Expert
Alter
Spezial 2
Slave revolt in ROme
Spartacus
The Crisis of the Roman Republic 80-71 B.C.
Spartacus, dt. Spartakus, (died 71 v. Chr. in der Roman Republic of antique times) was a Roman slave and gladiator. He attained historical importance from his role as leader of a slave revolt named after him, in the ancient Roman Empire during the late phase of the Roman Republic.
His name is still a household word, at least since the novel of the same name made into a film in 1960, directed by Stanly Kubrik and Kirk Douglas playing Spartacus, being portrayed by Howard Fast as a proto communist. Especially in The GDR and other communist ideologies he was used as a symbol against suppression and servitude, Karl Marx saying “Spartacus was aiming for a communism of consumption”. He is also supposed to have told something to the Roman literate Appian that not only communists but also hysterics (should) take note of: “You must not risk your life for a spectacle, but for freedom!”
Spartacus obviously must be an important figurehead for communism and sowet satellite states, as even many sports clubs are named after him-
Be that as it may, the game we are talking about is less concerned with the person of Spartacus than with the political situation at the time of Spartacus and dictator Sulla:
Spartacus a card-driven game for two players based on game rounds, which simulates the conflict between a loose coalition of the parties around Sertorius and the Roman Republic controlled by Sulla. In the role of Sertorius one is meant to make the Republic collapse and then resurrect it to the status before the reforms of Sulla.
This game is based on the idea zu mirror the problems plaguing the Imperium Romanum in this era:
One one side we have Sulla, representing the Roman Impire.
He must face several opposing forces:
Marians and Populars have found themselves a leader in the person of Sertorius, who lands in Spain with an army and and confronts Rome, or more correctly, Sulla.
A little later Mithradatis VI enters the arena in Asia Minor and forces Rome into a war on two fronts. Of course Mithradates only pursued his own interests and probably thought the time auspicious. But from the point of view of the Roman Empire he is an enemy just as Sertorius and thus an opponent. And finally, Spartacus will cause uproar with his slave revolt in the heart of the realm.
Should the Republican player, though, enlist too many troops, the Roman Senate, too, will oppose him, represented by the anarchy track. Should he fail to put down the rebellion within the “green” part of the track, he does not win the game.
In fact, this games is restricted nearly completely to the implementation of strategic and tactical components which where dominant in those times, in addition it introduces historic aspects with the help of the strategy cards, as in Twilight Struggle, which provide the allure of the game. Movement over land and battle on land, siege etc. take up a lot of down time for a newcomer, but do not represent the actual game; it takes many games before one dares to try different strategies….
Compass Games has tried to introduce into the game as many facets of this conflict and the political situation as they could manage.
So the cards again and again introduce and interlock events that very strongly influence the game: Sundry generals, consuls or proconsuls are coming into play via these cards, Asia Minor and the Conflict with Mithradatis VI, the slave rebellion in Rome – an individual progress of the game is ensured, as the set comprises nearly 100 cards.
The leaders bring their own individual advantages into play, which especially the Republican player would not want to renounce.
But: Consuls and generals clinging to power too long where not very popular with the Senate because they constituted a danger for the empire, as the armies too often were loyal only to their general and not to the Senate, and to stick to a general for a second year directly results in negative consequences on the anarchy track.
Generally, the game is driven by the strategy cards, but an additional hardship is the necessity for each player to announce in advance in which region (Spain, Gallia, Italy or Asia Minor) he wants to use how many cards.
The event and surprise cards provide a command points value CP as well as an event. The CP value can be used to activate units or armies and to move them. The event cards are individually assigned to a faction and can only be used as an event by this faction. The surprise cards can be played by and faction, for instance in the function of a counter. Finally, resource cards offer possibilities to the player aside from the own hand of cards, their use however is tied to definite conditions.
A short resumé of the game:
- The Sertorian player determines who moves first in this round
- The Republican player chooses his consuls
- Players build up their reinforcements before their first move
- Players receive 6 strategy cards at the beginning, later 8, when Asia Minor is in play
- In the operation phase players alternate to play cards and make their moves.
- At the end of a round it is checked if victory conditions are met, then the wear and tear for winter is taken into account, some other details are checked and the crisis marker on the anarchy track is adjusted.
Spartacus demands military and political skills from the players to ensure their survival and the defeat of the opponent.
Due to the 32-page rulebook and the dice component/mechanism Spartacus is remindful of early american CoSim classics. It takes some strong willpower and a hint of masochism to struggle through the rules …. To find out in the end that conflicts are once again decided by the roll of dice!? I must confess the moment of this insight was rather frustating, especially as similar games often make do with less copious rules.
But if you hope to similar structured games as or better games than Twilight Struggle or Paths of Glory you must as a matter of fact be open to new ideas and willing to try them out – and that also includes the rule books ….
Roman Heinzinger
Spieler : 2
Alter : ages 12 and up
Dauer : ca. 180 min
Autor : John B. Firer
Grafik : Mark Mahaffey
Titel englisch : Spartacus
Preis : ca. 60,00 Euro
Verlag : Phalanx Games 2009
Genre : Historical CoSim
Zielgruppe : For experts
Mechanismus : Complex rules
Kommentar:
Card-driven historic simulation
Very copious rule book
Incorporates lots of minor historical events
Mirrors political situation rather than simulate conflicts
Vergleichbar:
Twilight Struggle, Paths of Glory
Atmosphäre: 6
Roman Heinzinger:
Spartacus is a game that will keep both players enthralled by its depth and its plethora of possibilties till the very end of the game.
Zufall 2
Taktik 3
Strategie__ 2
Kreativität
Wissen_ 2
Gedächtnis
Kommunikation
Interaktion 3
Geschicklichkeit
Action