Of Popes & Plagues allows players to recreate Middle Ages and the outbreak of plague and pestilence. This is not a reprint of Plague & Pestilence, rather a recreation with the addition of the Inquisition and reworking of many game mechanics. This release includes the base mechanics of building up your village and population and then fighting to outlast your opponents once the plague breaks out… he who dies last wins. Gotcha cards and die rolls are to affect the outcome but the player must now make many more subtle decisions about when and what to build and when to focus on beating other players; populations down. Modifications and additions were made to add depth and flavor to the game while keeping it accessible to family gamers. Much of the base artwork has been retained, with additional cards (Inquisition, Knights Templar and Hospitaller, Monastery and Corsair Raid) added and the medieval feel maintained with the complete game colorized using an illuminated manuscript style. —description from the publisher