Ultima Ratio Regis
Ultima Ratio Regis Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Design philosophy
- 3. Cards
- 4. Counters
- 6. The game board
- 7. Preparation of the game
- 8. Game sequence
- 9. Actions
- 10. Strategic movement
- 11. Naval actions
- 12. Land tactical movement
- 13. Combat
- 14. Repatriations
- 15. Logistics
- 16. Veterans
- 17. Leaders
- 18. Special areas
- 19. Economy
- 20. Diplomacy with minor powers
- 21. Diplomacy between major powers
- 22. Victory Points
- 23. End of turn
- 24. Deployment of a major power
- Playbook: Glossary
- Playbook: 9. Scenarios
- Instructions for using the scenarios
- 9.1 The rise of Portugal (1490-1564)
- 9.2 New order (1490-1534)
- 9.3 The Italian Wars (1490-1564)
- 9.4 Catholics and Protestants (1565-1609)
- 9.5 French Wars of Religion (1565-1609)
- 9.6 The 16th century campaign (1490-1609)
- 9.7 Wars of Religion (1565-1654)
- 9.8 The Thirty Years' War (1610-1654)
- Playbook: 10. Turns
1. Introduction
Ultima Ratio Regis is a game for 1-8 players, that recreates the military history of the modern European age; starting with the discovery of America, and ending with the French Revolution.
The game extends for 20 turns of 15 years each, with a duration between two and four hours per turn; and it is organized in scenarios of several turns each, including a possible "Grand campaign" that would cover 20 turns.
In Ultima Ratio Regis, the players will control the different major powers that disputed world hegemony mainly during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.
The present rule book is structured in two blocks: One with the introduction and the rules (this one), designed not only for a smooth first reading, but to facilitate later consultations of rules, and another one with a game example from the beginning of a scenario, as well as the scenarios of the game.
2. Design philosophy
It is difficult to design a game with scenarios that can span up to 300 years, in turns of fifteen years, without either strange endings, or having excessively pre-fixed the different nations in conflict.
To achieve this balance, in uRR several mechanisms are available: The major powers have a series of home areas, that no matter how bad the game goes, they cannot lose (a completely different matter is that the controlling player sinks in the victory points score if the player plays badly).
On the other hand, the major powers also have interest in a series of theaters of operations (where they can have presence and operate), and others where they cannot. In this way, no matter how much the player controlling Spain wants to colonize Quebec to harm the French, if Spain has no interest in North America, it will never be able to settle in that area.
In this way, for practical purposes, all "what ifs" of the game, basically affect the victory points that the players gain (or do not gain). For example, if the Huguenot side wins the French wars of Religion, in later turns we would still have France as one of the hegemonic European major powers, and basically with the same interests (however, it would be a Protestant power).
Finally, uRR - the king's last reason - is a military game, where diplomacy, trade, different developments, and in general economy appear in a simplified way, basically as military objectives. This is why these rules have been provided with simple mechanisms that allow the major power rise and downfall, where we can see the birth and rise of new empires; and the slow or rapid decay of old major powers, attenuated or precipitated by military victories or defeats.
3. Cards
The cards are one of the most important elements of uRR. The different types of cards, and the information they provide, are described below.
3.1 Event cards
These cards describe the different historical events that take place throughout the turn, such as alliances with small major powers, technological improvements, events in battles, and especially the great events that took place at the time.
These events are divided into two large groups: generic events (they have an illustration), and historical events (they have no illustration). The first ones are further divided into three groups: combat cards (they have a 1 in a dark wax seal), which are the only cards that can exceptionally be used to modify the combat rules; improvement cards (to obtain alliances with minor power major powers in the game, or cards to obtain technological improvements); and the rest of the cards that mainly collect historical -but recurrent- events of the time.
The historical events show the great events of the age that appear in history books and that had a great impact. The turns in which they have effect is shown in the cards.
The event cards may have the name in white with a blue background, indicating that they must be the first ones to be played (they are called priority cards), or a black name with a blue gradient background indicating that they are the first ones that must be played if the player has 4 or less cards left (i.e., the also become priority cards, but only when the player has 4 or less cards left).
3.2 Minor power and major power cards
They show relevant information on the major powers that each player controls, and that were competing against each other at the time, or on the minor powers that can become allies of those major powers.
4. Counters
They represent military units, commerce, political relations, and a great miscellany of control markers.
4.1 Military units
Troop. Land unit of the different minor and major powers. Depending on the nationality and the location (Europe or overseas), each counter represents about 5000 soldiers (including auxiliary troops). They have two faces, one side for regular troops, and one for veterans. Each side has a number printed, which refers to its quality, and that varies between the worst (quality 2, abbreviated as I2), and the best (quality 4 or I4).
Leader. This counter summarizes the generals or admirals of the age, their general staff, and the logistics that accompanied the armies and fleets of the age. They have two faces, one for ordinary (professional) leaders and the other for extraordinary leaders; this second one represents specific officers of the age, who went down in history due to their special competence, as well as other less known officers. For these officers, there is usually a feature in which they stand out, and that makes them brilliant.
Revolts and active independent areas. Zones in rebellion or other local military presences, representing independent warlords, tribes, etc ... Also with two sides according to their strength, marked as 2 for the smallest ones, and 3 for the larger ones.
