Garphill Games has just announced *Wallguards of the East Empire*, the first installment in a brand-new trilogy set in the Eastern Empire. Following the *North Sea*, *West Kingdom*, and *South Tigris* trilogies, Shem Phillips and S.J. Macdonald now transport us to Constantinople in 821 AD, as Thomas the Slav attempts to overthrow Emperor Michael II.
In this new game, players take on the roles of Constantinople’s inhabitants, tasked with organizing the city’s defense against a vastly superior army. The game mechanics center on using cards to perform actions that subsequently supply four different battlefields. When a defense is triggered, its strength is assessed: victory allows players to recruit Defectors, while defeat brings in new Allies. Players must also train warriors, upgrade barracks, and develop siege capabilities to amass the most victory points.
Designed for 1 to 4 players with a playtime of 60 to 90 minutes, *Wallguards of the East Empire* is set to launch on Kickstarter in November 2026. This initial foray into the Byzantine Empire marks the beginning of a new historical trilogy for Garphill Games, with two additional games to follow and complete the series.
