To the table came six players from three generations, including a father, his millenial-age son, a lad of 12, and three guys from the late 30s to late 50s. None had ever played Ancient Civilizations of the Inner Sea before.

I spent no more than five minutes on the rules, had them draw starting positions at random (rather than choose) and told them I would not let them build Wonders on the first turn, so they could see how the game plays and thus get a better understanding of what each Wonder could do.

Spencer Clough was Rome (Red) and his son, Ben, played Mauretania (Blue). K. Andrew Barry was Egypt (Purple), Kevin LaChance took Gaul (Yellow), Robert Dunn was Carthage (Brown) and Will Valentine – at 12 the youngest at the table was Troy (Green).

All is Peace and Love and Goodness…But Not for Long

Everyone quickly made deals as to where to go and where not to go. Young Will was particular to quite literally draw lines in the sand in the Levant and Greece, promising Egypt and Rome he would leave them alone if they stayed behind those lines. Gaul and Rome, and Rome and Carthage made similar agreements, as did Gaul and Mauretania….yet, somehow, someone in their lower ranks got their lines crossed, as a volcano erupted in the middle of Spain – which the Gauls were able to Negate.

Mauretania and Gaul Unleash Hell Upon One Another

Mauretania and Gaul went at it and went at it hard, as they hurled floods, volcanoes, earthquakes, plagues, heresy, blasphemy, and more at one another.

“You know I have the kind of cards that can sink Greece”

As Rome began to encroach into the no-man’s land of Greece, young Will told Spencer quietly “You know I have the kind of cards that can sink Greece?” Spencer took the hint.

Sometimes It is More Fun to Be Last Than First

Mauretania was getting the worst of things in its war with Gaul, but Ben Clough refused to make peace, even though he was in last place. Rather than make peace or take the Aenas option (which would let him abandon Mauretania and come in next turn as a different civilization) Ben decided to see if he could stick it out…and then discovered that it is sometimes more fun to be in last place than in first – as you get to play all of the really nasty MUST PLAY cards when them come in. Any guesses where and against whom they went?

Wars and Wonders… and the Kid Makes Good

As the game went from turn 2 through turn 3, all of the Wonders were built, Carthage and Rome skirmished at sea, and Gaul and Rome (and to a lesser extent, Egypt) were kept busy fending off pirates, sea peoples, northern hordes, and uprisings. The Trojans played a card that let them place disks in any one sea zone anywhere – which he did, right in the middle of where Rome, Gaul, Carthage and Mauretania met – thus gaining him a trade bonus from all four of those civilizations. The Epoch did not end on turns 2 or 3 (as it can) but went the full four turns. When we counted up points, the Egyptians kept their lead, Gaul was close behind, and Rome right behind them, with Carthage in the running…and Mauretania dead last but with a smile on his face.

Then we counted Troy’s point. Twelve-year-old Will had built 12 cities . He had two Wonders. That was 14 points. That also gave him the end of epoch bonuses for most cities and most Wonders. Like Sea Biscuit, he came from behind, raced right through the pack – and won by a nose.

Mauretania: 7

Carthage: 19

Rome: 20

Gaul: 24

Egypt: 25

Troy: 26

As we had agreed to play until noon, and it was, we did not do the change of epoch event (which would have been Black Death and would have laid waste to almost every city on the map – except some of Will’s). The change of epoch is mandatory if you are going to play another epoch, but optional if you are ending the game.

---