Squadron. Naval unit of the age, each representing from 5 to 10 ships of the line (plus auxiliary ships), and up to 30 or 50 galleys, depending on nationality and sea. They have one operational side, and another one that marks that the fleet is in repair (or under construction). As in the case of troops, the number printed on each side varies depending on quality: the worst (E2) and the best (E3).
Fortress. It represents the great defensive systems of the age, as well as their regular garrisons. It also has two faces, one when it is under construction, and another if it is already operational (hereinafter F).
4.2 Other counters
Like almost all the counters, they have two sides, one striped and one solid that can be numbered; depending on where they are located, they indicate different things:
- Home areas or domains, representing the recognized control of a major power over an area. Because of counter economy, many areas are already of the corresponding color, so no control markers are required.
- On a trade center, it indicates the presence of one or two merchants.
- On another major power control counter, it indicates that the major power on the top has conquered the area during a war in progress.
- On a dispersion area, it indicates that the major power is preparing the infrastructure to create a commercial network in the trading center (in the next turn, possibly they will become merchants).
- On a major power card, it indicates that the major power has a Casus Belli against the owner of the counter.
- In the war/alliance boxes, it indicates that these two major powers are at war or allied.
- In the unrest box, it indicates the unrest level of that major power (the number on the counter indicates that the major power has flipped the marker).
- In the VP box, it indicates the level reached by the player who controls it. In this case, each player will mark their VPs with some of his major power counters.
The remaining counter types are:
- Morale. They are used to measure the progress of wars between major powers.
- Trade interrupted. It indicates areas where a commercial port has been "looted", and for the rest of the turn it has no effect on the game.
- Commerce Casus Belli. Indicates that a merchant has just entered a Trade Center, and as a result the major powers that were there before have a Casus Belli against the major power that has just entered for that turn.
- Established siege. It shows the progress of a siege.
- Major power control markers. As in the case of troops, the number printed on each side varies depending on quality: the worst (E2) and the best (E3).
6. The game board
The game board is divided into a main operations map, which mostly covers Europe, and five mini-maps with the regions of Siberia, America, the Indian Ocean, Africa and Asia.
In turn, each map is divided into seas and (land) theaters of operations, and the latter into provinces, areas, connections, dispersed boxes and trade centers.
The board has the following elements:
- Turn track.
- World Map, where all the oceanic naval areas are shown.
- Turn sequence.
- Track to indicate wars and alliances. The tracking of most wars and Casus Belli can be done simply by leaving the event cards in sight and as a reminder on the side of the map; however, some wars are not caused by event cards, and in these cases they will be indicated here.
- Box to place the units eliminated during the turn.
- Victory points track.
- Unrest track.
Theaters of operations: In total there are 9 on the main map and 7 on the mini-maps (including Siberia). Each theater of operations has a box for dispersed units. Many theaters are also divided into provinces, separated from each other by dashed lines. The East theater is split in two parts, one is in the main operations map and the other is in the India minimap. The Western Europe theater, exceptionally, has two dispersion boxes; one for France and one for the British Isles.
7. Preparation of the game
Depending on the number of players and the time you want to play, the first thing to do is to choose one of the scenarios that are provided in the Playbook.
As you can see, each scenario has a turn of beginning and another of ending, some major powers, which are the ones that participate in it (some may appear initially, and others in a later turn), and a number of players.
7.1 Start of a scenario
Given that each player will normally control several major powers, in the scenarios these are grouped according to the number of players. Each player will control the major powers of one of these groups.
Each of these groups can receive a bonus, given that their major powers have more difficulty in getting victory points (hereinafter referred to as VP). This correction can come in the form of a fixed VP bonus at the beginning of the game, or also as an extra bonus each turn.
7.1.1 Major power auction
The aforementioned groups are auctioned as follows:
- The players decide the order in which they sit around the board. This order will be maintained throughout the game.
- In secret, each player bets a VP number to establish the game order. This order is very important and is used to solve many tie breaks during the game.
- Once the amount wagered is revealed, the players will split among themselves the positions of "player 1", "player 2", and so on. Ties are resolved at random.
- Each player chooses the group of major powers he will control, following the order determined above.
- Each player takes one control counter from one of his major powers with the number corresponding to the position he gained in the auction (i.e., the game order), and he places it on the VP scoreboard. The player who bet the highest number of VPs places his counter at 0, the next player places his counter at a number equal to the difference between the number of VPs he bet and the number of VPs bet by the first player. All other players calculate their VPs in the same way.
7.2 Preparation of the game board
The turn counter is placed on the corresponding box, and the independent and rebellion control markers are placed where indicated in the scenario.
Next, the players display on the board the major powers they lead. The deployment is done simultaneously, and it ends when all players are satisfied with it.
In some scenarios, there are theaters of operations that are not part of the game. Unless the same scenario states otherwise, with those regions and seas players cannot interact in any way, they proceed as if they were not in the map at all.
8. Game sequence
The game is played in turns, each of which can last between 2 and 4 hours. The scenarios show the turn they start and the turn they finish. Each turn is divided into three phases:
- Turn start, when according to the scenario, new major powers can enter the game, and the play deck is prepared.
- Half turn, divided into impulses.
- Turn end, when wars will be finalized (or periods of truce will start), the maintenance of the major powers will be done, and VP will be counted; as is explained below.
8.1 Turn start
The turn is prepared by completing the following tasks:
8.1.1 Turn special rules
Consult the final section of the Game Book, after the scenarios, for any special rules for that turn and for the deployment of new powers, if any.
