I thought it might be a good idea for me to display a picture like
Brian has so that players can compare the two.
I’ve used the ‘folded-over standing-up’ method, and all the units plus the map have been laminated with sticky-back
plastic, as has the front & back pages of the booklet as well as the Target Prestige Chart.
(Note that I'm using the pack of cards option, after a very unfortunate game where I sent 2 Legions against one Barbarian,
both were defeated, so I sent another two, both these were also defeated, and then sent in another two, also defeated!
That 6 defeats in a row. At least with a pack of cards I know that 6 pieces of bad luck will be compensated with 6 good luck.
Talk about "Publius Quinctilius Varus, where are my Legions!")My 1st Turn went as follows:-
Involuntary Actions Tax Income 500 Talents, no Economy roll, and I didn’t get a Brilliant General.
Since there is no Random Event Roll on the 1st Turn, I didn’t bother with a Donative.
Barbarian Phase Carthage Attacks I defended with the Consul, who was victorious, then switched the defence to one of the Legions,
which was destroyed. Now since I only had one Legion left, a Civil War would have no effect
(½ rounded down is zero units lost), so my Consul was safe to fight again, and was again
victorious but was defeated when I used him a second time and he fled into Rome itself.
This left one Legion facing one Carthaginian, but I won (had it lost then Rome would fight).
Generating Barbarians Three (!) Barbarian Armies: 3 Germans in Germanicus Magna (who went to Caledonia),
2 Sarmatians in the Southern Steppe (who just reached Dacia),
4 Persian-Parthians, one of which was lost due to attrition.
None of these reached Italia, so there were no combats.
Roman Phase I wanted Sicily and Hispania, as both of these would give my forces a +1 against any Sea Crossing Barbarians.
But to get to Spain I first need to occupy Cisalpina & Narbonensis…which cost me a Legion fighting the natives.
My objectives secured I took a risk and spent my last 100 talents on buying a Legion to invade Illyria, success.
Lastly, I moved my Consul to reinforce the Legion in Cisalpina, as he could retreat to Italia if defeated next Turn.
I left Africa for next Turn, as I felt safe from any Maghreb attacks as Sicily was now mine.
(In reality, Rome conquered Carthage in the 3rd Punic War in 146 BC, i.e Turn 2).
6 Prestige points in Turn 1, one above average, which ain’t bad.