Brothers of Egypt: The Overview

For a long time, I've wanted a copy of the now out of print game Santorini. Santorini is a 2-player competitive game that, while simple, has an incredible amount of strategy. The game was originally invented in the 80's and was recently (for a short time) made available in a polished form by Roxley Games.

I played with many possibilities for the setting. Positano, Maaloula, Rome, Chicago, New York, or the classic Santorini. Then I had this mythical idea or two brothers in ancient Egypt, fighting for the attention of the gods. Each trying to climb their own way to heaven. They build towering obelisks, just like those of Hatsheput, Thutmose, Ramesses, Seti, Psamtik, and more. I decided to make that and that's what I have here.

Brothers of Egypt: The Gameplay

Brothers of Egypt is a very simple game. The components consist of the gameboard, level 1 tiles, level 2 tiles, level 3 tiles, and the pyramidion.

Setup

1. The players decide on a first player either by rolling dice or a method agreed upon by both players.
2. The first player places their two workers on any grid space.
3. The second player places their two workers on any grid space.

Gameplay

The players take turns. On each turn a player must perform two actions. Move, and then build.

• Move
  • A player moves into any of the 8 adjacent spaces that are unoccupied. A player may move up one level, but never more. A player may move down any number of levels. A player cannot move onto the Pyramidion.
• Build
  • The player selects one of the 8 adjacent tiles and builds a tile. If this is the first tile on a space, a Level 1 tile is placed. Then Level 2. Then Level 3. Then the Pyramidion.

The first player to make it to Level 3 wins, but that player must still be able to complete the build portion of their turn or they lose.

More extensive rules for the Roxley Games version can be found here: https://cdn.1j1ju.com/medias/fc/ec/5d-santorini-rulebook.pdf

This game is not in any way affiliated with Roxley Games and is a fan-made creation based on the original game concept.

Brothers of Egypt: The Print

As it stands in this iteration, the print consists of three primary plates, with some extras.

• The Gameboard
  • This should be a pretty straightforward print. It takes about an hour and has been designed to be sturdy, yet lightweight.
• The Tiles
  • These tiles have gone through various iterations to allow easy stacking and provide durability while maintaining low material usage and print time.
• The Workers
  • These should print fine, but the detailed cuts may provide some issues with lower quality filaments. Mine are printed with Bambu PLA Matte Ivory.

Roadmap/Plans

• Corner Decorations
  • I want to create 4 corner tiles that sit under the core gameboard and provide a more thematic experience.
• More Intricate Gameboard
  • I'd like to modify the gameboard to create a more thematic version.

Brothers of Egypt: The Story

In a time when the gods whispered through the winds of the Nile and the stars told tales of old, there were two brothers of royal blood, bound by the deepest love and the fiercest rivalry. From the earliest days of their youth, they shared a dream that outshone the brightest jewel in the Pharaoh's treasury: to reach the heavens and stand among the gods. This dream was nurtured in the heart of a kingdom where the impossible seemed merely a task yet to be undertaken. So, under the watchful eyes of deities etched in stone and scripture, they set forth a plan to erect a monument so grand, it would serve as a bridge between the mortal and the divine.

 

 

But as the foundation for this celestial ladder began to rise from the desert sands, so too did the shadows of greed and envy. The once unbreakable bond between the brothers frayed under the weight of their ambition. A silent contention grew, each moment whispering the sinister question: who among them deserved to ascend? The shared vision that had been their guiding star now splintered into two, each brother convinced of his sole right to divine ascension. And with that conviction, came the decision that shook the very earth they stood upon—they would each build their own obelisk, a testament to their worthiness of the gods' favor.

 

 

With the desert as their canvas, they embarked on their separate quests, driven by a desire that had morphed from pure to poisoned. The elder, with his legions of laborers and architects, pursued a design that would eclipse even the sun's grandeur. The younger, not to be outdone, innovated with a fervor, his obelisk rising with features unseen, designed to outlast even the stars themselves. Yet, as their creations ascended towards the heavens, so did their methods descend into treachery. Each brother laid traps and curses around his pyramid, not just to protect his own path but to thwart the other’s ascent.

 

 

The rivalry consumed them, each day a testament to their changing hearts. The desert, once a silent witness to their unity, now echoed with the clamor of construction and the whispers of betrayal. The heavens they sought to reach looked down upon them, the gods silent in their verdict. As the pyramids neared completion, the question of who would reach the divine realm first hung heavy over the land, a riddle wrapped in the sands of time.

 

 

Our tale pauses here, under the watchful gaze of constellations that have seen empires rise and fall. The brothers stand at the thresholds of their monumental dreams, each a king in his own right, yet enslaved by an ambition that may well lead to his undoing. The story of their journey to the heavens—or perhaps their descent into ruin—remains unwritten, a legend awaiting its conclusion in the annals of myth. Who, if any, will claim their place among the gods? The desert holds its breath, the pyramids a silent testimony to a rivalry that echoes through eternity, their shadows stretching long into the twilight of history.