7 Ages Rule Book

Temporary Cover Sheet

Table of Contents

1.0 INTRODUCTION

2.0 COMPONENTS

3.0 GAME SETUP

4.0 GAME SEQUENCE

5.0 ACTION PHASE #1: START EMPIRE

6.0 ACTION PHASE #2: PRODUCTION

7.0 ACTION PHASE #3: TRADE & PROGRESS

8.0 ACTION PHASE #4: MANEUVER

9.0 ACTION PHASE #5: DESTINY

10.0 ACTION PHASE #6: CIVILIZE

11.0 ACTION PHASE #7: DISCARD EMPIRE

12.0 END OF TURN

13.0 SPECIAL SITUATIONS

14.0 OPTIONAL RULES

15.0 TUTORIAL
 7 Ages 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION empire has progressed past the 49th progress level (§x.x.x),
whichever empire was first to do so, that player wins.
“All the world’s a stage,
And all men and women are merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts, 2.0 COMPONENTS
His acts being seven ages.” 2.0.1 A complete game of 7 Ages includes the following:
---Shakespeare, As You Like It
 two 23.4” x 32.3” maps;
7 Ages is a game covering 6,000 years of human history from  six counter sheets totaling:
4000 BC/E to 2000 AD/CE. Players lead dynasties that o 576 5/8” counters, and,
decide the fate of the world across epochs. o 300 ½” counters;
1.0.1 This manual was written to be a useful reference  110 cards; and,
during play rather than being presented as a learning manual.  rules & players’ guides.
It is divided into logical sections, covering the map and how
it is used in the game, followed by the counters and special 2.1 THE GAME MAP
rules concerning some of them, and then the order of play. 2.1.1 The map is divided into 12 regions and subregions:
The manual is extensively cross-referenced. An index is  Africa
provided as well.  Americas
1.0.2 For those of you who are just learning how to play 7 o North America
Ages, it is recommended that you skim each section of the o South America
rules. Each major section is divided into sub-sections with  Asia
the most pertinent rules and information presented first, o Australasia
followed by lesser-used rules and exceptions. Don’t feel you o China
have to memorize everything. Just keep the key aspects of o India
the game in mind and then refer to the manual if necessary. o Northeast Asia
If in doubt, just play the game logically, check the rule book o Southeast Asia
later, and make adjustments for future play.  Europe
1.0.3 If you still feel a little lost, feel free to check out the o Britain
Tutorial in Section 15. It is written in a more conversational o Italy
style and presents an overview of the game.
These regions are delineated on the map by thick blue lines.
1.0.4 This manual was written in response to some Regions automatically include any sea or ocean areas
players’ disappointment in the original Australian Design adjacent to its land areas.
Group manual. This is by no means meant to be an insult to
2.1.2 Land Areas: Each region is divided into land areas
the wonderful guys at ADG.
each separated by red lines.
1.1 GAME OBJECTIVE 2.1.3 Each land area on the map is associated with a
1.1.1 The goal of the game is for each player to use his terrain type which is used when calculating unit movement
empires to generate glory points. Each empire has several costs (§x.x.x), harvesting glory (§x.x.x), and conflict
ways of earning glory for a player, such as conquering the (§x.x.x).
most land, having the most cities, having the largest navy,
and so forth. 2.1.4 During conflict, all terrain modifiers are cumulative
and always favor the defender. If these modifiers are
1.1.2 Throughout the game, empires advance through dependent on the age of an empire, apply the age of the
various stages of civilization. There are 49 progress levels defending empire rather than the attacking empire.
divided across 7 ages. It is possible for an empire to regress
to a previous progress level. 2.1.5 Each land area may only contain one city and/or one
fort.
1.1.3 A game may begin in any age. It may end whenever
players choose but only after completing the current turn. 7 2.1.6 Some areas may contain other features, such as oil
Ages automatically ends at the completion of the turn where (§x.x.x), wheat (§x.x.x), and elephants (§x.x.x).
any empire passes the 49th progress level. The game ends 2.1.7 Water Areas: Each water area can be either coastal
immediately whenever an empire acquires the Internet (when it is adjacent to a land area), sea, or ocean. Some
(§x.x.x). naval vessels are only permitted to travel through certain
1.1.4 Whoever has the most glory points when the game types of water areas (§x.x.x).
ends is the winner. 2.1.8 If a sea or ocean area is adjacent to more than one
1.1.5 If two or more players tie the game, the player with region, it is considered as belonging to each of them.
the most advanced empire wins. If more than one players’
© 1997-2006 Australian Design Group
2 7 Ages
2.1.9 Connected Areas: Certain areas are connected
together by red arrows. These areas represent areas that,
although separated by water, are considered to be adjacent
(§x.x.x). Land and naval units may not cross this area if the
sea area that the arrows are in is occupied by another
empire’s units. If the crossing arrow is in two sea areas, land
units can cross unless both areas are occupied by other
empires’ units.
2.1.10 Islands connected by red arrows belong to the
mainland’s region. Otherwise, islands belong to the region or
sub-region indicated by the name in brackets on the map.
2.1.11 Controlling Areas: Each area on the map is
considered to be uncontrolled, controlled, or neutral. If no
empire has units in an area, that area is uncontrolled. If an
empire has at least one unit in an area, that area is considered
to be controlled by that empire. An area is neutral (§2.1.13)
if it was previously occupied by units that have either
retreated from or been destroyed by enemy units and those
enemy units have also left the area.
2.1.12 An empire can only establish control in a new area
if it has forces in a neighboring area. An area remains in
control of an empire until the empire no longer has units in
that area. This is true even if the empire no longer has units
in any adjacent areas (e.g., units that have moved or been
destroyed).
2.1.13 Neutral Areas: A controlled area that no longer
has any units in it becomes neutral. When an area becomes
neutral, remove all artifacts, fort, and disorder markers from
that area. If the area also contained an empire’s capital,
replace it with a city of equal level (§x.x.x).
2.1.14 Whenever a unit occupies a neutral area that
contains a city, that city’s value is reduced by one level. A
level 1 city is removed.
2.1.15 A neutral area with no city that has no units in it
becomes uncontrolled.
2.1.16 Disordered Areas: An area becomes disordered
