Pax Illuminaten

Conspire with rivals. Enlighten the World.

1776: Enlightenment era thinking has taken hold across Europe, setting the stage for the modern era, yet in Bavaria the Holy Roman Empire (H.R.E.) reigns supreme, suppressing the dissemination of revolutionary thoughts and ideas. Those wishing to undermine the H.R.E.'s authority and enact Enlightenment reforms must do so from the shadows.

University of Ingolstadt professor Adam Weishaupt, aspiring to mold Bavaria to the ideals of the Enlightenment, formed a secret society to make his vision a reality. His society was called the Order of the Illuminati.

In Pax Illuminaten, players assume the role of an Areopagus, a top ranking disciple of Adam Weishaupt's Order of the Illuminati. You are tasked with accomplishing a series of recruitment plots to extend the reach of the order and grow its web of sympathizers. Players will compete with each other to gain influence over this growing membership in a bid to accomplish Weishaupt's designs ahead of their rivals and become the highest ranked among the Areopagites.

In Pax Illuminaten players assume the role of an Areopagus, a top ranking discipline of Adam Weishaupt’s Order of Illuminati. You are tasked with accomplishing a series of variable recruitment plots to extend the reach of the order and grow its web of sympathizers. Players will compete with each other to gain influence over this growing membership in a bid to accomplish Weishaupt’s designs ahead of their rivals and become the highest ranked among the Areopagites.

In gameplay terms, players will explore a network of potential recruits. Players will spread their influence over these recruits, in turn gaining their favor (i.e. resources) which is used to power additional actions. Multiple players can have influence over the same card at the same time, creating a complex decision space.

The card's themselves, representing historical “luminaries” known or suspected to be Illuminati members, are multi-suited and multi-purposed. Luminary cards comprise the network of recruits, can be chained together to execute powerful abilities, and are used to bolster your strength in challenges.

Victory is based on meeting the conditions of public and private "plot cards," which vary from game to game. These plot cards stipulate certain arrangements of cards and influence that need to be met, and the player able to meet two or more plot card's first will win. The different mixes of plot cards used in each game can lead to different incentives and strategies.

Gameplay Highlights:

Pax Illuminaten is a crunchy game and packs a lot of punch in a small box and small footprint. A few key highlights of the design:

Players will explore a map of “luminaries” (18th century figures) and build co-occupied networks of connections as they try to accomplish variable game-winning plots.

The mix of victory conditions changes every game, with a high degree of interaction as players strive to outmaneuver (something fighting, sometimes collaborating) with their opponents to achieve the victory conditions first.

Multi-purpose and multi-suited cards create deep decisions and tough calls. Cards are used for building the map and accomplishing goals, resource generation, actions, and resolving battles between players.

Core mechanics include: area control, territory/network building, and hand management. Mix in a dose of negotiation and double-think/bluffing.

Overall, the game provides a unique, historical look at the theme combined with rich gameplay and relatively quick playtime, all in a compact package.

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