I've always liked Rome and usually have a game that I am playing at any time usually around others, almost always abandoned after a while. Equally have been meaning to make one into an AAR for a while (blame Slan for this, he suggested somewhere it was an idea to make an AAR out of every game you own). Now one reason for not having done so was waiting to see if a particular game developed in a way that was worth writing up.
One thing about Rome, almost unique in the Paradox games, is the late starts are interesting and just very different. I always liked reading of the drama, turmoil and clash of great ideas (go read Cicero on liberty) of the last century of the Republic. So for this game I started in 647AUC (102BC?), Rome is master of the Western Mediterranean, has conquered Greece and has a foothold in Asia Minor. So the debate isn't really can you lose (in any conventional sense) and it is as much about internal disputes as expansion (as it should be).
The style will be History Book and thematic within blocks of time (each chapter will cover 10-15 years.depending a bit on how the main events break out). Each post will be thematic within that, some focussing on small events, some on major wars or even a single important battle.
Now, you, dear readers know this anyway, but indulge me a little. The Punic Curse fell on Rome after she heeded Cato the Elder's constant refrain "Carthago delenda est" when Cathage was under Rome's protection after defeat in the second Punic War. Roman fear of Carthage ran deep, as did prejudice against her strange gods and rites (including worshipping Astarte or Hecate, Queen of the Witches [1]). At the end of the third war, Carthage was destroyed, its fields sown with salt and its population sold into slavery. At the time the curse was placed on Carthage by the Romans to stop it ever recovering. Later on it was believed that Rome itself had been cursed, as the wealth and power that flowed after the war corrupted the old Republican values (tosh, but a theme I'll stick to). Thus the old oligarchic, landowning republic of free men became one where mere wealth bought power and citizenship was open to all while the land was worked by slaves.
[1] - nope she plays no part in this AAR
One thing about Rome, almost unique in the Paradox games, is the late starts are interesting and just very different. I always liked reading of the drama, turmoil and clash of great ideas (go read Cicero on liberty) of the last century of the Republic. So for this game I started in 647AUC (102BC?), Rome is master of the Western Mediterranean, has conquered Greece and has a foothold in Asia Minor. So the debate isn't really can you lose (in any conventional sense) and it is as much about internal disputes as expansion (as it should be).
The style will be History Book and thematic within blocks of time (each chapter will cover 10-15 years.depending a bit on how the main events break out). Each post will be thematic within that, some focussing on small events, some on major wars or even a single important battle.
Now, you, dear readers know this anyway, but indulge me a little. The Punic Curse fell on Rome after she heeded Cato the Elder's constant refrain "Carthago delenda est" when Cathage was under Rome's protection after defeat in the second Punic War. Roman fear of Carthage ran deep, as did prejudice against her strange gods and rites (including worshipping Astarte or Hecate, Queen of the Witches [1]). At the end of the third war, Carthage was destroyed, its fields sown with salt and its population sold into slavery. At the time the curse was placed on Carthage by the Romans to stop it ever recovering. Later on it was believed that Rome itself had been cursed, as the wealth and power that flowed after the war corrupted the old Republican values (tosh, but a theme I'll stick to). Thus the old oligarchic, landowning republic of free men became one where mere wealth bought power and citizenship was open to all while the land was worked by slaves.
[1] - nope she plays no part in this AAR
Index
Chapter One: The loss of innocence 647AUC-662 AUC
External Matters
Introduction
North Africa
The Slave Revolts
Spain
Gaul
Illyria, pt 1
Illyria, pt 2
The East
Domestic Politics
The Consuls 647-659 AUC
The Civil War
A Moment of Panic, November 658-March 659
Turning the Tide, April 659-July 660
The Senate Triumphant, July 660 - February 662
Chapter Two: Triumph in the West 662-679 AUC
Introduction
The Trial of Gaius Marius
The development of the Legions
The Danube
The career of Titus Didius
The Vindelicia Campaign 674-676 AUC
The trial of Sertorius
Domestic Affairs
The revolts in Ager Bruttius, 662-673
Domestic Politics,662-667, the dominance of the Religious Faction
Domestic Politics, 667-679, the rise of the Mercantalist Faction
The North African Campaigns
The Second Numidian War 665-673
The Third Numidian War 677-678
The lure of the East
Seleucid expansion and Roman gains
Chapter Three: Expansion and Civil Strife, 679-693 AUC
Introduction
Gaul
The Gallic Wars 679-681 AUC
The Gallic Wars 684-693 AUC
Domestic Politics
Cinna's Revolt 681-683 AUC
Domestic Politics, 678-687 AUC
Domestic Politics, 687-693 AUC
Domestic Revolts, 680-690 AUC
The East
The First Syrian War 683-685 AUC
The Second Syrian War 686-693 AUC
Conclusion
The Danubian Campaigns and the Fourth Roman-Numidian War
Book Four - Consolidation and Domestic Strife 693-704 AUC
The Populists Ascendent, 693-695 AUC
The changing nature of Roman politics, 695-699 AUC
The Third Syrian War, 699-701 AUC
Piso seizes power, September-October 701 AUC
Piso's consulship, 701-704 AUC
Book Five - The Crisis in the West, 704-711 AUC
Disaster in Britain, 704-711 AUC
The Gallic Crisis, 705-708 AUC
Pulcher's Gallic Revolt, 709-711 AUC
Domestic Politics, 704-711 AUC
Epilogue
Chapter One: The loss of innocence 647AUC-662 AUC
External Matters
Introduction
North Africa
The Slave Revolts
Spain
Gaul
Illyria, pt 1
Illyria, pt 2
The East
Domestic Politics
The Consuls 647-659 AUC
The Civil War
A Moment of Panic, November 658-March 659
Turning the Tide, April 659-July 660
The Senate Triumphant, July 660 - February 662
Chapter Two: Triumph in the West 662-679 AUC
Introduction
The Trial of Gaius Marius
The development of the Legions
The Danube
The career of Titus Didius
The Vindelicia Campaign 674-676 AUC
The trial of Sertorius
Domestic Affairs
The revolts in Ager Bruttius, 662-673
Domestic Politics,662-667, the dominance of the Religious Faction
Domestic Politics, 667-679, the rise of the Mercantalist Faction
The North African Campaigns
The Second Numidian War 665-673
The Third Numidian War 677-678
The lure of the East
Seleucid expansion and Roman gains
Chapter Three: Expansion and Civil Strife, 679-693 AUC
Introduction
Gaul
The Gallic Wars 679-681 AUC
The Gallic Wars 684-693 AUC
Domestic Politics
Cinna's Revolt 681-683 AUC
Domestic Politics, 678-687 AUC
Domestic Politics, 687-693 AUC
Domestic Revolts, 680-690 AUC
The East
The First Syrian War 683-685 AUC
The Second Syrian War 686-693 AUC
Conclusion
The Danubian Campaigns and the Fourth Roman-Numidian War
Book Four - Consolidation and Domestic Strife 693-704 AUC
The Populists Ascendent, 693-695 AUC
The changing nature of Roman politics, 695-699 AUC
The Third Syrian War, 699-701 AUC
Piso seizes power, September-October 701 AUC
Piso's consulship, 701-704 AUC
Book Five - The Crisis in the West, 704-711 AUC
Disaster in Britain, 704-711 AUC
The Gallic Crisis, 705-708 AUC
Pulcher's Gallic Revolt, 709-711 AUC
Domestic Politics, 704-711 AUC
Epilogue
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