More 10mm Figures Painted

My second batch of javelin-armed open-order cavalry from Newline Designs

Summing Up Our Ninth Game Of Empire

RICHARD's Macedonians were runaway winners, despite their lands being wracked by revolts.

The keys to victory were twofold: first, they captured the Persian homeland early; second, although Andy twice returned as the Parthians, each time Richard recaptured the Parthian homeland before the Parthians could launch a single campaign.

Here are the updated standings (four points for a win, three for coming second, etc).

ME

Game One: 3pts (Carthaginians)
Game Two: 3.5pts (Romans)
Game Three: 4pts (Persians)
Game Four: 1pt (Macedonians)

Game Five: 4pts (Persians/Parthians)

Game Six: 2pts (Carthaginians)

Game Seven: 3pts (Romans)

Game Eight: 1pt (Macedonians)

Game Nine: 3pts (Romans)
Total: 24.5pts

ANDY
Game One: 4pts (Macedonians)
Game Two: 3.5pts (Persians/Parthians)
Game Three: 3pts (Romans)
Game Four: 2.5pts (Carthaginians)

Game Five: 2pts (Romans)

Game Six: 4pts (Persians)

Game Seven: 1pt (Macedonians)

Game Eight: 3pts (Carthaginians)

Game Nine: 1pt (Persians/Parthians)
Total: 24pts

RICHARD JOHNSON
Game One: 2pts (Romans)
Game Two: 1pt (Macedonians)
Game Three: 2pts (Carthaginians)
Game Four: 2.5pts (Persians/Parthians)

Game Five: 1pt (Macedonians)

Game Six: 3pts (Romans)

Game Seven: 2pts (Carthaginians)

Game Eight: 4pts (Persians/Parthians)

Game Nine: 4pts (Macedonians)
Total: 21.5pts

REG

Game One: 1pt (Persians/Parthians)
Game Two: 2pts (Carthaginians)
Game Three: 1pt (Macedonians)
Game Four: 4pts (Romans)

Game Five: 3pts (Carthaginians)

Game Six: 1pt (Macedonians)

Game Seven: 4pts (Persians)

Game Eight: 2pts (Romans)

Game Nine: 2pts (Carthaginians)
Total: 20pts

SCORES BY PEOPLES
Persians/Parthians: 28pts

Romans:25.5pts
Carthaginians: 21.5pts
Macedonians: 15pts

The main takeaways:

*I have retaken the lead from Andy in our ding-dong battle for top spot.

*Richard, having gone seven games without so much as coming equal first, has won two games outright on the trot.

*The Carthaginians have still not won a game, but they and the Romans are the only peoples never to have come last.

*Despite the Macedonians winning their second game, they remain adrift from the other three peoples.

Empire Time - Turn 20 (160-150 BC)

Situation in 160 BC

This is the last turn, but only second place is up for grabs as first and fourth are already decided.

Reg's Carthaginians have 18 victory points, with nothing to add as they no longer control any provinces.

My Romans control 10 provinces, including double-scoring IBERIA and 'AFRICA', and triple-scoring ITALIA. That would give 14 victory points, taking my total to 18, the same as Carthage's.

Andy's Parthians are stuck on 12 victory points as they currently control no provinces.

Richard's Macedonians have 10 provinces, including double-scoring AEGYPTUS and 'INDIA', which would give 12 victory points on top of the 14 they already have.

The revolt dice land 3-6, meaning Pontus regains its independence.

I am drawn first, and since I cannot possibly catch Richard, I attack Illyria, capturing it and so boosting my victory points to 19.

Richard's Macedonians try to retake Pontus, but fail with a 3.

Neither Andy nor Reg free their respective homelands of Parthia and 'AFRICA'.

Final map, with victory points added

Empire Time - Turn 19 (170-160 BC)

Situation in 170 BC

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

I am drawn first, and my Romans retake Graecia.

Both Andy and Reg roll a 5, meaning they come up one short of freeing their respective homelands.

Finally, Richard's Macedonians take Pontus.