when… An area can have more than one disordered marker.
Disordered markers may be removed from an area in two
ways: either through force or through wealth.
2.1.17 An empire may remove a disordered marker from an
area by force during a Maneuver phase (§x.x.x) by deploying
units to the disordered area. The empire must deploy at least
one unit plus a number of additional units equal to:
 the defender’s modifier for the terrain in the
disordered area (§x.x.x); plus,
 the value of any city in the area (unless the empire
attempting to restore order moves or already has a
non-archer missile in the area).
2.1.18 An empire may remove a disordered marker from an
area with wealth during a Civilize phase (§x.x.x) by spending
7 wealth points.
2.1.19 More than one disordered marker may be removed
per turn.
© 1997-2006 Australian Design Group
2.1.20 The Glory Track: The glory track is used to track
a player’s current total glory points. It is also used to track
each empire’s current wealth.
2.1.21 A player may never have fewer than zero glory
points. An empire may never have less than zero wealth
points or more than 199.
2.1.22 The Progress Track: The progress track is used to
track how advanced each empire in play is (§1.1.2).
2.1.23 When an empire reaches the 49th progress level, it is
still considered to be in the 7th age but can no longer go
backward in progress. If two or more empires have reached
the 49th progress level, they are considered to be in the same
progress level when harvesting glory (§x.x.x). The game is
over at the end of the turn when an empire enters the 49 th
progress level (§x.x.x).
2.1.24 The Go Slow Track: The ‘Go Slow’ track on the
map is used specifically for the Cadenced Progress optional
rule (§x.x.x).
2.1.25 The boxes in the ‘Go Slow’ track are color-coded
with each empire’s trade number (§x.x.x) to simplify who is
going slow this turn.
2.2 CARDS
2.2.1 There are 110 cards used in the game. Each card
contains a numerical value from 0-9, an empire and its details
and features, an artifact, and an event.
2.2.2 Each card can be played in one of four ways: for its
value (§x.x.x), to start a new empire (§x.x.x), as an artifact
(§x.x.x), or as an event (§x.x.x).
2.2.3 Special rules on cards overrule this manual.
2.2.4 Cards Played for Value: A card’s value reflects
the overall effectiveness of the card’s empire, artifact, or
event. Cards are played for their values during conflict
(§x.x.x) and trade (§x.x.x) as well as when bidding to see
which player goes first (§x.x.x). When a card is played for
its value, it is compared to another card or cards with the
higher value always winning.
2.2.5 A card’s value is color-coded but this is only
currently used for the Cadenced Progress optional rule
(§x.x.x).
2.2.6 Cards Played as Empires: Each empire has a
number of features that define when the empire can be
played, how it is set up initially, and how it gains glory:
 Age: The ages in which the empire may be started
(§x.x.x).
 Set-Up: This value determines where on the
progress track an empire begins (§x.x.x).
 Starting Areas: The areas on the map where a
newly started empire may place units. Cross
reference the letter and number combinations on the
map to locate these areas (§x.x.x).
 Initial Money: The amount of money with which
an empire begins (§x.x.x).
 7 Ages
 Trade: An empire’s skill in trading effectively with
other empires (§x.x.x).
 Leaders: An empire may have a number of leaders
on the map equal to this number (§x.x.x).
 Special: Details any unique features of an empire.
‘Initial’ effects are only in play each time the empire
is being started. Any special actions occur after the
empire has been completely set up (including any
conflicts). Other special effects apply as long as the
empire is in play.
 Glory Icons: These icons, most with a number
superimposed, represent how the empire earns glory
(§x.x.x).
2.2.7 An empire may be played more than once during a
game.
2.2.8 Cards Played as Events: An event is something
major that happens to an empire that affects the course of the
game. These can be catastrophes or great wonders.
2.2.9 An event card can only be played during a Civilize
action (§x.x.x) or during conflict (§x.x.x) unless the card’s
event states otherwise.
2.2.10 Cards Played as Artifacts: Artifacts assume many
forms: technological wonders, forms of government, newly
founded religions, and so forth.
2.2.11 Artifact cards can only be played during the Civilize
action phase (§x.x.x).
2.2.12 Artifacts are red, green, or blue. Red artifacts have
negative effects and green artifacts have positive effects.
Green and red artifacts are tied to specific empires, not on
areas on the map or specific players.
2.2.13 Some artifacts have pre-requisites that must be met
before they can be played, indicated by an asterisk after the
artifact’s name and described fully in that card’s description
in the Players’ Guide.
2.2.14 The target empire of an artifact must be within the
age range stated on the artifact card. Some artifacts have
conditions that allow it to be played in earlier ages, indicated
by a ‘†’ after the artifact’s name. These conditions are
detailed under that artifact’s description in the Players’
Guide.
2.2.15 When a red or green artifact is played, place the
matching artifact marker on the target empire’s card if
instructed by the Players’ Guide or in one of the empire’s
land areas if not.
2.2.16 An artifact cannot be placed in a land area that
already contains an artifact.
2.2.17 An artifact cannot be played if its marker is already
on the map or the progress track.
2.2.18 If the artifact marker is green, the player who
controls the target empire immediately gains 1 glory. If the
artifact marker is red, the player loses 1 glory.
© 1997-2006 Australian Design Group
3
2.2.19 Blue Artifacts: Blue artifacts are played on a target
empire as well as the progress track. Unlike red and green
artifacts, all other empires (even those that have yet to be
played) are eligible to receive a blue artifact’s benefit once
they reach the blue artifact’s progress level (§x.x.x).
2.2.20 When a blue artifact is played, place one of the
artifact’s markers on the target empire’s card and the other on
the progress track 7 spaces ahead of the target empire’s
current progress level less the age the empire is in (i.e., an
artifact played on an empire in the 7th age would have the
blue artifact placed 1 progress level ahead, an empire in the
6th age would place the blue artifact 2 progress levels ahead,
and so forth).
2.2.21 Any empire that reaches a progress level that
contains a blue artifact automatically acquires that artifact.
They gain all of the benefits and penalties of that artifact. It