8.1.2 Entry of new major powers
Depending on the scenario, if applicable, check at which player controls them; and then deploy them (see "24. Deployment of a major power").
There may be major powers that change their major power card. If the military forces on the map of that major power do not coincide with those available, the same types of units can be substituted, provided they are worse (for example, you can degrade I3 units to I2 units). If this is not possible, the units are eliminated.
8.1.3 Trade adjustments
If it is not the initial turn of a scenario, merchants who were prepared during the previous turn (which are in the dispersed zone), now enter the trading centers, possibly creating Casus Belli between major powers (see "21.3.2 Casus Belli (CB)"). The commercial ports destroyed in the previous turn, are once again operational. All this is explained below (see "19.2 Commerce").
8.1.4 Building the card deck
Then the card deck with which to play during the turn is prepared, and these cards are secretly dealt to the players.
The number of cards to be played each turn depends on the number of players, and it is fixed throughout the game. Once the number of cards has been determined, the card deck is prepared.
| Players | Cards per turn |
|---|---|
| 3 players | 39 (13/player) |
| 4 players | 40 (10/player) |
| 5 players | 40 (8/player) |
| 6 players | 42 (7/player) |
| 7 players | 42 (6/player) |
| 8 players | 48 (6/player) |
As explained in the Introduction, there are major power cards and event cards. Event cards are also divided between generic events and historical events. Each historical event states the turns during which it can be played (generic events may be played throughout the game).
To prepare the deck, first put aside all historical event cards for the turn that is going to be played, and also the 40 generic event cards. The deck will be prepared by combining all the historical event cards and a random selection of the generic event cards, taking as many of the latter as needed to reach the required number of cards depending on the number of players.
8.2 Half turn
This is the core of the game; here the players, in a consecutive way, perform impulses by playing one or several event cards, and performing actions with the major powers they control. The half-turn ends when no player has any cards left to play.
8.2.1 Start of half turn
The player with the least accumulated VPs, chooses which player will start the first impulse, and the direction in which the turn is to be played (clockwise or counter clockwise). In case of a tie, the player with a lower player number will choose (for example, player 2 before 4).
8.2.2 Impulse of a player
The impulse of a player has three blocks that are played one after the other and in this order:
- Start of impulse.
- Major power actions and card play.
- End of impulse.
Start of impulse. The player checks the following for all his major powers: which units can do some special actions (amphibious landings and piracy), fleets that can be repaired, fortresses that can be finished, or troops that can regroup.
In addition, the following actions can be carried out at no cost:
- Under certain circumstances, some major powers may regroup a troop.
- Fleets or operational squadrons that are in port can now be placed in an adjacent sea, if desired.
- Besieged troops can make a sortie.
- Each major power may also swap two of its leaders, simultaneously replacing one for the other, provided neither is besieged.
- In this phase, major powers can ally or begin peace negotiations to end wars.
All this will be explained in detail throughout the rule book.
Major power actions and card play. All major powers have an intrinsic action that they carry out each turn (the actions are explained immediately). Additionally, the player can play cards (at least one) to add actions to their major powers.
There is no pre-established order for this, the intrinsic actions can be mixed with those obtained by the cards. The only limitation is that you cannot add actions of more than one card to the same major power (in the same impulse).
For example, a player with three major powers could first play the intrinsic action of the first power, and then he could play a three-action card by using two more actions for that first major power and the third action for the second major power. Then he could play one two-action card (both of which he will have to use for the third major power, because the other two powers have already received card actions). Finally he could then play the intrinsic action of the second and third powers.
Card play. In his impulse, a player must play at least one card (if he has any left in his hand). The player must first choose those with the title in white on a blue background (if he has several, any of them). These cards are called priority cards.
If in his hand the player only has 4 cards left or less, he must first choose those with the title in black on a blue gradient background (they have become priority cards, exactly the same as the previous ones).
A card is played by applying what the event states in it, and also by using the points it has as actions (as many actions as points). The actions that each power can carry out are explained below. The event can be applied after or before using the points to convert them into actions.
These actions can be divided among several of the major powers that the player controls, or can be concentrated on one. A player can play more than one card in his impulse but, as we have seen, he can only use them on powers that did not receive points from previous cards to carry out actions.
Combat cards. Combat cards are a special type of cards that can be played in two ways: like any other event card, or as combat cards.
- As event cards, the text is ignored, that is, only the point is taken into account to assign an action to one of the major powers.
- The other possibility is to play it in combat, either during the player's own impulse, or as a reaction during other players' impulses. The card details how and when it can be played (see "13.1 Combat procedure"). If played in this way, the card has no action points.
The combat cards ignore the priorities described before. Therefore, a player can play the "surprise attack" card in a combat, even if he has priority cards in his hand. He can also play a combat card in the usual way (thus ignoring the event), still holding priority cards in his hand, so he can delay them for a while if he does not want to play them yet.
End of impulse. At the end of the impulse, each major power can move a single unit from any theater, to the dispersion area of the theater where it has more home areas, regardless of whether the unit was dispersed or not. Each power may also move a single leader over a troop, fleet or fortress of its own (as long as the leader was not besieged and does not end up this way).
