FAQ
If you have questions regarding the rules please discuss them on BoardGameGeek, or ask them in the Facebook Group.
About Western Empires and Eastern Empires
That depends on what country the order is shipped to.
We ship from the Netherlands. These shipping costs will be added automatically during checkout in the shop.
Yes. Western Empires and Eastern Empires both contain 9 copies of each Advance, so all players can hold a copy of each card.
Yes. Mega Civilization was initially designed for a release as two separate games, but has been published in limited edition and numbered wooden box in 2015. Due to copyright issues on the computer game brand 'Civilization' we have renamed the game to Mega Empires in 2017. Any future release will be referred to as Mega Empires.
For Mega Empires, we have split the game into two equal stand-alone games again and have added some new elements. Western Empires and Eastern Empires. Either game can be played stand alone by 5-9 players but still take 8-13 hours to play. Either game also contains rules for a ‘short’ game of 4-6 hours. If you own both Western Empires and Eastern Empires these can be combined to form ‘Mega Empires’, which can be played by 5-18 players, similar to the release of 2015. Western Empires and Eastern Empires contain some upgraded game components compared to Mega Civilization. This means additional artwork, upgrade components, revised rulebooks and updated and added historical background. In addition, Eastern Empires contains rules and integrated components for playing either Western or Eastern Empires with 3 or 4 players.
Yes. Errata Civilization Advance cards to Mega Civilization can be acquired through the webshop. The functional versions are identical to Western and Eastern Empires, however, the cards have different edition marks. All components are the same quality and size. The trade cards for Mega Empires however follow a different division system and cannot be mixed with Mega Civilization.
The games are published in an English version only, however community translations can be found on BoardGameGeek.
Yes. The games are sold through the webshop from where it can be ordered and shipped worldwide.
Yes, your local game store can order copies at 999 Games.
Please contact 999 Games through 999 Games.
You can download the Eastern Empires Rulebook here:
Eastern Empires Rulebook
Never played the game before? Learn the rules organically as the game progresses:
Eastern Empires - The First Game
You can download the Western Empires Rulebook here:
Western Empires Rulebook
Never played the game before? Learn the rules organically as the game progresses:
Western Empires - The First Game
You want to combine Western and Eastern Empires? You want shorter games? Download additional scenarios here:
Scenarios
Eastern Empires Rulebook
Never played the game before? Learn the rules organically as the game progresses:
Eastern Empires - The First Game
You can download the Western Empires Rulebook here:
Western Empires Rulebook
Never played the game before? Learn the rules organically as the game progresses:
Western Empires - The First Game
You want to combine Western and Eastern Empires? You want shorter games? Download additional scenarios here:
Scenarios
About Eastern Empires
The boxes of Western Empires and Eastern Empires include a number of new or improved components:
- Full art card board game boxes that are lighter and modular.
- Redesigned player mats that customised for each civilization.
- Copies of all 51 Civilization Advances for each player.
- City count board (not included in Mega Civilization).
- Improved rulebook.
- Eastern Empires includes components and rules that enable scenarios for 3-4 players for both Western and Eastern Empires. These are 99% compatible to Mega Civilization
The main new feature included in Eastern Empires are rules and components that allow the game to be played with 3 or 4 players (previously not supported). With these rules and components also a 3 or 4 player game with Western Empires can be played by players who own a copy of that game as well. Additionally, the rules are included for combining Western Empires and Eastern Empires for games with 10 up to 18 players, similar to Mega Civilization.
No, the components are a part of and integrated with Eastern Empires and will not be produced or sold separately.
- Except for a full set of Civilization Advances, all other components are localized for Eastern Empires
- A Market Board which is used for a 3-4 player game
- Tokens which are used for a 3-4 player game
- A rulebook for a 3-4 player scenario for both Eastern and Western Empires
- Components that allow a 10-18 player game when combined with Western Empires
- A rulebook with scenarios for a 10-18 player game, shorter game scenarios and the combination with the Special Buildings Expansions
- A The First Game booklet that includes a beginner's tutorial that can be played by 1-3 players
No. Custom size trays are a lot more expensive than standard size trays. We see the demand for these additions, but the demand for this addition is too low compared to the high production costs.
