Valley Games is excited to bring you Reiner Knizias newest big box game Municipium It has been some time since the gaming community has seen an original big box game by Knizia but its finally here A prime mechanism of Roman expansion and control in the provinces was the municipium (pronounced Myu-ni-KIP-pee-um) the premiere Roman provincial town Being granted the status of a municipium brought a town into the Roman orbit and involved both duties to Rome and a gradual extension of the Roman citizenship to the inhabitants This game takes place in one of these municipalities in a western province The time is the middle of the 2nd Century AD when the Empire had reached its greatest territorial extent and was enjoying its longest period of imperial peace Players are each in control of a powerful family and try to strategically place their family members in the various institutions throughout the municipium and gain the support of the citizens Scholars Merchants Soldiers and Priests At various times during the game if a player has the most influence in an institution the player can exert the power of that institution and gain the support of certain citizens Meanwhile the praefect moves around the municipium and players strive to have the most influence in the institutions that he visits thereby earning his favour Each of these institutions have unique powers and players must decide how and when to use them The player best utilizing their power will become the most influential family in the municipium