Empire : Turn Two (340-330 BC)

Situation in 340 BC

The revolt phase sees two 1s rolled, meaning AEGYPTUS throws off Persian control, bringing Persia back to its starting total of eight provinces.

This is the first turn in which Alexander the Great appears, and since great captains always move first, the Macedonians can choose to launch the first of their five great-captain campaigns by invading Illyria to the northwest, Thracia to the northeast, Magna Graecia to the west or Asia (really just a large chunk of Asia Minor) to the east. Since the last two invasions would involve a naval crossing, and Illyria is a dead end that can be dealt with at any time, it makes most sense to invade Thracia, especially as success there would open the door to the ripe pickings to be had in the Persian empire. As a great captain, Alexander receives a +2 modifier, meaning the attack on Thracia only fails if a 1 is rolled, but in fact up comes a 6. Next Alexander attacks Asia. Normally this would mean a -1 modifier for attacking a controlled province, but great captains ignore this unless the province is another people's homeland (Parthia in the case of the Persians). Again a 6 is rolled, and Alexander goes on to conquer Syria, AEGYPTUS and Mesopotamia. Rather as in real life, he first established complete control of the east Mediterranean seaboard and then drove towards the Persian homeland, leaving Pontus and Armenia to be claimed later.

Carthage launches another campaign against Sicilia, crossing the sea on a 6 and conquering the island with another 6 (reduced to 5 for being outside Carthage's original empire, but more than the 4 required).

Rome is next up but a throw of 5 means Roman control of ITALIA has not been consolidated (since this is turn two and a score less than the turn number is needed, only a 1 would have sufficed).

The Persians could attack INDIA, but their -2 modifier for attacks outside their original empire means only a 6 would succeed. Instead they counterattack the Macedonians in Mesopotamia, but roll a miserable 1.

At the end of turn two the Macedonians have made great strides in Asia while Carthage is approaching Rome's doorstep before the Romans have managed to consolidate their control of ITALIA