is not necessary to place that artifact’s marker on the empire
that now also has it. An empire that moves backward on the
progress track to a level before the blue artifact does not lose
the benefit of that artifact.
2.2.22 Blue artifacts on the progress track are never
removed from the game even if the empire that the blue
artifact had been originally played on is discarded.
2.2.23 Green and red artifacts remain in play until:
 the empire loses control of the artifact’s area;
 the empire controlling the area advances past the
latest age stated on the marker; or,
 the artifact is removed by an event card.
2.2.24 Cards that have been played but are no longer in
play (such as cards used for events) are placed face-up in a
discard pile. When the players run out of fresh cards to draw,
the discard pile is reshuffled and returned to play.
2.3 COUNTERS
2.3.1 There are 876 counters used in the game.
2.3.2 There are 15 possible empires that can be active on
the map at one time, each with a unique color. A player may
play more than one empire at the same time (§x.x.x).
2.3.3 With the exception of the black counters, all
counters come in paired in light and dark color sets. When
setting up the game, players must choose one of these color
pairs. These counters belong to that player for the duration
of the game. The sets are (in pairs of light and dark): blue,
brown, gray, green, purple, red, and yellow.
2.3.4 When starting new empires, a player must use one
of these initially chosen empire sets if they are not already in
play. Only after both of his paired color empires are in play
may a player choose an unclaimed color. Only a player’s
initially chosen light and dark set remains with him through
the game. Other counters used to start empires that are later
discarded become available for any player to use.
2.3.5 Each color has a different mix of units. In the
paired colors, the lighter color has a greater number of
weaker units. The darker color has a smaller number of
4 7 Ages
stronger units. Use the darker sets for empires that gain glory
through conquest and war.
2.3.6 A counter is considered in play if it is in an area on
the map, on an empire card, on the glory track, or on the
progress track.
2.3.7 As soon as an empire has no counters on the map, it
is discarded immediately (§x.x.x).
2.3.8 Each military unit can only be built during a
particular progress level or earlier. This progress level is
marked on the counters themselves, in a circle. It can also be
found in the table on the map.
2.3.9 On the reverse of each military unit is that unit’s
upgrade. A player may upgrade his units, without cost,
during an empire’s Civilize action phase (§x.x.x), as soon as
the empire enters that upgrade’s progress level.
2.3.10 When an empire is in play, its counters that are not
currently on the map are considered to be in its force pool.
Counters removed from the map are returned to this pool
unless noted otherwise (i.e., elephants).
2.3.11 Cities: Cities may either be regular cities or capital
cities. Each city has a level which represents its size and
value. A city may be level 1, 3, 5, or 7.
2.3.12 Each empire may only have one capital city but may
have a number of regular cities equal to the number of areas
that it controls.
2.3.13 Newly-built cities always begin at level 1 unless
specified otherwise.
2.3.14 A city’s possible maximum level is determined by
its controlling empire’s age:
Empire Age City Level
2 3
4 5
7 7
2.3.15 Leaders: Each leader has one or two effects on the
game while that leader is in play. These effects are described
in the Player’s Guide. Multiple leaders of the same type have
a cumulative effect for their controlling empire.
2.3.16 When an empire moves into a different age, either
forward or backward, all of that empire’s leaders are
discarded.
2.3.17 Named leaders may be played in the game only
once. When a named leader is removed from play, it is
removed permanently. Unnamed leaders are returned to the
leader cup (§x.x.x).
2.3.18 Elephants: Elephants only come into play if an
empire at progress level 10 or higher takes control of an area
that contains elephants (§x.x.x). It then adds one elephant to
its force pool.
© 1997-2006 Australian Design Group
2.3.19 If there are no available elephant markers, a player
may take an elephant from one of his own other empires or, if
none of his empires has an elephant, he may take it from
another player. When taking an elephant from another
player, choose a player who has an elephant not in play.
Otherwise, remove an elephant from the map.
2.3.20 If an empire at progress level 10 or higher wins a
trade with another empire that has control of an elephant
area, it may add an elephant to its force pool if there are any
unclaimed ones available.
2.3.21 When an elephant dies or is not maintained (§x.x.x),
it is placed back into the common force pool rather than its
empire’s force pool.
2.3.22 After the first empire reaches the age 7, remove all
elephants from the game.
2.3.23 Nukes: A nuke may only be used once and then it
is destroyed. An empire that uses a nuke (§x.x.x)
automatically moves back 1 progress level and the player
loses 5 glory points. A nuke that gets used is returned to that
empire’s force pool.
2.3.24 The cadenced progress counters are only used when
the Cadenced Progress optional rule (§x.x.x) is in play.
3.0 GAME SETUP
3.0.1 Lay out the maps so that they form a map of the
world.
3.0.2 Place the unnamed leaders and ‘no leader’ counters
into a cup.
3.0.3 Shuffle the cards and deal 7 cards to each player,
face down. Place the remaining cards faced down next to the
map.
3.0.4 Determining which player goes first: Each player
secretly chooses one of his cards for its value (§x.x.x).
These cards are revealed at the same time. The player who
holds the card with the highest value goes first, followed by
the remaining players in clockwise order.
3.0.5 If more than one player ties for first play, the tied
players repeat the process again. If tied players run out of
cards from their hands, they take turns drawing from the deck
until the tie is broken.
3.0.6 All cards used while bidding for first play are
discarded.
3.0.7 Each player, beginning with the first player and then
continuing in first play bid order chooses a matching pair of
empire counters (§x.x.x). These two empires belong to that
player for the remainder of the game and cannot be
exchanged with other players and must both be in play as
active empires before that player can choose another
available empire color. Each pair has a two-tone glory
marker that is placed on the ‘0’ space on the glory track.
 7 Ages 5

