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[Game On] Republic of Rome

PolloDiabloPolloDiablo Registered User regular
edited April 2010 in Critical Failures
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.
rorcharts.th.png


And here is the current state of Rome.
republicofromemap.th.png


Faction 1 is Cynic Jester
Faction 2 is Hermenegilde
Faction 3 is desc

PolloDiablo on
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Posts

  • Cynic JesterCynic Jester Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I'm interested. Never played Rome, and I'm always up for some backstabbing goodness.

    Cynic Jester on
  • nefffffffffffnefffffffffff Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I thought this was gonna be a dnd type game set in rome and I got all excited.

    Did a little more reading and boy howdy was I wrong.

    nefffffffffff on
    camo_sig2.png
  • HermenegildeHermenegilde Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I'm adding my interest to this thread :P

    Hermenegilde on
  • BacchusBacchus Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I would like to add my interest.
    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.

    Bacchus on
  • descdesc Goretexing to death Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    So interested in this game!

    So. Interested.

    desc on
  • PolloDiabloPolloDiablo Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Ok, here goes nothing. I'm not sure how much we need images, since the board is just for organizing information anyway. For that matter, I'm not all that certain we even need a gm anymore, since it looks like vassal handles all that on its own. At any rate, we can give it a go and change things if we need to.

    Here are the various charts that you'll be needing throughout the game. I guess I'll put this in the op, too.
    rorcharts.th.png


    And here is the current state of Rome.
    republicofromemapn.th.png

    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.

    PolloDiablo on
  • Cynic JesterCynic Jester Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Sweet. Reading the rules more indepth now.

    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.

    Cynic Jester on
  • HermenegildeHermenegilde Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    3.01.7 - Each player places a faction leader marker on one of his senators, starting with Desc.

    3.01.9 - Each player may play any statesmen or concessions he has in his hand. (again starting with Desc)

    Hermenegilde on
  • descdesc Goretexing to death Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Okay, going to read the rules and get up to speed today, will be able to set up my turn after work.

    desc on
  • DarianDarian Yellow Wizard The PitRegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Sweet. Reading the rules more indepth now.

    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.

    Would this help?

    http://www.boardgamegeek.com/filepage/50562/english-cheat-sheet-v2-valley-games-edition

    Darian on
  • descdesc Goretexing to death Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Okay, reading rules. So for now I'd just declare it if I wanted to attach a concession card to a Senator, we all do so, and then mortality phase?

    desc on
  • HermenegildeHermenegilde Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    3.01.7 - Each player places a faction leader marker on one of his senators, starting with Desc.

    3.01.9 - Each player may play any statesmen or concessions he has in his hand. (again starting with Desc)

    Hermenegilde on
  • PolloDiabloPolloDiablo Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    For this part we don't really need to stick to the turn order. But yeah, you each need to choose a senator to be your leader, then you can assign any concessions you want and play any statesmen you can. Once everyone's finished we go to the mortality phase.

    PolloDiablo on
  • Cynic JesterCynic Jester Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I choose Furus as my leader and play 'Egyptian Grain' on Calpurnius.

    Cynic Jester on
  • HermenegildeHermenegilde Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I choose YOU ! Pikachu !

    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.

    Hermenegilde on
  • descdesc Goretexing to death Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I'll make Julius my faction leader and I'll assign my "Tax Farmer 3" concession to him.

    desc on
  • Cynic JesterCynic Jester Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Hermengilde, that is agreeable.

    Cynic Jester on
  • PolloDiabloPolloDiablo Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Oh, yeah, just two quick notes. First, sorry I missed the question earlier, but no, we'll not be using any advanced rules for now. I like some of them, but I think I'll keep it simple for this game. Maybe if there's another we can add some stuff. Second, there's a rule that public agreements are binding. So feel free to discuss things via PM if you want. You don't need to cc me or anything, since you'll do actions here anyway.

    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:
    republicofromemap.th.png

    PolloDiablo on
  • PolloDiabloPolloDiablo Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Just checking if anyone's still around. This part is pretty simple, even if the rules are complicated. You each have a pool of money that you can divide between your senators and faction treasury however you wish.

    Cynic Jester made 10 talents.
    Hermenegilde made 11 talents.
    Desc made 7 talents.

