|
‘The End of the Triumvirate’ by Johannes Ackva and Max Gabrian
Dicken arrives at Kendall’s, giving time for drinks and nibbles to hit the table before a muffled knock at the door (cue the Harry Lime theme). The third man for tonight’s game is Chris. It’s his first visit, but seems instantly relaxed and at ease when first meeting Abigail (Kendall’s youngest) and then being politely introduced to Tao and Flint (the cats). Dicken is last to shake hands.
Tonight’s game, ‘The End of the Triumvirate’ is already set up and Kendall is quickly into explaining the rules. Though relatively concise, these have been written in such a way that even after several reads and a preliminary play-through they refuse to stick in the mind. Kendall dots around from one point of focus to another. Fortunately both Chris and Dicken are wide-awake and chip in with patient questions to help clarify. Half way and Kendall notices a rule previously over-looked. But that’s the only one – and it’s game on.
Dicken is Caesar and goes first. First up he moves his ‘Governors’ in and out of the supply boxes in the five provinces he owns. Despite the Hokey-Cokey feel, this is a very neat system. It allows Gold and Legions to be raised on alternate turns, and in so doing helps keep the map situation rather more volatile than one might presume. Further Gold or Legions can be raised from Rome and it’s clear that by choosing Legions, Dicken is opting for a military strategy. Dicken moves his ‘Character’ (square of wood – too abstract for Dicken’s liking). The maximum move is four spaces, but again this is enough to achieve a satisfying amount, whether travelling via the Mediterranean to collect Gold or moving a body of Legions into combat. Dicken concludes his turn by improving his military competence.
Chris (aka Pompey) moves calmly and smoothly through his turn – an artist at work. It might help that he’s drinking squash, but this is clearly a man who knows what he’s about. Exuding confidence, he slices a Province from Crassus’ North African holdings (‘Like a surgeon’s knife – Bang!’). It’s hard to believe he hasn’t played this game before. In a twinkle of an eye the turn is over (cue theme music).
Kendall (Crassus) has played before (albeit briefly) and completes his turn without much action, but with plenty of Gold. His attentions turn to the political strategy and he is able to raise his competence and move a ‘Citizen’ in the Forum to support Crassus’ ambition therein.
Some interesting characteristics of the rules:
- English translation by Germans (not a good thing, but not a bad job of it)
- Johannes and Max exchange thanks with each other in the credits (very polite)
Dicken dithers in a very un-Caesar-like way. Then, equally surprising he crosses the Rubicon and relieves Pompey of Rome. Chris moves Pompey to deepest Espania and licks his wounds / bides his time. Kendall / Crassus takes Egypt from Dicken / Caesar and then collects yet more Gold, enough indeed, to entice more Citizen’s to his political faction in the Forum.
Dicken announces that Kendall will inevitably win the first Consulate. Consequently, he chooses to ignore the political option (again) and builds more legions.
The military option is undoubtedly more fun to play. Attacks are simple exchanges presaged by drawing ‘Weapons’ from a cloth bag. Draw your own weapon and kill a legion. As with the ‘Wallenstein’ tower, seeding the cloth bag gives greater chance of success amidst the slings and arrows. Dicken and Chris are keen to seed – plans are afoot.
Kendall / Crassus duly wins the Consulate. The rules suggest a speech is called for, but Dicken suggests otherwise. He is far more interested in Crassus losing three of his supporters in the Forum. Kendall claims a second Civil Servant (a cheery fellow who helps with the all important supply management) and then continues collecting Gold and working the Citizen’s in the forum.
Logic suggests that either Pompey or Caesar must challenge politically as Crassus only needs another Consulate to win the game. Dicken reads it different and seeds the bag. Over to Chris…..
K – R3. Pompey re-takes Rome! Kendall can’t believe his luck. More Gold, more Citizens!
Dicken has a plan – well sort of. His plan is that Pompey will deal with Crassus, leaving Caesar to mop up on the military option. To win the military victory, requires control of nine provinces. Hmmm! Some plan… More seeds in the bag.
Pompey has raised an army of eight legions in Sicily. The bag is well-seeded with Pompey’s weapons whereas Crassus has only one in there. Chris announces his intention to conquer four provinces – which would be game, set and match. He sets off boldly and trashes the first of Crassus’ weakly defended provinces. But then (dum-de-dum-de-dum)… hesitation. Crassus receives ‘Compensation’ of one weapon in the bag (all very historical??). Chris considers his options and withdraws.
More Gold, more Citizens and hey, it’s Victory for Crassus. Quite a surprise, but then it does help to have read the rules.
Chris and Dicken re-play the Pompey attack option and find it a close run thing. Kendall senses a victory somewhat tarnished.
The consensus is that ‘The End of the Triumvirate’ is a very good package with strong systems and thematic integrity, well-tested. It’s not the sort of game for less assured gamers as it’s knife edge, knives out stuff. Players have to have their wits about them as things can happen pretty quick. Oh – it’s also limited to three players, which makes it good for some evenings and not others.
General chat ensues ranging across games and gamers. Chris reveals that he was amongst the testers of ‘Tigris- Euphrates’ so the Ragnars pick at his knowledge of Reiner et al. There’s a chance that Dicken and Chris might bump into each other at Essen, otherwise we hope to see him again soon. Exeunt (cue music).
The following week……
Kendall and Dicken enlist Paul to try ‘Triumvirate’ once more. Paul being the novice this time sits manfully through the rules while Dicken, with a predatory glint in his eye, plies the drinks and Pringles.
This time it’s Dicken who grabs the gold and starts greasing the palms of the citizens in the forum. The start set up does favour one player in terms of gold over the others and if this player starts up the old ‘vox populi’ machine, from the very outset, then it seems almost inevitable that they will take the first Consul. If this occurs then it’s imperative that the other two start to influence the voters otherwise it’s going to be game over before they know it. Having a novice to the game makes this even more likely as they probably won’t see the speed with which the game can slip away from them.
Needless to say Paul is distracted by the military options and Kendall is lamenting an inevitable Dicken victory almost as soon as he takes the first Consul. The game combines an older style war game with a resource management feel. In this case the resource management comes in the form of players having to plan their moves bearing in mind where their ‘Governor’ will end their turn, because this determines what sorts of actions will be available to them. The turn order being: Collect resources; Move and/or Combat; Actions.
It is the Actions that are crucial to winning the game. Even though these two outings seem to indicate a flaw in the game it’s only a flaw when you have players who are new to the game. I suspect that when all 3 know the rules ‘Triumvirate’ will become a very good strategy game with some fine decision making holding the key to victory.
The components are good quality and the map board is clear and pleasing to the eye.
Go to top of page
|