3.0.8 If two or more players played the cards with the 4.1.3 An empire can only have one action marker on it per
same value, then the player closest to the left of the first turn. An action marker can only be used once per turn.
player chooses empire colors first. Action markers cannot be moved between empires once the
turn has begun.
3.0.9 As long as there are available empire colors, new
players may join the game at any time. Deal the new player 4.1.4 If a player has fewer than his maximum number of
7 cards and place their glory marker on the same space as the empires in play (§x.x.x), he may play one additional action
player who currently has the least glory. The new player marker that is not associated with any empire in play. The
may join play at the start of the next turn. only action markers that can played as non-empire actions
are: Start Empire (§x.x.x), Destiny (§x.x.x), and Civilize
3.0.10 If available, a newly joining player should choose
(§x.x.x).
any available matching set of counters. If no complete sets
are available, the player may choose one color and then, 4.1.5 If a player forgets to turn over an action marker for
when its matching color becomes available, it becomes his an empire and that phase has ended, that empire is unable to
for the duration of the game. act.
3.0.11 A newly joining player may only select the black 4.1.6 Wild Card Action: Each player has a Wild Card
empire counters if no other colors are available. The black action marker that can be played on any empire or as a non-
counters do not remain with the player for the duration of the empire action. At any time, a player may convert the Wild
game. Card action marker into the current action phase.
3.0.12 A newly joining player that had to take the black 4.1.7 If a player uses his Wild Card action marker on an
empire counters must begin building a matching set as soon empire, that empire is not eligible for a free progress (§x.x.x)
as an unclaimed counter set become available (§x.x.x). at the end of the turn.
4.1.8 If a player converts a Wild Card action marker into
an action that another one of his empires is also taking, that
4.0 GAME SEQUENCE player loses one glory point.
4.0.1 Each turn in 7 Ages is divided into a seven action 4.1.9 If an empire is discarded before reaching its action
phases that always occur in the same order: phase, that action may still be played (if applicable).
 Start Empire (§5.0)
 Production (§6.0)
o Maintain Units 5.0 ACTION PHASE #1:
o Build New Units
 Trade and Progress (§7.0) START EMPIRE
 Maneuver (§8.0) 5.0.1 Each player may have a number of empires in play
o Move units based on the number of current players:
o Resolve conflict  2 players: 7 empires per player;
 Destiny (§9.0)  3 players: 5 empires;
 Civilize (§10.0)  4 players: 4 empires; and,
o Build and/or upgrade cities  5 or more players: 3 empires each.
o Demote and/or promote leaders
o Adopt a religion or government 5.0.2 A new empire can only be started if there is an
unclaimed set of empire counters available. Furthermore,
 Discard Empire (§11.0)
some empires can only be established if other empires are or
4.0.2 At the beginning of each turn, pass the turn marker are not currently in play.
one player to the left. The player with the turn marker is
5.0.3 If an empire has conflicting start-up dependencies,
called the acting player.
having an empire in play that prevents it from starting up,
4.1 ACTION MARKERS that empire may not be played regardless of any other
4.1.1 Each player has a set of seven action markers, one empires currently in play.
for each of the action phases, plus one wild card marker. A 5.0.4 To start an empire, a player places the chosen
player may take a number of actions equal to the number of empire’s card face up next to the game map and chooses a
empires he currently has in play plus one extra conditional color to represent that empire’s units. Remember that a
action (§x.x.x). player’s two primary empire colors must be in play first
4.1.2 A player must place an action marker face down on before choosing any of the unclaimed empire colors (§x.x.x).
each empire he has in play. Each player should keep any 5.0.5 The first empire played in a new game of 7 Ages
unused action markers faced down. determines the starting age for the entire game. Its starting
age will be the lowest non-conditional age listed on its card
(§x.x.x) in that age’s lowest progress level. Otherwise, place
© 1997-2006 Australian Design Group
6 7 Ages
the empire’s progress marker on the progress track at the
progress level dictated by the card’s Set-Up (§x.x.x).
5.0.6 If an empire has any set-up choices, the player
chooses them now.
5.0.7 Place the empire’s money counter in the appropriate
place on the glory track (§x.x.x).
5.0.8 Place a level 1 capital (§x.x.x) in one of the
empire’s starting areas unless the empire is nomadic.
5.0.9 Some empires begin play with named leaders
(§x.x.x). When setting up an empire, a player may choose
one named leader and place him in a starting area.
5.0.10 Building Initial Units: This is done in the same
manner as the Production action phase (§x.x.x) except that
any number of units may be placed in the empire’s starting
areas.
5.0.11 If an empire has an Administrator (§x.x.x), he may
reduce the cost of all initial units except infantry.
5.0.12 Place any elite markers (§x.x.x) the empire gets, if
any (as described by the Special section of the card).
5.0.13 Non-nomadic empires may also establish forts
(§x.x.x) either by purchasing them (§x.x.x) or through the
empire’s Special section.
5.0.14 Converting Starting Areas: Sometimes there is
already an empire in a new empire’s start-up areas. The new
empire’s Special section may allow it to ‘convert’ the
existing empire, usually meaning that the new empire is an
evolution of the previous one. When this occurs:
 all existing cities remain, at their current levels;
 if a city exists where a player wishes to place an
empire’s capital, the existing city becomes the
capital; and
 all leaders are converted to the new empire.
5.0.15 If there is an existing empire in a new empire’s
starting areas, and the new empire is unable to convert the
previous empire, then the new empire must conquer the
existing empire’s cities and units (§x.x.x). A captured city
that would be the new empire’s capital has its level decreased
by 1 (§x.x.x).
6.0 ACTION PHASE #2:
PRODUCTION
6.0.1 Empires earn income during the Production action
phase based on the areas that they control (§x.x.x). This
income is measured in wealth points on the progress track on
the map.
6.0.2 Each area of the map produces an amount of income
based on its terrain (§x.x.x); the value of its city, if any; and
any special features, such as wheat (§x.x.x), if applicable.
6.0.3 Disordered areas (§x.x.x) earn no income.
© 1997-2006 Australian Design Group
6.0.4 An empire gains income from NON FERTILE areas
with wheat only if that empire is in age 5 or later. An empire
gains income from areas with oil only if that empire is in age
7.
6.0.5 Empires with no capital earn only one-half the
income from areas it controls.
6.1 MAINTAINING UNITS
6.1.1 During the Production phase, an empire must pay
income toward maintaining all of its units in play.
6.1.2 An empire must pay 1 wealth point per unit in play
regardless of what type of unit it is. Failure to do so removes
that unit from the map and returns it to that empire’s force
pool (§x.x.x).
6.1.3 If some, but not all units, in an area are not
maintained, that area becomes disordered (§x.x.x). If all
units in an area are not maintained, then that area becomes
neutral (§x.x.x).
6.1.3 Cities, artifacts, and leaders do not require
maintenance.
6.1.4 Nomadic empires (§x.x.x) are not required to
maintain any of their units.
6.2 BUILDING NEW UNITS
6.2.1 Empires may only build units that are available in
that empire’s current progress level or earlier.
6.2.2 Empires may not build any units that are restricted
to them based on the symbols on that empire’s card. This
restriction lasts until the empire has traded with an empire
that is allowed to build that type of unit (§x.x.x).
6.2.3 The cost for each unit is listed on the on the map
(§x.x.x).
6.2.4 After all modifications, a unit’s cost can never be
lower than 1.
6.2.5 Newly built land units can only be placed in areas
that the empire already controls.
6.2.6 New naval units can only be built in coastal land
areas and sea areas that the empire controls.
6.2.7 If an area controlled by the empire contains a city, a
player may place a number of new units in that area equal to
the level of the city. If there is no city, a player may only
place one new unit in that area.
6.2.8 Building Forts: A player may fortify any of his
empire’s areas by building a fort there. Each area may only
have one fort in it and each fort costs 5 wealth points.
6.2.9 Nomadic empires may not build forts.
6.2.10 Building Elite Markers: An empire may buy any
number of elite markers for 10 wealth points each. These
