
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,883
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Ars Universalis
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2015

2016
Rules assistance for Plus Ultra: The Court of the Emperor Charles V
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.
Plus Ultra: The Court of the Emperor Charles V is a board game released in 2016 for 2–4 players, 60–90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Manuel D. Cruz Díaz and Antonio J. Dionisio and its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence, Pick-up and Deliver, and Open Drafting.
In Latin, Plus Ultra means «further beyond». It refers to the premise or motto of the reign of Charles I of Spain and V of the Holy Roman Empire. Son of Philip I of Austria and Joanna of Castile, he governed during a good part of the 16th century vast territories which extended across Europe, America and Africa. Plus Ultra is a board game of quick interaction and medium complexity, for two to four players. During the game, the players represent noblemen from the Spanish Court of the 16th century, who compete to obtain the title of Grandee of Spain (“Grande de España”). To achieve this, they will carry out dangerous endeavours in the name and for the glory of the Crown, with the help of influential personalities from the time’s society: “Almirante de la Mar Océana” (Admiral of the Oceanic Sea), cardinal, viceroy, pirate, conqueror… even the Emperor himself! At the start of each round, a draft of cards will allow the player to choose between two of the available characters. His actions will be resolved following a precise turn order (order of peers) previously established. Put your tactical and planning abilities to the test and become the Emperor’s chosen one! Plus Ultra significa en latín «ir más allá». Hace referencia a la premisa o lema del reinado de Carlos I de España y V del Sacro Imperio Romano Germánico. Hijo de Felipe de Austria y Juana de Castilla, gobernó durante buena parte del siglo XVI vastos dominios que se extendían sobre Europa, América y África. Plus Ultra es un juego de mesa de interacción rápida y media complejidad, para dos a cuatro jugadores. Durante el juego los jugadores representan nobles de la Corte española del siglo XVI que rivalizan por conseguir el título de Grande de España. Para lograrlo llevarán a cabo arriesgadas empresas ¡en nombre y para mayor gloria de la Corona! con la ayuda de influyentes personajes de la sociedad de su tiempo: almirante de la mar océana, cardenal, virrey, pirata, conquistador… ¡incluso el mismísimo Emperador! Al comienzo de cada ronda una selección de cartas les permitirá elegir dos de los personajes disponibles. Sus acciones, de carácter múltiple, se resolverán siguiendo un orden de turno preciso (orden de pares) establecido de antemano. ¡Pon a prueba tus habilidades tácticas y de planificación y conviértete en el elegido del Emperador!
Plus Ultra: The Court of the Emperor Charles V supports 2–4 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 Plus Ultra: The Court of the Emperor Charles V is 60–90 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 Plus Ultra: The Court of the Emperor Charles V 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.
Plus Ultra: The Court of the Emperor Charles V 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.
Plus Ultra: The Court of the Emperor Charles V belongs to these categories: Exploration and Renaissance. Its main mechanics are Area Majority / Influence, Pick-up and Deliver, and Open Drafting. 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 Plus Ultra: The Court of the Emperor Charles V are: Manuel D. Cruz Díaz and Antonio J. Dionisio. 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 Plus Ultra: The Court of the Emperor Charles V 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.