Reviving The Empire

LATE last year myself and three friends completed our fourth game of Philip Sabin's Empire.

Each of us took turns to lead one of the four ancient peoples: Carthaginians, Romans, Macedonians and Persians/Parthians.

The three friends included my regular wargaming opponent of old, who does not wish his name to be used, security consultant Richard Johnson, and Andy, a serving officer in Britain's armed forces.

Standings at the end of the four games were as follows (four points for coming first, three for second, etc):

ANDY
Game One: 4pts (Macedonians)
Game Two: 3.5pts (Persians/Parthians)
Game Three: 3pts (Romans)
Game Four: 2.5pts (Carthaginians)
Total: 13pts

ME
Game One: 3pts (Carthaginians)
Game Two: 3.5pts (Romans)
Game Three: 4pts (Persians)
Game Four: 1pt (Macedonians)
Total: 11.5pts

REGULAR OPPONENT
Game One: 1pt (Persians/Parthians)
Game Two: 2pts (Carthaginians)
Game Three: 1pt (Macedonians)
Game Four: 4pts (Romans)
Total: 8pts

RICHARD JOHNSON
Game One: 2pts (Romans)
Game Two: 1pt (Macedonians)
Game Three: 2pts (Carthaginians)
Game Four: 2.5pts (Persians/Parthians)
Total: 7.5pts

SCORES BY PEOPLES
Romans: 12.5pts
Persians/Parthians: 11pts
Carthaginians: 9.5pts
Macedonians: 7pts

As can be seen, the series was decided in game four when Andy's Carthaginians tied for second place with Richard's Persians/Parthians, while I brought up the rear with Macedonians.

As for the peoples, it was a convincing win for the Romans, although it should be noted that the series began with a Macedonian victory, only for the Macedonians to come last in the next three games.

The four of us have got together again for another game of Empire, and we have agreed the result will be added to the previous four games to keep a continuous tally.

As usual I will write up the game as we go along, and the first thing to do is to draw for people.

Andy can barely hide a smile as he gets the Romans, I draw the Persians/Parthians, my regular opponent has the Carthaginians, and Richard Johnson gets the hot-or-cold - mostly cold - Macedonians.

The situation in 350 BC

Note that, as usual, Rome and Macedon start with just one province and no victory points (the Victory Point Tracker is across the bottom of the map), while Carthage has three provinces and 12 victory points, and Persia has eight provinces and 12 victory points.

TURN ONE (350-340 BC)

The revolt dice land 4-5, which pinpoints Sicilia, but the island is independent, so there is no effect.

Andy is drawn first, but there is nothing he can do as before expanding the Romans must first consolidate their rule in ITALIA, and to do that they must roll a die with a lower score than the turn, which is impossible on turn one.

I am next up with my Persians, and naturally attack AEGYPTUS, but roll 2 (4 or more is needed).

Richard's Macedonians are next, and he attacks Graecia, conquering it with a 6. This is important because Alexander will appear as a great captain on the next two turns, and the Macedonians only get the full benefit of having him if they control Graecia.

Finally, my regular opponent has the only tricky choice to make this turn - attack Sicilia or Gallia.

The former involves a naval crossing, which requires rolling a 3 or better, followed by an attack in which a 5 is required as Carthage gets a -1 modifier for attacking outside of its original empire. The odds of succeeding are therefore four in six (naval crossing) and two in six (attack), which totals eight in 36, or 22.2%.

Gallia does not involve a naval crossing, but there is -1 for attacking outside of the original Carthaginian empire, and another -1 for attacking an independent Gallia in the first 10 turns (Gallia and Cisalpina start with heightened tribal ferment). That means a 6 has to be rolled, and the chances of succeeding are therefore under 17%.

However, also deserving consideration is what happens after either province is conquered. Both Cisalpina and Magna Graecia are next to ITALIA, meaning conquering either will probably mean a speedy clash with Rome. Magna Graecia has the slight disadvantage that it can be attacked by Macedonia as well as by Rome, although the former is much more likely to be concerned with taking on my Persians. There is also the point that, thanks to tribal ferment, Cisalpina will be harder than Magna Graecia to conquer in the first 10 turns.

All in all, Sicilia is the obvious choice, but the Carthaginians defy the odds and go for Gallia, failing with a roll of 4.

Macedon's conquest of Graecia is the only change from the first decade