Barbarian Kings is a simulation of the Red Age of political and military turmoil on the island continent of Castafon situated in the northern quadrant of the Fira Ocean on the planet Hypastia. This is a world where magic works (sometimes), and men and near- men are as treacherous and as territorial as anywhere in the Universes.
The Players (from two to five) assume the roles of provincial kings, bent on con- quest and consolidation. By force and deceit, manoeuvre, and manipulation, each has the goal of bringing under his control sufficient numbers of provinces to win the game (in other words achieving the game equivalent of the Peace of King Coth, which marked the end of the Red Age in 87,805 HE).
Each Player begins the game with one or more provinces under his control and is given a limited amount of money with which to raise an army (represented by the various die cut cardboard pieces). Each turn in the game, Players write movement orders for their leaders and armies, make alliances, and have battle. In all these activities, the influence of magic is fell through the casting of spells by the various kings and wizards.
The game is played upon an A3 map divided into land and sea provinces. Each province contains the province's name, a unique province code to identify it in written orders, and a taxation value. Each land province and one of the sea provinces also contains the name of the indigenous population, indicating the type of people native to the province and the kind of units which can be built there