Game timetable

9.15am	  Briefing
9.30am 	  Start
9.30am	  Orgy at the House of Many Pleasures 
9.55am	  Military Turn 1 orders due in
10am	  Gladiatorial contests (Colisuem)
10.15am   Military Turn 2 orders due in
10.30am	  Orgy at the Palace of Infinite Bliss 
10.35am	  Military Turn 3 orders due in
10.55am	  Military Turn 4 orders due in
11am	  Chariot race (Circus Maximus)
11.35am	  Military Turn 5 orders due in
11.45pm  Public worship (Temples)
11.55am	  Military Turn 6 orders due in
12.15pm	  Military Turn 7 (Final) orders due in
12.30pm  Game ends
	  Final status of Roma is decided
	  Any Emperor is acclaimed
  Any Emperor makes laws
  Debrief

Politics in the Republic:
How things get done

Making policy – the Senate

There are a number of things that may get voted on during the game.  These include:
•	Raising new Legions
•	Providing food and entertainments for the Plebians
•	Changing the Republic’s laws
•	Replacing a Consul

Two Senators must jointly propose a vote.  When this is done they then have thirty minutes to get at least five Senators to support their vote.  If they do so, the vote is passed.

All voting is public.  When a vote is called, a sheet is created for the vote and the individual votes of each Senator are written on that sheet.

Note that if a senator does not vote in time, this is counted as a vote against the proposal.  Some proposals may add or subtract popularity to those voting for or against them.

If a vote does not require expenditure (e.g. Replacing a Consul) it is enacted immediately upon being passed.  Otherwise, it is up to the Consuls to act.

Enacting policy – the Consuls

The two Consuls jointly control Roma’s treasury.  If they wish to spend money to enact a passed vote they must both agree.

The consuls may not spend money other than to enact votes passed by the Senate.

NB/ Consuls, even the one selected from the Senate, are not Senators and have no votes.

Appointing or removing Senators

The Censor, presently Senator Drucius, has the responsibility of proposing both new Senators and the removal of Senators who are not suitable.

The Censor may at any time call for a vote for the removal of a Senator.  This is then voted on normally.

If there are ever fewer than nine Senators (the maximum number), the Censor may propose one character (who must be a Patrician or a Plebian – and not a General or Priest) as a new Senator.  This proposal is then voted on normally.  NB/ There are only eight Senators at the start of the game.

A removed Senator’s votes cast prior to their moment of removal still count.  A new Senator may start voting immediately.

The appointment of a new Censor to replace the present one is a standard Senate vote.

Full list of possible Senate votes with costs

Names of characters, planets etc must always be given in these votes so that each vote is always a Yes or No (or For/Against) decision.

•	Raise a new Legion on planet Y to be commanded by X (who must be a Patrician or a General).  The Legion starts at 1 strength.  Cost: 5 gold.
•	Feed the Plebians.  If enacted, the two Senators who proposed this vote each gain 2 popularity.  Cost: 2 gold.
•	Entertain the Plebians.  If enacted, the two Senators who proposed this vote and the two Consuls each gain 1 popularity.  Cost: 2 gold.
•	Legalise marriage between Patricians and Plebians. No cost.
•	Forbid marriage between Patricians and Plebians (can only be proposed if the previous law has already been passed). No cost.
•	Repeal slavery without compensation.  If enacted, all Slaves immediately become free Subjects of Roma (unless they were born in Roma in which case they become Citizens).  No cost.
•	Repeal slavery with compensation.  If enacted, all Slaves immediately become free Subjects of Roma (unless they were born in Roma in which case they become Citizens).   and their owners at the time of enactment each gain 1 gold.  Cost: 3 gold.
•	Dismiss Consul X and replace them with person Y.  Both persons must be the same class – e.g. if X is the Patrician Consul then Y must be a Senator.  No cost.  (NB/ Priests and Generals may not be made Consul.  If the Patrician Consul is replaced then they return to the Senate and may vote again).
•	Dismiss the Censor and replace them with Senator X.  No cost.
•	Grant full citizenship rights to Subjects (effectively turns all Subjects into Plebians with all associated rights).  Cost: 2 gold.
•	Grant equality to all Romans (effectively turns all Plebians into Patricians with all associated rights.  If this is passed, the restriction of the Consuls to one Patrician and one Plebian is removed).  Cost: 5 gold.
•	Declare X the Republican Religion.  One God (Jupiter, Apollo, Mars or Attis) becomes the sole official God of the Republic and other religions/temples are declared illegal.  The High Priest of the new Republican Religion gains 3 popularity, a vote in the Senate and 6 influence points to spend.  The other three High Priests each lose 1 popularity and 2 influence points (if they have them).  The illegal churches may continue to operate underground without further penalty, however the Priests revert to their original class.  No cost.
•	Legalise worship of X. The named religion, which must be presently criminal, becomes legalised.  The Priest becomes Patrician class and gains 1 popularity and 2 influence to spend.
•	Criminalise worship of X.  The named religion, which must be presently legal, becomes criminalised.  The Priest reverts to their original class and loses 1 popularity and 2 influence (if they have them).  The newly illegal church may continue to operate underground without further penalty.