8.2.3 Impulse of players without cards
The players without cards also carry out their impulse, but they do it as if they played a combat card (they have an extra action but without an event). Therefore, they also perform a start of impulse, play major power actions (one for each power, in the usual way), have one extra action to assign to any of their major powers, and perform the end of the impulse.
In addition, if a player without cards has major powers at war, each of these powers has one free troop regrouping or strategic redeployment at the beginning of the impulse.
8.3 Turn end
After the impulse where the last card has been played, the half-turn ends and the end of the turn begins. The end of the turn will be explained in detail much later.
Summary of actions
The rulebook's summary of actions lists the following.
Beginning of the impulse (actions without cost)
- Initial checks.
- Troops that can make amphibious landings.
- Fleets that can do piracy.
- Fleets that can be repaired.
- Fortresses that can be completed.
- Troops that can regroup.
- Regroup troops, under certain circumstances.
- Fleets go out to sea (if they are not under repair).
- Sorties: besieged troops can attack the besieger (if allowed).
- Alliance between powers.
- Peace negotiations (between powers at war).
Power actions
- Troop construction: build a troop in a possession (including a strategic movement). Elite troops (Q3) only in home areas.
- Squadron: placing it on the maintenance/under construction side.
- Squadron repair, including a strategic movement.
- Fortress construction: to start or finish building it.
- Regroup troop: dispersed in a past impulse.
- Strategic movement: with an army / squadron (may include assigning a leader that is on the map).
- Tactical movement: both land or naval.
- Build a leader: assigning it to some troop / fleet / fortress; or replacing it with another one.
- Piracy: attack enemy merchants.
- Reduce unrest: lower one's own unrest; subsidize a power; lower unrest of an allied power.
- Build merchant: place a merchant in the dispersed area of a trade center.
- Declare war.
9. Actions
As we have seen, during the half-turn, actions are performed with the points of the cards, or with the actions of the major powers. These actions are the following:
- Construction: Troops, squadrons (on the maintenance side), fortresses (on the "under construction" side), leaders and merchants.
- Repair squadrons, finish building fortresses, and regroup troops.
- Strategic movement: Land or naval.
- Tactical movement: Land or naval, and piracy.
- Unrest: To lower your own or that of an ally.
- Declare war.
9.1 Troop construction
Major and minor powers have some troops marked as available in their power card. When a player takes charge of a major power, he separates these troops (which are the ones the major power can use).
With this action, one of the available troops is taken and placed on the map.
The troops marked with sides 2-3, are placed on the 2 side in any controlled (therefore not besieged) possession; those marked with sides 3-4 are placed, on side 3 in the theater with more of the major power home areas. The troops of minor powers are built in the controlled areas of the minor power.
Then, a strategic movement can be made with this troop (this movement is included in the same construction action). (See "10.2 Strategic movement of troops").
9.2 Squadron construction
As in the case of troops, the major powers also have squadrons marked on their card as available to be built.
To do this, the squadron is placed in a possession of the major power (controlled and free of enemies) that is a coastal area, and on the side "under repair"; These squadrons are not yet operational.
9.3 Repair of squadrons
Unlike troops, which on both sides are operative (one is for the regular troop and the other one if it is veteran), squadrons have only one operative side, the second side indicates that the squadron is in port in maintenance. When they are on this side, the squadron can only be in a port (that is, a controlled coastal area), and the only action that can be done with them is repair (or eliminate it at the end of the turn).
The squadron that started the impulse in this status, can become operative with this action. This action includes, if desired, a strategic squadron movement (see "10.1 Strategic movement of squadrons").
9.4 Fortress construction
Similar to squadrons, two construction actions are necessary to build an operational fortress. These two actions must also be carried out in different impulses.
With the first action, the fortress is placed on the "under construction" side in some controlled area of the major power or of a minor power ally. In a later impulse, another of these actions can be carried out on the "under construction" fortress to flip the counter and leave it operational. The only effect of the fortresses in this state is that it allows to build the fortress in a future impulse and that its maintenance must be paid; all other effects (combat, stacking...) are ignored.
Fortress under construction in areas that change control are destroyed.
Unlike troops and squadrons, there is no limit to the fortresses that a major power can build, but there cannot be more than one per area.
9.5 Regroup troop
For different reasons, troops can be placed in the dispersed boxes. With this action, a troop that started the impulse in these boxes, can be placed again on the map.
To do this, the troop (with a possible assigned leader) is designated and placed in a controlled area, in the same theater of operations of the dispersed box.
It is not possible, therefore, to regroup troops into fortresses that are being besieged.
Note that the Western Europe theater of operations has two dispersed boxes, one for the continental zones, and one for the British Isles.
Then, a strategic movement can be made with this troop (as when it is built) included in the same action (see "10.2 Strategic movement of troops").
9.6 Other actions
The rest of the actions are explained later in the corresponding sections:
- Strategic movement (see "10. Strategic movement").
- Tactical movement (see "11.3 Naval tactical movement", "12. Land tactical movement").
- Build a leader (see "17. Leaders").
- Build a merchant (see "19.2 Commerce").
- Piracy and incursions (see "11.5 Piracy and privateering actions").
- Lower your own unrest (see "19.1 Unrest").
- Subsidize an allied major power (see "19.1 Unrest").
- Declare war (see "21.3.3 Declarations of war").
10. Strategic movement
Performed by troops or squadrons individually, or led by leaders, it is used to redeploy armies or fleets; crossing an unlimited number of controlled areas or seas.
