But in a single game we only take the cards of one age without the campaign cards, so there are 18 cards and these are divided between the two players at the start of the game. In a drafting round, those cards are then distributed: each player takes three cards, chooses one of them, gives another to the opponent and the third card is placed to an independent deck on the marked space on the board. We do this until all the cards have been dealt. In the end, each player has 6 cards, which are our hand cards for the game.

Only now does the actual game begin. First, the player with the current initiative places a card on their card platform. The other player can then take a look at this card before choosing their card for the round. Now the initiative of the two cards played is compared and, if necessary, the coin is passed to the new initiative player.

This player now decides from which of the two cards the action is carried out. Each card is unique and has a very specific action that uses symbols to express what happens. This is quite cleverly done, as we can find the symbols and colours on the playing field. For example, an action could mean that we select a specific card from the independent deck (if this card can be found in this deck) and place it in our area of influence.

That would be a pretty good move, as all cards in our influence area give us victory points at the end of the game, exactly as many as are printed on the respective card. The only problem is that the card whose action was chosen is then placed on the discard pile, the so-called past, and is therefore out of the game for the time being. The other card, whose action was not carried out, is then placed in the respective player's sphere of influence and if there are now more victory points on that card than on the card that we have placed in our influence area through the action from the independent deck, the whole thing might not be as positive as originally thought.

So once again: the initiative player chooses a card form either of the two card platforms whose action is carried out. This card is then discarded, and the other card played to the card platform is placed in the influence area of the respective player. We do this for each card in our hand, so there are six rounds in which each player plays exactly one card onto the card platform.

Sounds simple, and it is once you have internalized the symbols on the playing field. However, the actions are very different, and you have to think a lot if you want to get the most out of the cards. The icing on the cake is that you memorize exactly which card you played to which deck during the drafting round. After all, you know all of your cards, half of your opponent's cards and half of the cards in the independent deck. At least in theory…

To be honest, I've never managed to remember all cards in practice. But I'm getting better and so I can plan ahead more and more and use my actions wisely. There's a nut for every bolt and you can find a good answer to every card your opponent plays. That makes a lot of fun, especially as the game is set up and played so quickly. Six cards per game doesn't sound like much, but it provides maximum enjoyment.