As we have a little extra time before going into production (due to delays caused by the current China trade situation, as GMT explained); we have been toying around with some minor tweaks to the game. Two of those are slight changes to the Gaul and Rome Civilization Displays, both of which now boast an extra bit of welcome chrome.
First, the Gauls: They are no longer merely the “Warrior Culture” but are now the “Wealthy Warrior Culture.” They retain their former advantages but now have an additional one: they gain a Talent at the start of each turn’s Competition Phase.
Any other Civilizations that gain one or more Talents do so in other phases; which means they are available to buy off losses during Card Play. The Gauls, however, do not get theirs until the Competition Phase – but that means they have it for use in conflicts to expend instead of removing a Tile. Also, while their other bonuses ONLY come into effect in Competition (a use it or lose it pair of Tile bonuses), if the Gauls are not in Competition, or do not need the Talent for it, they will have that Talent for the next turn.
This reflects the great wealth and skill of the goldsmiths, jewelers and other craftsmen of the Gauls (whose torques were highly prized as trophies and adornments), as well as their battle ferocity. After all, Brennus captured Rome in 387 BC (Epoch III of our game), and Vercingetorix surely gave the great Caesar a run for his money three and a half centuries later (Epoch IV of our game).
Speaking of Caesar, we modified the Rome Civilization Display so that during his and his successors’ era (Epoch IV) the Romans can use two of their bonus White Tiles not only for defending Rome and the areas adjacent to the Homeland, but also can now use those White Tiles in ANY Land Area where the Romans are either involved in Competition – or want to start one.
This ability to initiate a Land Competition is similar to the Minoan ability to initiate a Sea Competition. See our “Meet the Minoans” article for more regarding that powerful nautical Civilization.
This “Imperial Rome” bonus is available only during Epoch IV (100 BC – 500 AD). It gives the Romans a chance to sprint to the finish in a long game and makes Rome a real force to be reckoned with in short games that start in Epoch III or IV, as well as in the Fall of Rome scenarios, and in two other Historical Scenario Set Ups: Anthony and Cleopatra, and Caesar vs. Pompey.
So Veni. Vedi, Vici!
Article written by Mark McLaughlin, edited by Fred Schachter, and signed off on by Christopher Vorder Bruegge
Author: Mark McLaughlin
Hello Mark,
I read in the Treasury boix display that “unexpended talents are lost”. Is it only at the end of each Epoch? because you write about Gaul “they will have that Talent for the next turn.”, so I am a bit confused.
Still hope to see the rules sometimes ahead of the game, espececially before they get printed.
Denis
when the EPOCH ends (and there are up to four turns in an Epoch) you can buy victory points at three talents each…any talents left are unexpended and lost. The gauls get this talent at the start of the Competition phase…which can come in mighty handy in a fight. If the EPOCH ends, it might be enough to let them pay for a VP…if the Epoch does not end, they have that talent in card phase to buy a card, or for use in the next turn for any number of uses…..like paying to save a Tile from a card, Competition etc