During the Crisis of the Third Century the Roman Empire nearly collapsed in the face of calamitous internal & external strife including continuous civil war & barbarian invasions from all directions Beginning with the assassination of Emperor Alexander Severus a period of 50 years saw nearly as many different men seize imperial power over all or part of the Empire until the reforms of Diocletian in 284 AD ushered in an era of peace In Time of Crisis 2-4 players take the reins of Roman dynasties gathering & wielding influence among the senate military & people of Rome to ensure that their legacies are remembered by history instead of being lost to the mists of time Starting from control of one province & a few low-value cards you are challenged to establish your base of power during this fragile period of Roman history You must build your armies take control of valuable provinces develop your support & defend yourself against barbarian incursions inopportune events & the machinations of your political opponents Time of Crisis is easy to learn & playable in about 2-3 hours It incorporates popular game mechanisms such as deckbuilding & hand management but also delivers a true light wargame experience The historical flavor is strong with many meaningful decisions & opportunities presented to players on the board This game finally fully closes the loop between deckbuilding card games & board games Your cards dictate what actions are available to you on the board & in turn your position on the board directly determines how you can add or remove cards from your deck to make yourself stronger for future turns Will you specialize in manipulating the Senate wielding the power of the Legions or being a man of the People? Or will you master a blend of all three? In a twist unlike most deckbuilding games you have the privilege of selecting the cards that compose your hand each turn! However you still need to eventually work through your entire deck before you can use your cards again so deck management & timing is critical All of the key elements of the era are present in Time of Crisis civil wars between competing generals & governors Roman legions defending the frontiers against barbarian tribes Senate favoritism barracks emperors even angry mobs inflation the Praetorian Guard & the ability to carve off your own piece of the Roman Empire Can your dynasty arise as the new leaders of the Roman Empire before Diocletian emerges & brings peace once again?