10.1 Strategic movement of squadrons
It is used to move a single naval squadron (which can include an assigned leader), across an unlimited chain of adjacent seas. To do it, the squadron (which must be operative) is indicated, and the succession of seas that it crosses is stated (see "11.1 Naval bases and naval operation distance").
These movements can leave the squadron in a sea, or in a port; and may include leaders assigned to the squadron (see "17. Leaders").
10.2 Strategic movement of troops
It is the equivalent to the above, but for a single troop (including a possible assigned leader). In this case, it may include both controlled areas, and uncontrolled areas with own troops (not besieged). It can also include seas.
To do so, the troop is selected and the succession of areas (controlled or with own not besieged troops) or adjacent seas that it will cross is stated. The movement from an area to a sea or vice versa always takes place from a coastal area to one of the seas adjacent to this area.
Obviously, a troop cannot finish the strategic movement at sea; nor besieged fortresses (other than ports) can be part of these movements.
10.2.1 Interception of strategic movement
The strategic movement can only be "interrupted" when it is carried out by troops that move to a sea where there are fleets of major powers with which they are at war. This can lead to one or several naval battles (see "11.4.1 Intercepting troop strategic movements").
As long as the major power that is moving troops strategically does not lose any combat, the movement continues normally. If any combat is lost, the troop (or troops) are placed in the last controlled (land) area they crossed, thus ending the strategic movement.
10.3 Strategic movement of armies or fleets
In this case, the movement is carried out by a leader with up to four troops or squadrons (including the one to which he is assigned). It can only be done to move either squadrons or troops, but not both, in the same movement.
To conduct it, first select the leader chit that is going to perform it (which cannot be besieged), and assign it to any troop or squadron on the map. Depending on whether it is assigned to a squadron or a troop, we will have a strategic movement of army or fleet.
Then proceed as with strategic movement of squadrons or troops, but with each movement (to seas or areas) squadrons or troops can be "absorbed" (depending on the type), or left on the way; the only condition is that at no time more than four squadrons or troops can be stacked.
In this way, with this movement multiple squadrons or troops can be redeployed.
10.4 Strategic movement between maps
These strategic movements are identical to the previous ones, but they cannot be carried out with armies or fleets; therefore, to move an army of three troops from one map (or mini-map) to another, three strategic movements of one troop must be made (same case for fleets).
In the game board there is a map of all the seas and how they are connected.
This represents the high cost of sending large formations overseas.
11. Naval actions
They are carried out by fleets (and squadrons) to dominate the seas, thus supporting maritime trade (or attacking it); blocking or opening troop supply, protecting or intercepting the movements of troops across the seas, or directly supporting land actions on coastal areas.
11.1 Naval bases and naval operation distance
All squadrons need a naval base, that is, a port (controlled coastal area) from which to operate. The base must be some distance from the fleet; this distance is called naval operation distance, and it varies with the scenario (it improves according to the naval technology of the time).
If the naval operation distance is 1 (first turns), the fleets can only be in seas where they have an adjacent naval base (any controlled coastal area) from which to operate. If the naval distance is 2, the squadrons can operate in seas adjacent to seas where the major power has the naval base; and so on.
Normally it is not necessary to indicate the naval base explicitly, the fleet can be in the sea simply if there is a controlled area within distance of naval operation.
11.1.1 Squadrons without naval base
If for any reason a squadron is left without a base within this distance, it must move immediately upon the occurrence of this circumstance to the nearest base (to be chosen by the player in case of a tie).
If there is none (normally because the major power does not control any coastal area) the squadron is destroyed.
11.1.2 Naval operation distance and landings
Amphibious landings (see "12.3 Amphibious landings") are also limited by this distance, so that if the distance is 1, they can only be conducted from a controlled coastal area, to an enemy one in the same sea.
11.1.3 Naval operation distance between maps
Squadrons (or possible amphibious landings) can use naval bases from other maps, as long as they are within naval operation distance. For this purpose, squadrons on mini-maps that use ports on the main map count the Baltic, North Sea and East Atlantic as a single sea.
Therefore, if the naval operation distance is 2, a Swedish fleet based in Stockholm could operate off the coast of North America.
11.2 Squadrons and fleet formation
A fleet is a group of one or several squadrons (one of them must at least be assigned a leader). It is indicated by stacking these squadrons, with the commander's counter on top.
The number of squadrons that can be part of a fleet is limited by the stacking limit of the area used as a naval base.
A player can have all the fleets he wants in a sea, although all naval operations are always conducted with a single fleet.
At any time during his impulse, a player can freely (without spending actions) assemble or disassemble the fleets that he wishes that are in the same sea.
11.3 Naval tactical movement
The naval tactical movement is basically used to expel enemy fleets or squadrons from the sea where they are operating. It has two phases: in the first phase the fleet or squadron can, if the player wishes, move to an adjacent sea (changing naval base if necessary), and in the second phase the player announces that it is looking for the enemy fleet.
If this tactical movement is carried out by a fleet (that is, there is a leader), in the destination sea the fleet can leave or absorb any squadrons it wants (as we have seen, fleets can be assembled or disassembled in the same sea without cost).
Once in the destination sea, the player announces which enemy fleets he wants to attack. The attacked fleets can then engage in naval battle (see "13.2 Naval combats"), or withdraw to its naval base. With the same action, if the enemy retires to port or is defeated in combat, the attacking fleet can continue to designate enemy fleets to attack.
