Kill Emperor Lucky

Once upon a time, before the lockdown, Time Of Crisis was a regular here at GNN. It had been given the opportunity that other games had deserved but never attained: a chance for a regular core of players to really get an understanding of how a game works. How it ebbs and flows, its winning strategy and its dead ends.

And now (well, last Sunday, actually. Soz for the delay in the write-up), in 2023, we returned to Ancient Rome. It wasn't easy. A lengthy email exchange resulted in a date for Martin, Joe, Ian and I to battle over the laurel wreath once more. But then Joe dropped out and Sam stepped in. And if that wasn't enough, on the evening in question, I drove to Sam's and spent fifteen minutes looking for a parking space. It literally would've been quicker to walk.

Late start notwithstanding, the four of us leapt back into the past. Our starting positions were Gallia (Sam), Pannonia (Ian), Macedonia (Martin), and lastly, with all the prime real estate taken, I chose Africa, half hoping for some points off barbarians.

After that, Sam took Britannia, Ian expanded into Hispania , Martin into Asia and I took Aegyptus. This turned out to be a good move since it remained untouched for the entire game - a very low maintenance territory.

During this period of map sharing, a rival emperor, Postumus, popped up in Gallia. And so, on his turn, Sam attacked and killed him but Postumus killed off Sam's army in the battle. The rest of us built things. Ian and Martin chose Basilicas while I had Nomads on my southern border so I made a Limes.

Sam then rolled a crisis roll that sent Sassanids into Galatia while he set up camp in Syria, a territory famed for having a death wish but in this game was completely serene. Ian took Thracia, leaving Pannonia almost undefended. Then Martin became Emperor! And as you can guess from the blog title, he'd stay there for some time.  I accidentally sent Sassanids into Syria and then paid tribute to the Nomads who had recently invaded me and got voted into Galatia.

In the next round, the first under Emperor Martin's rule, no one was in a position to challenge him. Sam reinforced Syria, Ian stole Galatia from me and failed to attack Martin in Asia. Martin reinforced his fragile Roman battalion and then failed to beat Ian's wounded army in Asia. I defeat the Nomads in Africa and fail to win an election in Pannonia.

Sam began the next round with plenty of blue cards but little confidence that he could unseat Martin in Rome. Instead he took Thracia from the emperor, weakening his hold on the senate. Ian couldn't capitalise, but did take Asia, giving him four territories and Martin only two. Martin retook Asia and I built a basilica in Africa and took Galatia from Ian. I know I should've attacked Martin but that was my easiest option.

Sam sent his army from Gallia into Italia but couldn't defeat Martin. Even so, he tried to get voted into Rome and just failed. Martin’s grip on power was looking weak, but Ian didn't know whether to use all his blue points to win in Rome or to win an easy election in another province first and become an absurdly powerful emperor. He took Gallia from Sam but then failed to win in Rome, rolling four 1s. Heartbreaking. Not for Martin, though, who then took Pannonia from Ian. I moved my army across the sea from Africa to Italia and defeat Martin in battle but I didn't have enough blues to win an election there, so instead I unseated Martin in Asia, even though I knew I would lose it immediately.

Surely Martin couldn't last another round. We could hardly believe he survived the last one. But Sam had “the most boring turn in the world” where he bought a general and boosted Thracia. It was so dull that I had been distracted during his turn and, looking at the board afterwards, couldn’t see if he’d done anything and I had to ask. Ian won an election in the now-neutral Asia and finally beat Martin in Rome. A new emperor! But then Martin is quickly recrowned after he defeated my army still sat in Italia in remarkable circumstances. He rolled two hits so I needed three hits from my two dice. I rolled two 6s! Hope! But then I rolled two misses and, thanks to Martin’s cavalry, attackers won ties. On my turn I retaliated immediately but it’s another draw (2-2) and I didn't have a cavalry to back me up.

Asia was now a “shit show,” hosting 3 Goths and 3 Sassanids. Meanwhile, Sam was voted back in Gallia and sent a new army into Italia where he defeated Martin and became a new emperor. At Level 5! Ian, by contrast, was down to his last territory: the aforementioned “shit show” Asia. 

He boosted it to hang onto it and then won an election in Gallia, even though he promptly lsot it again. Martin’s hand was a paltry 2 blue, 1 red, 2 yellow and all he does is take Pannonia from me and then had to take a while to look though his huge deck of cards to prepare his next hand. I have 2B 1R 3Y which doesn’t look promising but I attacked and defeated Sam in Italia, boosted popularity elsewhere and then get voted into Italia. It’s my turn to be emperor!

It feels a lot like the last round. Martin’s score is hovering in the 50s and we’ve no doubt he’s loaded his most powerful cards. Sam could only win elections in two neutral territories: Gallia and Thracia. He built in Britannia and then, in a neatly spiteful move, he chucked a mob into Martin’s Pannonia. Ian rolled a double six for his crisis roll, so he, Martin and I all got an extra card. His hand was10R, 5B, 2Y and, in a huge turn, he became a level 4 emperor. But Martin had a reply: 9R, 6B, 2Y. He took Pannonia off Ian again and then brushed my army aside in Italia (I roll 1-1) and he ended his turn needing one vote to become emperor again with four dice. 

Easy. In my final round I don’t get to be emperor but I do nab some points from territories and barbarians.

It’s over. After a comparatively speedy two and a half hours, it ended...

Martin 79

Andrew 61

Ian 59

Sam 53

Everyone got to be emperor but Martin’s initial reign, where he admits he got some king-sized slices of luck, was pivotal. No one could catch him after that.

Nice to get it back on the table again. I had to dash after we’d finished but the other three played on into the night: Ian won Chicken

And then they got 10 out of 18 in So Clover...

Thanks all. Sorry it took a while to get this written up. See you all soon.

Sam's huge homegrown apple

One king to rule us all

If a blue moon can be defined as the second full moon in a calendar month, then this Saturday saw an even rarer phenomena: a blue Time of Crisis. We had met only a few weeks earlier but a sudden window in Martin’s schedule gave us a chance for a quick return. Too quick for Joe, however, and with Sam unable to stand in, Adam T stepped up to the plate. He had some experience with the base game, so it was only a matter of explaining the rules regarding the expansion before we were on our way.

We started the game with Martin in Gallia, Ian in Pannonia, me in Africa and Adam in Macedonia.

Just like last time, the first crisis roll sent a sassanid into Galatia. We chuckled at the curious coincidence. Little did we know that the sassanids were by no means finished with us. Anyway, things get convoluted early on, so I'm adding a little formatting to make things more readable.

Meanwhile Martin (3B 2R) took Hispania. Ian (3B 2R) rolled a new sassanid and took Thracia. I (2Y 3B) rolled a second Sassanid and took Syria and boosted its support. Adam rolled a third Sassanid and sent them all onto the board: two into Galatia and one more to Asia. He then took Egypt. “The Sassanids are winning,” observed Ian.

In round two, Martin (3Y 2R) hired a general and built a basilica in Hispania. Ian (3Y 3R) built and army in Thracia and a basilica in Pannonia. I (3Y 3R) built an army in Syria and a basilica in Africa. Adam (3R 3Y) built an a Limes in Egypt and a second army there. “Right,” said Martin, “that’s the set-up done with.”

So, round three went like this. Martin (3B 1R 2Y) took Britannia and put an army in there and boosted Gallia before buying a very important Foederati card. Ian (3B 2R) sent a goth into Galatia to join the three sassanids already there and then moved his army from Thracia into Asia to attack the lone sassanid there, but could only draw 0-0. Deprived of the chance of taking it over, he consoled himself by buying a 3 governor instead. I (3R 2Y) boosted support in Africa and then bought a governor. Adam (3B 2R) sent three Allamani into Ian’s Pannonia and then he reinforced his second army in Egypt. He also did something else I didn’t note. Bought a governor?

