
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,564
- BGG rating
- 7.2
The Barracks Emperors
- 1–4 players
- 30–120 min
- Complexity 2.8/5
- 2023

Expansion for Time of Crisis: The Roman Empire in Turmoil, 235-284 AD
2019
Rules assistance for Time of Crisis: The Age of Iron and Rust
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Time of Crisis: The Age of Iron and Rust is an expansion for Time of Crisis: The Roman Empire in Turmoil, 235-284 AD released in 2019 for 1–4 players, 150–210 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Wray Ferrell and Brad Johnson (I) and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Area Movement, and Dice Rolling.
Time of Crisis is the game that allows 2-4 players to re-create the Roman Crisis of the Third Century, leading separate dynasties in a struggle for control of an empire beset by threats both internal and external. The Age of Iron and Rust provides new choices for players to build their influence, exert their Imperial power, and even play alone! New Influence Cards -- Deckbuilding is a key aspect of Time of Crisis, and the means by which players grow their influence among the Senate, the Legions, and the People of Rome throughout the game. While the base game provides an array of cards for players to choose from, The Age of Iron and Rust DOUBLES the number of choices with a full new set of cards that are available for purchase alongside the existing cards. Explore new strategies and card combinations to seek new ways of building your dynasty's Legacy. New Emperor Rules - During the Third Century, Emperors didn't only sit on the throne in Rome - they ruled from the provinces and commanded armies in the field, where they were at risk of being killed in battle or assassinated. These optional rules place Emperors directly on the board in place of a Governor or General token. Bold use of your Emperor will grant you bonuses, but if the Emperor token should be removed from the board, your reign is at an end. AI Players - New optional rules for non-player factions driven by easy-to-use "artificial intelligence" instructions will allow 2 or 3 players and even solo players to enjoy a full 4-faction game. Three different AI Player profiles can fill your empty seats to provide a mix of challenges working against the human players' Imperial aspirations.
Time of Crisis: The Age of Iron and Rust supports 1–4 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 Time of Crisis: The Age of Iron and Rust is 150–210 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 Time of Crisis: The Age of Iron and Rust 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.
Time of Crisis: The Age of Iron and Rust has a complexity rating of 3.2 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.
Time of Crisis: The Age of Iron and Rust belongs to these categories: Wargame, Ancient, and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Area Movement, and 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 Time of Crisis: The Age of Iron and Rust are: Wray Ferrell and Brad Johnson (I). 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 Time of Crisis: The Age of Iron and Rust as an expansion for Time of Crisis: The Roman Empire in Turmoil, 235-284 AD. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Time of Crisis: The Roman Empire in Turmoil, 235-284 AD to use it. Check that your edition of Time of Crisis: The Roman Empire in Turmoil, 235-284 AD is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.