''Circus Imperium'' is a light-hearted science fiction chariot racing board game published in 1988 by

FASA FASA Corporation was an American publisher of role-playing games, wargaming, wargames and board games between 1980 and 2001, after which they closed publishing operations for several years, becoming an IP holding company under the name FASA In ...

Description

''Circus Imperium'' is a game based loosely on

Avalon Hill Avalon Hill Games Inc. is a game company that publishes wargames and strategic board games. It has also published miniature wargaming rules, role-playing games and sports simulations. It is a subsidiary of Hasbro, and operates under the compan ...

's ''

Circus Maximus The Circus Maximus (Latin for "largest circus"; Italian language, Italian: ''Circo Massimo'') is an ancient Roman chariot racing, chariot-racing stadium and mass entertainment venue in Rome, Italy. In the valley between the Aventine Hill, Avent ...

'' in which players are charioteers of the future, controlling anti-grav chariots pulled by carnivorous beasts. The object of the game is to defeat the other racers by either crossing the finish line first, or more typically by knocking them out of the race or getting them eaten by the monsters. Outcomes of player actions are often random and unpredictable, and players can get points for eliciting laughs or the loudest cheers from other gamers.

Publication history

In the 1980s, FASA published a series of ''

Renegade Legion ''Renegade Legion'' is a series of science fiction Computer and video game, games that were designed by Sam Lewis (game designer), Sam Lewis, produced by FASA Corporation, FASA, and published from 1989 to 1993. The line was then licensed to Night ...

'' board games set in the 69th century. The fifth in the series was ''Circus Imperium'', designed by L. Ross Babcock, III, Sam Lewis, and Jordan Weisman, and published as a

boxed set A boxed set or (its US name) box set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box, hence 'boxed', and offered for sale as a single unit. Music Artists ...

by FASA in 1988. Unlike previous games in the series, this tongue-in-cheek game was played strictly for laughs.

Ral Partha Formed in 1975, Ral Partha Enterprises, Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, is now known as ''Ral Partha Legacy Ltd.'' and produces miniature figures in 25 mm, 30 mm, 15 mm, and 54 mm scale. The company's products are m ...

produced a series of lead figures for the game, including chariots, senators and imperial guards.

Reception

Alan R. Moon reviewed ''Circus Imperium'' for ''

Games International ''Computer Games Magazine'' was a monthly computer and console gaming print magazine, founded in October 1988 as the United Kingdom publication ''Games International''. During its history, it was known variously as ''Strategy Plus'' (October 1 ...

'' magazine, and gave it 3 stars out of 5, and stated that "The game is quicker than ''Circus Maximus'' because there are fewer rules and special situations, there is generally less to think about, and players are not allowed to interrupt their movement to attack. This is a big plus, as the last few ''Circus Maximus'' games I played in took forever." Neal Roger Tringham called it "a comparatively light-hearted board game", not in keeping with the more serious tone of other releases in the ''Renegade Legion'' line of tabletop games. GM magazine praised the inclusion of some game components that were lacking in ''Circus Maximus'' – large track, cardboard buildings, tokens – while noting their flimsiness. ''Circus Imperium'' was recommended for its replayability.

References

{{reflist Board games introduced in 1988 FASA games