Kaiser Overview
Kaiser is a simulation for one to nine players set in the Holy Roman Empire of the 18th century. Participants assume the roles of nobles vying for the imperial crown, beginning with the assignment of a personal state.
Gameplay proceeds in turns, each composed of several management phases. Economic foundations involve trading grain and purchasing land, with grain required to prevent starvation and influence population growth. Land acquisition supports a larger population and is necessary for constructing buildings. Financial management includes setting tax rates and judicial severity, where overly harsh policies can boost short-term income at the cost of citizen emigration.
Income can be invested in economic structures like marketplaces and mills, which generate more revenue. Building a set number of these creates a city. Players may also commission symbolic projects like palaces and cathedrals, which are prerequisites for advancing in noble rank rather than providing immediate utility. Advancement through the nobility increases debt limits and taxation authority, with the ultimate goal of becoming emperor requiring specific holdings, including five cities, a palace, a cathedral, extensive land, and substantial capital.
In multiplayer sessions, military conflict becomes possible. Players can raise armies from their population or hire more skilled mercenaries, training them to gain experience. Wars can be declared against neighboring states, with non-combatants potentially offering support and even lending their troops for the automated battle. The victor annexes land from the defeated party.
A fixed lifespan for each player introduces a time pressure, and taking too long during a turn can shorten this allotted time. The game concludes with a calculation of interest on savings or debt and a check for rank progression at the end of each turn.