Anyway, round four began with Martin becoming Emperor. He (4B 3R 2Y) bought a new army in Gaul, feoderatied a Frank into it and them moved it into Italia. With his blue points, a basilica and an Ambitus card he had enough to become Emperor of a handsome four-province empire. We had to attack. Ian (3B 4Y) got himself voted into Martin’s Hispania. I had 3R and 3B so I sent my African army up to Britannia to attack him there, but lost. Still needing to weaken him, I tried to get voted in their too, but lost again. A poor move. Adam sent an Alammani into Thracia and then revealed his cards - 6R 2B. “I’ve gone a bit fighty,” he admitted. But he didn’t fight Martin, preferring to reinforce his 2nd Egyptian legion and sent it into Galatia, defeated the Goth there, tributed the sassanids and got himself voted in.

Martin 20, Adam 15, Ian 13, Andrew 11

In round five Emperor Martin found himself in a lucky situation. He had a weak hand (2R 2Y 1B) but thanks to the Sassanids making Galatia and Asia difficult to rule, the usual situation of having one or two rivals with three healthy regions didn’t apply here. In his turn, he got voted back into Hispania and boosted support and then reinforced his legion in Britannia. Ian triggered an event: Bad Augeries: A dire situation with his Pannonia full of Alammani. He reinforced his legion in Thracia and pluckily took on the three Alammani. He lost, 0-3, so had to boost support there. He then beat the lone alammani in Thracia. I (2B 2R 3Y) sent three sassanids into my own Syria and then got voted into Asia and boosted support there, and then reinforced my army in Syria, tributing the barbarians there. Adam (2Y 2B 2R) beat the sassanids in Galatia, 2-1.

Martin 29, Adam 23, Ian 19, Andrew 15

Martin noted he had been untouched in the previous round despite his weak hand. Ominously, he then said “Now I get the chance to be a bastard.” He (4R 5B 5Y) used a Demagogue to force us all to discard a card and if we chose to lose a level 1 card, he could hit us with a mob. In the end, only Adam did that, so a mob went into Macedonia. He then hired a governor, sent his army from HIspania into Egypt where it lost to Adam. He attacked me in Britannia but again those two armies drew. He then failed to get voted into my Asia, so he boosted support in Britannia and in an audacious move, a thematically accurate insult to the rest of us, he built a useless amphitheatre in Italia.

Ian (4R 2Y) sent a sassanid into Egypt. He took his Pannonian army into Gallia to kill of Martin’s remaining Militia there, and then boosted support in Pannonia. I ask for an event before I rolled my crisis roll and I got one! Bad Auguries was gone, much to my relief. Instead, Postumus joined us. A rival emperor who would hopefully stop Martin better than any of us were doing. My hand was 2R 3B 2Y which allowed me to foederati a Sassanid into my Syrian army, and then battled them. Thanks to my cavalry I won, despite only drawing 1-1. I then hired a new governor and boosted support in Asia. Adam (4B 4R) Foederatied a nomad into his Egyptian army and beat Martin 2-1. With no yellow points, Macedonia was bound to fall to the mob that Martin had put there, so he sent his Macedonian army across the map into Hispania and got voted in there instead.

Martin 37, Adam 32, Ian 24, Andrew 24

Round seven began with Martin (7R 2Y 3B) in an unassailable position. He was voted into neutral Macedonia and my Asia to boost his support in Rome to five! He built a new army in Gallia and Feoderatied a Frank into it, and then killed Postumus with a spiculum. Finally he built an army in Macedonia. Ian (3B 4Y) was voted back into Gallia and boosted support there, and also boosted support in Pannonia which was still troubled by Alammani. I (2R 4B) should have gone after Martin somehow but by this time it would have only hurt myself. So instead I turned against my nearest rival and got myself voted into Ian’s Pannonia and tributed the barbarians there. And I built an army in Africa. Adam (1R 6Y) boosted Egypt and Hispania, put a militia in Egypt and sent a mob into Martin’s Macedonia. Finally, he killed the Sassanids in Egypt.

Martin 54 Adam 40 Andrew 29 Ian 28

Round eight and obviously the final round saw Martin play another weak hand (2R 2Y 1B) but by then it barely mattered. He sent more barbarians onto the board, though: 3 Franks into my Pannonia and one kept going into Italia. Martin killed that Frank, and then dispersed the mob in Macedonia. He drew against my wounded legion in Britannia as we both rolled ones. He passed sixty points and the game end was triggered.

Ian (1Y 6R) sent the Priest King into Syria with his crisis roll and then he reinforced his army in Gallia, sent it into Pannonia to attack the Franks. He lost 2-3. His Asian army attacked the sassanids and at least killed them. I (1B 3Y 3R) rolled Good Auguries for my event, which was nice. I killed the Priest King, win a battle in Egypt (only displacing Adam’s army, not wiping them out) but then I failed to get voted in there. I boosted Pannonia, just to hang onto it for one last round. Adam sent sassanids into Galatia and Asia again, meaning they pretty much ended as they began. Meanwhile he (2R 4B) Fought and beat the Sassanids in Galatia, although thanks to Ian suddenly rolling high numbers, they did a lot of damage as they died. Then he fought my wounded legion in Egypt - a 0-0 draw and I must say I was grateful for the points I gained this game by drawing battles with wounded legions. A new strategy perhaps? Finally Adam was voted into Gallia.

The score track of Emperor turns.

Martin 74, Adam 51, Andrew 40, Ian 33

We were finished in barely two hours. Ian was disconsolate, believing it to be his lowest ever score (I checked - it was). I was keen to set off early to try and beat the crowds of a nearby festival that was happening this evening. Ian came along with me, leaving Adam and Martin to play out the evening with some two-player options. Sorry to dash, but the traffic was already appalling and I think we made the right choice. Thanks for hosting, Martin and thanks for the beef jerky.

Sometimes you get what you ask for

With Ian away giving his dad whiskey for breakfast or something, super-sub Sam stepped in to make up our regular foursome. He wasn’t on top form, however, having recently spent some quality time with the toilet for reasons he couldn’t fathom. Joe drove us to Martin’s house where we set up with the easy familiarity that you might expect after two years. Previous leader Joe omoniously predicted that he was in for “a big loss”. We rolled to see who’d start and three of us rolled nines. I was the only one to roll a nine after that, so I began.

I started in Gallia, Sam in Pannonia, Martin in Macedonia and Joe in Thracia.

In round one we all went two red, three blue and took identical options. But before that, the very first crisis roll sent a Sassanid onto the board, into Galatia. I think that’s the first time that a barbarian made a move before a human did.

I took Hispania, Sam took Britannia, Martin took Africa and Joe (after a second Sassanid went into Syria) took Asia.

In round two I hired a general and built a basilica in Hispania. Sam did the same, putting his building in Britannia. But by now every barbarian had a least one active tribe on our borders. Then Martin sent a Nomad into his own Africa. He had to kill it off, meaning he couldn’t hire a general, but he still built a Basilica in Macedonia. Joe hired a general and built a Limes in Thracia.

In round three I got voted into Syria and tributed the Sassanid there. Sam sent a Nomad into unoccupied Aegyptus and was then voted in there, tributing the Nomad. Martin said “I’m buggered unless I roll Pax Deorum,” at which point he rolled 1-1. The exact opposite of what he needed as new barbarians appeared on our borders.

However, Martin’s pessimism with his 4B 2R hand was unjustified as he moved his army from Africa to Italia, meaning he needed just three votes to unseat the neutral emperor. He hired a governor and still had two blue points left over and a Basilica: three votes! He was the game’s first emperor at 8.27pm.

Joe began his dalliance with bad luck tonight by sending three Alamanni from their homelands into his own Thracia. They were placated by a Limes, but it was still an unwelcome invasion. Meanwhile, he got voted into Emperor Martin’s undefended Africa and then Tributed the Nomad in Sam’s Africa for “unspecified favours” in the future.

The scores now were Martin 15, Andrew 9, Sam 9, Joe 9

In round four I added a legion to Syria and killed the Sassanid there. My plan at the time was to rack up points by building a super army in the east and wander around, killing barbarians, since that seemed to be the way the game was going. And I built a Limes in Gallia.

Sam sent two more Goths into Joe’s already over-populated Thracia. Plus, Sam had a hand of nine blue points which was ample to unseat Martin and become Emperor at 8.39. It was a short lived reign as Martin’s “rainbow hand” (3R 3B 3Y) allowed him straight back into the senate again as the Emperor of a very small empire (Just Italia and Macedonia), and he built a second army in Macedonia. But not before his crisis roll had put a third Goth into Thracia. Joe was not reassured by the fact that it was now impossible for another barbarian to invade because Thracia was full.

