Res Publica

Designed by Reiner Knizia. Published by Hexagames 1991, Queen Games 1998 and Avalanche Press Ltd 2000. For 3-5 players and takes about 60 minutes. Age 8 and up. Contains 140 cards. Won "Game of the year" award for best card game in Germany 1991. This German version was published by F.X.Schmidt. It's built upon a Rummy system. You gradually build up a hand until you can lay down five 'peoples' cards selected from the Romans, Greeks, Huns and so on. This enables you to start collecting 'culture' cards which, again, you need five of before you can start claiming the points cards with which you win the game.