One turn to go

Empire Time - Turn 18 (180-170 BC)

Situation in 180 BC

The revolt dice land 1-4, meaning Graecia maintains its fierce reputation for desiring independence, at least in this playthrough, by throwing off Roman rule.

Andy is drawn first, and at last rolls a 6, meaning the Parthians again get back their Parthia homeland. Reg is not so fortunate, when he tries to free the Carthaginian homeland of 'AFRICA'.

The last time the Parthians appeared, Richard's Macedonians immediately eliminated them, and it happens again when Richard rolls a 6.

Finally, I go for the 'easy' option of attacking Cisalpina, and take it, but only thanks to Rome's two +1 modifiers.

The Roman steamroller has considerably slowed

Empire Time - Turn 17 (190-180 BC)

The situation in 190 BC

The revolt dice land 5-2, meaning Cisaplina expels Rome's legions.

Andy is drawn first, but cannot free his Parthia homeland.

I am drawn next, and attack Thracia. For the rest of the game my Romans have a +1 modifier as part of Scipio's legacy, and another +1 modifier for not having a great captain (this modifier has been in effect since turn 10, apart from turns 15 and 16, when I did have Scipio). I roll a 2, which is not enough as there is a -1 modifier for attacking a controlled province.

Richard's Macedonians, instead of trying to recapture 'Asia', go for Pontus, but also meet with failure.

Finally, Reg fails to roll the 6 needed to free his 'AFRICA' homeland.

It is very unusual to have only two peoples active - normally by this time the revived Parthians are taking on the Macedonians from the East, at the same time as the Romans are attacking the latter from the West

Empire Time - Turn 16 (200-190 BC)

Situation in 200 BC

The revolt dice land 5-3, but that pinpoints already independent Magna Graecia - lucky I decided against attacking it last turn!

My Romans again have five campaigns, thanks to Scipio. I start by taking 'AFRICA' with a 3 - the great captain's +2 modifier overcomes the -1 modifier for attacking a homeland. This means the Carthaginians are out of the game, unless Richard subsequently rolls a 6 to create a rebellion.

With my second campaign I retake Magna Graecia, and then successfully cross the sea to capture Graecia. However, it requires two campaigns to take Macedonia, but its capture means the Romans are the only people in possession of their own homeland.

Richard's Macedonians attack 'Asia', but again fail to take it, and neither Andy nor Reg can free their homelands.

The West is Roman red, and it surely can only be a matter of time before chunks of Asia fall too

Empire Time - Turn 15 (210-200 BC)

Situation in 210 BC

The revolt dice land 5-5, meaning Magna Graecia throws off Roman rule.

This is the first of two turns in which my Romans get Scipio as a great captain. I ignore Magna Graecia for the time being, instead taking Cisalpina, double-scoring IBERIA and Numidia from the Carthaginians. However, my first attack on Numidia fails (I roll a 1), but I take it at the second attempt.

Andy fails to free Parthia, Reg's Carthaginians are unable to reconquer Numidia (despite having a +1 modifier on this and the next four turns as part of Hannibal's legacy), and Richard's Macedonians again are unable to retake independent Graecia.

The Carthaginians are reduced to controlling only their homeland

Empire Time - Turn 14 (220-210 BC)

Situation in 220 BC

The revolt dice land 6-1, meaning Gallia throws off Carthaginian rule.

But this is the turn in which the Carthaginians receive Hannibal as a great captain. That means five turns, each with a +2 modifier, and without a -1 modifier for attacking a controlled province that is not a homeland. However the Carthaginians still get a -1 modifier for attacking outside of their original empire, which means most attacks require 3+ to be successful.

Reg conquers Gallia with a 3, but requires two campaigns to take Cisalpina. His fourth campaign, against Sicilia, narrowly fails - the naval crossing is not a problem, but he only rolls a 2 for the land battle. He tries again, but this time the naval crossing fails.

Richard's Macedonians unsuccessfully try to retake Graecia, and I narrowly fail to recapture Cisaplina.

Andy again is unable to roll the 6 needed to lead rebellion in Parthia.

Hannibal has not had the impact the Carthaginians would have hoped

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