Joe, meanwhile, had things to do. With 5R and 2Y he added a legion in Thracia, attacked the Allamani and wiped them out, but got three hits in reply losing his militia and wounding both legions. He healed one legion and used a Forced March to attack the Goths. They won, two hits to Joe’s one but were still inactive thanks to Joe’s Limes. Then he boosted support in Africa.

Martin 20, Joe 18, Andrew 17, Sam 16

Round five saw an Alamanni go into Sam’s Pannonia. I foederatied the Nomad in Aegyptus into my Syrian army and then moved it up to Galatia, beating the Sassanid there for points. I then had enough blue points that I was able to buy my level five governor! And had enough left over to get voted into Galatia. I was feeling good about my position with four territories: Hispania, Gallia, Galatia and the undefended Syria. But I’d been here before and seen it all go wrong so I wasn’t about to get carried away.

Sam then sent three Franks into his own Britannia. This caused a quandry. Which should he save? Britannia or Pannonia? And with only 2Y 3R to do it. HIs response was neat and efficient. He attacked and beat the Alamanni in Pannonia, boosted support in Britannia and added a legion there in preparation for the battle to come.

Emperor Martin finally rolled a seven for the crisis roll. The first of the game! “Posthumus. Fuck.” said Martin as he drew himself a rival emperor. It went into my Gallia which at first was annoying but then I thought it might be useful to keep him alive to stop Martin getting any more Emperor turns. Martin 92R 2B 1Y) moved his army from Macedonia to my Syria and got voted in there.

Joe (4B 3R) took his army from Africa to Italia and fought Martin there, losing 2-1. He then bought a level four governor before ending his “desperately shit turn.”

Martin 28, Andrew 26, Sam 23, Joe 22

Round six began with me rolling another 1-1 crisis roll. Ira Deorum! Barbarians appeared on all borders again. With my 2Y 2B 4R I added legions to Hispania and Gallia, bought a level two governor and boosted support in Gallia which then fell back down thanks to Postumus. A quite round, but deliberately so. I had plans.

Sam’s crisis roll sent four goths onto the board: three into Joe’s Asia and one carried on into Martin’s Macedonia. He (4R 2Y 3B) used his Spiculum to wipe out the remaining Franks in Britannia, and then boosted support in Pannonia. He tried to get voted into Joe’s undefended Africa, needing four votes with three dice, but only got three votes. Then, to fulfil his earlier promise of “unspecified favours,” he tributed the Goths in Joe’s Asia.

Emperor Martin moved his army from Macedonia into Thracia and attacked Joe, wiping him out. He was then voted in there too, and boosted support there for good measure. He was now hosting barbarians in both Macedonia and Thracia. A perilous situation.

And one that instantly got worse as Joe’s crisis roll sent three Alamanni into Martin’s Thracia. Joe moved his army from Asia into Martin’s Macedonia and beat the remaining militia. He used his Forced March to attack the Goth tribe there as well, but failed. His entire military force currently consisted of one wounded legion. Not to be downhearted, he got voted into Macedonia, only to see his Asia go neutral.

Martin 38, Sam 32, Andrew 31, Joe 27

In round seven, I pounced. I figured that everyone had barbarian issues that’ll distract them, so I used my 4R 5B hand to go for Rome. First, my army went from Hispania into Italia and defeated Martin’s wounded legion. Then my army in Gallia beat Postumus. I got myself voted into Asia, tibuting the Goths there, and then finally into Rome as a level five emperor, needing twelve votes if anyone wanted to unseat me! I was even able to buy two level four cards in one go. I had never experienced such riches. It was only 9.40 but Martin was already predicting my certain victory.

Sam (7B 3R) killed some more Franks in Britannia, got voted into my Hispania and added a legion in Pannonia. I later found out that he had been planning on unseating Martin in Rome on that turn. Good job I got there in time.

Martin, with armies in Thracia and Syria, is too far away to do me any real damage and still save himself. He had 3R 3Y 2B so he added a legion in Thracia, beat the Goths there and then got himself voted into Asia after turning it neutral with a Mobile Vulgus. He then boosted support there.

Joe (4R 3B) built an army in Africa, sent it into Italia where it was promptly wiped out by my army stationed there. He then lost an election in Sam’s Hispania. Sadly, only the most recent in a long list of misfortunes to befall him this night.

Andrew 49, Martin 46, Sam 42, Joe 30

At the start of round eight, with my eye on hitting sixty points, I opined out loud that “I’d quite like a Pax Deorum.” I then consequently rolled a 6-6. I added a four red to my hand to make 9R 4B 3Y. I healed and reinforced my army in Italia. I sent my Gallian army into the Franks homeland and beat the barbarian there. Got voted into Hispania and then sent my army from Galatia into Asia, hoping to beat the Goths there, but lost. That last battle was just a flourish since, by then, I’d got past sixty points. Still, it would’ve been nice. I triggered the end of the game at only 10.05pm.

Sam (7B 3R) failed in his attempt to win an election in Hispania but succeeded in Gallia. In a final push for points he sent his three-legion army from Britannia into the Sahara to attack the four barbarians who’d been sitting there doing nothing for most of the game. But the battle ended in a 2-2 draw and he came away empty handed.

The Nomads, once again, massed on the borders seemingly happy to watch

Martin (1Y 3B 6R) rolled an event and drew Bad Augeries from the deck. Roman legions now needed to roll one higher in order to hit. “That’s not what I needed,” he sighed. He charged into Italia with a Spiculum, but it wasn’t as effective as Sam’s was and it does only one hit. In the following battle, I won 2-1. Lastly, my Hispania survived another election, when Martin rolled only 5-1-1.

Lastly Joe, (1B 5R 5Y) healed his legion in Macedonia and killed the Goth there. He built an army in Africa and bravely sent it into Nomadland where it was promptly killed by the remaining two barbarians. Then it was his turn to not get voted into Hispania as my undefended territory seemed to have a charmed life in this final round. Then, just for style, he built an amphitheatre.

Andrew 74
Martin 59
Sam 51
Joe 37

My first win in over two years (and that was a three-player game) and quite a relief. I was kind of lucky in that barbarians mostly didn't attack me but, then again, with a hand full of foederaties and red points, I had initially wanted them too. Plus, Joe had appalling luck with the dice and Martin was screwed by the only two events we had in the whole game. Postumus was especially damaging to him. And that Pax Deorum was absurdly lucky for me.

After this we played Polterfass, a game which Sam mentioned that he’d finished in minus figures last time he’d played. And, mid-game, his pessimism seemed justified as he lay on eight points, thirty-one behind the then leader Joe. He fumed good-naturedly at our choice of rerolling when he was convinced we were about the stick, making a mockery of his low bet.

But halfway through, the tide turned and he began picking up points. Martin, though, was looking set for the win when we luckily bid nine between us when he stuck on nine barrels. Then, once again, luck shone on me. My first roll was a measly Seven barrel. They made their bids but I figured in order to win, I’d have to go big, so I rolled again.

I got this.

I stuck, and ended up scoring twenty-five points that round, pushing me into an unlikely first.

Andrew 77
Martin 75
Sam 45
Joe 45

Thanks everyone. What an evening. I may never see its like again.

Time of Crispies

This month’s jaunt across ancient Europe was remarkable for a number of things. Mostly because of Joe’s choice of crisps: Paprika flavoured and very nice, but in a bag the size of a small pillow with the words “XXL” proudly blazened across the top. While other people’s snacks filled the communal bowl once, Joe’s crisps filled it twice and then still had enough for an encore of about two-thirds.

That’s the important news covered: what about the fates of man?

Well, Joe set himself up in Pannonia, Martin in Gallia, Ian in Hispania and me in Macedonia. Joe put a sassanid in Galatia and then took Britannia in his first move. “Coming round my backside?” Martin noted. Joe made no comment. Martin took Asia. Ian rolled a Pax Deorum and grumbled that they weren’t much use so early on. He took Africa and used the extra red card to hire a slightly more expensive general. I went my usual off-piste path of 3B 2Y but had a 1R thanks to Pax. I took Thracia and hired a general.