newly built elite markers are placed on the empire’s card.
6.2.11 A player may also choose to build elephants
(§x.x.x), nukes (§x.x.x), or star wars (§x.x.x) if available.
 7 Ages
7.0 ACTION PHASE #3:
TRADE & PROGRESS
7.0.1 This action can be used to swap cards with
neighboring empires, provide or receive financial aid, and/or
try and advance along the progress track.
7.0.2 A player may not trade amongst his own empires.
He must trade with another player’s empire that is in range.
If no other players’ empires are in range, a player may trade
with the deck.
7.0.3 When choosing another empire with which to trade,
a player must choose an empire that has not yet traded this
turn. If all eligible empires have already traded, a player may
choose any of them.
7.0.4 If a player chooses an empire whose action was also
to trade, then the trade will complete the Trade & Progress
action for both empires.
7.0.3 Determining Empire Range: An empire is within
range of another empire if the number of areas between the
two empires, including the target empire’s nearest area, is
equal to or less than the trading empire’s age.
7.0.4 An empire may not trade with another empire that is
across an ocean until after the trading empire has reached age
4.
7.0.5 An empire may not trade with another empire if
there are any areas between the two empires that are
controlled by another player without that player’s permission.
7.0.6 The range is always determined based on the trading
empire’s age and not the target empire’s age. Thus, it is
possible for a more advanced empire to initiate a trade with
an empire that would not be able to initiate a trade itself.
7.1 TRADING
7.1.1 In any trade, one empire is going to get the better
deal. This is determined by calculating a number of factors
and comparing the results. The empire with the highest final
number is considered to be the winner of the trade.
7.1.2 Each trading player secretly picks a card from his
hand to trade, adds to its value his empire’s Trade number
(§x.x.x), and subtracts 1 if his empire controls any disordered
areas (§x.x.x). Reveal the cards simultaneously.
7.1.3 If a player is trading against the deck rather than
another player, he will play against the next drawn card with
no modifications.
7.1.4 It is possible for a player to have no empires within
range and have no cards in his hand. In this case, he draws
one card to be his empire’s trade and then draws another card
against which it is compared.
7.1.5 The empire that won the trade:
 may advance its progress marker by 1;
 may choose to advance its progress by another level
if it had chosen a Trade & Progress action this turn;
and,
© 1997-2006 Australian Design Group
7
 may choose to advance its progress by another level
if the empire with which it traded has a higher
progress level.
Thus it is possible for an empire to advance up to three
progress levels at once.
7.1.6 The trading players swap the cards they used in the
trade. If trading against the deck, the player discards the card
he used and keeps the card from the deck.
7.1.7 If the trade is tied, the empire that chose a Trade &
Progress action this turn may advance its progress by 1 level.
If both empires chose Trade & Progress, the empire with the
lower progress level may advance its progress by 1 level.
Otherwise, neither empire advances.
7.1.8 After a trade is complete, empires may also ask for
or give money. The details of this exchange are up to the
players to determine (e.g., is it a gift? a loan? if it’s a loan,
what are the terms of the loan?).
8.0 ACTION PHASE #4:
MANEUVER
8.0.1 A player chooses the Maneuver action when he
wants to move an empire’s units on the map either within its
controlled areas or to expand and conquer neutral and foreign
areas.
8.0.2 Each unit gets a number of movement points each
turn (§x.x.x). Each area has a movement cost based on its
terrain (§x.x.x).
8.0.3 To enter a new area, a unit must have enough
movement points to cover that area’s movement cost. A unit
may continue to move into new areas as long as it has enough
movement points left. Stacked units may only move as far as
the unit with the fewest movement points.
8.0.4 Units may only move into adjacent areas.
8.0.5 Units accompanied by an Explorer (§x.x.x) get one
bonus movement point.
8.0.6 Leaders may only travel with other units and must
do so for the transporting unit’s entire move. A leader may
not travel with star wars or nuke units.
8.0.7 A leader stranded in an area without other friendly
units is immediately discarded (§x.x.x).
8.1 LAND MOVEMENT
8.1.1 Land units may only move through adjacent land
areas unless boarding a naval transport (§x.x.x).
8.1.2 Land units must stop when entering an area
occupied by another empire’s units unless that unit’s empire
has amassed at least twice as many units in that area as the
other empire.
8.1.3 Any land area that no longer contains at least one
land or naval unit becomes neutral (§x.x.x).
8 7 Ages
8.2 NAVAL MOVEMENT
8.2.1 Naval units may only move through coastal land,
ocean, and sea areas.
8.2.1 Naval units only pay one movement point per area
that they enter, regardless of the area’s terrain.
8.2.2 Naval units must stop when entering an area
occupied by another empire’s units unless that unit’s empire
has amassed at least twice as many units in that area as the
other empire.
8.2.3 Transporting Other Units: Each naval unit may
transport one land unit or one aircraft unit plus any number of
leaders.
8.2.4 When transporting other units, the naval unit and
any units it is transporting must begin in the same area. The
units being transported remain with the naval unit for the
duration of that unit’s move.
8.2.5 When transporting other units, the naval unit must
end its move in a coastal land area.
8.2.5 Using Canals: The Suez and Panama canals are
only available during certain ages. The Suez becomes
available after Age 6. The Panama Canal opens in Age 7.
8.2.6 A naval unit wishing to move through the Suez or
Panama canals must receive permission from every empire
that controls adjacent land.
8.2.7 Galleys: Galleys cannot enter ocean areas.
8.2.8 Galleys are destroyed immediately if they enter a
sea area that is not adjacent to an area that the galley’s
empire controls.
8.3 AIRBORNE MOVEMENT
8.3.1 Airborne units (excluding star wars & nuke units)
must stop when entering an area occupied by another
empire’s units unless that unit’s empire has amassed at least
twice as many units in that area as the other empire.
8.3.2 Airborne units (excluding star wars units) may not
end their maneuver in a sea or ocean area unless that area or
any adjacent area is occupied by at least one of its empire’s
naval units.
8.3.3 Star wars units have unlimited movement. Once per
Maneuver phase, a player may move a star wars unit to any
area on the map, ignoring other empires’ units.
8.3.5 Nuke units may enter any area except areas
occupied by other empires’ star wars units. All other units in
that area are ignored.
8.4 CONFLICT
8.4.1 Once an empire has finished moving all of its units,
conflict is resolved in any area that contains its units and
those of another empire (even another empire that the player
controls).
8.4.2 If there is more than conflict to be resolved, the
player who initiated the Maneuver decides the order in which
they are addressed.
© 1997-2006 Australian Design Group
8.4.3 A unit may only be involved in a conflict if it
occupies the same area as the conflict. Units in adjacent
areas cannot be used.
8.4.4 Only players with units in the area may participate
directly in the conflict. However, any player may play event
cards to affect the conflict.
8.4.5 Units in a conflict are either committed or
uncommitted. Once a unit has been committed, it remains
committed and unavailable for use again until all that
empire’s involved units have become committed. Then all of
that empire’s involved units become uncommitted and are
available again.
8.4.6 Each time an empire’s units have all become
committed then uncommitted again, that empire gains a
disorder marker. This is different from when an area
becomes disordered (§x.x.x). The more disorder an empire’s
units have during a conflict, the more advantage the opposing
empire has (§x.x.x).
8.4.7 A player may never examine another player’s units.
8.4.8 Conducting Conflict: Conflicts occur over a
number of rounds until one side is declared the victor
(usually be destroying all of the enemy’s units).
8.4.9 At the beginning of each round, both players
involved in the conflict draw a card from the deck that is kept
secret.
8.4.10 A player with an empire that has a Tactician (§x.x.x)
in the area may choose to discard his initial card and draw
another one. The second card must be kept.
8.4.11 Each player then secretly determines which units to
commit and how many.
8.4.12 Each conflict round, the players determine their
empire’s conflict total. The empire with the lower conflict