In case of defeat or tie, the naval action can be repeated as many times as desired with the same fleet (this must take place in subsequent actions, i.e. spending additional points).
11.4 Naval interception
Used basically to avoid or protect the strategic movements of troops across the sea; to support an army in combat (or make it difficult for enemy armies); or to defend trade from corsairs and pirates.
11.4.1 Intercepting troop strategic movements
When a troop or army enters a sea with enemy squadrons or fleets during strategic movement, the enemy squadrons or fleets may announce that they are intercepting this strategic movement.
Procedure. Each enemy major power that wishes to intercept selects one of its fleets or squadrons with which it will intercept the movement. The major power that is performing the strategic movement can now designate one of its fleets (or a squadron) with a naval base at the port of departure, which will act as an escort and which will fight a naval combat. The player will now select one of these fleets and fight against it. If he does not choose an escort, a combat will also occur.
If the combat is a tie or a victory of the player conducting the strategic movement, if there are other enemy powers that wish to oppose the movement (the first power that tried to oppose the movement may not try again), then the player chooses another one and the process is repeated.
If all interception combats end in ties or defeats, the strategic movement continues. If any intercepting fleet wins, the troops must return to the last departure port and thus finish the strategic movement (they can try to do another action, even in the same impulse).
If there is no escort, the interceptor must make at least one battle point (see "13.2 Naval combats"), to avoid a tie (to zero battle points) and thus prevent the movement of troops.
11.4.2 Interception to support troop tactical operations
When fighting occurs in coastal areas, fleets or squadrons in adjacent seas can support these operations, or at least avoid such support for enemy troops. To do this simply announce the interception, and the side you want to support. The only condition for this is that you must be at war with the opposing side (which you want to hinder).
If there are other fleet or squadrons that support both sides, a naval combat first occurs (see "13.2 Naval combats"). If more than one major power is supporting one side, the supported power chooses which one will fight. When revolts are being supported, vitality will be used to resolve ties.
There is no order among major powers to announce this interception, but once announced, it cannot be canceled, and in case of battle it must be resolved.
After all naval interceptions, one of the sides may still have naval support, or maybe no side may have it.
Neither side receives naval support. This circumstance occurs in the following cases:
- There has been no naval interception.
- The naval battle has resulted in a tie.
One side receives naval support. This occurs in the following circumstances:
- There has only been a naval interception of a fleet belonging to that side (or his allies).
- There has been a naval battle won by the fleet belonging to that side (or his allies).
11.4.3 Interception against piracy
When a player is the object of an attack by pirates or corsairs, he can intercept this action with only one of his squadrons (or one-squadron fleet) that is in the sea where the pirate operates.
After interception, a naval combat will be conducted. Regardless of the outcome, if the intercepting fleet has not been damaged, it can still intercept pirate attacks from other squadrons, even in the same impulse.
It is also possible to intercept these attacks with squadrons that are in port (on the operational side), but in this case, the fleet applies a disadvantage in the subsequent naval combat.
11.5 Piracy and privateering actions
It is an action performed by a squadron or a one-squadron fleet, which is used to attack enemy trade.
11.5.1 Conditions to make the piracy (or privateering) action
Piracy is only possible if it is expressly allowed in a major power card or by an event card. For corsairs, it is necessary that both involved major powers are at war.
In addition, the following conditions must apply:
- The squadron must have started the impulse in the sea where the action is done.
- Obviously, it is necessary that the major power object of the piracy action has a merchant in the trading center adjacent to that sea.
Once resolved, the squadron cannot perform any other action, of any kind, during the rest of the impulse (although other squadrons of the major power can repeat the attack in the same sea and against the same major power).
11.5.2 Procedure for piracy
Once a fleet has announced that it performs this action, the attacked major power may select one of its squadrons (or one-squadron fleet) that is in that sea (or in a port of this sea), and announce that it intercepts this attack (see "11.4.3 Interception against piracy").
Whether there is an interception or not, a naval combat will be conducted. If there is no intercepting fleet, the attacker must make at least one battle point to succeed (see "13.2 Naval combats").
If the pirate wins, the winning major power lowers its unrest as many points as enemy merchants were in the trading center. The losing major power increases its unrest in the same number. After the defeat, the attacked major power can, if it so wishes, eliminate one of its merchants. Unrest and trade are explained below.
11.6 Fleets in port
At the beginning of a player's impulse, the player can move operational squadrons in port to an adjacent sea (without any cost of actions).
As we have seen, operational fleets in port can intercept piracy (although with a disadvantage).
Squadrons, both operative and under repair, in ports which the major power has just lost control of (for example by subjugation, or siege), must move immediately to the nearest port (proceed as in "11.1.1 Squadrons without naval base"). The squadrons remain in the same status as they began this movement, i.e., operative or under repair.
12. Land tactical movement
It is carried out by troops and armies, usually led by leaders, to take control of enemy areas, or to defend their own areas.
12.1 Tactical movement of a troop
With this action, a troop can move from the area where it is to an adjacent area (obviously following the lines). If there is no combat or an enemy fortress, with the same action this movement can be repeated once (that is, troops can normally move up to two areas away).
This movement can only be made to controlled areas, independent areas or to areas of a major power with which one is at war. It cannot therefore be done to areas of allied major powers, although it can be done to areas of allied minor powers (which for practical purposes count as being controlled by the major power).