In round two Joe’s harrowing past experiences in Pannonia prompted him to build a Limes there, and then he reinforced both of his armies. Martin built a Basilica in Asia and hired governors and generals. Ian built a Limes in Africa, mindful of the Nomads already appearing on his horizon. Then he hired a new general and put him in Hispania. My crisis roll sent two Franks into Martin’s Gallia. Meanwhile I built and army in Thracia, boosted support in Macedonia and hired a governor.

Round three, and a Goth joined my in Thracia. Joe hired a governor and got voted into Syria, despite the Sassanids (so often the bane of our lives) massing on the border. Martin had 3B, 2Y and 1R. He moved his army into Italia and with his Basilica and his vote-giving yellow card (Ambitus) he had five votes and took his seat as an early emperor. It was 8.40 and we hadn’t even opened our first bag of crisps yet. Ian got voted into Egypt, moving his army from Africa to Egypt anf then boosting support in the now army-free Africa. I took a pop at Emperor Martin in Asia but failed, and then got voted into Syria.

Scores so far: Martin 14, Joe 9, Ian 9, Andrew 7

Round four was a quiet one: Joe took his army from Britannia to Gallia and beat Martin’s lone Militia there. Martin boosted his support in Gallia, healed his legion in Asia and attacked me there and won. Ian hired a governor and was voted into Gallia, where he then boosted support. I rolled another Pax Deorum, which helped me deal with those pesky Goths in Thracia. I built an army there and killed them and then boosted support in Syria.

Round five started with Ardashir joining his Sassanid brethren. Joe moved an army from Gallia to Italia and beat Martin. He now only needed one vote to be Emperor and he had 5B points to do it. But surely he didn’t need all five. How many should he use? Just one? Four? In the end he went for two dice, and all he had to do was avoid 1-1. He rolled. The first dice stopped rolling almost immediately on a one. Joe flinched and we held our breath as the second dice continued its journey across the table. Finally it came to rest: a three. Joe had done it! He became a Populace Emperor in Pannonia, cashing in on his level three support there.

Martin was voted into Joe’s Britannia, built an army in Asia, moved it into Galatia and tributed the lone Sassanid there. Then he killed the Sassanid before building an army in Britannia. Ian built an army in Africa and boosted support in Gallia and Hispania. I built an army in Syria and reinforced it before failing to get voted into Galatia.

In round six Joe sent a flood of five Sassanids with two (two!) barbarian leaders onto the board with his crisis roll. But did they go to Martin’s Galatia and Asia which were only defended by one wounded legion each? No, they went south, to my Syria and Ian’s Egypt that were both defended by two fully fit legions each. Foolish Sassanids. Meanwhile, Emperor Joe got voted into Gallia and put an army there. Martin healed his two wounded legions and bought a governor.

Ian (4R 9Y) now became a Pretender Emperor! His first ever! But then power went to his head as he realised he might actually be able to become real Emperor. He killed off the Sassanids in Egypt, used his Vulgus card to turn Joe’s Gallia neutral. Then just needed to get voted into Rome with his Pretorian guard. Unfortunately two ones among his dice meant he failed. It would’ve been a perfect plan. After all that excitement, I added a legion to my Syrian army and then foederatied a Sassanid into my ranks, in preparation for my big battle against two barbarian leaders next turn. And I got voted into Gallia where I boosted my support.

Round seven: Emperor Joe got voted into Gallia, beat the Franks that had been there since the start of the game, and then boosted support in Pannonia to an eye-watering fourth level, perfect for a populace emperor such as him: eight points for being emperor.

Martin went on the warpath. He foederatied a Sassinaid into his Galatian army and then sent it across the map into Italia to fight Joe. He had Flanking Manoeuvre and Force March cards in his hand so surely he had a chance. Alas, Joe was spoiling for a fight and rolled 6-6-6 in the first battle, and then 6-6-6-6-4 in the second. Despite being evenly matched, Martin was wiped out while Joe only lost one barbarian legion. “You utter bastard,” declared Martin while devising a new title for our current Emperor: Cuntus Maximus. Martin tried to get voted into Rome anyway, but failed.

Ian tributed the Nomads in Egypt after failing to kill them and then failed to get voted into Rome, needing 4 votes from 3 dice, rolling 3-1-1. I killed the two leaders in Syria and then got myself voted into Rome! However, Joe’s army and Ian’s pretender empire weakened me immediately and I only got four points for my troubles.

Scores so far: Joe 51, Martin 38, Ian 34, Andrew 28

The start of round eight saw Joe poised just nine points from victory and with ample resources to do it, too. I was worried about getting lapped. Joe rolled a Pax Deorum, which was a stroke of luck for all of us. Then Joe neutralised my Thracia with a Mobile Vulgus and got voted back into Rome. Of course he was a populace emperor in Pannonia for a cool eight point bonus. And he still had 6R points left! He killed Alammani in Pannonia and then reinforced in Italia and Gallia.

Martin, in his last turn, got voted into Rome but couldn’t unseat Ian in Africa to topple his pretender empire. Ian found some Nomads turning up in Egypt and killed them for points. Then did the same in Africa and then got voted into Rome with a very Ian roll: 2-2-1. The very least he could have rolled and succeeded. He became a populace emperor in Hispania and this turn saw him go from 34 points to 56 in one turn.

My turn was bound to be an anticlimax but was pretty fruitful all the same. My Syrian army, with the blood of fallen barbarian leaders still fresh on their faces, went to Hispania and killed Ian there with a Spiculum softening up Ian’s defences beforehand. Then I got voted into Hispania, turning the Emperor neutral on level one so it was a mere formality to become emperor right at the end.

Joe 74
Ian 62
Martin 55
Andrew 47

Another epic saga. Joe rode his luck (or, more exactly, our bad luck) and my last place was never in doubt, despite me being emperor twice. Ian’s second place was well deserved and, with a little more luck, things could’ve been very different. If he’d become Emperor in round six Joe’s victory would've been far less assured.

Then we ended with The Mind. Would we be able to get back in sync after hours of being at loggerheads? No, not really. We failed by round six or seven, constantly treading on each other’s mental toes. Notably, I should've guessed what one of cards was after Joe took a photo of his hand in round two. His first card was a 37 and if I'd stopped to think about it, I might have worked out that his other was 73 - which it was and which is why Joe thought it worth a photo.

Cheers for the evening everyone.

Roman Free Europe

There are some things that aren't meant to be understood by mere mortals. Only the gods are privy to the secrets of the universe: what happened to the crew of the Marie Celeste? Why did the society on Easter Island fail? And how did four seasoned gamers end a game of Time Of Crisis with six neutral provinces on the board. It is a tale of broken dreams and savage luck. And a certain amount of dickishness.

Joe was absent this month but our substitute Crisistian, Sam, was able to join me, Martin and Ian. We began a little after eight, once Sam had been given a rules refresher and got someway back up to speed.

Ian was first to go and he chose Gallia as his starting province. I chose Pannonia, Martin occupied his favourite Macedonia and Sam said he'd "hide over here," in Africa. In round one, we all played two red, three blue and got ourselves an extra province. Ian got Hispania, I took Thracia, Martin invaded Asia and Sam moved east into Egyptus.

So far, so totally normal, apart from a lone Frank moving into Britannia.

Round two, and at the start of Ian's turn, a Goth moved into Asia. Otherwise it was business as usual, as Ian (3Y 3R) built a Basilica in Gallia, hired and placed a new General in Gallia and drew himself an "interesting" hand for the next round.

I (3Y 3R) kind of copied Ian, building a Limes in Pannonia and an new army there too. And another Frank went to Britain. Martin (3Y 2B 2R) was able to tribute the Goth in his Asia thanks to an earlier Pax Deorum. He then built a Basilica in Macedonia and hired a new governor and General. Sam (3Y 3B) built a Limes in Africa and hired his level three governor.

Round three saw the results of Ian's "interesting" choice of cards. Seven blue. In the end, after a few false starts and admitting he hadn't really thought it through, he hired his two and three governors and tributed the Franks in Britannia. I sent another Frank onto the map, this time into Gallia. Then, for my move (3B 3R) I moved my spare army from Pannonia into Galatia and hired and placed a governor there. The neutral emperor was weak now, just on level two, so it was easy for Martin (3B 3R) to kill the Goths in Asia and become Emperor, leaping into an early lead. Sam (2B 3R) took Syria with his governor and then built an army there.

