Twilight of Empires

Description

In this game you’ll find plenty of options for adventure and intrigue. In Madrid, soldiers rub shoulders with poets in taverns while plotters scheme in noble houses. In Seville, the Casa de Contratación oversees trade from Seville, including the silver shipments from the Americas. The Spanish Netherlands remain a battlefield where the tercios face Flemish and French armies. In the Americas, vast territories await exploration while established colonies generate enormous wealth.

Meanwhile, the Mediterranean remains a frontier where Spanish forces face Ottoman power and Barbary corsairs. The Philippines connect Spain to the exotic East, while Portugal’s outposts in India and Africa struggle against European rivals and local powers. From the poorest Madrid tavern to the glittering Hall of Mirrors in the Alcázar, from the dockyards of Seville to the silver mines of Potosí, adventure beckons.

Themes and Atmosphere

Twilight of Empires emphasizes the harsh reality of 17th century life. This was not a simple time of heroes and villains, but an era where honour and treachery, piety and corruption, glory and misery coexisted. Like Captain Alatriste, characters will face a world where noble ideals clash with harsh realities.

The game captures the period’s distinctive atmosphere: the contrast between Spain’s cultural golden age and its political decline, the tension between religious orthodoxy and practical necessity, the gap between imperial ambition and financial reality. Players might defend Spain’s interests while recognizing the corruption and inefficiency that undermine them.

Character Possibilities

Twilight of Empires offers numerous character options, inspired by both historical reality and fictional creations:

• Soldiers and Veterans: Many characters might be veterans of the Flanders wars, now seeking opportunities in Madrid or the colonies.
• Nobles and Officials: From impoverished hidalgos to powerful court figures.
• Clergy and Inquisitors: The Church’s enormous influence makes religious characters particularly interesting
• Artists and Writers: The Spanish Golden Age’s cultural flowering provides options for creative characters
• Merchants and Rogues: From legitimate traders to smugglers and thieves.
• Women of the Era: From actresses to courtesans and aristocratic ladies, female characters can also play important roles.