Elysium

Europe 390 A.D. – the Migration Period: As the Western Roman Empire struggles
to repel migrating Germanic tribes fleeing from the incursion of the Huns into
Eastern Europe, several of its provinces are breaking away seeking
independence.

In “Elysium”, you rule one of these independent provinces. Your goal is
threefold: (1) survive politically until the fall of the Western Roman Empire
in 476 A.D.; (2) make your country the most livable for your people, turning
it into an “Elysium”, an island of the blessed in those turbulent times; (3)
(optionally) build an empire of your own by conquering other provinces.

Your challenges are firstly foreign and secondly domestic: ward off pillaging
barbarian tribes such as the Vandals or the Huns and defend against legions of
Roman troops sent by the Emperor to forcibly reintegrate you into his failing
Empire. This requires building, equipping and maintaining a whole army of
militia, career soldiers and mercenaries, financed by a vibrant domestic
economy. Thus your tasks at home include the production of agricultural and
other goods and building the necessary infrastructure, trade by sea and land,
law enforcement and taxation, and most importantly: stay in power by keeping
the masses happy with “bread and circuses”.

Elysium