7 Ages: the Collector's edition Posted on 9 Sep 11:06 , 24 comments
Latest update: 9 September 2025
7 Ages the Collector's edition is now ready for printing and we have chosen the printer who will be able to produce another world record, the entire game being produced on one large hard-mounted (cardboard, not paper) map, the whole map being just under 2 x A0 in size (1147mm x 830mm, 45.2 x 32.7 inches in total).
Even more good news is that they say that after all the files are submitted to their specifications then it should only take around 45 days for printing. We are currently transposing those files into those specifications which should only take a few weeks.
In the meantime we intend to hold our crowdfunding during October. This is not to decide whether to print or not, just how many we should print (we vastly underestimated demand for our latest project World in Flames the collector's edition requiring a second very costly reprint).
In addition to the 5 expansions (Ancients & Kingdoms, Medieval, Modern, Religions and Trade & Victory) being released with the Deluxe edition of 7 Ages: the Collector's edition we already have ideas for 8 additional expansions
1) 8th player (I countersheet of 3 empires and 11 cards). This brings the game up to 8 players maximum. Could include the two extra artefacts (Nobel prize and Temple of Halicarnassus)
2) Specialist units (eg paras, marines, special forces, cuiraseers, clibinarii, engineers etc) in neutral colours (like elephants and nukes) that are available to every empire when conditions are met (with 11 new empire cards)
3) Specialist empires (eg aircraft heavy, ship heavy, inf heavy etc) that are extra that anyone can choose after their 2nd empire is in play, but you can only ever have one more than the player with the least) includes 11 new cards
4) Artefact deck of cards which explains all the artefact rules, requirements and benefits on the card which you place on your empire instead of the counter so you don’t need to look up the rules to see all the effects.
5) Build your own empire. You start with minimal units (spearmen and archers) and you decide based on tech (you choose a tech path with each trade and if you succeed you get those units in your force pool for one of your empires). The kit includes lots of different types of units for each empire. Some units have qualitative advantages over other unit commitments (like we have now if infantry and missile are facing cavalry or aircraft). This expansion would include several new countersheets one for each empire.
6) Some like it hot – age 8 where all fertile and forest are desert all jungle is fertile and oil income is zero and its filled with exotic space weapons (maybe include another space map) specialist units and 11 age 7-8 empires
7) Team play – special cards dealt out at the start of the game (and card sleeves to keep them in, one for each player) that tell you who your secret friend is and who your secret enemy is. Victory is decided by your points plus half the points of your secret chum minus half the points of your secret enemy.
8) Conflict resolution battle boards and screens (extra mapboards) that you use to resolve conflict. This could be expanded to include player boards, one per player, where you keep your empire card and details on.
that will be the stretch goals based on your vote for which one you want to see and the order you want to see them released. Voting will be done in the crowdfunding venue, passersby get 1 vote, Classic purchasers 5 votes and Deluxe purchasers 10 votes and the goals may shift during the campaign based on your preference.
Like the game itself (which we are discounting 40% from the RRP for our loyal advance order customers) the stretch goal expansions will be substantially discounted should we end up getting enough of your support to publish them (50% off for Deluxe advance orderers and 25% for Classic advance orderers, plus freight if applicable (if we can print them quick enough we might be able to send them out with your game and they will be available at every wifcon and other conventions we attend for pickup)).
If you have your own ideas for more expansions please provide them in the comments below. You can download the latest 7 Ages rules in the downloads section of our site to give you an idea of what the current 5 expansions provide.
Thank you for your very generous patience. After such a long development process we are doing everything we can to give you the best gaming experience you'll ever have.
Australian Design Group is delighted to announce the upcoming release of the latest edition of our acclaimed history of the world game 7 Ages: the Collector's edition.
7 Ages: the Collector's edition includes 67 new civilisation cards, 165 in total. There are counters for 6 new empires, 21 in total, allowing up to 7 players to control 3 empires each, as you vie for a peaceful prosperous planet (under your benign control naturalich).
The maps have been graphically updated, new areas included and they will be hard-mounted on our beautiful linen boards.
To increase the scientific and artistic aspects of the game, artefacts have been dramatically expanded and improved. There are 17 new artefact types you can build and 155 artefacts in total, more than double the 70 in the original game.
