NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #3/NN_1993_3.iso/spool/rec/games/board/13618

Text File | 1993-01-25 | 2.6 KB | 54 lines

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From: [e-mail] (Melvin H. Nicholson YBH)
Subject: Re: Republic of ROME question, HELP
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Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 19:10:12 GMT
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>The illustrius Pat Ellis (the DM) <[e-mail]> writes:
>> In my first game, Rome was facing three active and one inactive wars, so
>> when I was dictator I attacked the inactive (Illyrian) war and then
>> revolted, figuring that as a rebel I'd win if Rome fell.  After looking
>> at the rulebook, it looks like we all lost instead.  Since a rebel will
>> win if Rome falls due to bankruptcy or the revolt of the people, does
>> it make sense that the rebel loses too if Rome falls due to four active
>> wars?]
>>
Yes, you lose.  I'd also say it makes sense that you lose.  The
critical point is the timing of the Rebelion.

Revolt is DECLARED in the Revolution Phase, at which time the rebellion
becomes part of the stress which lends to fall fall of Rome (so in your
case, your Rebllion cause the Emipre to collapse immediately, and the
whole point of Rebelling (to capture the Empire IN TACT) is lost.)

There is another important disctinction which may not be clear: even though
rebellion is DECLARED in the Revolution phase, it is not FOUGHT until
the next turn, during the Combat phase.  This is a very important rule
which is designed to give Rome a chance to defend itself (so a leader
who wins an early war with 5 of 5 legions cannot rebel and win just by
getting lucky and winning the support of all 5 legions, plus a lot of
other examples in a similar vein)

The rule which give a Rebel until the end of the turn to fight (other)
wars after defeating the Senate's forces is designed for the situation
where the Rebel declares (bring the total up to no more than three) then
the NEXT TURN, more wars are drawn which bring the total above three.

The fact that the rebel must count himself in the number of wars makes
sense at least as far as it is harder to hold an empire together while
overthrowing it's principal government (if you like "realism" arguments,
which I don't particularly).  More importantly, this provides the other
players with a defense (not a foolproof one) against rebels, and allows
for a better game balance (between the game and the players, not between
the players and each other)

Mel