This game begins at the very end of Caesar's Proconsulship in Gaul. His province includes modern France and Northern Italy (Cisalpine Gaul) down to the river Rubicon. Caesar is now at the Rubicon. If he crosses it with his army he commits treason. If he disbands his men he will be at the mercy of his enemies.
CAST OF CHARACTERS: ROMAN SENATORS ALL
CAESAR: Rome's brightest star. Now at the end of his proconsulship in Gaul. He should be first man in Rome but his enemies await the end of his office. As soon as his army is disbanded, they will charge him with treason.
POMPEY: The first man in Rome. Your friend, Caesar, returns to Rome after conquering a new province for the empire. His enemies want to put him on trial for treason. He could march on Rome (you've done it before...twice) but if he does he will eclipse you. And you will not tolerate that!
BRUTUS: What a wretch you are! Caesar was your mother's lover and treated you like a son. Oh your poor cockolded father! Pompey on the other hand killed your father in one of Rome's interminable civil wars. What to do? What to do?
MARK ANTHONY: You are Caesar's right hand man. As a wild Roman nobleman, Caesar believed in you and trained you as his successor. Now the master is about to be put to the test.
CICERO: You are Rome's greatest orator and scholar. Even Caesar acknowledges that. You are a patriot of course, always on the lookout for plots against the state. But you have a soft spot for Pompey. You served on his father's staff in the Social Wars and you've owed the family ever since.
BILBUS: Caesar calls you "the Flea" and has missed no opportunity to insult you ever since your military service together in Greece. You will ruin him! He committed treason by conquering Gaul (that exceeded his orders). As soon as he disbands his army you have him!
CASSIUS: Lean and hungry, you are an opportunist. As any good senator does you accept bribes from anyone - but you don't stay bought.
CINNA: You fear Caesar's popularity. He must be pulled down a few notches for everyone to be equal.
DRUSES: You are a friend of Caesar but beholden to Pompey. Isn't everyone?
LUCULLUS: Your noble ancestor was Caesar's commander in Asia - but didn't like him. Then again, you ancestor had his command stolen from him by Pompey. They are both swine!
PISO: All roads lead to Rome and all the world looks to Rome for leadership. And you're a Roman Senator. Isn't life grand?
THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT
CONSULS: Each year two senators become consul. One runs the city, the other leads Rome's army in the field. After a year, the consuls go out to govern a province as proconsul.
PROCONSUL: Rules a province for a year. In times of war, this can be extended, Caesar has been proconsul of Gaul for ten years! Proconsular armies may not legally enter Italy.
THE SENATE: A debating society that manages Rome. They elect consuls and conduct foreign policy. They do not make laws.
THE TRIBAL ASSEMBLY: The collected citizens of Rome meet and pass laws put forward by tribunes.
TRIBUNES: Commoners who put forward laws to the tribal assembly. They serve for one year (often as a stepping stone to the senate). There are twelve of them so anyone can have access to passing laws. If the price is right.
VETO: A single tribune can stop any law or act of senate by vetoing it. Of course if the tribune is beaten to death, or otherwise disappears, then the veto goes away.
CONSULAR ARMIES: Consuls are the only people legally allowed to command armies in Italy. But even they are not allowed to bring troops into Rome itself.
PROCONSULAR ARMIES: Proconsuls command armies in the provinces. They may not bring these armies back to Italy (except that they keep on doing so!) A consul can legally take over a proconsul's army.
THE SETTING
The world is divided up into provinces. The Empire consists of Italy (including Rome as a separate area within the province), Cisalpine Gaul, Transalpine Gaul, Greater Spain, Lesser Spain, Sardinia, Sicily, Africa, Greece, Asia, Cappadocia, and Syria.
Israel, Egypt, Mauritania, Dacia, Parthia, and Armenia are independent kingdoms.
THE GAME
Start off by picking two characters who you want to see advance. Then each turn make a matrix argument about something that happens that will push your characters towards success. Players send their arguments to a referee who rules on how strong the arguments are and rolls to see which arguments succeed.
Argument should be short and to the point. Arguments that try to do too much will be ruled weaker than arguments that are focused and that build on previous successful arguments. The results will be emailed back to you.
Movement: At the start of each turn you can move all the characters you control to where ever you want as long as the remain inside the area they are in (i.e. Rome, Italy, Cisalpine Gaul). To cross barriers between areas you need to make and argument.
Battle: Battle only happens when a player argues for one to happen. The referee then decides who is strongest and that player gets first try to make an argument to resolve the fight.
Offices: Politics is all about gaining and keeping high office. One is supposed to get elected. But in Rome, they have the institution of "Dictator", a strong man who is give extraordinary powers during times of crisis. This can be abused by military men.
Allies: Players can recruit other senators as friends (who will move, vote and fight with you). Players can also appeal to the unwashed masses. They are the ones who vote to pass laws. They also can riot like no tomorrow.
Raising troops: Players can argue to raise troops. But to do so without the approval of the Senate is treason! And keep in mind, having hordes of men is no guarantee of victory. All Xerxes men did not save him from defeat at the hands of Alexander!
WHERE IS EVERYONE?
All the senators are in Rome. Caesar and Mark Anthony are in Cisalpine Gaul on the border. They have a legion with them. The Senate has no army but there are troops loyal to the Senate in Lesser Spain, Africa, Greece, and Syria.
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© Copyright 1999 by Chris Engle.
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