Very cool, wooden turn marker piece in the shape of a hoplite helmet. “Nika is
the ancient Greek word for “Conquer!” The concept of Nika came to me in a dream while I was studying abroad in Athens. The
rules were honed across nearly two years of testing. The board shape and core
mechanics were inspired by ancient Greek geography and warfare. Greece has many
narrow valleys and mountain passes, and sometimes the only way to defeat an
enemy force was to collide with them head-on and literally push them off the
field. This othismos (“shoving”) is thought to have been the critical
phase of most battles between hoplite armies, who were the heavy infantry that
dominated ancient Greek war for four centuries. In this game, you
command a Greek city’s hoplite soldiers who must force their way through enemy
lines. Your troops can push or rout those who would block their way across the
narrow battlefield. Coordinate attacks with your ally to secure victory, but
make sure to watch your flanks!”
-- Josh Raab, designer of Nika