The Sword of Rome - Four Ways

After a miracle of schedule coordination, we were able to get all of us together to play this game again, but this time there would be four of us.  Simon was the Etruscans/Samnites, Richard the Greeks, Jeff the Romans and I was the Gauls.

Unfortunately these games can be a bugger to photograph, but at least with digital cameras it can easily be done and at no cost.  That said, maybe if I had to use an old 35mm SLR I would take more care in setting up the shot.

End of Turn 1.

Trans Gauls have invaded and reduced Gallic VP to 5

Romans have picked up one (possibly by card play) and now have 7 Vps

The rest are on their starting 6 VPs

End of Turn 2

The Trans-Gauls are still there and the Gallic VP should now be 4

(we were doing this wrong as home VPs don't count, 

it is only home lost and new ones gained that matter and these add or subtract each turn)

The Romans should be on 7 VPs

The Greeks are down to 5 VPs having lost Syracuse to the Carthaginians

And the Etruscan/Samnites are still on their starting 6 VPs.

There is a Roman-Etruscan alliance that saved the Etruscan mines from depleting

(as the Gauls had taken three provinces and another two were cut off)

End of Turn 3

The Trans Gauls have been dealt with, but the Samnites have talken a Gallic VP location,

so now the Gauls are down to 3 VPs.

The Greeks have recovered Syracuse but lost Thuria and should be down to 4 VPs.

The Romans gain another VP and are now on 8.

The Etruscan/Samnites should now be on 7 VPs.

End of Turn 4

The Gauls have recovered their home VP provinces,

but the accumulated previous losses leaves them on 3 VPs.

The Etruscans/Samnites should be on 7 Vps.

The Romans should be on 8 VPs 

and the Greeks go up to 5 VPs having taken Lilybaeum

End of Turn 5

The Gauls lose another VP as the Etruscans have taken a VP location along the coast.

Thanks to some successful battles, the Gauls have 3 VPs.

The Romans remain on 8 VPs.

The Etruscans/Samnites should be on 8 VPs as well.

The Greeks are now 7 VPs as they still hold Lilybaeum and picked up one in Sicily.

The game finished after Turn 6 (short campaign scenario) and was packed up too quick before I could take a photo. Doh!

At the end the Greeks had taken a VP location from the Etruscans and the Gauls had recovered Genoa.

So the Greeks would be on 10 VPs.  The Gauls on 3 VPs, the Etruscans/Samnites would be on 7 VPs. Despite the play of Desperate Times cards, the Romans remained on 8 VPs.

The four player game had become something of a stalemate, especially around Napoles for the Greeks and Romans. That said, an enjoyable, challenging and intriguing game.  Looking forward to playing again, possibly with five players.