1565, St. Elmo’s Pay

The Greatest Siege in History

A vendetta spanning decades reaches its terrible and bloody crescendo.

The year is 1565. Suleiman the Magnificent’s 30,000-strong armada descends upon the tiny island of Malta, determined to wipe the Knights of St John from existence and change the course of European history forever.

Outnumbered by almost sixty to one, a desperate force of knights, soldiers, and civilians prepares to make its stand. What follows becomes one of the most dramatic sieges in military history.

1565, St. Elmo’s Pay is an asymmetric, competitive tactical card game and the successor to the award-winning 1066, Tears to Many Mothers. Using Hall or Nothing’s acclaimed Historic Epic Battle System, players command either the Ottoman Empire or the Knights of St John, mustering troops and resources to overcome historical obstacles before the two armies clash in an epic struggle across the three battlefronts of Malta: Birgu, Senglea, and the doomed fortress of St Elmo.

Every card is inspired by a real person, place, or event from the Great Siege of Malta. With no deck building and no collectable elements, players simply choose a faction, shuffle their deck, and begin commanding one of history’s most remarkable military campaigns.

Command Legendary Forces

Choose your side in one of history’s most celebrated conflicts. Lead the armies of the Ottoman Empire under Mustafa Pasha and Turgut Reis, recruiting Janissaries, artillery, warships, and veteran commanders to bring overwhelming military might against Malta’s defenders.

Or defend Malta alongside Grand Master Jean Parisot de Valette and the Knights of St John, rallying knights, soldiers, and civilians against impossible odds as you struggle to hold the island long enough for relief to arrive.

Every decision influences the course of history.

Complete Historical Objectives

Before the final assault begins, both players progress through a sequence of historical objectives representing key events leading up to the siege. Complete military campaigns, secure strategic victories, overcome historical challenges, and advance towards the final objective: The Great Siege of Malta itself.

Only then can the decisive battle begin.

Historic Epic Battle System

1565, St. Elmo’s Pay uses Hall or Nothing’s acclaimed Historic Epic Battle System.

Deploy troops across the battlefronts of St Elmo, Senglea, and Birgu. Position units carefully, manage resources, execute tactical manoeuvres, deploy powerful events and attachments, and crush enemy formations to seize control of the battlefield.

Victory comes through superior strategy, timing, and battlefield command.

Historically Inspired Strategy

Every beautifully illustrated card is inspired by a real person, military unit, location, or event from the Great Siege of Malta, combining historical authenticity with fast-paced tactical gameplay.

Meet legendary figures such as Jean Parisot de Valette, Mustafa Pasha, Turgut Reis, Don Garcia de Toledo, and Don Alvaro de Sande.

Historical flavour combines with deep tactical gameplay to create an experience that is both educational and highly replayable.

Fast to Learn, Deep to Master

There is no deck building required. Simply choose the Ottomans or the Knights, shuffle your deck, and begin your campaign.

Success requires players to manage their hand carefully, control key battlefield positions, time attacks effectively, protect their leader, complete objectives before their opponent, and decide exactly when to commit their strongest forces.

Compatible with 1066

1565, St. Elmo’s Pay is fully compatible with 1066, Tears to Many Mothers.

Using the Historic Epic Battle System, players can combine factions from different eras to create unique alternative-history matchups. Norman knights can face Ottoman Janissaries. Saxon huscarls can defend against Ottoman siege tactics. History is yours to rewrite.

Features

• Two-player historical strategy card game
• Recreates the Great Siege of Malta
• Historic Epic Battle System
• Historical objectives and campaigns
• Ottoman Empire versus Knights of St John
• Real historical characters and events
• Tactical battlefield combat
• No deck building required
• Fully compatible with 1066, Tears to Many Mothers
• Beautiful historical artwork
• Educational and immersive
• Designed by Tristan Hall

Game Information

Players: 2
Playing Time: 45–90 Minutes
Age: 14+
Designer: Tristan Hall
Publisher: Hall or Nothing Productions

Will Malta withstand the might of the Ottoman Empire, or will the island finally fall beneath the crescent banner?