Phase 6 of the eight game phases of Wars of the Roses is "Bribery." That's how incredibly awesome this game is. It's 1450, and you're a Yorkist or Lancastrian vying for the throne of England....with the help of troops, Parliament, the Church of England, France, and whoever else you can fit in your pocket through force, diplomacy, or good ol' fashioned filthy lucre.
The game is five turns long (each turn represents ten years), with eight phases per turn. Players draw cards, collect income, plan, deploy, bribe, fight, and direct Parliament on their way to the monarchy. Play is highly strategy-based, and this isn't a game for non-gamers or most newcomers. Veterans, however, will love the complexity, variety and latitude Wars of the Roses provides.
At the end of the rule book a few pages offer the historical context for the game. Anyone familiar with 15th-century England will be pleased with the careful attention to historical detail made by the game makers, though of course players are capable of turning the tables on the Lancastrians and managing a Yorkist victory.
Many similar games have sprung up over the last few years, some of them difficult to distinguish. Wars of the Roses publisher Z-Man Games has produced many of the best theme-based strategy games, and this one is among the most playable and interesting. It's historically accurate and immensely fun while remaining challenging. And for crying out loud, who doesn't want to change history?
Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews
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