Conquest of the Empire (1984 Milton Bradley Gamemaster): Collector's Complete Guide

Of the four games in Milton Bradley's legendary Gamemaster Series, Conquest of the Empire stands out for one overwhelming reason: the miniatures. Where the other Gamemaster titles used plastic army pieces of reasonable quality, Conquest of the Empire delivered miniatures of genuinely extraordinary detail and scale, depicting Roman legions, siege engines, galleys, and cavalry that remain impressive by any standard.

The game itself, a war of succession in the Roman Empire among competing generals vying for Caesar's throne, gave these miniatures a natural context. And the combination of excellent game design, historical theme, and spectacular playing pieces has made Conquest of the Empire one of the most sought-after games in the vintage wargame collector market.

The Miniatures: The Heart of the Collection

Conquest of the Empire shipped with a staggering quantity and variety of miniatures:

Ground forces:

• Infantry legionnaires (in multiple player colors)

• Cavalry (in multiple player colors)

• Battering rams/siege weapons

Naval forces:

• Galley ships (large, detailed sculpts)

Specialized pieces:

• Catapults (large, detailed siege engine sculpts)

• Leaders/generals on horseback

The sculpting quality of these pieces, particularly the galleys and catapults, was genuinely exceptional for mass-market board game production. The galleys feature detailed rowing banks, prow decorations, and accurate period design elements. The catapults are similarly detailed.

This miniature quality is why the game commands premium prices even decades later, and why "complete" means specifically that all miniatures of all types in all colors are present.

Component Checklist

A complete Conquest of the Empire includes:

Board: Large, detailed map of the Roman Empire and Mediterranean basin.

Miniatures (by color, all 6 player colors):

• Infantry units

• Cavalry units

• Generals

• Galleys

• Catapults

• Battering rams

Other components:

• Resource markers (gold, food)

• Victory point markers

• Card deck

• Dice (multiple custom dice)

• Rulebook

The 1984 first edition differed slightly from later printings in component details. First editions are generally identified by 1984 copyright on box and rulebook.

Condition Grades and Value

Condition	Description	Approximate Value
Excellent Complete	All miniatures all colors, all accessories, excellent box	$300-500
Very Good Complete	All pieces, minor wear, minor box wear	$150-280
Good Complete	All major pieces, some wear on minis	$80-150
Incomplete (minor)	Missing some infantry or secondary pieces	$50-90
Incomplete (major)	Missing a player color or major piece type	$25-50

Completeness of the miniatures is the dominant value driver. A set missing even one galley or catapult loses meaningful appeal to serious collectors.

Paint and Customization Issues

Many copies of Conquest of the Empire were heavily played, and some owners painted their miniatures in period-accurate Roman colors. Painted miniatures are a matter of collector preference: some collectors value the work involved in a well-executed paint job, while others prefer the original molded plastic colors.

An all-original, unpainted set in excellent condition is the baseline for highest value.

Finding and Evaluating Copies

When buying:

• Request a photo of all miniatures laid out by type and color

• Count galleys and catapults specifically, as these are most often missing

• Check the box bottom for structural integrity (the weight of the miniatures stresses box bottoms over time)

• Verify the rulebook is present

Why Conquest of the Empire Holds Its Value

Beyond the miniatures, the game has genuine design merit. The Roman succession theme creates interesting diplomatic dynamics alongside military conflict. The multiple routes to victory (military dominance vs. resource control) give the game more strategic depth than typical wargames of its era.

Collectors who actually play the games they collect find Conquest of the Empire rewarding, which sustains demand beyond pure display collecting.

Completing the Gamemaster Series

For collectors building a complete Gamemaster Series set (Axis and Allies, Conquest of the Empire, Fortress America, Shogun/Samurai Swords), Conquest of the Empire typically presents the most difficulty due to the large number of miniatures required for completeness.

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