Imperial Summons — Rise, Vassal, and Serve
Hear me, faithful vassal. I, Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Germany and Italy, summon you to serve my realm. The Mediterranean teems with opportunity, yet danger lurks in every port. Will you sail to distant cities to gain allies and resources, or remain within Sicily to fortify your castle and secure your power base?
In Stupor Mundi, every decision reflects your duty as my vassal. Travel along the voyage board, summon allies, and seize advanced action cards and market opportunities. Your loyalty will earn my favor, but cunning and initiative may grant you greater influence. Each turn is a test of your judgment and foresight. Obey my will, act independently when prudent, and prove yourself capable of shaping the destiny of my empire.
Build Your Castle — Towers, Walls, Keeps
Your castle shall be the manifestation of your authority. Construct towers to house allies, strengthen walls to store vital grain and stone, and maintain keeps to manage your action cards efficiently. Each structure enhances not only your defenses but your strategic options.
I command you to undertake the Imperial Projects. Erect magnificent structures across my realm and fulfill special conditions to reap great rewards at the game’s conclusion. Build with care, vassal: each tower, wall, and keep reflects your ambition and shapes your standing within my court. Your castle is more than stone—it is the measure of your loyalty, skill, and vision.
Edicts — The Emperor’s Will in Action
Know this: my edicts govern all. When issued, they may demand additional towers, resource adjustments, or the movement of your specialists. Loyal allies gain points based on the state of my palace; independent allies earn points from the strength of your castle compared to my holdings.
Respond wisely, vassal. Obedience secures my favor, but blind adherence may leave opportunity unclaimed. Ignoring my edicts invites peril. Each decision is a reflection of the delicate balance I maintained over Sicily and southern Italy. Your castle, your allies, and your specialists must heed my commands as did the vassals of my time. Through edicts, my authority guides your strategy, challenging your foresight and ambition.
Specialists — Instruments of Your Power
Your specialists are the extensions of your will. Engineers fortify your strongholds, merchants navigate the markets to acquire and sell grain and stone, and scholars unlock city bonuses that mirror the intellectual and administrative vigor of my empire.
Move them with purpose along countryside, village, and city paths. Each step represents a historical responsibility: reinforcing your castle, exploiting commerce, or advancing research. Markets simulate medieval trade, while city bonuses reward strategic placement. A capable vassal coordinates specialists to maximize efficiency and influence, strengthening both castle and standing within my dominion.
Allies and Political Strategy — Loyalty or Independence
Summon your allies carefully. Loyal allies earn points from my palace; independent allies gain points from the fortifications and resources you command. Observe rivals, form alliances, or act independently. Each choice mirrors the political pressures of my court.
Engage in the Postponed Crusade, as Pope Honorius III presses me to organize campaigns to the Holy Land. Special Crusade boards grant unique actions, replacing standard options. Use them wisely: overuse diminishes their rewards. Every engagement with these campaigns echoes the strategic dilemmas I faced, requiring you to balance devotion to my realm with personal ambition. Your choices now influence not only your castle but the wider Mediterranean theater.
The Vassal’s Legacy — Earn Your Place in History
The game ends when your castle is complete, edicts can no longer be fulfilled, or advanced action cards are exhausted. In solo mode, I, Frederick, will challenge you directly through edicts and specialists. In multiplayer, rivals test your judgment, forming alliances or acting independently.
Victory points determine your historical rank: Serf, Knight, Feudal Lord, or Duke. Each round is a historical episode—summon allies, construct towers, fulfill edicts, trade, and advance specialists—reflecting the administration and strategy of my empire. Stupor Mundi: Rule, Build, Conquer immerses you in the life of my vassal: manage your castle, respond to my will, engage in Crusades, complete Imperial Projects, and leave your mark on history. Rise to the challenge, vassal, and secure your place in the annals of my empire. Serve wisely, act strategically, and ensure that your legacy endures long after the walls of your castle are complete.