    PolloDiablo on
  • Cynic JesterCynic Jester Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Oh, right.

    4 to treasury, 2 to each senator.

    Cynic Jester on
  • HermenegildeHermenegilde Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    5 on Macedonicus, 6 in treasury

    Hermenegilde on
  • descdesc Goretexing to death Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Man, I have no sense of what things will cost. Uhh.

    3 in the treasury, 2 to my leader Julius, 1 each to Terentius and Sulpicus.

    desc on
  • PolloDiabloPolloDiablo Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Ok, if anyone wants to donate money to the State, they can do so, otherwise that's it for Revenue, and we're on to the Forum phase. I'll roll for each of you when the time comes, to save time.

    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:
    republicofromemap.th.png

    PolloDiablo on
  • HermenegildeHermenegilde Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    We should think of prosecuting that war as soon as possible.

    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.

    Hermenegilde on
  • descdesc Goretexing to death Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Hermenegilde, that proposal sounds fair to me, and would save us all money rather than bidding when we're all trying to get established. I would approve taking one initiative each.

    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.

    desc on
  • PolloDiabloPolloDiablo Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    For the initiatives, there's no problem with agreeing to divide them, but each faction besides the HRAO's would need to bid 1 talent to get theirs; if there are no bids it just goes to the HRAO.

    And yeah, it's usually a good idea to hit wars early if you can.

    PolloDiablo on
  • HermenegildeHermenegilde Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    We need 3 fleets and at least 5 legions (more is better) to prosecute the war. For the leader, negociations will be in order, I have a 4 and a 5. I just wanted to state my desire to get rid of the draught.

    Sucks regarding the initiatives.

    Right now Desc you must
    - attempt to "persuade a senator" (unlikely)
    - attempt to attract a knight

    Basically, roll 1d6 :P

    Hermenegilde on
  • descdesc Goretexing to death Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Rolling to attract a knight:

    1d6 → [1] = (1)


    Pssh.

    Edit: Not that it matters now, but I was intending to attract a knight to my leader.

    desc on
  • Cynic JesterCynic Jester Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Agreed on the initiatives.

    Rolling to attract a knight on my leader.

    Knight (1d6=3)

    Cynic Jester on
  • HermenegildeHermenegilde Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Did you get a card Cynic ?

    Hermenegilde on
  • Cynic JesterCynic Jester Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Oh, durr

    Cynic Jester on
  • PolloDiabloPolloDiablo Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Oh, that's bad luck. Cynic's card was the Second Illyrian War, which matches the first and will double both their strengths. We're using the Valley Games rules, though, which incorporates "imminent wars." You probably already know this, but just to be clear, that means that the 2nd war won't come into play until next turn. The 1st Illyrian war is Active now.

    Hermenegilde draws Antiochus III, a leader for the Syrian War. You can take your initiative now.

    PolloDiablo on
  • HermenegildeHermenegilde Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Persuade a knight 1d6 = 3

    No knight.
    No games.
    Next !

    Is the strength of the Illyrian war doubled now ?

    Hermenegilde on
  • PolloDiabloPolloDiablo Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    It's not doubled yet. The 2nd war won't go into effect until next turn, so you've got a short window before you're in trouble.

    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?

    PolloDiablo on
  • HermenegildeHermenegilde Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I will not bid on the first one.
    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.

    Hermenegilde on
  • Cynic JesterCynic Jester Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I will bid on the second one. Talent from Furus.

    Cynic Jester on
  • PolloDiabloPolloDiablo Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Ok, that means Desc gets the first one. His card goes to his hand. He can now take his initiative.

    PolloDiablo on
  • descdesc Goretexing to death Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Okay, so everyone gets one of the remaining initiatives. I don't have any money to go around bribing or persuading. Is there really anything else I can do right now except try to attract another knight?

    Skimming back over the cheat sheet and rules now to be sure I'm not missing something.

    desc on
  • PolloDiabloPolloDiablo Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Nope, knights is pretty much it at the moment.

    PolloDiablo on
  • descdesc Goretexing to death Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Can I apply my new card to my leader as it's drawn? If so, I'd like to do that and hopefully loading up one dude with goodies won't turn around and bite me yet. But ... my two assistant senators seem like scrubs.

    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.

    desc on
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