Martin 15, Sam 9, Andrew 9, Ian 9

Ian sent an Alamanni into my Thracia, and then (2Y 3R) attacked the Frank in Gallia. He lost, with no sides getting a hit (Ian rolled 1-1). He tried again with his other army and won. Then he moved an army into Italia. With none of us seemingly able to attack Emperor Martin, I was delighted to see the Priest King of Emesa turn up in Syria. Sam was less enamoured, but it looked like stopping Martin from getting another Emperor turn. I (2Y 3R) tried to attack the Allamani in Pannonia and lost (I rolled a 1-1 and Ian asked me to stop copying him) so I moved my army from Thracia into Pannonia, fought, won and then boosted support back in Thracia. Martin’s 2B was useless, but he boosted Macedonia with 2Y and added a legion to his army in Italia with his 2R.

Sam (7B) hired a governor, a generously paid tribute to the Alamanni in my Thracia, ignoring Ian’s plight in Britannia. Then, after deciding he’d never get into Rome, he decided to get voted into my Thracia instead. Ian expressed thanks that Sam hadn’t helped him in Britannia after all. Meanwhile Syria was lost to the Priest King.

Martin 21, Ian 16, Andrew 16, Sam 13

Round four: Ian (2B 6Y) was able to tribute the Franks in Britannia and then used his Mobile Vulgus to force Macedonia to turn neutral. He then chucked a mob in Martin’s Italia. Finally, in a perfect example of Ian’s own brand of defeatist optimism, he decided he may as well try to get voted into Rome. He needed four votes from 3 dice and he got three.

On my crisis roll, Ardashir arrived among the Sassanids slowly building up on the Syrian border. Then I (6B 4R) reinforced my army in Galatia, moved it into Syria and took down the Priest King. I then used my blues to get voted into Rome! Emperor Me!

Martin, though, had 4B 2R 2Y and two spare governors. He was voted back into Macedonia with one blue and boosted support there, and then strode straight back into Rome. I did a passable impersonation of Theresa May as my governor was handed back to me.

Sam (3R 2Y) moved his African army into the Nomad heartlands to attack the barbarians there, but was wiped out. With his last red point, he put the general back on the board in Africa with a legion. And he boosted support in Thracia.

Martin 28, Andrew 24, Ian 20, Sam 17

Round five and Ian’s crisis roll was a crisis indeed. Three sassanids (including Ardashir, their leader) piled into my undefended Galatia, and a fourth carried on into Asia. Ian stared at the board with little hope for the future. He was especially bitter about the army he’d moved into Italia in some now-forgotten plan of world domination. He used his 3R, 3B to move that unused army from Italia into Thracia where it killed the barbarians there and then got voted in there.

I had 3R 3B and moved my army from Pannonia into Macedonia to attack the Emperor in his homeland. And I won, with my legions rolling 6-6, getting voted in too. But then I lost Galatia to the Sassanid hordes. Martin (3B 3Y 2R) attacked the Sassanid in Asia and won. Then he got voted into Britannia, tributed the Franks there and boosted support too, just for good measure. Sam (3R 3B 5Y) was all about Syria this turn. He got voted back in (clearly on the promise of plenty of public spending) then built a basilica there, added a legion and a militia there and then attacked my wounded army who were still there. It was a draw. Another less-than-productive turn but at least Syria looked more presentable now.

Round six, Ian’s crisis roll put Cniva on the board along with his Goth friends. Meanwhile Ian (4B 3Y) used Mobile Vulgus to turn Martin’s Asia neutral, weakening the Emperor enough to get voted into Rome, getting six votes with five dice.

My crisis roll was Ira Deorum, so now Cniva had even more Goth friends to hang out with. I did very little with my 3Y, 2R and useless 2B: I added a legion in Macedonia and boosted support there, mentally flicking the Vs to Martin as I did so. Martin rolled the Goths onto the board with his crisis roll: three of them joined the Sassanid hordes in neutral Galatia and the fourth carried on into Sam’s Syria. Galatia was no pretty much a no-go area, with two barbarian leaders commanding two barbarian legions each. That’s eight dice lined up against anyone who fancied having a pop.

Meanwhile, on the board Martin (4B 4R and I think 1Y) only had one governor on the board and that was surrounded by the Franks in Britannia. He moved his now unseated army from Macedonia to Thracia and foederatied a Goth into it. Then he killed Ian’s army, got voted in with one blue and then became Emperor again with three blue points. Sam (1R 4B maybe?) killed the Goth in Syria, and was voted into now neutral Britannia, paying tribute to the Franks who’d been there so long they were starting to lose their French accents.

Martin 45, Andrew 36, Ian 35, Sam 31

Round seven: Ian (8R 3Y) built a new army in Gallia, reinforcing twice and moving it into Italia where it fought Martin’s two-legion army there and, despite a flanking maneuver, lost. So he built a basilica in Hispania. I roll my second Ira Deorum in a row. As for my turn (3R 7B) I was going to attack the Franks in Pannonia for easy points until Martin kindly pointed out I could reach Italia with my Macedonian army and fight him there. Maybe he just really wanted me to leave Macedonia so he could take it back. I followed his suggestion, won and then got voted into Rome. I was so excited I forgot to put on my points or buy a card until after Martin had started his turn. Which was a very neat and functional turn (3R 3Y 4B) getting him voted into Africa and taking back Macedonia and then neutralising Britannia with his Mobile Vulgus.

I'm emperor again and, at this point, feeling pretty good about my situation

Sam’s crisis roll dropped a whole load of trouble in his lap as 2 sassanids joined their friend in Syria and a third kept going into the previously untroubled Egyptus. Sam (1Y 1R 3B) attacked the Sassanids in Egypt with no hits on either side, but then was wiped out when he attacked them in Syria, receiving five hits in the process! He lost Egyptus, and tributed the Sassanids in Syria.

Martin 51, Andrew 45, Ian 38, Sam 35

Ian had a fallow round in round eight. His 2Y 1R 3B was not much use for anything. He got himself voted into the Barbarian packed Galatia and then boosted support there. I (1R 8B) foederatied a Frank into my army in Pannonia and then made him turn on his brothers stationed there. I won. With eight blue points, I got myself voted into Martin’s Macedonia even though I’d lose it immediately. I was hoping to distract him from unseating me in Rome. Martin (1Y 4R 3B) got voted back into Macedonia, reinforced his army there and then moved his army from Thracia into Pannonia and wiped out my army.

Sam (3Y 7R 5B) had his move of the game. He foederatied the sassanid from Egypt into his African army. Then he reinforced it, moved it into Italia and, attacked me. His Spiculum killed off my Frank before I knew what was happening and then he decimated me 4 hits to 1. Then he used a Mobile Vulgus to make Rome neutral and sauntered into the Senate. And he got voted into Egyptus as well.He still had three blue left so he recalled the governor from doomed Syria and tried to get voted into Thracia, needing to roll a six, but failed.

Martin 57 Andrew 53 Ian 44 Sam 44

Round nine would surely be the last round, we assumed, as we all loaded up on our best available cards. Ian (2B 3Y 9R) killed Sam’s army in Italia and then used four dice to get three votes. He rolled 6, 1, 1, 1 and then a 4. That was his plan up in smoke. He boosted support in Gallia and used the remaining one yellow point and his Mobile Vulgus to turn Martin’s Thracia neutral. It was then pointed out to him he could’ve used those three yellow points to weaken Sam in Rome and he’d have only needed two votes. He was appalled at himself especially, if my notes are correct, that was exactly the tactic he’d suggested to Sam only a few minutes beforehand. He then built a 3-legion army in Gallia, moved it into Pannonia and killed three barbarians there.

I (5B 2Y 5R) healed the army in Syria that had been doing nothing except sit there bleeding for most of the game, and then moved them into Egypt to attack Sam. But I failed, despite superior numbers and a flanking maneuver. My plans, too, were scuppered. I needed six votes from five dice but didn’t even come close. I had no provinces on the board and scored no points this round! Oh, the indignity.