In the case of independent areas, only if it is free of units with which there is no war.
12.2 Tactical movement of an army
Essentially it is like the previous one, but in this case it is conducted by an army. An army is composed of one or more troops together (in the same area), with a leader. As in the previous case, move the army to an adjacent area, and if there is no combat (or an enemy fortress), to a second area if desired.
The difference is that after the first movement, the army can leave or absorb troops in the first area.
12.3 Amphibious landings
An amphibious landing is a special tactical movement where a troop or army moves to a coastal enemy area through the sea.
12.3.1 Conditions for landing
It is imperative for the troop or the army to begin the impulse in a coastal area, to have not taken any action, and that the target port is within naval operation distance from the departure port. Therefore, if the naval operation distance is 1, only landings from coastal areas to coastal areas of the same sea are possible. If this distance is 2, landings to coastal areas of adjacent seas would be possible.
Therefore troops (or leaders) that have already moved or made other amphibious landings in the impulse, cannot conduct an amphibious landing.
Landings also require an escort fleet based in the same home port. The number of squadrons will limit the number of troops that can land. Thus, if the escort is a two-squadron fleet, the landing army is limited to two troops.
12.3.2 Process
To conduct the landing, the troop or army must first carry out a movement identical to strategic movement from the departure port to the target port. This movement is resolved following the same procedure than strategic movement; thus it can be intercepted and, in case of defeat of the escort, it must be aborted.
Once this first obstacle has been overcome, the troop or army move to the target area and a possible land battle is resolved. If this battle occurs and the attacking forces do not win, all surviving troops must retreat to the starting area.
12.3.3 Amphibious landings between maps
This type of landing is allowed, but it obviously requires that the naval operation distance be at least 2. It is limited to a single troop (with or without leader).
12.4 Reactions to land tactical movement
In event of an enemy land tactical movement entering areas controlled by a major power, the later may react by intercepting it (i.e., sending troops to the area); or by evading it (by withdrawing troops that were in the area). Note that this is not possible if the area is not controlled. The order in which the reactions are conducted is decided by the player.
12.4.1 Interception of land tactical movement
When a player announces that he wants to make a tactical move to an area controlled by an enemy power, he can point to only one of his areas, and intercept this movement by displacing troops from the pointed area to the attacked area to receive the attackers. The two possible types of interceptions are the following:
Interception with an army. Armies (that is, several troops stacked with a leader) adjacent to controlled areas can intercept. If there is no leader, this type of interception cannot be done.
Interception with a troop. A single troop (with or without leader) can intercept from a distance of one or two areas provided that, in the case of two areas, it crosses a controlled area that is free of enemy troops.
Interception in mini-maps. Interceptions to or from mini-maps may only be made with a single troop (with or without leader) and only from an adjacent area.
12.4.2 Evasion before the tactical movement
When a player announces that he wishes to make a tactical move into an area with troops from an enemy power, that power may announce that it is conducting a retreat. The only two possibilities are described below.
Retreats to adjacent areas. Retreat is possible to areas that are controlled by the retreating player and free of enemies (therefore, for this purpose, areas with rebellions are not valid areas for such a retreat), or to areas with own troops that are not being besieged. It is not possible to retreat to the area from which the enemy attack came from, even if it is a controlled area. It is not compulsory to retreat all the troops to the same area; the retreating force may be divided in different adjacent areas, provided they are controlled areas free of enemy troops, as stated above.
Retreat by dispersing troops. Another possibility available to evading troops is to disperse them, placing them in the corresponding box. This dispersing can also be done with a part of the force. This type of evasion is usually done when it is not possible to retreat to an adjacent area, usually because the troops are isolated.
12.5 Control of the area without opposition
Once an army enters an enemy area, if the troops that were there have retreated and there were no interceptions, then the army may announce that it wants to gain control of the area. If a subjugation combat does not take place, it automatically controls that area. This can have political consequences (see "21.3.4 Morale of major power and war status").
13. Combat
These are the direct confrontations between military units.
In the game the following confrontations are called combats:
- Naval combat: those conducted in the sea by fleets.
- Field combat or land battles: those engaged by large maneuvering land armies.
- Siege combat: each of the assaults that occur in the sieges of large defensive complexes.
- Subjugation combats, which include the small but continuous clashes of "guerrilla" warfare (ambushes, night attacks, skirmishes, small sieges, ...) that occur when a force wants to impede an invader, but without a land battle.
The combat system is simple, and achieves remarkably realistic results; but being an original system, it requires detailed reading.
In brief, in a combat each military unit will throw a die, obtaining battle points. The side that gets the most points wins the combat.
Despite being six-sided, these dice are not equal; some have a better chance of scoring these battle points. In brief, the quality of the fighting unit determines the dice the unit is going to throw. The general rules for conducting the battles are described below, followed by the peculiarities of each type of combat.
13.1 Combat procedure
Once it has been established that a combat is going to be fought, the following phases are conducted in this order:
- Preparation of combat, when the conditions in which it will be fought are determined. This phase represents the previous preliminaries, where enemy armies and fleets maneuvered (tactically and strategically) to get a better starting position.
- Resolution, when the combat is fought properly and the winner and loser are determined (or possible ties).
- Persecution and consequences. This is when the winner truly causes damage to the loser, both in terms of human and material losses, and in terms of political consequences.
