Italia 1497 — Ulule campaign
Italia 1497
Launch
Campaign ended 324 % of the goal reached
Campaign ends
€32,433.00 pledged of €10,000.00 481 backers Campaign hosted on Ulule: figures reported from the platform.
€32,433.00 Funded of €10,000.00 (324 %)
481 Backers on the platform
Ended Campaign closed on 29.06.2025
VIEW THE CAMPAIGNThe campaign runs on Ulule, outside this shop: backing the project happens there, and nothing is added to your cart.
Take the helm of a great kingdom and set out to conquer Italy!
The story
The year is 1497. The King of France, Charles VIII, has just failed to conquer the Kingdom of Naples.
But this failure does not sound the death knell of French ambitions: it is only the beginning of a century of wars about to shake Italy and leave it at the mercy of the great European sovereigns’ ambitions!
Take the helm of one of the great kingdoms of the age and face your rivals to get your hands on Italy.
Lead your armies wisely, negotiate with your opponents, fortify your borders, exploit your resources and make the right choices. Only one sovereign will emerge victorious from this adventure… unless the Pope manages to save Italy?
Four powers now stand face to face, ready to tear each other apart for control of the rich peninsula!
- Kingdom of France: will you play France and make the most of its mighty heavy cavalry?
- Kingdom of Spain: Spain and its imposing fleet?
- Holy Roman Empire: the Empire and its famous Landsknechts?
- Ottoman Empire: the Ottoman Empire and its fearsome corsairs?
- Papal States: or would you rather choose another path and try to save Italy as the Papacy, with its unique gameplay?
Charles VIII entering Naples, 12 May 1495
The scenarios
Italia 1497 is a strategy game, but not only that: it is a true gateway to the 16th century. I did my very best to make you relive this era during your game!
Through the setting, the scenarios and the events, you will be able to explore the Italian Wars and what was at stake, but also all the great trends of the century: the Reformation, the Age of Discovery, the Barbary corsairs, and so on…
In Italia 1497, relive the Italian Wars through 16 different scenarios and 48 unique historical events.
- What if France had won the War of the League of Cambrai?
- What if the Germans had never sacked Rome?
- What if the Ottoman Empire had invaded Venice instead of besieging Vienna?
Change the course of events in one of the many historical and alternate-history scenarios at your disposal!
- 1515: We have just won the Battle of Marignano, what now?
- 1519: The Emperor has just died, whom should we elect in his place?
- 1521: One of our conquistadors has just conquered the great city of Tenochtitlan, how can we make the most of this victory?
- 1536: Our interests are increasingly threatened by Spain, should we forge an unholy alliance with the King of France?
Make the right choices during historical events to turn the game to your advantage!
Battle of Marignano, 14 September 1515
The game
Practise shrewd diplomacy, organise your armies properly, defend your territories and trade freely with your opponents… unless you would rather use manipulation and betrayal against them?
Italia 1497 puts interaction between players front and centre! Diplomacy and trade will be a necessity to win the game, while the game system will push you to anticipate your opponents’ actions every turn: your skills as an orator (or as a manipulator…) will serve you as well as your talents as a strategist!
Italia 1497 also offers a solo mode for the most passionate among you!
1 to 5 players - 60 to 90 minutes - Ages 10 and up
What’s in the box
- 1 map of Italy with its kingdoms and cities
- 5 player boards to rule your kingdom
- 48 event cards to play out your own story
- 300+ tokens to manage your armies, fortresses and resources
- 15 dice to settle your battles
- 1 pad of sheets to plan your actions
- 5 player aid cards to help you through your games
Italia 1497 is a game in development: the visuals, graphic elements and layouts shown may change before the final version.
Stretch goals reached
- Upgraded cards: The cards get an upgrade! They will now be printed on a sturdier stock, nicer in the hand and more durable — for games that will stand the test of the centuries.
- 1 free artwork: An Italia 1497 illustration will be given to every backer.
- New solo scenario: To conquer Italy on your own!
- New scenario: To conquer Italy again and again, without respite!
- Gilded box: A touch of brilliance on your game box: Italia 1497 is adorned with gilding worthy of the greatest powers of the Renaissance.
- New solo scenario: To rule the peninsula alone, like a ruthless condottiere!
- New scenario: A new theatre of operations comes into play!
How to play
Setup
Choose your scenario and deploy your first armies!
Event phase
Draw an event card; it can be good or bad. It confronts you with a choice that will shape your game.
Choose your bonuses and penalties wisely: they may well earn you allies and enemies!
Action phase
Plan your actions in secret by choosing which provinces to attack this turn. Make promises and utter threats: no player knows the others’ actions in advance! Once written down they can no longer be changed: the die is cast!
All actions are then resolved, starting with the first player; this is when battles and sieges take place.
Beware: the other players can bring your actions to nothing, so negotiate and anticipate!
Trade phase
Collect your resources, strengthen your armies and territories, and trade with the other players.
Gold can sometimes keep the peace more effectively than cannons…
The Papal States
The Papal States player, if there is one, plays a radically different game. Their events and game mechanics are unique: they are there to protect Italy, not to conquer it! It is up to them to turn the players against one another, put a spoke in the invaders’ wheels, and choose wisely whom to attack and whom to grant bonuses.
Deus lo vult! Well… I think?
The Deluxe edition
Maître de Guerre: Italia 1497 in its Deluxe version
At DTDA Games, our Deluxe editions are made for enthusiasts and collectors. While the game content is identical to the standard edition, this version stands out with a refined, immersive presentation: a luxurious sleeve with enhanced visuals, and limited-edition goodies.
Our aim with Italia 1497 is to immerse you even more deeply in the fascinating world of the Italian Wars, before you have even opened the box.
The designer
Mathieu from Épisodes d’Histoire, game designer
Having always been passionate about history and board games, I naturally went on to study the subject after high school. Just as I was starting my first year at university, I felt the urge to share my passion: that is how Épisodes d’Histoire was born.
Today the channel has grown so much that it is opening new doors for me and letting me fulfil some of my childhood dreams. Among them, of course, was creating a historical board game that would bring together everything I love in both worlds.
Italia 1497 is the result of a year of work and research on the Italian Wars, and it is also my very first experience of game design! That is why I asked the DTDA team for help, and they agreed to join me on this project.
- Sergio Matsumoto, gameplay consultant - DTDA Games
- Manon "Stripes" Potier, art director - DTDA Games
- Marine Vinais, communication & partner relations - DTDA Games
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