Events

The game's events are a frequent pre-condition to a lot of game's actions, and will also lead the players along a path where most famous historical events of the Republic will be re-enacted. The players may well decide to choose another path down to history, although the historical one is probably the one leading to the grandest benefitis.

Events appear at year start, with explanations about their historical enviroment and also gameplay consequences. A few examples:

• War, leaders and Casus Belli (wars represent other nations declaring war on an opponent, leaders are great historical characters that reinforce Rome's opponents and Casus Belli present the players with opportunities to declare war on an adverse nation without infuriating the Roman people.).These events are considered as International Events and interfere with Roman politics.
• Laws (a law usually comes from a Tribune. It is imposed to the Senate without a vote and usually alters some game parameters).
• National events that display some everyday life facts and domestic circumstances that Rome had to face (good or bad)
• Stratagems, kind of " Cards of Fortune " (Fortuna meaning luck in Latin, these are random opportunities or inconvenients for the various political leaders).

• Each Year:

  • There is at least one national event, and a variable number of international events.
  • Each faction receives a minimum of 1 stratagem, but sometimes more (also depends on which historical characters are in play, and various other player's elements)

Top

Stratagems

The stratagems are considered as some kind of " jack " or wild card, which never dramatically alter the course of the game but can, at some point and if wisely used, give a temporary but important minor advantage (such as increasing your chance of success in some recruitment actions in the Forum, or your chance to win a battle). They can help a player out in dire circumstances, but their play alone is not sufficient if the global strategy is failing.

Stratagems are about 60 different ones in all and affect most of the game's sections: Forum, Seante and Map. Each one has its own description to indicate its best potential use. In addition, when stratagem play is relevant, its sprite starts blinking and warning sounds can be overheard by the player.

Historical Characters

Players will receive during the course of the game the help of some well-known historical characters. It is usually their faction leader (political game).

• Great leaders such as Scipio Africanus, Cato, Cicero or Julius Caesar are all present.
• Most of them, apart from personal assets and qualities of the highest standard, also bring along with them a few extra original features that will give spice to the game (such as extra free stratagems)
• The game offers over 50 major characters for the Romans, and boasts a database of more than 2,000 leaders, monarchs and chiefs of various ranks for all other nations represented: Hannibal, Mithridate, Spartacus, Vercingetorix or Cleopatra and quite a lot of others are all here!
• Their presence in the course of the game, if ignored or discounted by Roman players, will probably make Rome's victroy extremely difficult, if not impossible, and may even lead to complete defeat (especially in the political game).

   

 

 

The Roman People

A game on ancient Rome cannot ignore such an important feature as the Plebs, the people of Rome.

Political Game

In that game, the Senators that players represent are the governing oligarchy in Rome, leading the nation's destiny in the name of the people : SPQR (Senatus Populus Que Romanum) : in the name of the Senate and the People of Rome.

Players will this be well advised to carefully and frequently survey the level of discontent in the Plebs, and take relevant decision to keep it acceptable, such as :

• popular or demagogic decisions in the Senate (land bills, tax level, citizenship grants),
• organizing free bread distributions and games (Panem et Circenses),
• making sure that Rome becomes and then remains the most glorious and powerful nation on earth (the Plebs loves victories and conquests, and every defeat will lead to rioting and discontent).

Not ensuring proper supervision will lead to serious trouble of the public order in Rome, going as far as full and open revolt against the Senate, meaning the end of the game for the players.

 

Strategic Game

In that part, this ''Plebs'' factor is included as only a numerical index (from -100 to +100) taht reminds the player the state of Rome (same for other nations as well) and content of its citizens. High discontent level will lead to numerous displeasing consequences, such as:

• various revolts,
• reduction in the manpower and recruitment capacities (desertions, etc…),
• reduction of the military budget given by the Senate (used for Bread and Games instead !)
• etc…