Leadership has also been dramatically enhanced, with 130 named leaders and 43 unnamed leaders (up from 72 and 22 respectively) throughout history (but only one current serving, sorry boys you just don't cut the mustard anymore).
We have also doubled the number of options from 6 to 12 including 3 that are part of the 7 Ages Expansion sets, Secret Victory, Neutral Kingdoms and Deus Vult!.
Secret Victory is an easy way to keep everyone's glory secret so no one knows who is really winning.
Neutral Kingdoms means provinces are no longer denuded when an empire is discarded. Even if you have given up on them, the people still live there and don't take kindly to strangers (not to mention former overlords).
Deus Vult! is a religious expansion that allows empires to explore a variety of religions and the building of temples to their God or Gods. Not cheap, but what price Glory?
All this and much much more is coming soon. And all this in 10 pages of rules and 2 pages of optional rules. Never, in the annals of human history, has so much been provided to so many in one glorious game with so few rules to fret on.
To prove it, the draft (PDF) 7 Ages Collector's edition Rules & Players' Guide (22 Sep 2024) is now available for your perusal. These rules are fully compatible with the original version of the game. The changes are red, the Designer's notes blue, and the cross-references, cyan.
Please note that the most recent version of the 7 Ages Rules & Players' Guide will be uploaded to the downloads section of our site as they are updated.
If you have some comments, please post them on our 7 Ages CE blog. If you would like to playtest the latest version of 7 Ages: the Collector's edition to iron out the final wrinkles, please contact me at ausdesigngroup@bigpond.com.
Thank you for your support for our games.
regards
Harry Rowland 
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Comments
Jonathan D. Woolley on
A “War of the Worlds artifact or event” could be part of a science fiction expansion.
Werner Tuytens on
Maybe a stretch too far, but I always liked the idea of a War of the Worlds artifact or event. Age 7 or 8 Invasion H.G. Wells style alien attack to mess up the status quo. This would horrify the historic gamers maybe. But would be a fun take. I cannot wait for the collector’s edition. We are still playing the original in our club.
Harry Rowland on
Hi guys,
thanks very much for that, yes of course I am interested in your ideas for rules and expansions. In fact we will be continuing the discussion during the crowdfunding itself as it’s in our interest to bring out the game you want to play (which is why we want your vote on them).
7 Ages is designed as a basic gaming framework and you get an incredible amount of game for only 9 pages of standard rules (by far more than any other as far as I know). But you decide the carpets and the curtains, the extensions and new wings to add to the game to make it as cozy as possible for you and your friends.
The expansions and stretch goals I have suggested above are not an all inclusive list, we’ve had other intriguing suggestions, like an age 8 space expansion including another board for the planets and perhaps stars. But the list we have included above are partially selected based on their ease of adding them to the game. Obviously expansions with extra maps or lots of research are going to take longer to produce. Not that we won’t do it if we get the interest, just they will take longer to publish and will come out post release if we do.
Please keep your ideas coming and if other players want to ciritique or expand on them please chime in.
regards
harry
Jonathan D. Woolley on
I don’t know whether you are looking for more ideas for possible expansions. I do have some ideas:
+) Real World History as a 7 Ages game writeup – An Action by Action description of a 7 Ages game that copies how history actually went, or as close as the rules allow (but with any card draw just happening to be what was needed to get the historical result.)
+) Turn Record Keeping Forms For recording turns of a game as it is played
+) Fantasy Options – Optional rules for making the game feel less like an alternate history and more like the history of a fantasy setting.
Rick Munro on
It’s probably too expensive, but little mini’s for an Empire’s Capital. Something generic and all-age neutral (if possible) and the same colour as the 21 Empire Colours (24 for 8th Player expansion). I know mini’s are a different type of manufacturing, but hey, I can but dream.
Harry Rowland on
Gidday Jonathan,
sorry for the delay, please see latest update above. Our wait is almost over.
regards
harry
jonathan D. Woolley on
Is it about time for an update?
simon cutforth on
July 2025 is behind us. Any update? Still on schedule for release at Speil 2025?
Alex on
Its probably too late but the main thing I´d like to ad to the development is that the concept of different colors having different unit compositions doesnt really work. Even if I choose something that is terrestrial heavy in units due to a civ I have in mind. That civ will probly be discarded at some point during the game, and then Im locked out from a boat heavy civ. Or at least in a worse position for making it work. For my copy I have made all civs having the same unit composition and it works well.
