Empire: Turn Three (330-320 BC)

Situation at the start of turn three after Macedonia, and to a lesser extent Carthage, started to expand

A revolt in Syria sees the province throw off Macedonian control. It will have to be reconquered by Alexander before he can move on to attack Persia and lands further east as campaigns can only be launched from a chain of provinces that includes the homeland or has at least four connected provinces.

Since this is the second (and last) turn in which the Macedonians have a great captain, they go first, and do indeed re-establish control of Syria. Alexander then takes Persia, Parthia, Bactria and INDIA (basically that part of the sub-continent ruled by King Porus). The Macedonians now have 11 provinces and are well-placed to mop up Persian resistance in Pontus and Armenia before possibly thinking of turning west.

The Persians are next up, and since their homeland, Parthia, is occupied, they could, instead of launching a normal campaign, try to make it rebel and return to Persian control on a roll of 6. Indeed, that is their only choice this turn since their remaining provinces of Pontus and Armenia do not make a connected block of four. However, their die roll of 5 is agonisingly one short.

Carthage invades Magna Graecia, but its roll of 4 is modified by -1 for a Carthaginian campaign outside the original empire, meaning the invasion narrowly fails.

The Romans roll a 1, easily consolidating their control of ITALIA.

At the end of turn three Macedon controls nearly all the map east of Italy, but the second red counter in Italia shows Rome has consolidated its control there and is ready to deal with a growing Carthaginian menace to the south