{"id":3604,"date":"2006-11-13T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2006-11-13T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/blog\/2006\/11\/13\/italia\/"},"modified":"2006-11-13T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2006-11-13T11:00:00","slug":"italia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westpark-gamers.de\/blog\/2006\/11\/13\/italia\/","title":{"rendered":"Italia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Italia<\/a><\/h2>\n

reviewed by Moritz Eggert<\/p>\n

Phalanx continues to manage a successful line of Euro games and “geek” games, or even
\na combination of the two, like in the excellent “War of the Ring”.<\/p>\n

Since the time when Lew
\nPulsipher<\/a> was inspired by the now forgotten hex and counter wargame “Ancient
\nConquest” to create a comparatively simple wargame that creates what he calls a “sweep of
\nhistory” the mechanics of “Britannia” have been a fan favourite, and there are now
\nmany variants of the game that recreate other place’s histories.<\/p>\n

For an excellent overview on Britannia-like games<\/a> please visit the website of one of the world-wide
\nleading “Britannia”-experts, Rick Heli.<\/p>\n

Andreas Steding, designer of Italia I and II, has already created one of the best known
\nBritannia variants, the monster game “Hispania”, which recreates the history of Iberia,
\ntoday known as Spain. There are “Britannia” variants which simplify the basic system –
\n“Hispania” and “Italia” certainly do not go this road but rather add chrome and
\nspecial rules that give the players more choices but also more headaches.<\/p>\n

“Italia” is – no surprise here – a recreation of the history of Italy from ancient
\ntimes. Unusual for a “Britannia” game it comes in two completely different versions that
\ncover two different time periods. The first one – another first – is especially designed for THREE
\nplayers, and once you consider the history depicted here it makes sense. In 10 rounds the players
\nplay the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, from the G\u00f6tterd\u00e4mmerung of the Greeks to the final
\ndays of the empire. One player will mainly be busy with the Romans, and his task is to hold and
\nexpand the Roman position and deal with pesky revolts and upstarts. The other two players play all
\nthe minor or big empires that constantly threatened Rome, most notably the Carthaginians with
\nHannibal, whose campaign is actually a major event in the game.<\/p>\n

\"board\"\/<\/p>\n

The interesting thing is that the game system constantly forces the two non-Roman players to
\neither gang up against Rome – which certainly has some power to defend itself – or to go for quick
\nvictory points against each other.<\/p>\n

The second game, Italia II, recreates the history AFTER the fall of the Roman Empire, and is
\ndesigned, like most Britannia games, for 4 players.<\/p>\n

I will not go too much into the rules here, but instead add a list of major differences between
\nthe “Italia” and the “Britannia” system (it’s not a short list) below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary of what is missing in Italia<\/b>
\n
\n(VERY minor grapes, as the production value of this game is very high – beautiful counters,
\nsturdy board, etc.)<\/i><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
    \n
  • A handy overview of when the units\/nations of all players appear in which round – something
    \nthat is usually found with any “Britannia”-style games. This info is only found on the
    \nnation cards themselves, which are covered with tiny print.<\/li>\n
  • A turn order list of nations on the gameboard itself. This is only found on a separate sheet
    \nthat is used to look up many other things.<\/li>\n
  • Some nations easily amass more than 5 gold. There is a +5 counter for the money, but even with
    \nthat only 10 gold can be recorded, large nations like Carthaginians and Romans easily exceed this
    \nlimit.<\/li>\n
  • Any kind of historic reference (i.e. what time period a turn represents) – this is a glaring
    \nomission that is kind of surprising when one thinks about the detail and chrome that went into this
    \ngame.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

    Andreas Steding has added a lot of chrome to the “Britannia” game system here,
    \navoiding some overly complicated mechanics that made “Hispania” very long to play. Still,
    \nthis is “Britannia” on steroids – the decision making is much more difficult as there are
    \nlots of things large nations can do on each turn: raiding, naval moves, building cities,
    \ncampaigning. The latter mechanic simulates the long campaigns of Hannibal and the like, something
    \nlike a mini game in the game as other players can react to the ongoing campaign moves, also
    \nsomething that has not been seen yet in “Britannia”.<\/p>\n

    All this might be too much for some. “Italia” certainly isn’t a game that makes
    \n“Britannia” more accessible for the common market, rather the opposite. But there are
    \nmany interesting ideas here – the campaign system for example.<\/p>\n