Another thing we generally play with is that the administrator have a limit of purchasing 7 units at a time since it, combined with some civs can come out with ~15 units in its startup. Please have the same units for all colors.
Finally we have made it so that the person that starts a trade always gets 1 progress. Then they have the opportunity to get more as normal. Its a pretty feel bad moment when you spend an action on trade and dont get anything for it, especially if it happens a couple of turns in a row.
Final finally, I couldn´t find the signup for interest page so please ad me to your list so I can get the news on the collectors ed.
Harry Rowland on
Hi Jonathan, you’re right, please see above.
Sorry for the delay.
regards
harry
Jonathan D. Woolley on
Is it about time for an update?
Harry Rowland on
Gidday Jim,
we don’t have a price for the game or shipping yet but the crowdfunding campaign will have a substantial reduction on the recommended retail price. The shipping won’t be cheap as it’s half the weight of the World in Flames collector’s edition game (6.8 kg) so will weigh between 3 and 4 kgs (7-9 lb) per game.
regards
harry
Jim Scheiderich on
Ach! Cannot believe this was moving along…just stumbled on it.
As such, I have a lot of questions: is it crowdfunded (appears not), size of map (table issues), number of cards (+?) and, of course, price and shipping?
It is showing 9/23 as last update so 3 months along and no new news.
Thanks.
Harry Rowland on
Gidday Jonathan,
sorry for the delay, I’ve been flat chat getting the prototype of the game ready for Spiel 2023, please see my latest post above.
regards
harry
Jonathan D. Woolley on
Is it about time for an update? I was expecting either that or an actual kickstarter by now.
(Or did I somehow miss a kickstarter?)
Harry Rowland on
Gidday Mark,
very sorry to hear about your cancer. Look after yourself, we’ve lost a few of the grognards lately, Bob, Michael and even ADG’s very own much missed agent Mark Hosking.
We are still working on the graphics but hope the kickstarter campaign won’t be delayed too much longer. I’ll keep updating the site with progress as we get closer to publication.
Thanks for your long and great support for our games.
regards
Harry
Mark Ruggiero on
Harry
I’m very excited for your new game. Any update on the Kickstarter?
I’ve been fighting cancer for the past year. Your games bring much joy. I hope you are well.
Mark Ruggiero
Wargame guy
TO on
For some people, Adern may be a mistake. For others it’s not and is very welcome. I suspect that wanting the game overrides either perspective.
Harry Rowland on
Gidday Lee,
thanks for your interest, I’ll do my best but I’m getting very drifty. We will publish regular updates here as we get closer to publication and the aim is to have the game released at Spiel 2023 in October, general distribution straight afterwards.
regards
harry
Lee McGuire on
I’m a current owner of 7 Ages and jus want to ask you to please inform me when the new version becomes available to purchase. The “Leave a comment” box has my email address in it and hopefully you can keep that for informing me later.
Thanks
Lee
Brian Knipple on
In the 7 Ages Collector’s Edition rules there is no listing for the Feudalism artefact. Under the definition of governments there is no mention of Feudalism. Just verifying this is intended.
Harry Rowland on
Hi guys,
thanks for your posts, appreciate the feedback.
We have added opacity to some of the dodgier cards and will add an opacity to the Soviets. Please note that we are still working on the graphics for the Collector’s edition and these are just the playtest version of the Soviet Union.
I agree Chris it is a risk, all power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, and who knows what the future might bring. But, you know, we have Genghis and Stalin in the game, so no matter how poorly or well Jacinda governs, I reckon we are pretty safe in the broader scheme of things.
However, I would have thought the greater question is why is there such paucity of leadership these days that there is only one? What has derailed our political structures that fools, criminals and grifters rise to the top? Are we all resigned to becoming bit parts in our own version of idiocracy?
Having been a long student of history, today raises more questions than answers.
Gap on
Hi! 7 Ages owner looking forward to the new edition. Just one request: please improve the readability/contrast on cards. The example you have up there (Soviet Union) is on par with the terrible experience of the previous edition.
Chris on
I think putting Adern in the game in the game would be a mistake. I think putting any now living leaders in the game would be a mistake, but Adern would be bigger than the average mistake.
Other than that, looking forward to this.