Empire X - Turn 15 (210-200 BC)

This is the first of two turns in which the Romans enjoy the services of Scipio as a great captain 

The revolt dice land 5-4, meaning Magna Graecia successfully rebels against Carthaginian rule.

Reg's Romans have to start by reconsolidating control of ITALIA, which, with a great captain, requires 3+, which Reg duly rolls. They then take Magna Graecia, before switching north, conquering Cisalpina and Gallia, but the latter takes two campaigns.

Richard's Parthians end the independence of Armenia.

Andy's Carthaginians receive a +1 modifier for the next five turns as part of Hannibals' legacy, but it fails to help them retake Gallia.

Finally, my Macedonians reconquer Thracia.

Rome is on the rise

Empire X - Turn 14 (220-210 BC)

This is the turn in which Carthage is led by the great captain Hannibal

The revolt dice land 1-1, meaning AEGYPTUS again becomes independent.

Hannibal and the Carthaginians start by conquering Gallia and Cisalpina, then switch south to take Magna Graecia.

An attack on ITALIA also succeeds, meaning the Romans will need to reconsolidate their control of the province. But since ITALIA cannot be attacked when it contains only a single Roman counter, Andy's sole option for his fifth and final campaign of the turn is to attack Graecia, but the naval crossing fails (he rolls a 2, and there are never modifiers for naval crossings).

Reg is next, but he fails to roll the 5+ necessary to reconsolidate Roman control of ITALIA.

My Macedonians retake AEGYPTUS with a 6, but Richard's Parthians also roll a 6 when attacking Mesopotamia.

A dramatic decade in the West

Empire X - Turn 13 (230-220 BC)

Situation in 230 BC

The revolt dice land 6-5, meaning Thracia throws off Macedonian rule.

Reg's Romans are drawn first, and they conquer Gallia, thanks to the Roman +1 modifier in turns 11-20 when without a great captain.

My Macedonians fail to recapture Thracia, but Richard's Parthians also fail in an attack on Mesopotamia.

Finally, Andy's Carthaginians regain double-scoring IBERIA.

In quick succession the Romans have conquered the whole of the Italian mainland and expanded outside of Italy's borders

Empire X - Turn 12 (240-230 BC)

Situation in 240 BC

The revolt dice land 3-1, so AEGYPTUS expels my Macedonians.

I am drawn first, and I immediately reconquer the province after rolling a 5.

Reg's Romans take Cisaplina with a 6.

Andy's Carthaginians again fail to reconquer IBERIA, and Richard's Parthians narrowly fail to take Mesopotamia.

For the first time, the whole of the Italian mainland is under Roman control

Empire X - Turn 11 (250-240 BC)

Situation in 250 BC

Reg's Romans receive a +1 modifier for the rest of the game in every turn in which they do not have a great captain.

But first the revolt dice land 2-3, meaning IBERIA has again thrown off Carthaginian rule.

Richard's Parthians are drawn first, but he rolls a 4 in trying to conquer Mesopotamia, which is not enough as there is a -1 modifier for attacking a controlled province.

My Macedonians similarly fail in a counterattack against Persia, and Andy's Carthaginians unsuccessfully try to retake IBERIA.

Finally, Reg's Romans also fail when they launch an attack against Sicilia.

A relatively quiet decade

Empire X - Halfway Standings

IT is interesting to compare this game's victory points at the halfway stage with what happened in our nine previous four-handed games.

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

Current Game                      18                       14                            9                  4              44

Game Nine                          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)

Andy's Carthaginians have matched their previous halfway high, but Carthage has never won one of our games.

Richard's Persians/Parthians have 14 victory points, one less than their minimum halfway score when winning, or sharing a win, in previous games.

The Macedonians' nine victory points is two below their halfway score when they won in game one, and five below their halfway score in their other win, in game nine.

Rome's four is also below their halfway score when they recorded their two wins (one shared).

So, no one is going to win game nine ... or, rather, since someone must win, something will have to give before this game is over.

Empire X - Turn 10 (260-250 BC)

Halfway victory points will be added to the starting totals at the end of this turn

The revolt dice land 5-5, meaning Syria overthrows Macedonian rule.

Andy's Carthaginians roll a 5 while invading Gallia, but there is a -1 modifier for attacking outside of the original Carthaginian empire, and another -1 modifier for Gallia being in tribal ferment during the first 10 turns, so the attack fails.

My Macedonians retake Syria, but Richard's Parhians fail in an attack on Mesopotamia.

Finally, Reg's Romans again attack Cisalpina, and a throw of 5 means they succeed, despite the Gauls of Cisalpina being, like their neighbours in Gallia, in tribal ferment.

Victory points are now added.

Andy's Carthaginians have six for controlling four provinces, two of which (IBERIA and 'AFRICA') score double points. That takes the Carthaginian score to 18.

Reg's Romans have four victory points, thanks to controlling Magna Graecia and triple-scoring ITALIA.

My Macedonians control eight provinces, including double-scoring AEGYPTUS, and so move on to nine victory points.

Richard's Persians/Parthians have two provinces, taking their total to 14.

No people is completely dominant

Empire X - Turn Nine (270-260 BC)

Situation in 270 BC

The revolt dice land 2-5, meaning Persia throws off Macedonian rule.

Richard's Parthians are drawn first, and he wastes no time in taking advantage of the power vacuum in Persia.

I counterattack, but fail, and Andy's Carthaginians similarly fail to recover Magna Graecia.

Finally, Reg's Romans head north in an attack on Cisalpina, but fail.

The Punic Wars are well underway, even if they are not Rome's sole concern

Empire X - Turn Eight (280-270 BC)

Situation in 280 BC

The revolt dice land 2-1, meaning Armenia follows neighbouring Pontus's example in throwing off Persian/Parthian rule.

Andy is drawn first, but his Carthaginians fail to conquer Gallia, and there is more bad news for Andy when Reg's Romans expel the Carthaginians from Magna Graecia.

This is the last turn in which my Macedonians receive a +1 modifier as part of Alexander's legacy, but that is not enough when I try to capture, for the second time, Parthia.

Finally, Richard also fails, in a counterattack against Macedonian-controlled Persia.

Rome has a long way to go to achieve greatness

Empire X - Turn Seven (290-280 BC)

Situation in 290 BC

The revolt dice land 3-6, which for the third time pinpoints Pontus, making the region's determination to escape dominance by either neighbouring great power all too plain.

Reg's Romans at last take Magna Graecia, meaning Rome and Carthage now have a common border.

Andy's Carthaginians are next, and he invades Magna Graecia. There is a -1 modifier for attacking outside of the original Carthaginian modifier, and a further -1 for attacking a controlled province, which means Andy needs to roll a 6, and that is what he does.

Richard's Parthians narrowly fail to take Mesopotamia, but my counterattack conquers Persia.

Carthage's rise has been sudden