    Where the game shines is in its 3-player scenario (or rather “game” – as the 3-player
    \nversion is completely different from the 4-player version, there are different nations, even partly
    \ndifferent rules). This is the first time it has been done right, with basically two sides
    \nrepresenting the nations oppressed by the Romans that constantly struggle among themselves, and the
    \nthird player representing mostly the Romans in their struggle to dominate the peninsula.<\/p>\n

    Game material is top notch, as usual with the “Phalanx” line, which is always put
    \ntogether with great care and love, although there are some strange omissions (like a historical
    \nreference or an overview over when all nations\/armies appear). The rules are not for the
    \nfaint-of-the-heart – even Britannia veterans will have some new concepts to struggle with, although
    \nthey will still feel at home. Recommended, but not for the casual gamer. You should have a day free
    \nfor your first game, 8 hours recommended.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

    MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN “BRITANNIA” AS WE KNOW IT AND “ITALIA I\/II”<\/h2>\n

    NEW PLAYING PIECES<\/h4>\n
      \n
    • Consular Legions\/Knights (2 hits, regenerate after combat)<\/li>\n
    • Fleets (transport, naval supremacy bonus)<\/li>\n
    • Elephants (scare\/destroy additional units)<\/li>\n
    • Cities (earn gold, give defensive advantage)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      NEW LANDSCAPE<\/h4>\n
        \n
      • there are sea spaces in which battles can be fought<\/li>\n
      • Marshland gives defensive bonus, but is no hindrance to movement<\/li>\n
      • Highland works similar to “mountains” in “Britannia”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        \"board\"\/<\/p>\n

        INCOME\/SPENDING<\/h4>\n
          \n
        • All areas produce one “gold” (instead of population points)<\/li>\n
        • Cities also produce one gold.<\/li>\n
        • Gold can be saved indefinitely.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Income can now be spent on:<\/p>\n

            \n
          • Infantry legions, fleets (4 gold)<\/li>\n
          • Consular Legions (see limit in Italia I, 6.3), Knights, Elephants<\/li>\n
          • City in standard area (6 gold)<\/li>\n
          • City in “difficult” area, marshland or highland (8 gold)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            NEW UNITS<\/h4>\n

            May appear in “massing areas” which have to be left, otherwise pretty similar
            \n(7.2).<\/p>\n

            POPULATION LIMIT (2 per space)<\/h4>\n

            Does NOT exist!<\/p>\n

            STACKING LIMITS<\/h4>\n

            Works very differently.<\/p>\n

            In short:<\/p>\n

              \n
            • Cities\/Leaders do not count against the stacking limit<\/li>\n
            • Normal\/marsh: 3<\/li>\n
            • Highland\/massing area: 2<\/li>\n
            • Sea area: unlimited<\/li>\n
            • Declaring as “capital” (like in “Britannia”, presence of a city is
              \nstrangely enough NOT required): +1<\/li>\n
            • Capital declaration can be changed at any time, like in “Britannia”<\/li>\n
            • Rome is always the capital of the Romans<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              In addition:<\/p>\n

                \n
              • When moving into combat: +1<\/li>\n
              • When moving with a leader: +1<\/li>\n
              • When doing a major invasion: +1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                (all cumulative)<\/p>\n

                In a campaign:<\/p>\n

                  \n
                • Unlimited stacking with leader, or also for the other players during some “reaction
                  \nmoves”.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Stacking limits are pretty much always in effect, even in retreating.<\/p>\n

                  MOVEMENT<\/h4>\n
                    \n
                  • highland stops like mountains, can be overcome with leader<\/li>\n
                  • Straits stop movement like in “Britannia”<\/li>\n
                  • marshland does NOT stop movement<\/li>\n
                  • naval transport: ships may carry 2 land units each, can do naval move if starting in a coastal
                    \nspace, and then do nothing but naval move, may stay on sea indefinitely<\/li>\n
                  • friendly cities negate terrain effects (work like Roman Roads in “Britannia”)<\/li>\n
                  • leaders increase movement by 1 (of their group)<\/li>\n
                  • units have different movement capabilities that are printed on the counters<\/li>\n
                  • Overrun like in “Britannia”<\/li>\n
                  • Ships move through each other, after all moves other players and the active player have to
                    \ndeclare combat in spaces the active nation moved in. If anybody declares combat, combat takes
                    \nplace, otherwise no combat in sea areas (has to be done immediately after movement)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    \"token\"\/<\/p>\n

                    COMBAT<\/h4>\n