The Art of War in the Roman Republic

For the Roman Republic, the path to military pre-eminence in the Mediterranean world was neither easy nor direct. The Romans were blessed with a large, patriotic pool of citizen soldiers - who were the salvation of the country on many occasions. However, they were cursed by a political system that often gave command of armies to inept Consuls who were inflexible military leaders. Time after time, Roman Republic suffered horrific defeats due to these circumstances, but survived, learned to adapt, and ultimately perfected the most capable and powerful army of the age.

Explore the evolution of the Roman military system from the early battles against the brilliant, but quixotic, Pyrrhus of Epirus. Then against Hannibal of Carthage, one of the Great Captains of History, in some of the major battles of the Second Punic War.

The original SPQR game contained five classic ancient battles. Deluxe SPQR contains those five (Cynoscephaele, Zama, Cannae, Bagradas Plains, and Beneventum) plus nine more battles!

Most of the new SPQR battles come from long out-of-print SPQR game modules, Pyrrhic Victory, Consul for Rome, Africanus, War Elephant, Jugurtha, and from C3i Magazine.

Step back into the pages of ancient history. You have been elected Consul of Rome. Take command of your Roman Legions, lead them to victory, and see if you can return to Rome leading a triumphal procession, and remember all glory is fleeting..

SPQR is an acronym for Senatus Populusque Romanus (the Senate and the Roman People).

Contents:

• 5 Full-color Counter Sheets
• 5 Double-sided Maps
• Rule Booklet
• Two Scenario Booklets
• Player Aid Cards
• 1 Ten-sided Die
• Barbarian counter sheet, double0sided map, scenario booklet

Battles:

• Heraclea - 280 BC (Pyrrhic Victory)
• Ausculum - 279 BC (Pyrrhic Victory)
• Beneventum - 275 BC (SPQR)
• Bagradas Plains - 255 BC (SPQR)
• Trebbia - 218 BC (Consul for Rome)
• Cannae - 216 BC (SPQR)
• Baecula - 208 BC (Africanus)
• The Metaurus - 207 BC (Consul for Rome)
• Ilipa - 206 BC (Africanus)
• The Great Plains - 204 BC (C3i No.4)
• Zama - 202 BC (SPQR)
• Cynoscephalae - 197 BC (SPQR)
• Magnesia - 190 BC (War Elephant)
• The Muthul River - 109 BC (Jugurtha)

Scale:

Time – 20 minutes per game turn

Map – 70 yards per hex

Unit – 100-150 infantry or 100 cavalry per strength point

Awards:

• Charles S. Roberts Best Game of the Year
• Origins Best Game of the Year