Byzantium

cover
designer Martin Wallace
publisher Warfrog
released 2005
players 2-4
playing time 120 minutes
rating red starred starred starred starred starred starred starred stargray stargray star

Byzantium

Quick look by Moritz Eggert

When Martin Wallace’s heart is in it, the result is usually a fascinating game. The same
here: “Byzantium” is a challenging game that might have some concepts that need getting
used to, but all in all this is an interesting wargame effort, in which no player plays a distinct
side, everybody has a shot at great conquests all the time and representation of armies on the
board in now way reflects the victor. As usual in Wallace games each player has only short action
phases in which there are a lot of possibilities, and dice DO play a role, although not in a
balance-damaging way (the combat system is elegant and simple). Very recommended and an unusual
game in its own right.