Ave Caesar

Chariot Racing Game For Up To Six Players
Designed by Wolfgang Riedesser
Published by Ravensburger (1989)


I was lucky enough to grab a copy of the Ravensburger edition of Ave Caesar a few years ago, in a swap with Shawn Lowe. I can’t remember what I traded away, but I am confident that I got the best of the deal.

I have a regular Monday night game group and we normally have six players. There is a surprisingly small number of Euro-games that are suitable for six players. There are plenty of good games for five or four players but six is a bad number. We often play Alhambra, Medici, Atlantic Star and AVE CAESAR.

I think it is safe to say, without any exaggeration, that there is a real ‘buzz’ around the table the moment I bring out Ave Caesar. The comments go something like, “Oh! Ave Caesar – that’s good!” or “I really like Ave Caesar!” No other game that we play regularly has this effect before the game even starts.


Basic Description of Play

The object of the game is to be the first charioteer to complete three laps of the racing arena. Each player starts with a deck of 24 cards (four sets of cards numbered one through to six). Each player randomly takes three cards into their hand and take turns playing a card, moving their chariot the appropriate number of spaces and then drawing a card to fill their hand back to three cards.

Simple?

There are several aspects to the game that contribute to it being a highly interactive, extremely competitive and quite interesting game. In the first place there are several places around the track where it narrows from two lanes to a single lane. Chariots finishing where the track narrows will block the chariots immediately behind, thus causing these teams to miss a turn. At the corners of the track there are walls which separate the two lanes – the inside lane of the track generally has few spaces than the outside lane. Chariots finishing their turn at the entry of a corner will block the chariots immediately behind, thus causing these teams to go the long way around the outside of the corner. What makes this doubly frustrating for these teams is that it is quite possible that if you go the long way around several corners that you may not have enough cards left to actually finish the race. In addition, each chariot must spend at least one turn in the Imperial Alley paying tribute to Caesar. This creates yet another opportunity to block those players behind you.


Strategy???

Reading other reviews of Ave Caesar, there appears to be a tendency to dismiss this as a simple card game that lacks real depth. I must admit that was my initial impression. Having played it sixteen times at the time of writing this review I must admit that my initial impression has been replaced by a genuine admiration for the game design.

In a complete game of Ave Caesar there are four races. Players score points in each race and the overall winner gains the glory. In each subsequent race the horse that place last in the previous race starts off the next race (giving it an advantage) while the horse that won the previous race starts last (which is a disadvantage).

In the game, if there is no blocking, all chariots will finish around about the same time as each other. The key to doing well is to avoid being blocked. At the same time, successfully blocking opponents will give you an advantage.

As you only have three cards in your hand at any one time your choices are limited. Your choices revolve around do I play a card that allows me to block the track OR do I not block the track but block a corner and force other players to go the long way around OR (if you have several small cards in your hand) do I play a small card and let other chariots go past and let them play blocking games while I just try to keep out of the way and try to play a card a turn?

Another factor to consider is that the leading horse is NOT allowed to play a six. Towards the end of the third lap, if the leading horse has a six it may be placed in the situation where it has to pass as it is not allowed to play its six. Sometimes the second placed horse will deliberately try to stay in second place as long as possible just to restrict the leader’s card options.


Reasons To Play Ave Caesar

1. It is a great game for SIX players.
2. It is highly interactive.
3. The game plays in around 75 minutes.
4. Due to selecting from only three cards there is no Analysis Paralysis.
5. You can have up to four winners of individual races as well as the overall winner.
6. It should be a close finish as all players have the same set of cards as each other.
7. It’s FUN to BLOCK other chariots.


Ravensburger Versus Pro Ludo Editions

I have the Ravensburger edition. I also purchased the new Pro Ludo edition but have since traded it and kept the Ravensburger game. Both games have the same nicely-moulded plastic pieces for the chariots and coins. The art-work on the cards is probably nicer in the new Pro Ludo version. The maps are significantly different in appearance. The Ravensburger has two race-tracks on each side of the board – the Pro Ludo board has only one board on each side. The Pro Ludo board has nicer art work but, overall, is small and some of the spaces (particularly in the Imperial Alley) are extremely small. Even though the Pro Ludo board looks nicer and comes with prettier cards, I still prefer to use the Ravensburger board (which I guess is why I kept that game and traded the Pro Ludo edition).

If you are looking for a fun time with six players Ave Caesar is the way to go!


“Dead Men Tell No Tales!”