total loses all units and leaders committed that round. The
winning empire loses nothing.
8.4.13 If the totals are equal, both empires lose all units
committed that round. If a Tactician (§x.x.x) was also
committed, that empire loses nothing.
8.4.14 Each empire’s conflict total is determined by:
 the value of the drawn card; plus,
 the front line value of half the units committed
(player’s choice); plus,
 the support value of the remaining units; plus,
 1 for each elite marker the empire has (maximum of
+3); plus,
 1 for each age the empire is ahead of the other; plus,
 the best front line and support values for committed
units for each disorder marker the opposing empire
has acquired; and,
 for the defending empire only add:
o the area’s terrain modifiers (§x.x.x); plus,
o 2 for a fort, if any; plus,
o the city value, if any.
 7 Ages
8.4.15 Committing an elephant cancels the front line values
for all opposing chariot, light horse, and horse archer units.
8.4.16 An empire that commits an elephant that is killed
must retreat all remaining surviving units.
8.4.17 Nukes: If a player’s only remaining uncommitted
unit in an area is a nuke, he has the choice of either
committing it or destroying it. If the player destroys it, then
the controlling empire automatically gains a disorder marker
for having all units committed (§x.x.x).
8.4.18 If nuke and star wars units are committed during the
same round, the nuke is automatically destroyed and has no
effect on the rest of the round.
8.4.19 If a nuke is committed and not countered by star
wars, all the units in the area from both sides are destroyed.
8.4.20 Other consequences of using nukes are covered in
section x.x.x.
8.4.21 Retreating: Before cards are drawn for the next
conflict round, a player may attempt to retreat his empire if
the opposing empire has accrued at least one conflict disorder
marker (§x.x.x).
8.4.22 An empire with a Tactician (§x.x.x) may attempt to
retreat if either side has accrued at least one conflict disorder
marker.
8.4.23 If both sides are eligible for retreat and both sides
are choosing to do so, the acting player determines which
side may retreat first.
8.4.24 Units may only retreat to eligible adjacent areas that
are controlled by their empire or that are neutral. Units are
not required to retreat to the same adjacent area if more than
one are eligible.
8.4.25 Units that have no eligible adjacent area to retreat
into are destroyed.
8.4.26 An empire loses one elite marker, if it has any, if it
is defeated in a conflict where two or more of its units were
involved.
8.4.27 If both empires lose all of their units in an area, that
area becomes neutral (§x.x.x).
8.4.28 If an area becomes controlled by another empire, all
artifacts and fortifications in that area are removed. A city in
that area has its level reduced by 1 (a level 1 city is removed
entirely). A capital city in that area becomes a regular city of
equal level.
8.4.29 An empire that loses its capital (or an empire
without a capital that loses a leader) during a conflict also
loses all of its wealth. Half of that amount is transferred to
the conquering empire’s wealth.
© 1997-2006 Australian Design Group
9
9.0 ACTION PHASE #5:
DESTINY
9.0.1 A Destiny action allows the player to discard
unwanted cards and replace them with new ones.
9.0.2 A player may discard every card in his hand.
9.0.3 After choosing which cards to discard, the player
draws a number of cards from the deck until he has a total of
6 cards in his hand.
10.0 ACTION PHASE #6:
CIVILIZE
10.0.1 This action allows a player to add improvements to
an empire, such as building cities and artifacts, upgrading
units, adopting a new religion or government, acquiring a
new leader, and so on. A player may also play event cards in
this phase.
10.0.2 If a player used his Civilize action marker as his
non-empire action (§x.x.x), he may only play event cards.
10.0.3 A player may play as many cards as he wishes
during a Civilize action. A player may not start an empire
during this phase.
10.0.4 An empire may choose to spend wealth to remove
disorder markers in areas that it controls (§x.x.x).
10.1 LEADERS
10.1.0 An empire may demote one of its leaders. A
demoted leader is discarded (§x.x.x).
10.1.1 After demoting leaders, if any, a player may choose
to promote a new leader if the number of leaders is less than
the empire’s maximum (§x.x.x).
10.1.2 If the new leader is a named leader, the player
simply places that leader’s counter on the map. If the new
leader is an unnamed leader, the player must randomly draw
an unnamed leader from the leader cup. He may discard a
unsatisfactory unnamed leader and draw another one up to
the number of times specified on the empire card (§x.x.x).
He must keep the last drawn leader. If a player draws a ‘no
leader’ marker, he returns it to the cup and draws again if
allowed by the card.
10.1.3 A promoted leader must be placed in one of its
empire’s controlled areas.
10.2 RELIGION & GOVERNMENT
10.2.1 If an empire that has a religion or government is
within range, the acting empire may choose to adopt the other
empire’s religion or its government.
10.2.2 An empire may not adopt a religion and a
government in the same turn.
10.2.3 An empire that already has a religion or government
may not adopt a new religion or government if it has any
disordered areas. An empire that currently does not have a
10
religion or a government may choose to adopt one or the
other regardless of whether it controls any disordered areas or
not.
10.2.4 When a religion or government is adopted, the
player places the religion or government’s counter on the
adopting empire’s card, removing any previous religion or
government counters that it is replacing.
10.2.5 The player automatically receives 1 glory point due
to the fact that religions and governments are green artifacts
(§x.x.x).
10.2.6 All benefits and penalties of that religion or
government take place immediately.
10.2.7 An empire that is changing religions or governments
rather than adopting its first religion or government must
place a disorder marker (§x.x.x) in each of its areas that
contains a city or a leader marker.
10.3 MODERNIZING
10.3.1 Once an empire reaches a progress level that allows
a new unit to be built, the empire may choose to upgrade any
eligible existing units to the new type (§x.x.x) at no cost.
10.3.2 The player may choose to ‘downgrade’ a unit to its
more primitive type at no cost.
10.4 URBANIZING
10.4.1 A non-nomadic empire may choose to build or
improve cities. There is no cost involved.
10.4.2 An empire may build and/or improve cities in two
fertile areas or in one non-fertile area (§x.x.x) that it controls.
10.4.3 Building Cities: To build a new city, place a level
1 city in any area that the empire controls.
10.4.4 If an empire currently has no cities, the first city the
empire builds is automatically its capital city (§x.x.x).
10.4.5 To improve an existing city, increase the city’s level
by 1 (§x.x.x).
10.4.6 A player may not build a city and then improve it in
the same turn. An existing city can only be improved once
per turn.
10.4.7 An empire with a Builder (§x.x.x) may build or
improve an extra city per turn. The newly-built or improved
city must be in the same area as the Builder.
10.4.8 If an empire has cities but no capital city, the player
may choose to convert one of those cities to a capital.
Replace the converted city with a capital city counter. This
does not count against the number of cities an empire may
build and improve this turn (10.4.2).
11.0 ACTION PHASE:
DISCARD EMPIRE
11.0.1 This action allows a player to discard an empire and
all of its units.
© 1997-2006 Australian Design Group
7 Ages
11.0.2 When an empire is discarded, remove all of its units,
including leaders (§x.x.x), from the map. Place the empire’s
card in the discard pile.
11.0.3 Replace its capital city with a regular city of equal
value. All other cities remain as they are.
12.0 END OF TURN
12.0.1 After each action phase has been completed, the
current turn ends where players advance their empires along
the progress track and harvest glory points.
12.0.2 All empires are eligible for one free advance on the
progress track unless that empire took a Wild Card action
(§x.x.x) or if that empire is in a dark age (§x.x.x).
12.1 HARVESTING GLORY
12.1.1 A player earns a number of glory points based on
which glory categories his empires have on their cards
(§x.x.x). The numbers superimposed on each category icon
show the amount of glory an empire earns if it has the most
of that category out of all other empires with that category
currently in play.
12.1.2 To determine how much glory empires generate
from a category, players compare all empires in play which
also earn glory from the same category to see which empire
has the most, the second most, and so forth (with one
exception, see x.x.x).
12.1.3 The maximum glory an empire may earn from one
category is 3 points. This is reduced to 2 points if there is
