Empire Time - Turn 13 (230-220 BC)

Situation in 230 BC, the start of the last decade before Hannibal appears as a great captain for the Carthaginians

The revolt dice land 1-4, so Graecia again expels the Macedonians.

Andy is drawn first, but rolls a 5 - one less than needed to free his Parthia homeland.

I am drawn next, and my Romans at last conquer Cisaplina, thus meaning all of Italy is now Roman red.

Reg's Carthaginians attack Cisalpina, but come up short, and Richard's Macedonians fail to retake Graecia.

The Macedonians are still looking good, despite being plagued by revolts

Empire Time - Turn 12 (240-230 BC)

Situation in 240 BC

The revolt dice land 3-1, meaning 'Asia' kicks out the Macedonians.

I am drawn first, but my Romans fail to take Cisaplina.

Andy again fails to free Parthia, and Richard's Macedonians fail to recapture 'Asia'.

Finally, Reg's Carthaginians also are unsuccessful in attacking Cisalpina.

A quiet decade, but for the revolt in 'Asia' 

Empire Time - Turn 11 (250-240 BC)

For the rest of the game, my Romans receive a +1 modifier in every turn when they do not have a great captain

The revolt dice land 1-4, meaning Graecia throws off Macedonian control.

Reg's Carthaginians are drawn first, and he attacks Cisalpina, but fails miserably by rolling a 1.

Richard's Macedonians put down the revolt in Graecia.

My Romans at last take Sicilia, emphatically with a 6.

Andy fails to free his Parthia homeland.

Rather unusually, the Punic Wars have effectively failed to materialise, but that will surely change soon 

Empire Time - Halfway Standings

Situation in 250 BC

Reg's Carthaginians have four provinces, including double-scoring 'AFRICA' and IBERIA, which, when added to their imperial legacy of 12 starting points, takes their total to 18.

My Romans have two provinces, including triple-scoring ITALIA, giving me four victory points.

Richard's Macedonians have 12 provinces, including double-scoring AEGYPTUS and 'INDIA', giving them 14 victory points.

Andy's Parthians have no provinces, so they stay on their starting total of 12.

Map with halfway scores added

Here is how the current standings compare with the halfway point of our previous eight games.

                                    Carthaginians...Persians/Parthians...Macedonians...Romans....Total

Current Game                      18                        12                          14                 4              48

Game Eight                          17                        15*                         10                 5              47

Game Seven                        17                        16*                           8                 7             48

Game Six                             18                        15*                         10                 5             48

Game Five                            18                        15*                         8                  4             45

Game Four                            17                        13                         11                 5*            46

Game Three                          14                        16*                         6                  5             41
Game Two                             17                        17*                         9                  7*            50
Game One                             17                        12                        11*                 5             45

*Eventual winner(s)

The tale of the current campaign is very clear - the Persians/Parthians and the Romans have equalled their previous worst halfway score, while the Carthaginians have equalled their previous best.

But the standout fact is that the Macedonians have beaten their previous halfway best by three points, and are surely favourites to score only their second victory in our series, especially as the Carthaginians have never won in our four-handed games.

Empire Time - Turn 10 (260-250 BC)

Situation in 260 BC

This turn marks the halfway point, and will see the first lot of victory points added to the peoples' starting totals, which were 12 for the Carthaginians and Parthians, thanks to their past imperial success, but nothing for the Romans and Macedonians.

First the revolt dice land 4-6, meaning Sicilia expels the Carthaginians.

Andy is yet again drawn first, and yet again fails to free his Parthia homeland.

I attack newly independent Sicilia, but again narrowly fail to take it, rolling a 3.

Richard's Macedonians pull off a coup by capturing double-scoring 'INDIA'.

Finally, Reg's Carthaginian fleet is destroyed at sea as it leads an attempt to retake Sicilia.

Halfway through, and the Macedonians and Carthaginians seem to be doing well

Empire Time - Turn Nine (270-260 BC)

Situation in 270 BC

The revolt dice land 3-6, but that pinpoints already-independent Pontus.

Andy is again drawn first, and again fails to free Parthia (he rolls a 5, instead of the 6 needed).

I again attack Sicilia, and again fail, with a 4, thanks to the -1 modifier for attacking a controlled province.

Richard's Macedonians reconquer double-scoring AEGYPTUS.

Finally, Reg's Carthaginians take Gallia, successfully rolling the 6 required (there were -1 modifiers for tribal unrest and for attacking outside of the original Carthaginian empire).

Carthage has not won any of our four-handed games of Empire, but this could be the time that changes

Empire Time - Turn Eight (280-270 BC)

Situation in 280 BC

The revolt dice land 1-2, meaning the anti-Macedonian rebellion that saw Pontus and Syria throw off Macedonian rule in successive turns, has spread to double-scoring AEGYPTUS.

Andy is drawn first, but fails to free his Parthia homeland.

Reg's Carthaginians at last succeed in retaking double-scoring IBERIA.

I again narrowly fail to capture Carthaginian Sicilia, rolling a 4, which drops to 3 thanks to the -1 modifier for attacking a controlled province.

Finally, Richard puts down the revolt in Syria, this being the last turn the Macedonians enjoy a +1 modifier as part of Alexander's legacy (not that it was needed - Richard rolled a 4).

The Macedonians will hope to  reconquer double-scoring AEGYPTUS before victory points are added at the halfway point, ie the end of turn 10 

Empire Time - Turn Seven (290-280 BC)

Situation in 290 BC

The revolt dice land 5-6, meaning rebellion against Macedonian rule has spread from Pontus to Syria, rupturing Richard's holdings into three parts: Graecia-Macedonia-Thracia-'Asia', Armenia-Mesopotamia-Persia-Parthia, and lonely AEGYPTUS.

Andy is drawn first, but he is unable to roll the 6 needed to free his Parthia homeland.

Richard, rather than trying to reunite his provinces, attacks Bactria, conquering the last Persian/Parthian province with a 5.

Reg again fails to retake IBERIA, and my Romans narrowly miss on conquering Carthaginian Sicilia - I roll a 4, but the -1 modifier for attacking a controlled province defeats me.

Just three peoples are left ... for now

Empire Time - Turn Six (300-290 BC)

Situation in 300 BC

The revolt dice land 3-5, meaning Macedonian Pontus becomes independent.

Reg's Carthaginians are drawn first, and he tries, but narrowly fails (Reg rolls a 3) to retake IBERIA.

Richard's Macedonians similarly fail to take Persian Bactria.

My Romans attack Carthaginian Sicilia, but also fail,

And finally Andy fails to inspire rebellion in his Parthia homeland.

A quiet decade, except for Pontus expelling the Macedonians

Empire Time - Turn Five (310-300 BC)

Situation in 310 BC

The revolt dice land 2-3, so double-scoring IBERIA frees itself from Carthaginian control.

Andy is drawn first, and he rolls the 6 required to free his homeland of Parthia, which means the Persians return as Parthians.

Richard is next, and he immediately counterattacks, retaking Parthia, thanks to rolling a 5.

Reg's Carthaginians fail to retake IBERIA, but my Romans at last conquer Magna Graecia, giving me a border with Carthaginian-run Sicilia.

With a quarter of the turns played, it feels, to me at least, that Richard's Macedonians are doing best, but my early-activating Romans are well-placed for pre-Hannibal expansion