649
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Verrix
- 2–5 players
- 60–150 min
- Complexity 3.0/5
- 2022
- BGG rank
- BGG #13,363
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Soul of the Empire
- 2–4 players
- 100–140 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,888
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Sphactérie 425 av. J.-C.
- 2 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 1.9/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #17,035
- BGG rating
- 7.9
Hellespont, 411-410 av. J.-C.
- 2 players
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #23,825
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Hannibal: The Second Punic War
- 2 players
- 180–300 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1991
About the game
The gods are angry! Which gods you may ask? The Mediterranean Sea in ancient times. The Persian Empire, the Greek city states and the mighty Pharaonic Empire of Egypt fought for dominance in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. The people from all of these empires see the gods as their allies and trust them as supporters for their cause! The game series “History of the Ancient Seas” is the ultimate journey through these exciting times. Build new fleets in your city to explore unknown lands, conquer islands and build a great empire. DIES IRAE is a three player game. The challenge in a three player game is that gamers face a constant two versus one constellation. All three players have to fight on at least two fronts at the same time and have to keep a close eye on both opponents. The worst case is they are in an armistice which means they could both focus on you. Each player should avoid this situation at all costs. Which god will help their people the most in the struggle of dominance in the Eastern Mediterranean Seas? Your goal is to become the leading empire in the known world. To achieve this, you will need to build armies and fleets to increase your military might, expand trade routes, conquer islands and provinces, develop your military skills, economic efficiency and culture, while always keeping an eye on the wealth, happiness and stability of your people. The game is played in highly interactive micro-impulses. The heart of the game system is the action cycle: The players choose one of the eight possible actions. Actions chosen by a player can’t be chosen subsequently by the next player. The number of possible actions is limited each turn. War or peace: That is your decision! You can expand your empire by leading your people to war! But war is costly and the outcome is uncertain. You can lead your empire to the golden age of civilization by keeping the peace and bringing stability and wealth to your people without following the path of war. Offer terms to aggressive enemies to distract or delay them, but always be prepared to defend your empire. You will move your 3D wooden playing pieces (representing fleets and legions) across the beautifully illustrated map from the Hellenistic main land and islands to the shores of Persia in the east and the northern part of the mighty empire of the Pharaons to expand your trade network and increase your trading status.
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Sound of Drums GmbH
Questions and answers
History of the Ancient Seas II: DIES IRAE 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 History of the Ancient Seas II: DIES IRAE is 120–360 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 History of the Ancient Seas II: DIES IRAE 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.
History of the Ancient Seas II: DIES IRAE has a complexity rating of 2.0 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.
History of the Ancient Seas II: DIES IRAE belongs to these categories: Economic, Wargame, and Nautical. Its main mechanics are Action Points. 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 History of the Ancient Seas II: DIES IRAE are: Karl Hausser. 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 History of the Ancient Seas II: DIES IRAE 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.