Martin (6R 5B 3Y) moved his army from Asia into Egyptus and won, and was then voted in too. But wait! That was his spare governor! Had he blown his chances of being emperor? Would the game go on another round? He moved another army from Macedonia into Italia and beat Ian’s army 4-0. He then MVed Sam’s Africa into neutrality before recalling the governor from Asia and becoming Emperor. He passes sixty points and triggers the end game. The state of the board at this moment was a sight to behold: only Martin and Ian had any provinces and there were seven neutral governors.

Sam’s move, the last of the game, (6R 2B) allowed him to get Africa back, kill a Nomad (needs two armies to do it, though) but can’t get voted into Thracia.

And there it was, the end of the game. Six neutral territories and I only had one hapless army on the board.

Martin 78, Andrew 59, Ian 58, Sam 56

So what happened? The Mobile Vulgus was used often as people used yellow points to attack others instead of boosting support or building things. This meant that long-term plans seemed thin on the ground, as we all moved armies around, leaving provinces undefended, once we thought that we might be better off somewhere else. In fact this whole game was played out with only two level-four cards being bought, one of which was never actually played.

As I drove Sam and Ian home through the dense post-festival traffic, Sam said he wasn’t familiar enough with the game to know how strange it was while Ian and I just sighed and shook our heads in disbelief.

Expanding Empires

After a period of time so long that history books could not contain it, so long that folk stories had forgotten it, so long that I wasn’t sure of the rules any more, the monthly Time Of Crisis group finally convened again.

This time we were using the new expansion cards, which have new actions for each level of two, three, four of red, blue, yellow cards. These were shuffled into the regular cards.

We also reapplied the new Emperor rules, meaning that our emperor need not sit in Rome but may base themselves in another corner of the world or join an army and wreak havoc by bringing bloody death to the provinces.

So many new choices. How would it play out?

I was starting player and I began in Gallia, Martin in Pannonia, Ian in Macedonia and Joe in Hispania.

My opening hand was 3B 2Y, I won a vote in Britannia and boosted support and bought a 2Y card. Britannia was entirely untroubled by the conflict in Europe for the entire game and will barely be mentioned again. As such, this was perhaps my best move.

Martin’s crisis roll revealed Bad Augeries, reducing the chances of a hit for Roman armies in battle. He used 3B 2R to be voted into Thracia with a new army, and without an available Tribute card he bought a 2R (cavalry) instead. Ian used 3B 2R to get voted into Africa with an army, and bought 2B. Joe used 3B 2R to get voted into Aegyptus with an army and he bought a 2B.

In round two, I used 3Y 3R to build a Basilica in Gallia and then I hired a general, built a new army in Gallia and moved it into Italia. I was ambitious, if nothing else. Martin’s crisis roll sent an Allamani barbarian into his own Thracia, and Bad Augeries meant killing them off would be tough. He had 3Y 2R and avoided conflict, preferring to get a 2 general and boosting support in Thracia so he didn’t lose it.

Ian’s crisis roll sent two more Allamani onto the map, this time into Martin’s Pannonia! Martin was distraught, which is always entertaining to watch. With his 3Y 1R 2B he builds a Limes in Macedonia and bought a 2Y.

Joe’s crisis roll was 6-6. Pax Deorum! An extra card for everyone and Martin was saved! Joe’s hand was 3Y 2R 2B, allowing him a chance to hire a level 2 general and governor and build a Basilica in Hispania.

At the start of round three, I now had 5B 2Y. Support in Rome was high, but I had a Basilica and an army in Italia so I needed seven votes from six dice. I rolled with all my might but only got six votes. Not a single six, nor any ones either. But, I later noticed that I’d forgotten that I didn’t have a governor to put on the board if I’d won, so a bit of a wasted turn. Except for boosting support in Gallia.

Martin had 3R 5B. He loses against the Allamani in Pannonia which means it is destined to be lost since he Tributes the other Allamani in Thracia. To make up for losing one province, he hired a level 3 governor and is voted into Galatia.

Ian had 2Y 2R 3B, boosted support in Macedonia to two, bought a level 2 general and governor and, using the new card Ambitus (one free vote) he is voted into Asia.

Joe (3R 3B) didn’t want to weaken the neutral emperor any further so he built an army in Aegyptus, moved into Africa and attacked Ian. Neither rolled any hits, but Joe’s use of the Cavalry card meant he won ties, so he ousted Ian from the capital. He was then voted into Africa.

As round four began, the scores were Joe 11 Ian 9 Andrew 8 Martin 6.

I roll Good Augeries as my crisis roll and suddenly those barbarians go from looking fearsome to looking like fun. I (3Y 3R) boosted support in Britannia, bought a 2 general and built an army in Gallia.

Martin (2R 3Y), newly encouraged by Good Augeries, killed the Allamani in Thracia. He built a Basilica and an army in Galatia. Ian rolled 1-1 for a crisis roll, adding one barbarian to every region around the edge of the board. He had 2B 1R 3Y: he was voted into Syria, built an army there and then boosted support in Asia.

Joe’s crisis roll sent five Franks onto the board. Three into my Gallia, 2 onwards to his own Hispania. He had 3Y 2R. He attacked the Franks in Hispania but he rolled his signature two ones. The Franks replied with a hit and the battle was lost. Joe boosted support in Hispania rather than lose it and then attacked and beat Ian’s army that was still hanging around in Africa.

Joe 17, Ian 13, Martin 12, Andrew 11.

Round five and I had 5B and 2R. I hired a 2 gov and got voted into Rome. But instead of being a boring old senate emperor, I base myself in Britannia with it’s high levels of support for lots of points. And just to make sure, I move my spare army from Gallia to Britannia. I’m able to buy two cards this round!

Martin (5R 2B 2Y) adds a third legion in Pannonia and moves the army into Italia, beating my sitting one-legion army there 3 hits to nil. He then becomes emperor. A boring old senate emperor. Lastly, he boosted support in Galatia.

Ian’s crisis roll sent the Priest King of Emesa into his own Syria. Bad news for both Ian and also Martin, as this stops any more emperor turns being added to the score track. Ian (5B 6Y) used the mystical (well, I didn’t understand it) power of the new Mobile Vulgaris card to use two yellow points to make Martin’s Thracia turn neutral. Ian then got voted into Pannonia, and boosted support both there and in Syria.

Joe’s crisis roll put a Sassanid into Syria to go with the Priest King already there. Joe had 4R 5B and he paid tribute to the Franks in Hispania. Then he foederatied a nomad from Africa and attacked the Franks. He lost the battle but did enough damage to kill them off. He then took back his tribute, and used it instead on the barbarians in Pannonia. I was a bit taken aback by this do-over of a move but, since it was all part of Joe’s go, no one else minded. To think a man so cheap with his words of tribute should aspire to become emperor! People in Pannonia didn’t seem to mind, since they happily voted for his governor.

Joe 26, Martin 21, Andrew 21, Ian 18.

My crisis roll at the start of round six sent more barbarians over the border. This time it was the Goths: three went to Martin’s Galatia and one kept going, ending up in Ian’s Syria to stand alongside the Sassanid and the Priest King already there.

I had 4B 2Y 3R. I put a new legion in my army in Gallia, foederatied a Frank into it as well and then attacked the remaining two Franks there, winning the battle and wiping them out! There was some discussion about where I should use my blue points, weaken Emperor Martin or Point Leader Joe? In the end, I let greed be my guide and got myself voted into Joe’s Hispania, nabbing an extra point for that Basilica there.

Martin rolled another event for his crisis roll and barbarian leader Ardashir arrived in the Sassanid homeland, obviously keen to join the party that was kicking off next door in Syria.

Martin had only 2R and 3Y. He heals armies in Thracia and Italia and boosted support in Galatia. He may have still been Emperor but with only two provinces, he couldn’t even buy a level three card, so he trashed a 1Y in disgust.

Ian also had a fallow round (2Y 3R) so he boosted support in Asia and then moved the wounded army from Joe’s Africa into Asia where he healed it.