one empire that has more of that category, 1 point if there are
two empires with more, and no points if there are three
empires with more.
12.1.4 If several empires tie in a category, determine the
order by starting with the player whose turn it is and then
count players to the left with eligible empires.
12.1.5 If a player has two empires that tie in a category,
that player decides which empire wins the tie.
12.1.6 If an empire is the only one in play that earns glory
from a particular category but that empire does not have any
of that category, that empire earns no glory for it.
12.1.7 Before harvesting glory, a player may purchase
glory points at the cost of 50 wealth for each point of glory.
If a player has an empire with the Renaissance artifact, he
may buy glory points at 20 wealth each.
12.1.8 There are 6 glory categories: cities, units, artifacts,
resources, areas, and homeland.
12.1.9 When counting cities, total the value of all cities
each empire controls.
12.1.10 When counting units, total the number of all military
units each empire controls.
12.1.11 When counting artifacts, only count green artifacts.
 7 Ages
12.1.12 Empires in the homeland category do not compare
against each other. Instead, each earns 1 glory point if it
controls all of its starting areas and loses 1 glory point if it
controls none of them.
12.1.13 Glory from Resources: Resource category icons
never have a number. Instead, each empire earns 1 glory
point for each resource of that type that it controls.
12.1.14 Wheat in non-fertile areas (§x.x.x) is counted only
for empires that have reached age 5.
12.1.15 Elephant areas are counted only if no empire in play
is in age 7.
12.1.16 Oil areas are counted only for empires that are in
age 7.
12.1.17 Glory from Areas: An empire may gain glory for
each area that it controls.
12.1.18 The category icon determines whether an empire
earns glory from land areas (green icon), sea and ocean areas
(blue icon), or both (green and blue).
12.1.19 When counting areas, do not include any disordered
areas.
12.1.20 Desert or tundra areas are only counted for empires
that have it specified in the Special section of their cards.
12.1.21 Some empires only count areas that are in certain
regions (§x.x.x).
12.1.22 Some European empires earn glory for controlling
the most non-European areas. To qualify, the empire must
have a capital in Europe and, in this case, only compare their
total areas with other empires that have European capitals
(even if those empires do not earn glory for this particular
glory category).
12.1.23 After all glory has been totaled (whether purchased
or harvested), any event cards that affect the amount of glory
each player may get are applied.
12.1.24 Glory icons that are square, rather than round, earn
glory immediately when that condition is achieved. The
player does not have to wait for the end of the turn. The
player earns glory for this icon each time the condition
occurs. The player does not earn glory for this icon during
the glory harvest.
Tip: Instead of waiting until the end of each turn to
tally up your empires’ glory, keep track of it on a
piece of paper throughout the turn. Thus, if one of
your empires that gains glory from areas, for
example, began controlling two new areas during a
turn, go ahead and write down how much extra glory
those areas generate immediately.
13.0 SPECIAL SITUATIONS
13.0.1 When playing the Empire Fragments (card 28) or
Civil War (card 57) events, the empire with the capital (or
© 1997-2006 Australian Design Group
11
leader if there is no capital) gains the saved wealth. If there
is no capital (or the leaders are not all on the same side) then
the money is split equally.
13.0.2 Assassin Events: This event allows a player to
attempt an assassination of another empire’s leader. The
target empire must be within range (§x.x.x) of the acting
empire.
13.0.3 The acting player draws a card from the deck and
keeps it hidden. If the card is not satisfactory, the player may
draw another card. This may be repeated as many times as
the event specifies but the final card must be kept.
13.0.4 The target empire draws cards in the same way, with
the number of possible draws being limited instead by the
leader value on the target empire’s card.
13.0.5 The cards are compared and if the acting empire’s
card has a higher value than the target empire, that leader has
been successfully assassinated.
14.0 OPTIONAL RULES
14.0.1 Total History: The first empire played during a
game must an empire that begins in age 1.
14.0.2 Pursuit: If an empire’s units are retreating from a
conflict, they may acquire additional casualties as the enemy
units chase them down. This occurs only as the empire is
retreating from the conflicted area; the enemy units do not
actually pursue the retreating units into adjacent areas.
14.0.3 The retreating empire loses 2 units for each aircraft
unit the enemy has in the area.
14.0.4 The retreating empire loses 1 unit for each armor
unit the enemy has in the area.
14.0.5 The retreating empire loses 1 unit for each 2 cavalry
units the enemy has in the area.
14.0.6 The retreating empire may choose to lose a cavalry
unit, which counts for 2 lost units.
14.0.7 If the retreating empire is in a higher age, each unit
lost costs for 2 units or 3 units if it is a cavalry unit. Thus, in
the case in 14.0.3, the retreating empire would only lose 1
unit. In the case in 14.0.4, it would require the enemy to
have 2 armor units for each retreating unit lost.
14.0.8 The retreating empire determines which units are
lost.
14.0.9 Cadenced Progress: This optional rule is designed
to make progress in 7 Ages more even.
14.0.10 At the beginning of each turn, after the players have
placed their action markers, the acting player chooses up to 3
of the cadence markers and places them faced down in the
‘Go Slow’ track on the map (§x.x.x).
14.0.11 There must always be a cadence marker in the ‘No
Advance’ box. If there are two cadence markers in play this
turn, the second goes in the ‘Advance If Trade +1 or More’
12
box. If there are three, the third goes in the ‘Advance If
Trade 0 or More’ box.
14.0.12 The remaining cadence markers are kept hidden.
14.0.13 After all the action phases have been completed, the
acting player turns over each marker on the ‘Go Slow’ track.
14.0.14 Empires that chose the same action as the marker in
the ‘No Advance’ box does not get the free progress advance
this turn.
14.0.15 If an empire affected by the ‘No Advance’ box is
being discarded, none of that player’s empires advance this
turn. If one of this player’s other empires are also affected by
the ‘No Advance’ box, that empire loses a progress level.
14.0.16 Empires that chose the same action as the marker in
the ‘Advance If Trade +1 or More’ box only get the free
progress advance if their modified trade number is +1 or
higher (§x.x.x).
14.0.17 Empires that chose the same action as the marker in
the ‘Advance If Trade 0 or More’ box only get the free
progress advance if their modified trade number is 0 or
higher.
14.0.18 Technology: If an empire that chooses a Destiny
action is also the most advanced empire currently in play,
that player may draw up to 7 cards.
14.0.19 If an empire that chooses a Destiny action is also the
least advanced empire currently in play, that player only
draws up to 5 cards.
14.0.20 Redemption: After all initial hands have been dealt
(§x.x.x), each player in clockwise order starting from the
acting player has the option to discard any number of cards
from their hands and draw cards to fill their hand back to 6
cards.
14.0.21 Faster History: The game ends immediately when
an empire advances to the next age of the first empire played
(even if that first empire was discarded).
14.0.22 Take That: During the Civilize phase, a player
may only may artifact and event cards on empires within
range of the empire taking the action.
14.0.23 If no empire is taking a Civilize action, then the card
may be played on any empire within range of any empire
controlled by player wishing to play an event or artifact card
but the player receives no glory for any of his empires at the
end of this turn.
14.0.24 To play event cards at other times (e.g., during
conflict), the player playing the card must have an empire
within range of the target area or empire.
14.0.25 If the card targets a player rather than an empire,
any empire the target player controls must be within the
range of any empire that the player playing the event
controls.
14.0.26 Take That II: An event card can only be played by
an empire during a Civilize action phase (e.g., it cannot be
© 1997-2006 Australian Design Group
7 Ages
played as a non-empire action). The empire taking the action
must be in range of the target empire and the empire taking
the action must be in the same age as the target empire.
14.0.27 Lady Luck: All cards with a value of 7 may also
be played as a Bad Augury (cards 5 & 41) card except that
they may not be played to counteract actual Bad Augury
