Republic of Rome was an Avalon Hill game released in 1990. For approximately 75 years, Valley Games has been working on an updated edition, and it just recently came out.
Players each control a faction in the Roman Senate during either the Early, Middle, or Late Republican period. Turns are abstracted periods of time, corresponding generally to a few years each. Players need to work together to manage Rome's finances and governence, as well as defending it from wars and expanding its territory. At the same time, they're trying to compete amongst each other for influence and power within the senate. Players can win by amassing enough influence to be elected Consul for Life, or rebelling and seizing power by force. You can't get too greedy or reach too far, though, because if Rome is destroyed, everyone loses.
So mostly it's a game of negotiation and political maneuvering. Keep your friends close, and enemies closer, that kind of thing. It's also the kind of game that makes people hate each other, so luckily we're on the internet and you likely won't be able to punch the other players.
Generally we need 3-6 players, and probably a week or two depending on how quick everything moves.
These are the rules, if you wanted to familiarize yourself with them.
Watch this scene to get a feel for the mood of the game. Wheels within wheels.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwEhs4WJWY4#t=5m58s
I wanted to start it a good ways in, but the auto-embedding didn't like that, so you'll have to copy and paste it yourself. I promise it isn't a rickroll, it's from Rome, which by the way is fantastic and everyone should watch it.
So anyway, post if you're interested in giving it a shot.
Here are the various charts that you'll be needing throughout the game.
And here is the current state of Rome.
Faction 1 is Cynic Jester
Faction 2 is Hermenegilde
Faction 3 is desc
Posts
Did a little more reading and boy howdy was I wrong.
Edit: Never mind. Did a bit more research, looked at the rules, not really something I'd be interested in. Best of luck running the game.
So. Interested.
Here are the various charts that you'll be needing throughout the game. I guess I'll put this in the op, too.
And here is the current state of Rome.
In a minute I'll pm you each your hands, and you're kind of just on the honor system to not look at each others hands. So, uh, don't do that.
Faction 1 is Cynic Jester
Faction 2 is Hermenegilde
Faction 3 is desc
Desc's Terentius family won the draw, so they'll be the temporary consul for the first turn until elections are held. Right now before the game starts you have the option to play any cards from your hand that you wish and you can. Statesmen are played on top of their same numbered family card, but you can play them without having the family so long as no one else does. Once everyone is set, we'll start with the revenue phase.
Are we using any of the advanced rules?
And am I correct in assuming I can play a concession from my hand before the game starts? The rules could really do with some sort of Turn Order reference sheet.
3.01.9 - Each player may play any statesmen or concessions he has in his hand. (again starting with Desc)
Would this help?
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/filepage/50562/english-cheat-sheet-v2-valley-games-edition
Flaminus as house leader.
Play :
- Senator L. Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus
- Concession : Harbor fees on Aemilius Paullus macedonicus
- Concession : Tax Farmer 1 on Flaminus
Cynic Jester, since Desc is getting the Censor this turn, I believe we should split the Consuls between you and I. I'll let you choose which one you want if you agree to let me choose the next time we each have one consul elected.
For mortality, there's a none chit, not that there wasn't a mortality phase.
Mortality Phase: None
Revenue Phase
You each gain the following amounts of money, that you can distribute any way you want between your senators and faction treasury.
Cynic Jester: 3(Faction Leader) + 2(Senators) + 5(Concessions) = 10
Hermenegilde: 3(FL) + 3(S) + 5(C) = 11
Desc: 3(FL) + 2(S) + 2(C) = 7
Rome:
Cynic Jester made 10 talents.
Hermenegilde made 11 talents.
Desc made 7 talents.
4 to treasury, 2 to each senator.
3 in the treasury, 2 to my leader Julius, 1 each to Terentius and Sulpicus.
From the HRAO, which is Desc in this case, you each take an initiative. Then you'll bid for three more iniatives. If nobody wants to bid for an extra one, the HRAO gets them. If I don't roll a 7 for you, you draw a card, then have three choices.
1. Make a Persuasion attempt
2. Attract a Knight
3. Switch Leader and/or Sponser Games
Desc's first initiative drew the 1st Illyrian War, which is inactive for now, but still causes a Drought Effect, as grain shipments are interrupted. This will increase the unrest in Rome.
Current State of Rome:
also, I have a proposal for you both. Since there are three iniatives up for grabs, I propose that we each take one without paying. If you both agree, let it be so.
As for this war pending war -- we don't want more potential wars to start piling up. Having not played RoR before, is this something we ought to be sending one of Senators out to handle immediately? My leader has a military skill of 4.
And yeah, it's usually a good idea to hit wars early if you can.
Sucks regarding the initiatives.
Right now Desc you must
- attempt to "persuade a senator" (unlikely)
- attempt to attract a knight
Basically, roll 1d6 :P
1d6 → [1] = (1)
Pssh.
Edit: Not that it matters now, but I was intending to attract a knight to my leader.
Rolling to attract a knight on my leader.
Knight (1d6=3)
Hermenegilde draws Antiochus III, a leader for the Syrian War. You can take your initiative now.
No knight.
No games.
Next !
Is the strength of the Illyrian war doubled now ?
So now it's down to bidding for the remaining initiatives. You're dividing them equally, right? Cynic and Herm, let me know what senator you want to pay the 1 talent. Who's taking the first of the three initiatives?
I will bid 1 on the second one if the others do not
I will bid 1 on the third one if I didn't get the second one.
Talent coming from my senator who has some.
Skimming back over the cheat sheet and rules now to be sure I'm not missing something.
1. [strike]Apply my new concession card to my leader.[/strike]
2. Spend his two talents to add to my knight attraction roll for himself: 1d6+2 → [4,2] = (6)
Hang on, invisiblecastle keeps giving me errors when I try to roll. I'll give it a minute and try again.
Edit: Now it's working. I don't get it.