Rome, LLC.: From Heraclius to Manzikert

Rome, LLC. is a solitaire or dual-player game depicting the Byzantine and Holy Roman Empires from Heraclius’s triumph over the Persians and the unification of the Merovingian Kingdoms in 629 CE until Constantinople fell to the Fourth Crusade in 1204 CE. You will still be running these empires like a business, but with new challenges. Every turn sees crises and challenges that the Player must deal with, to expand the empire, or simply to survive. Each turn represents 5-10 years, with 10 turns in each scenario. The Byzantine Emperor Heraclius triumphed over the Persians in 629 CE only to see the Arab Conquest reach the gates of Constantinople, but the Byzantine Empire survived the disaster thanks to its great wealth and cunning diplomacy. The Merovingian King Dagobert I united the Frankish kingdoms of Neustria, Austrasia and Burgundia in 629 CE, but his dynasty was replaced by the descendants of Charles Martel, whose victory at the Tours halted the Muslim invasion of Europe. His grandson Charlemagne expanded the Holy Roman Empire to the Pyrenees, Elbe, and Tiber and was crowned Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III in 800 CE. As CEOs of these corporate empires you appoint governors, raises taxes, deploy cavalry, guards, auxilia, forts and fleets to garrison provinces, and fights wars to expand the prestige and power of your empire. Victory is determined by earning Prestige, which is earned by imperial administration, annexing provinces, defeating wars, and paying for bread and circuses. The loss of Constantinople or Rome will result in a major defeat, but bankruptcy and unrest can destroy you as well. The Byzantine and Holy Roman Empires each have scenarios starting in in 629 CE, 715 CE, 814 CE, 912 CE, 1001 CE, and 1100 CE. These may be played solitaire, and the may be played side by side by one or two players working together to fight off the invading Arabs, Bulgars, Magyars, Moors, Vikings, Saxons, Slavs, and Turks. The scenarios may be extended into campaign games, including Rome, LLP, Rome, Inc, and Rome, IInc in a game lasting ninety turns and 1,600 years. Rome, LLC uses the system as Rome, Inc. and Rome, IInc. but pay attention to the new rules for Players (Section 1.3), Units (Section 2.2), Wars (Section 3.2), and Commanders (Module 5.0). 1.1 COMPONENTS Each copy of Rome, LLC contains the following. This Rulebook One Map (22” x 34”) One Countersheet with 280 ½ inch square counters One 4pp Player Aid Chart (PAC) insert —description from the designer