After two heats and seven boards, the final six players met to negotiate over the method of crushing into submission various barbarian hordes (and each other). Seven of the eight games ended by high Influence. In one game, the Republic fell prey to barbarian hordes. The Final also ended this way as they ran out of time, and so technically we would probably say that Rome fell; however, this was the final with no further advancement determined on whether the game won or not.

There have been a few proposals to change the advancement or victory conditions for the tournament. All such alternate systems have had their disadvantages. It would be nice if there were more open Rebellions or Consul for Life votes. However, the skill level in the tournament is such that these dangers are carefully monitored by the players. Rarely is someone close to even attempting a Rebellion or Consul for Life vote, let alone succeeding. Changing the scoring system to encourage these alternate victory conditions would probably accomplish nothing other than to cause the players to be even more strident against them.

It was great to see players who learned the game last year come back again. It was also nice to see some additional Diplomacy players join in on the fun! Thanks one and all for the continued interest in Republic of Rome!

Will "Sandy" Wible
Republic of Rome GM

Summary of last few turns of the Final Game
(with thanks to Rob Seulowitz and Chris Bodkin for their efforts)

Here is an account of the disintegration - that is, the resolution - of the final game.

It all began when Chris Bodkin stole Lucinius Lucullus (nullifies all Disaster/Standoff results) and another senator from Brett Mingo. Lucinius already had 15 Influence, and could easily become Field Consul again because of looming wars. Nick Benedict stole one of Brett's senators, also. The thefts left Brett in last place (after which he adjusted his strategy to keep some money in faction treasury). As things turned out, eventually both of Chris' new senators (one with over 100 Talents) would die from "Nick the Knife". But that is looking ahead.

Meanwhile, one of Brett's remaining Senators was unanimously approved as Rome Consul, though it turned out Tom Phillips was holding the leash. Tom played him like a violin! They sent Rob Seulowitz' Julius Caesar out of town to govern Sicily (this was good protection for him, as he was up to 14 Inf, but he had 7 Knights so his 12 votes were more than Brett had in his whole faction), along with Nick's Cicero.

Tom had gotten one of his Senators up to 26 Inf and had over 100T on him, too! At this point, the 1999 runner-up, Chase Bramwell, had the lead in total Inf (which he had been quietly nursing for a few turns), but it was still anyone's game. Rob had an assassin card but no potential assassin. His only senator in Rome was Cornelius, who had 20 Inf and Rob wanted to keep him alive for the final count. Having sent everyone else with an Influence under 15 out of town, Brett had no choice but to nominate the new Consuls from Chris' and Nick's factions. (Although, Chris and Nick had enough votes to assure their nominations in any event.)

Tom waited patiently for the Consuls to be elected before playing a Tribune to move a Consul for Life vote, and no doubt held a Secret Bodyguard or two to stave off the rain of daggers that would surely pour down on him. Even so, he had a couple of hurdles to overcome in order to become Consul for Life. He did not have enough money to win the vote outright and would have had to assassinate Chris' Pontifex. Chris, meanwhile, clearly had plans of his own, involving Lucullus as Dictator, his own Consul for Life Nomination, and over 70T in play. Chris was debating playing the Graft card immediately to stop Tom's potential Consul for Life but decided to wait.

There can only be one Consul for Life vote taken per Senate Phase, and, once the players verified that the vote could interrupt before a Dictator could be appointed, Chris realized he had to act fast, so he played Graft to undo the Tribune. Tom didn't have another Tribune, so his CFL plot was undone. Now Chris played his ace - he was saving his Assassination to knock off Nick's Consul, allowing him to appoint Lucullus Dictator on his own. He succeeded in the assassination, but before he actually made the appointment, Nick got even instead of mad. Rob had no expendable Senators, but had the Assassin card. Nick had an experienced Assassin, but no card. And thus the attempt was initiated. However, just before Nick rolled the die, who should throw out ANOTHER Assassination card? Why Chase, who smiled quietly to himself as "Nick the Knife" put the Field Consul out of our misery.

Ah, but cheers of victory soon became wails of defeat as folly was discovered - with no Consuls and no Dictator, there was no one to prosecute a war, and Rome was doomed to fall! Frantic searching of the rules (by everyone except Chase) found only the cryptic statement that in the event no Consuls exist, "a Dictator will be elected by the Senate if the HRAO calls for such elections" [9.91]. "Will"? Not "may" or "must"?

Pandemonium ensued.

We all agreed a Dictator is never mandatory, and there's no "last eligible candidate" exception for the Dictator, and we all agreed that no senator in Rome would win such an election, certainly not while Chase and Tom had the votes and money to oppose them - which they did. And no one could allow either of those players to be Dictator, since that would guarantee them victory (Tom via CFL, Chase since he could fail to win the war and still win the game).

That's when the rest of the knives came out.

Tom's only chance to top Chase in total Faction Influence was to Assassinate one of Chase's senators. If he succeeded on a dr of 6 but then got caught by a subsequent Bodyguard card and reroll, Rob would have been in first place! However, he missed. In despair, Rob threw senile old Cornelius at Tom with a dull dagger and rolled a 1, knocking himself into last place for no reason whatsoever. Brett took a whack at someone, just to join in the fun, with no result.

The game ended in such a state of confused aggravation, no one really took the time to applaud Chase's cunning, wily win. He had managed to keep a total Influence lead for the last few turns and played a very efficient game, getting us to do his bidding without our being even remotely conscious of it - and that's what Republic of Rome is all about! All in all, the Final was a very well balanced game, with Chase and Tom playing a cut above the rest.

Notable Quotes from WBC
"Your vote isn't relevant."
When it rains "Wreath faction, politically and economically crippled by the petty, vindictive senators of Rome, sees its remaining glory shattered in the field of battle as it suffers two disasters in the same turn and the Field Consul as a casualty."
"Turn 1: debate centers around controversial doctrine of 'minimal force'; Advocates win the protracted debate and send the field consul to Sicily with few troops. Turn 2: Rome beset by unconquered Sicilian slaves, Carthaginians, Germans, and Macedonians."
"Senator Calpurnius dies on the first turn due to all the excitement."
"Turn 5, after a strategic blunder by Tom"
"Q: What would you do as censor?" A: "Needlepoint."
"Weird stuff happened."
"Then all heck broke loose!"
"I intend to build a palace of gold with an ivory pool filled with money, in which I will swim every day. I enjoy swimming in money. It's good for my health."
"Next year you will be dangerous, as you saw how to REALLY play the game."

Several rules questions arose during the tournament. After research, the answers have been finalized and included here. Questions and debate on these points are always welcome.

6.3 Errata: Delete "game consequences are such that it makes no difference to which Senator(s) of a Faction the money is given at this point so". The final text should read, "Although the money dispensed technically belongs to each Senator who earned it, the money need not be given out in the exact amounts earned by each Senator, but can be given as a lump sum to one."
This does not allow redistribution of funds before 6.3. Funds left over from previous turns must remain in the Faction Treasury or Senators' Personal Treasuries until 6.3. However, the new funds for this turn may be given all to one Senator. That Senator may use those new funds to give Contributions.
9.8 Assassin cards may be played to aid an attempt initiated by another player. However, Bodyguard cards may be played on your own Senators only.