The map board has some updated area names, but rule wise, the map board is the same. The rulebooks may refer to areas with new names.
The two stand alone games Western Empires and Eastern Empires plus the Special Buildings Expansion for either game, which all can be combined.
About Mega Civilization / Western Empires / Expansions
Please fill in the contact form on this website and we will get back to you regarding your missing components.
Contact form
Contact form
Most topics are covered on BoardGameGeek:
Mega Empires
Eastern Empires
Western Empires
You can use the search tool to find the specific topic.
Mega Civilization contained some wrong numbers on the following Civilization Advances: Mythology, Engineering, Fundamentalism, Library, Mathematics, Politics. These cards are fixed in the Errata Kit, which can be ordered in the shop.
The Errata Kit was offered for free for a limited time from 2019 through 2020. The Errata Kit is still available.
No, the components are a part of either Western and Eastern Empires and will not be produced or sold separately.
About Civilization
There has been some discussion with the licensor for that brand in relation to using the name ‘Civilization’. The game proved to be too different from the original title from 1982 in order to use that name.
We agreed on no longer using that name and decided to move on with the Western/Eastern/Mega Empires branch.
(Advanced) Civilization is a game by Francis Tresham. Mega Civilization started as a tribute to this game, but during development changed into a new concept with different rules, additional cards, and mechanics. The name has changed to Mega Empires to distinguish the Empires branch from the Civilization branch.
Compared to classic Civilization, many rules were deleted, added, or changed but most of all streamlined. The focus of 'Empires' is to make the game 100% real time, using a phase-base, rather than any turn-by-turn procedure that the original game followed. This reduced much downtime and lets players play rather than wait for their turn. The number of advances is tripled. The size and number of areas on the mapboard is tripled for Mega Empires. The number of players is more than doubled. 'Empires' adds much more flavor, both in colour, artwork and in historical background than 'Civilization'. Some terms, names for advances, commodities or calamities were kept, though the rulings for these cards, or their frequency might have changed radically. The adding of many more cards leads to a wide range of new strategies to explore.
About the Special Buildings Expansions
It is an expansion to Mega Empires, consisting of two boxes that each include 9 miniatures of historical buildings belonging to the civilizations in the game and a rulebook. The miniatures are placed on the map board during the game. They do not only bring flavor to the game, but each building also grants various benefits to the constructor as well as to the conqueror of opponents buildings.
The Special Buildings Expansions are compatible with Western Empires and Eastern Empires. During the game players may choose to construct a special building which grants specific benefits and victory points. The Western Empires Special Buildings Expansion can be combined with Eastern Empires and the Eastern Empires Special Buildings Expansion altogether. It is recommended to use this expansion only once you are familiar with the basic game.
Yes, you can. Please click the link(s) below to download the rules for the Special Buildings Expansions.
Western_Empires_Special_Buildings_Rules
Eastern_Empires_Special_Buildings_Rules
Western_Empires_Special_Buildings_Rules
Eastern_Empires_Special_Buildings_Rules
The miniatures vary in size but all are under a square inch (25 mm). They are deliberately kept small since the special buildings have to be placed on the playing board where in some regions it can get pretty crowded as it is.
No, they come in a monochrome plastic. You can keep it that way or paint them yourself. We'd love to see how they turn out so don't hesitate to share some pictures.
About the Eastern Empires Kickstarter
The launch was 22 September 2021. Read more here Kickstarter.
No, the components are a part of and integrated with Eastern Empires and will not be produced or sold separately.
In the first place, the map board is different, which requires other strategies and tactics than players of Western Empires are used to. In addition, the game includes components and rules for 3-4 player scenarios for both Western and Eastern Empires. Combining both game is also possible, which supports up to 18 players, or any number from 3 and up. The game includes an additional rulebook with alternative scenarios.
Mega Empires is referred to as the combination of two standalone games Western Empires (2019) and Eastern Empires (2021).
Mega Empires is the combination of Western Empires and Eastern Empires. You can regard Mega Empires as Mega Civilization 2.0, with a different name for that matter.
No, this has nothing to do with a computer game.
This game was originally developed as a tribute to Francis Tresham's game but has many minor and some major changes. Mega Empires contains at least triple the number of unique components and support 18 players.