Joe (6Y 1R) boosted support in Pannonia, built a Limes in Africa since there was a rank of four or five Nomads amassing on the border. He then used witchcraft (ie, Mobile Vulgaris) to neutralize my Hispania. Finally he takes a long time choosing his cards, which can’t have been helped by us constantly mentioning how long he was taking. “It’s been five minutes,” said Martin, aghast.

Joe 30 Andrew 30 Martin 25 Ian 22

Round seven and my crisis roll was 6-6, Pax Deorum! I was almost disappointed to see it because, just as Joe had finally put his cards down, he had to pick them up again and ponder what extra card to add to his hand.

I had the “balanced hand” of 3B 3R 3Y. I built an army in Gallia, moved it to Hispania where it lost to Joe despite having a Flanking Manoeuvre. I was voted in anyway, and then I had to boost support there or lose it immediately. I started to wonder if Hispania was really worth all this effort or whether Joe and I were fighting over it for the sake of pride. And the Basilica.

Martin, rolled 1-1. Ira Deorum! More barbarians everywhere! He was still only a two-province Emperor, hanging on to power thanks to his huge army stationed in Italia. He had a hand of 3Y 5B 2R, and he got voted into Thracia, bought a governor, and got voted into Pannonia. His support in Italia went up by two! Then he sent his Galatian army into Syria where it killed the Priest King, allowing him to pick up an Emperor turn. Then he boosted support in Pannonia and paid tribute to the Goths in Galatia. Finally he buys two (two!!) level four cards. A good move.

Ian’s crisis roll revealed inflation to huge amounts of disinterest: clearly no one was planning on building anything other than armies. He had 3B 6R 2Y. He added a legion to his Syrian army, used it to kill the Goth there and then, thanks to the new Forced March card, the Syrian army attacked again, wiping out that Sassanid. He added a legion in Asia and got voted into Martin’s Pannonia, boosting support there once he was in. An eleven point turn, putting him right back in the running.

Joe’s crisis roll sent two sassanids and sassanid leader Adashir into Ian’s newly barbarian-free Syria, with another one continuing until Aegyptus. With his hand of 7R 3Y 3B he got himself voted back into Hispania, and then used the Pretorian Guard to become Emperor! Finally he killed me in Hispania, then boosted support in Hispania in a clear message telling me leave it alone.

Joe 46, Martin 35, Andrew 35, Ian 33

Round eight, and my crisis roll sees our old favourite Zenobia arrive in Aegyptus. My hand is 4B 6R and, although it may seem tedious, I tried to take back Hispania again. After all, it would have me a Basilica and weakened Emperor Joe. It seemed worth it. I built an army in Gallia, foederatied a Frank from his homeland, moved into Hispania and beat Joe. However, the second part of my plan failed: I needed two votes with four dice and rolled 5-1-1-1. However, Martin seemed more upset about then I was, thinking this could hand Joe the win.

He rolled Shapur onto the map with his crisis roll and then agonized over how much to spend on becoming Emperor. His hand was 3B 3R 2Y and he began by healing his army in Syria, going to Aegyptus and killing Joe’s army there. He then used two blue points to get voted into Aegyptus (he rolled 6-6 and said “that’s how you roll, Andrew.”) Finally he used 1 blue and a Basilica to get over that remarkable low bar of one vote to be Emperor. He became a military emperor, and just for good measure foederatied a barbarian into his Italian army.

Ian rolled an event on his crisis roll: Palmyra Allies. This allowed him to remove some Sassanids from the map. Usually, this comes as a relief but this time Ian wanted to kill them for points. He had 1R 5Y 3B. He did win against the last Sassanid for three points. He boosted support in Pannonia and ummed and ahhed over what to do with his remaining 3Y 3B. He used Mobile Vulgaris against Martin’s Thracia, turning it neutral. His last three blue points were largely useless. He couldn’t even buy his next governor, since it was level four, so he ended there.

Joe (2R 3Y) had “quite a simple turn for me,” as he added a legion in Africa and boosted support in Africa.

Joe 50, Martin 42, Ian 41, Andrew 40

At the start of round nine, I had a strong feeling this would be my last move, so I front loaded my hand drastically leaving only dregs left in my available pile of cards. I, with 2Y 5R 5B got voted into Hispania, added a legion in Gallia and moved that to Pannonia to kill an Allamani. I bought my level 3 governor and was voted into Ian’s Pannonia. It felt wrong to attack the guy in third, but I was just after cheap points at this point.

Martin (7B 9R) and his Imperial Army moved from Italia across the seas to Galatia where he attacked the goths there. First he used his Spiculum card, which did damage at a distance, killing two. And then in the attack on the final goth, he rolled 6-6-6 for his three legions. But this lone Goth managed to inflict one hit despite this barrage of hate from Martin. Was this fatal blow against the emperor himself. A roll of the dice (a five or six) would tell. It was a five. The emperor was dead. No triumphant return to Rome for him as the senate went neutral.

But then Martin took his governor and got voted back as Emperor, a normal senate emperor. Next Martin foederatied a Nomad into his Egyptian army and attacked Zenobia. She died but wiped out Martin’s army in the process.

Then he sent his army from Thracia into the Allamani homeland and killed two of them with his other Spiculum card. He passed 60 points and was Emperor, thus ending the game. I was actually quite pleased about this, since my next hand of 1R 1B 3Y would not have done me any favours.

Ian (9R 2B) rolled another nomad for his crisis roll but, despite there being five of them, they still wouldn’t move. He used his red points with a Pretorian Guard to become Emperor. He used nine dice (all white ones, “let’s do this properly”) and succeeded.

Joe (3R 9B) had only 1 province on the board. He used his 2 blue to become emperor, unseating Ian in double quick time. He became a military emperor, joining his best army in Africa. He feoderatied a Nomad and then moved across the border to attack them. If they won’t come to him, he’ll go to them.

It was four against four. But the four nomads rolled 4-4-4-4. Four deadly hits. Would any of them kill the emperor? We had to roll four dice to see if any were a five or a six. The result was 6-6-6-4. Emperor Joe died of multiple stab wounds and we end the game with the curious sight of a neutral Emperor in Rome.

Martin 77
Joe 58
Ian 56
Andrew 55

What a game. The new cards really added to the experience and put some new life into the game. We were getting to the point where we knew what was going on and had fallen into a rut but this time we didn’t. Even after round one, we’d all bought different cards. It was much harder to guess what was about to happen.

But on the journey home, Joe got a text from Martin. He had checked the rules and his move of becoming emperor again was against the rules. On the drive back, me, Joe and Ian tried to work out if that would have made a difference and we couldn’t. All we knew is that it would have certainly added another round to the game, pushing it past midnight and perhaps making it outstay its welcome.

Ones upon a Time Of Crisis

This month’s Time of Crisis meeting began with Joe setting up the game remarking how nice it was to have a game where we don’t need to check the rule book all. The time. Well, there must have been a mischievous troll sitting under Joe’s kitchen table who heard this, as we were pitched into a determinedly odd series of unfortunate events.

It began in typical fashion. Joe went into Gallia, Ian into Pannonia, Martin into Macedonia (of course) and I went to Hispania.

In the Three Blue Two Red round, Joe took Britannia (throwing the deposed neutral governor across the table and onto the floor), Ian took Thracia, Martin took Egypt and I took Africa. So far, so good, although an event card was rolled that sparked inflation, making our already weak yellow cards even weaker.

In the second round, Joe (2R 3Y) found a lone band of Franks on his doorstep in Gallia. He attacked them with his army there and lost, rolling two ones against Frank’s roll of five. He used his yellows to boost support in Gallia which fell straight back down again.

Then Ian (2R 3Y) found that he had two Allamani in the perennially invaded Pannonia. Clearly the barbarians were feeling feisty today. He attacked them but rolled two more ones against the Allamani’s rolls of 6, 4, 4 which wiped out his army stationed there. He used his one remaining red point to put the general straight back in again, though.

Then the Sassanids invaded the otherwise unoccupied Syria. Martin (2R 3Y) bought a general and boosted support, I think. It was quite boring. I (2R 3Y) moved my army from Hispania into Gallia to attack those Franks. It was so unlike me, I did it! And then I rolled yet another one. And so did they. A draw.

Round three and Joe had an odd hand of 1R, 3B, 2Y. That one red point was used to attack those pesky Franks in Gallia with his remaining legion there. He rolled another one! How long was this going to last? The Franks rolled a 5.