cards.
14.0.28 Supply Chain: If an empire has units in an area
without a city or a fort that is not adjacent to any other area
that is controlled by that empire, those units are immediately
destroyed.
15.0 TUTORIAL
Welcome to 7 Ages! In this game, your goal is to amass
more glory than the other players. You do this by starting
and guiding empires through history. Each empire has a few
ways of earning glory for you such as taking over as much
land as possible, building the most powerful cities, and so
forth (§x.x.x).
At the heart of a game of 7 Ages are the cards. Each card can
be played in a few ways: you can start an empire, play an
artifact, or cause an event (§x.x.x). Each card also has a
value on it which is used like dice except that you control
how high or low the ‘dice roll’ is by choosing which card to
bid. But, beware: the higher the value of the card, the more
potent the empire, artifact, and event are on that card so to
get that high number to win a war or a trade with another
empire, you have to sacrifice what could be a valuable
empire, strong artifact, or devastating event that you might
wish you had later. Don’t worry though; you’ll probably see
that card again either through trade or through the luck of the
draw once the deck is exhausted and reshuffled.
Each turn of play proceeds through seven ordered action
phases (§4.0.1) and you have a set of markers one for each
those phases. Each empire you control can take only one
action per turn. So, to get one of your empires to take a
particular action, you place that action phase’s marker on that
empire’s card (but you place it face down so your opponents
don’t know what your empire is up to). Also, you can also
usually place one extra action marker that isn’t tied to any
empire (§4.1.4). How else could you start new empires if
you could only place action markers on existing empires?
The game always begins the same way: with an empty map.
After determining which player goes first (§3.0.4), each
player selects a matching set of light and dark counters. Each
set of counters has a different mix of units. The darker
counters are always better for more war-like empires (i.e.,
empires that get glory through conquest). After a number of
plays, you’ll figure out which sets best match your play style.
At first, don’t worry too much about it.
In the game’s very first turn, you’ll only be able to play one
action and you’ll probably want to start a new empire. You
can’t even begin to win the game otherwise. The age of the
first empire played sets the starting age for the entire game.
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If the first player starts an Age 4 empire, then that’s where that empire conquers two new areas during the turn, then add
the game begins. it to your count of land so you immediately know how many
areas your empire controls.
When you start an empire, you’ll want to buy some initial
units (§5.0.10) and set them up in your empire’s starting At the end of each turn, your empires usually get to
areas. You need to protect your capital and you’ll probably automatically advance a little technologically. As your
want to explore some nearby regions. empires advance, they get access to newer, better units.
Later, they get access to extra wheat resources and oil, which
Some empires also start with special features. For example,
helps make them richer when doing production. Keep in
some empires start with one or more leaders. Each leader has
mind, though, that when your empire advances into a new
special abilities which affect your empire: one leader might
age, all of its leaders automatically die and will need to be
allow you to buy military units at a cheaper rate and another
replaced by new ones. Leaders don’t live forever, after all.
may give your empire an edge when trading with another
And, if you have a named leader, such as Shakespeare or
empire. Choosing the best leaders for your empire is always
Napoleon, he’s gone from the game forever: no
important; choose ones that will help your empire achieve its
reincarnation here even if Buddhism is your empire’s
glory goals. Of course, you don’t always get to choose your
national religion.
empire’s leaders and are at the mercy of luck (§10.0.2).
You should also remember that just like you have to start
Once you get empires on the map, you’ll mostly want to take
empires, sometimes you’ll have to discard them. Although
turns maneuvering (§8.0) so that they can conquer more land
you may become attached to a particular empire, just because
and get more resources, trading with other empires (§6.0) so
you put an empire down on the map doesn’t mean you need
that your empire can possibly become more advanced, and
to feel obligated to keep that empire going. If an empire isn’t
production (§7.0), which allows your empire to gain more
earning much glory for you, or if you draw a much better
wealth and build new units. Remember, it’s always a
empire but are at the maximum number of empires you’re
strategic choice because your empire can only do one thing
allowed to have in play at once (§5.0.1), you should discard it
per turn. Thus, if you have one empire doing production,
to make room for newer, better empires. Also, as the game
your other empires can’t do production… or can they? You
progresses through the ages, older empires will often lose
also have a wild card action marker that you can place on any
their effectiveness as new glory possibilities open up (e.g.,
empire and then, when the action phase you want comes up,
glory from having land with oil).
you can ‘convert’ it to that action phase.
At the same time, don’t be surprised if a minor empire from
You can do a lot in most action phases, such as promoting
our own history outperforms and outlasts a major empire.
new leaders, upgrading units when your empire advances
The Roman Empire may rise and fall quickly while a
technologically, and so forth. Section 4.0.1 shows the order
relatively unknown empire, such as …, becomes a world
of the phases as well as what you can do each phase.
super power.
Also, don’t forget about events and artifacts. Use your extra
Furthermore, the later the age of the game, the more likely
action marker, the one that’s not played on a specific empire,
you’ll find your empires progressing and growing through
to start another empire, play an event on one of your empires
trade rather than conquest and war. When choosing which
or another player’s empire, or play an artifact. Events and
empires to play in the later ages, keep that in mind. Early on
artifacts have a huge influence on the game so don’t forget
in the game, however, you’re likely to find yourself wanting
them.
empires that earn glory through expansion especially if that
At the end of each turn, you’ll see how much glory your empire is far away from everyone else’s empires.
empires have gotten you. It doesn’t matter whether your
The game can continue until either a player’s empire passes
empires are allies or enemies; all of their glory earned goes to
the highest level of progress (§1.1.2) thus effectively leaving
one place: you. However, the amounts of glory your
the 7th age, until a pre-determined event happens (such as the
empires earn are compared to every other empire on the map.
first empire to advance to the next age from which the game
If other empires are out-performing your empire in a
started), or at the end of any turn the players decide.
particular glory category, then you won’t earn as much glory
Whichever player has the most glory at that point is
and you may find yourself earning no glory at all! For
considered the winner.
example, if one of your empires earns glory for having the
most powerful cities in the world, yet another player’s empire If there is any one thing to remember about 7 Ages is that it
has more, larger cities, that player will earn more glory than isn’t necessarily a game you play to win. In fact, to play a
you for that glory category. complete game using the Total History option (§14.0.1), from
Age 1 until Age 7, can take up to 16 hours. An average game
When it comes to tallying up glory, you should keep track of
lasts at least a few hours. So, although you should always be
your empires’ glory conditions throughout the turn on a
playing to amass glory, the true joy of 7 Ages is the
scorecard. That way, at the end of the turn, you can just refer
experience of watching history play out, watching empires
to your scorecard rather than spending time counting things
rise and fall through wars and catastrophes, witnessing the
on the map while the other players wait. For example, if one
spread of new religions, governments, and technologies, and
of your empires earns glory by occupying the most land, and
how it all falls together. Sure, one player is going to be
© 1997-2006 Australian Design Group
14 7 Ages

declared the winner when the game ends but just

participating in the game is all the glory 7 Ages players need!

© 1997-2006 Australian Design Group