Money in the Republic

There are two units of currency in the game.  The main unit is Gold.  1 gold, represented by a gold poker chip, is a very large sum of money indeed.  Gold is the currency used to do most things in the game.

The secondary unit of currency is Sestercii.  1 Sestercii, represented by a white poker chip, is not much money at all – except to a slave.  If a slave can raise 12 Sestercii they may buy their freedom (give the money to a GM) and become a Subject of Rome.

Gold and Sestercii are not exchangeable.  Slaves may not use Gold to buy their freedom.

Several characters start the game with Gold, as does Roma’s treasury.  More may be raised during the game, for example by:
•	Conquering planets
•	Income from large estates
•	Merchant and Procurer income

How to become Emperor

At the end of the game, it is possible that a character will be in a strong enough position to be declared Emperor.

In order to achieve this, a candidate needs two of the following three things:
•	A High level of popularity amongst the ordinary Citizens of Roma 
•	The support of whoever (if anybody) has effective military control of Roma and the Roman Homeworlds
•	A Senate vote in favour of their becoming Emperor

The process, and all possible outcomes at the end of the game, is detailed in the Game End Flowchart.

Popularity

Every character, slaves included, has a level of Popularity with Roma’s populace.  This measure combines public knowledge of them with actual liking for them and goes from Zero upwards.

The four popularity levels are:
0 to 10		Unpopular (or unknown)
11 to 20		Disliked (or little known)
21 to 30		Quite popular
31 to 40		Highly popular
41 or more	Extremely popular

At the game end, characters who are either Highly or Extremely popular (i.e. > 30 points) are deemed to have High popularity.

An individual’s exact popularity score is always secret, but their rough level is always know.

Many abilities and other activities can change popularity levels, but there are four special areas with big potential impacts:

The Games

During the game there will be a Chariot Race and a Gladiatorial Contest.  At the start of each, the manager of the appropriate Arena will announce to the crowd the name of the tournament’s sponsor (which they may decide freely).  The sponsor gains 6 popularity.

The sponsor of the winning team in each contest may also ‘award’ their victory to somebody – giving them 6 popularity.

The actual winning charioteer or gladiator (or whoever controls them, given they may be an item) gains 6 popularity personally.  They may also use their moment of glory to speak out publicly for or against someone – giving or removing another 6 points.

The Gods

Each High Priest can speak out for or against individuals and so raise or lower their popularity.  The amount of influence each priest can exert is determined by the number of followers they can get for their God.

Triumphs

If a General has achieved a military victory during the game then the Consuls may elect to allow them a Triumph or victory parade.  This consists of a ceremonial march through the streets of Roma to display the spoils of war.

Each General may only have one Triumph in the game and it must be approved by both Consuls to be allowed.

The Triumphant General gains 10 popularity and may choose two other characters to parade with them and so share in the glory.  Each of these gains 5 popularity.
Oratory

Many characters have are skilled in Oratory (an ability).  The amount of attention the public pays to them depends on this skill and how much effort they are prepared to put in (in the form of Blue tokens)

Religion

There are four religions in the game.  These are worship of Jupiter (King of the Gods), Apollo (God of the Stars), Mars (God of War) and Attis (about whom little is publicly known).