Ian (5B, 1R) found himself facing a surprisingly strong neutral emperor. Due to our being distracted by barbarians, the provinces hadn’t fallen as quickly as they usually do. Instead, he got himself voted into Asia and then finally broke the Jinx Of One plaguing Roman military rolls all game when he attacked the Allamani in Pannonia. He still lost, though, but at least he rolled a five.

Six ones in a row comes in at odds of 1 in 46,656 and if those odds were miles that would get you round the Earth almost twice. Astonishing scenes.

Martin (5B, 1R) needed to recruit a governor before getting voted in anywhere so he couldn’t go for Rome either. Instead he got elected in Asia, taking it off Ian. I (3R, 3B) pondered attacking Joe’s weakened army in Gallia. Instead I recruited a governor and then failed my (admittedly unlikely) attempt at getting voted into Galatia, needing two votes with one die. Joe’s crisis roll was a double one (“More ones!” cried Martin), which triggered a new angry barbarian in every homeland. Joe (1R, 2B, 4Y, I think) took Galatia, and repaired his army in Gallia and generally boosted support.

Ian stepped up with 3B, 2R, 3Y and a spare governor. Rome needed four votes. Could he do it? He foederatied an Allamani in Pannonia, moved the army from there to Italia. Now he needed only two votes. He was successfully voted in! Our first Emperor at 20:42. We celebrated with the first of our trilogy of increasingly spicy crisps!

The next crisis roll saw three Nomads pile into Martin’s Egypt. “Well, that changes everything,” grumbled Martin, paying tribute to them, building a second legion there and then attacking them. Two hits each meant that one still hung around at the end of his turn. Then he remembered we had Bad Auguries, subtracting one from Roman military rolls. It made no difference but “I wouldn’t have attacked them if I’d remembered that,” Martin said. And then he chucked a mob into Emperor Ian’s Thracia and built a basilica in Asia. My underwhelming move (3Y 2R) saw me build a basilica in Hispania and move my roaming army from Gallia into Ian’s undefended Pannonia.

The next event was Good Auguries! Hurray! We can fight better! Now Joe built a new legion in Gallia and finally beat those pesky Franks in Gallia. The first time tonight that a Roman army had won a battle, and we’d been playing for almost an hour.

Then another event (we were ploughing through the event deck) saw Palmyra Allies clear the board of Sassanids, leaving Syria free of barbarians. Ian attacked me in Pannonia using the army from Thracia (which he’ll lose to the mob no matter what he does). We rolled at the same time for dramatic effect. We both rolled ones. As battles go, not that dramatic. Ian got himself voted into Syria and finally the last neutral reign ended, but then Thracia went neutral instead. Martin (3R, 2Y 1B) killed the last Nomad in Egypt, moved his army from Macedonia into Thracia and boosted his support there.

Now was my chance! My big move (4R, 4B) that I had planned out. I tried to get voted into Syria, using all four blue points for just two votes. Surely nothing could go wrong. Well, it turns out Lady Luck wasn’t done with us yet as I rolled 1, 1, 1, 3. Just one vote. Disaster. (“You’d have won if you’d chosen Pannonia,” said Martin not at all helpfully) The second part of my plan was to fight Ian in Pannonia since I had a 2 to 1 advantage. But I rolled 1, 2 while he rolled a 5 for a single hit that won a whole battle. A shocking move for me. I refused to buy a card because my hand was already overloaded with level-2 cards and not a single level-3.

Then in the next crisis roll, the Franks invaded in numbers: three into Pannonia (still under Ian’s governorship) and one into Italia (under Ian’s Emperorship). Joe (3R, 3Y, 3B) got himself voted into Syria, built a new army in Galatia and must have done other things too, I don’t know.

By now, both Joe and Martin have level-4 Yellow cards allowing them to set up a Pretender Empire. The crisis roll saw yet more ones, and another Ira Deorum with a new angry barbarian in every homeland. Again. Ian put a mob in Martin’s Asia and attacked Martin’s lone militia in Macedonia. But Ian rolled a 2 while Martin rolled a 5, giving Martin an improbable win. Ian did beat the Franks in Italy, though.

The following crisis roll saw another event and by now it was looking likely that we’d reach the Diocletian card near the end of the deck that would trigger the end of the game. This round’s event was Ludis Seculares allowing the Emperor to discard a card for that amount of points. Ian discarded a level-3 red, pushing him into a significant lead.

At this moment (mid-round) the scores were Ian 31, Martin 21, Joe 19, Andrew 14 (with only Ian getting any Emperor Points at the end). Ian wanted the event deck to play out fast.

Martin’s move (8Y, 3R, 1B) saw him create a Pretender Empire! And he got rid of the mob, putting a mob of his own into Italia. On my turn, I fought the Franks in Pannonia. I avoided rolling ones, but still lost. I did get voted into Pannonia, though, keeping hold of it by boosting support.

Meanwhile, the mischievous troll under the table had possessed Joe’s dog Sybil who was currently disembowelling a cuddly toy. Made for her by Joe’s daughter. How tragic.

The next event was a Priest King in Joe’s Syria. Joe built an army and attacked Sassanids with a flanking manoeuvre. He won. I was distracted by the dog at this point, I’m afraid.

Thanks to the Ludis Seculares earlier, Ian only had four cards in his hand, 2Y, 4B and he had only one province (Italia) with a mob in it, a rival leader and a pretender empire on his hands. He cleared a mob and got voted into Egypt (rolling two ones out of his four dice, but still got enough). Joe brought out some monkey nuts, whose shells made such a mess that Joe had to get the handheld vacuum to clear periodically the table.

There’s another event (Preparing For War) Martin gets voted into Ian’s Egypt with lots of sixes. Ian’s support level in Rome is now on zero. Then he goes after Ian’s army in Macedonia and wins, three hits (from his militia!) against Ian’s two. He’s making this Pretender Empire tactic work.

Then there’s ANOTHER event, as Postumus pops up in Gallia. Ian’s hope of the Diocletian card ending the game before Martin can win might work.

On my go (5B 3Y) I became Emperor because why not. Ian’s entire presence on the board was one solitary army in Italia. Being Emperor didn’t get me much, but I was finally able to buy a level-4 card. Joe recalled a governor from Syria and got voted into Martin’s Egypt. He attacked Postumus in Gallia but neither side landed a hit.

Ian sprang back into action with his four governors in reserve he got voted into Syria, Egypt and then back into Rome! He was emperor again at 22.02 and my nine-minute reign was over, then he killed the Priest King in Syria. The scores now (again, mid-round) were Martin 37, Ian 36, Joe 30, Andrew 24.

Martin took Egypt and put an army in there to stop it changing hands all the time. He then boosted Asia. Meanwhile, the crisis roll sent three Allamani into Pannonia and another one into Italia. Martin’s plan on shoring up support in Egypt didn’t last, as I then moved an army from Africa into Egypt and won the battle there, getting voted in afterwards.

Joe kills Postumus and builds a Basilica before establishing the game’s second Pretender Empire! This level of anarchy had never been seen before, and we had to check the rule book to see if multiple pretender’s score extra legacy points. They don’t. Ian crossed the sea and attacks me in Africa and then killed the Allamani in Italia.

Then Martin, on 44 points, said he thinks he can end the game. With 6B, 4Y, 7R he sent an army across Europe, foederati-ing two barbarians on the way, to attack and defeat Joe’s Seat Of Power in Britannia. Then he became Emperor (on level 5 support!) and killed an Alamanni for 3 points. He did it! He reached 62 points and was Emperor and triggered the end of the game. I just had one move left. I didn’t make any notes about what I did.

Martin 68
Ian 51
Andrew 41
Joe 36

It was still relatively early, so we played Tichu. Ian and I versus Martin and Joe, just like on my phone (I renamed the AI opponents). Martin was lucky enough to have three bombs during the match while I was unlucky enough to have one round where the cards I gave to Martin and Joe gave them both bombs. But after four rounds the scores were so close (260-240) that we had a final round as a decider and Ian and I went out first and second for 200 points and the win.

Ian and Andrew 460
Martin and Joe 240

Phew, what a night.