The Empire Strikes Back: Introduction & Turn One

ALL four of us much-enjoyed our game of Philip Sabin's Empire, and now we have got back together to play it again.

As before the competitors are myself, my regular wargaming opponent, security consultant Richard Johnson and Andy, a serving officer in Britain's armed forces.

Andy, leading the Macedonians, won our first four-handed game.

I posted a short review of Empire here, and as usual I will write up the game turn by turn.

The first thing to do is draw for peoples, ie to see who controls the Carthaginians, Romans, Macedonians and Persians/Parthians.

The only difference this time is that anyone drawing the same people as they had last time can ask for a re-draw.

I get the Romans (I came second with the Carthaginians last time), while my regular opponent gets the Persians/Parthians, but since he had them last time, finishing fourth, he asks for a redraw, and gets the Carthaginians.

Richard draws the Macedonians (he came third last time with the Romans), and that leaves reigning champion Andy with the Persians/Parthians.

The extended Mediterranean world in 350 BC

TURN ONE (350-340 BC)

The revolt dice (4-3) select INDIA, but that is already independent, so there is no effect.

The Persians are drawn first, and Andy invades AEGYPTUS, conquering it with a 5 (4 or more was needed).

Next up are the Macedonians, and Richard successfully invades Graecia with a roll of 4.

I am drawn next, but there is nothing I can do as the Romans have to first consolidate their control of ITALIA by rolling a lower score than the turn number (impossible on turn one).

Finally the Carthaginians invade Sicilia. The naval crossing is not a problem (5 is rolled), but the attack-proper collapses on a throw of 3.

Situation at the end of turn one, in which the Persians and Macedonians have each conquered a province