Worship of Attis is a new religion, arrived relatively recently in Roma.  It is presently illegal.

Each of the religions has a High Priest (the term Priest is used interchangeably with this in these rules), three of whom are publicly known.  High Priests cannot change during the game.

There will be a public act of worship at all the temples at 11.45am.  The number of worshippers at each temple will help determine the power of each religion.

If your character worships a particular God fervently, you may want to give the priest of that God one or more Blue tokens.

Blue tokens

Every character starts with five Blue tokens (blue poker chips).  These represent influence, spirit and other non-tangible things and are transferrable between players.  They're not physical items but represent one character supporting another somehow.

Exactly what a blue chip does depends on when they are used and by whom.  Some characters can use them in combat; some can use them to affect the popularity of people or senate votes; and spectators and competitors can use them at the chariot race and gladiatorial games to support their favourite team.

Game End flowchart

This page determines the final outcome of the game: An Emperor, a Republic or Civil War.

Start at 1)

1) All characters High popularity (Highly popular or Extremely popular) are revealed

2) The character with military control (of Roma and the Homeworlds) is revealed

3) The character with military control gives Military support to their choice for Emperor if they wish

4) Has someone got both High popularity and Military support?
- YES – Go to Outcome 1
- NO – continue to 5)

5) Has at least one person got either High popularity or Military support?
- NO – Continue to 6)
- YES – go to 8)

6) Has somebody got military control?
- YES – Continue to 7)
- NO – go to Outcome 2

7) The person with military control decides if they will rule as Dictator or support the rule of the Consuls and Senate
- Dictatorship – go to Outcome 3
- Consuls & Senate – go to Outcome 2

8) Each Senator now votes by secret ballot for either one of the possible candidates or for a continued Republic.  In the event of a tie the Plebian Consul selects the winner.
- Candidate got most votes – continue to 9)
- Republic got most votes – go to 10)

9) Does the person with Military control support the new Emperor?
- YES (or no control) – go to Outcome 4
- NO – go to Outcome 5

10) Does the person with Military control support the continuation of the republic?
- YES (or no control) – go to Outcome 2
- NO – go to Outcome 3

Outcome 1: Strong Emperor
•	The individual with High popularity and Military support becomes Emperor, ruling alone
•	The Senate, having proved to be irrelevant, is dissolved and the two positions of Consul cease to exist
•	The Emperor may execute or exile any character save High Priests and the person with military control.  Any land, property, slaves, title or troops of exiled/executed characters become the Emperor’s to distribute freely
•	The Emperor becomes Patrician class
•	The Emperor takes control of Roma’s treasury and may enact any laws at the normal cost.  Note that this includes declaring a State religion and/or making any or all religions legal or illegal.

Outcome 2: Continued Republic
•	The Republic continues as before
•	Senators, Consuls and Generals remain in their posts.

Outcome 3: Dictatorship
•	The new Dictator takes command of the Republic
•	The new Dictator may execute or exile any character.  Any land, property, slaves, title or troops of exiled/executed characters become the Dictator’s to distribute freely
•	The Senate is dissolved and the two positions of Consul cease to exist
•	The Dictator may appoint one or two Advisors to support their rule and share some power.
•	The Dictator takes control of the Roma’s treasury and may enact laws at normal cost.  Note that this includes declaring a State religion and/or making any or all religions legal or illegal.

Outcome 4: Emperor
•	An Emperor takes charge, ruling with the support of the Senate
•	The two positions of Consul cease to exist
•	The Emperor may execute or exile any character save High Priests, Senators and the person with military control.  Any land, property, slaves, title or troops of exiled/executed characters become the Emperor’s to distribute freely
•	The Emperor becomes Patrician class
•	The Emperor takes control of Roma’s treasury and may enact laws at normal cost, subject to the approval of five senators.  Note that this includes declaring a State religion and/or making any or all religions legal or illegal.

Outcome 5: Civil War
•	An Emperor has been declared, but the Military power resists
•	The Republic degenerates into Civil War