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Expansion for Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery
Spartacus: The Shadow of Death Expansion Set
2015
Rules assistance for Spartacus: The Shadow of Death Expansion Set
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 3–7 players
- 150 min
- 17+
- Complexity 2.5/5
Rules assistant for Spartacus: The Shadow of Death Expansion Set
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Spartacus: The Shadow of Death Expansion Set is an expansion for Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery released in 2015 for 3–7 players, 150 minutes per game, and ages 17 and up. It was designed by John Kovaleski, Sean Sweigart, and Aaron Dill and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Trading.
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About the game
Description from publisher: The Shadow of Death is cast over the arena! Spartacus: The Shadow of Death adds new versions of Spartacus, Crixus, and a more powerful Theokoles to the game, each with special Primus abilities. The expansion also includes special gladiator models to represent Spartacus, Crixus and Theokoles during the Arena Phase. A new noble house is available to players, the esteemed Magistrate Calavius. The expansion also introduces Festivals, special Primus altering events to honor the capricious Roman gods. Boast about the prowess of your gladiators to receive lavish rewards, but be sure your fighters can live up to your claims or see influence wane. Will your house quail under the dark shadow? This expansion requires both the base game and Spartacus: The Serpents and the Wolf Expansion Set.
Mechanics
Publishers
- Gale Force Nine, LLC
- Games Factory Publishing
Questions and answers
Spartacus: The Shadow of Death Expansion Set supports 3–7 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 Spartacus: The Shadow of Death Expansion Set is 150 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 Spartacus: The Shadow of Death Expansion Set for ages 17 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.
Spartacus: The Shadow of Death Expansion Set has a complexity rating of 2.5 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.
Spartacus: The Shadow of Death Expansion Set belongs to these categories: Fighting, Movies / TV / Radio theme, and Miniatures. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Trading. 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 Spartacus: The Shadow of Death Expansion Set are: John Kovaleski, Sean Sweigart, and Aaron Dill. 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 Spartacus: The Shadow of Death Expansion Set as an expansion for Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery to use it. Check that your edition of Spartacus: A Game of Blood and Treachery is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.