Overview

Caesar & Cleopatra is a two-player card game where one player takes the role of Caesar and the other Cleopatra. Both compete to sway powerful Roman patricians to their side. Players send agents (influence cards numbered 1-5) to influence five groups of patricians. When a vote of confidence is called, the player with greater influence wins a patrician’s voice. Victory points come from winning individual patricians, achieving majority in a group, influencing an entire group, and a secret influence bonus. The player with the most victory points determines Egypt’s fate and wins.

Components

• 135 cards total:
  • 50 Roman (Caesar) cards: 37 influence cards, 13 action cards
  • 50 Egyptian (Cleopatra) cards: 37 influence cards, 13 action cards
  • 35 other cards: 6 influence bonus cards, 21 patrician cards (5 groups), 8 vote of confidence cards

Setup

1. Secret influence bonus: Shuffle 6 influence bonus cards, deal 1 face-down to each player (keep secret). Return 4 to box.
2. Patrician cards: Place 21 patrician cards in 5 rows between players: 5 Senators, 5 Praetors, 5 Quaestors, 3 Censors, 3 Aedilis.
3. Vote of confidence cards: Shuffle 8 vote cards. Place 1 face-down on each of the 5 patrician groups. Return 3 to box.
4. Player decks: Each player shuffles their 50 cards (37 influence + 13 action) into a face-down draw pile.
5. Each player draws 7 cards as their starting hand.

Turn Structure

Players alternate turns. On your turn, perform one of the following:

Option A: Place Cards

Play 1 or more influence cards face-down or face-up next to one patrician group:

• Face-down: Place a single card face-down next to the group. Opponent does not see the value.
• Face-up: Place any number of cards face-up next to the group. All values are visible.

You may also play 1 action card from your hand (before or after placing influence cards).

Option B: Draw Cards

Draw 3 cards from your draw pile. If fewer than 3 remain, draw what you can.

At the end of your turn, you may never hold more than 10 cards in hand (discard excess face-down under draw pile).

Actions

Action Cards (13 per player)

Each action card has a unique effect. Common types include:

• Assassin: Remove an opponent’s face-down or face-up influence card adjacent to a patrician group.
• Scout: Look at an opponent’s face-down card next to a patrician group.
• Philosopher/Diplomat: Move influence or change game state in various ways.
• Spy: Peek at a vote of confidence card.
• Worm: Force opponent to reveal a face-down card.

Vote of Confidence

When the vote of confidence card is revealed for a patrician group, an immediate vote occurs:

1. All face-down cards next to that group are revealed.
2. Compare total influence values for each player.
3. The player with higher influence wins one patrician card from that group.
4. If tied, neither player wins.
5. All influence cards used are discarded.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

Winning Patrician Voices

Each patrician card won = 1 victory point.

Majority Bonus

For each patrician group, the player who won the majority of cards gains additional VP.

Complete Group

If a player wins all cards in a patrician group, they earn a bonus.

Secret Influence Bonus

If you win at least 3 cards from the group shown on your secret influence bonus card, earn 2 VP.

The player with the most VP wins and determines the fate of Egypt.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Face-down cards can only be placed one at a time (one per turn).
• Face-up cards can be placed in any quantity on one turn.
• You can only influence one group per turn with influence cards.
• Action cards may be played in addition to influence cards on the same turn.
• Votes of confidence are triggered when specific conditions are met (varies by group).
• The 10-card hand limit is enforced at end of turn — discard excess under draw pile.
• Some patrician groups have only 3 cards (Censors, Aedilis), making majorities easier to achieve.

Player Reference

Patrician Groups:

Group	Cards	Majority at
Senators	5	3+ cards
Praetors	5	3+ cards
Quaestors	5	3+ cards
Censors	3	2+ cards
Aedilis	3	2+ cards

Turn Options:

1. Place influence cards (face-down single OR face-up multiple) + optional action card
2. Draw 3 cards

Hand limit: 10 cards maximum at end of turn.