13.1.1 Military units and dice
In combat, each participating military unit will roll a six-sided die. These dice can be of four different categories: from category 4 (the best) to category 1 (the worst).
Immediately after throwing a category 4 (Q4) die, any result below 4 becomes a 4 (therefore the 6 possible results are 4,4,4,4,5 and 6). For category 3 (Q3), any result below 3 becomes a 3, and likewise with category 2 (Q2).
Category 1 (Q1) is different, here any result above 1 is reduced by 1 (in this case the possible results are 1,1,2,3,4 and 5).
Each military unit will initially throw a die of the category corresponding to its quality (the number it has printed). In this way, for example, a fleet of quality 3 would launch a Q3 die in a combat, and a troop of quality 2 a Q2 die.
This initial category can be modified under certain circumstances, as will be seen below.
It is recommended to use dice of different colors for the different categories of units, the colors should be the same as the background of the number printed on units, that is: Q1-Green, Q2-White, Q3-Blue, Q4-Red.
13.1.2 Advantages and disadvantages
The category of the dice thrown by each side is affected by the advantages and disadvantages that each one accumulates in battle preparation, as will be seen below. Each advantage increases the category of one of the dice, and each disadvantage decreases it.
These advantages and disadvantages are obtained by the type of combat, the terrain, some combat cards or the presence of some leaders.
Each side distributes these advantages and disadvantages as they wish, but it must try to apply all of them. The only way to avoid them is when all the dice have reached the minimum category (one) or the maximum category. In this case, any advantages or disadvantages that could not be applied are ignored.
13.1.3 Battlefield size
This is the maximum number of dice that each side can throw (this maximum number can vary, but it is always the same for both sides in a battle). It is quite common that a side cannot fight with all its strength because of this limit.
The size of the battlefield is determined by the type of battle and the terrain. Some leaders or combat cards can increase or decrease it. However, the maximum limit is always five, and the minimum is one (and for some types of combat it is always one).
13.1.4 Game order for combat cards and leaders
Some cards can have an effect similar to that of some leaders. As a general rule, in case of conflict, the leader's effect is applied first (attacker first in case of conflict), and then the effect of the card (also attacker first).
For example, in case of land battle in a forest with two organizer leaders, first the defender marks the battlefield, the attacker's organizer leader can then change it, then the defender's organizer leader can change it again, and in case one of the sides plays the "Flanking" card, it could still be modified again.
13.1.5 Preparation of combat
In the combat preparation phase, proceed in this order:
- The size of the battlefield is determined, that is, the maximum number of military units that will participate in the combat. Therefore, there may be units present that will not fight if they exceed this number.
- Each side (first the active in the impulse) selects the military units that will fight (which cannot exceed the maximum marked by the size of the battlefield), taking one die for each of the corresponding categories.
- If one of the sides does not reach the maximum number of units that can participate in the combat, under certain circumstances it can recruit conscripts (see "13.1.9 Conscripts"), adding one extra Q1 die.
- The advantages and disadvantages that each side has are calculated and applied (first by the active player in the impulse). This modifies the category of the dice thrown by each side (this is explained below when the different types of battle are detailed).
13.1.6 Combat resolution
Once the number of dice to be rolled and their category have been determined, each side rolls its dice and consults the results achieved with each die in the following combat table to calculate the total number of battle points obtained.
The player with the most battle points is the winner. If there is no winner, it is a draw.
Combat table (die roll, battle points, and effect as printed):
- Die roll 1-2: 0 battle points. Draw: there is no victory for anyone.
- Die roll 3: 1 battle point. Loser: disbands the difference in battle points (rounding down).
- Die roll 4: 1 battle point (+C). Morale points only if the loser rolls more than one die.
- Die roll 5: 2 battle points.
- Die roll 6: 2 battle points (+C). The winner will keep the last unit in the field (ignoring disbands or casualties).
(C) = Casualties: Every two eliminate an opponent. If there is a surplus, it is computed as a disband result.
For example, it is a combat of one Q4 force and one Q2 force against one Q3 force and one Q1 force, and the respective die rolls are 1 (Q4), 6 (Q2), 4 (Q3) and 3 (Q1). The Q4 die roll changes from 1 to 4; the Q2 die roll remains a 6; the Q3 die roll remains a 4, and the Q1 die roll becomes a 2. Now the table is consulted; the 4 scores one battle point (and one casualty) and the 6 scores two battle points (and another casualty). Therefore, the first side has scored three battle points (and two casualties). The second side with the 4 scores one battle point (and one casualty), and the 2 scores nothing. The first side is the winner because it scored more battle points.
13.1.7 Persecution
In the persecution, both sides can suffer the dispersion of troops or even their elimination. Persecutions are resolved in the following order:
- Proceed first with the units that are eliminated.
- Then proceed with the units that are dispersed.
- Troops that have not participated in combat are not eligible to be eliminated or dispersed.
- The side suffering the removal or dispersion of units is the one that chooses which units are going to be eliminated or dispersed.
- The winning side never eliminates or disperses its last unit. Therefore, the points above will not be applied if it only has one unit left.
Units removed. The 4 and 6 results in the combat table also have a C; this means "casualty". Every two casualties scored by the enemy will result in one own unit being eliminated (and thus placed in the corresponding box of the map).
Fortresses are eliminated only if there are no troops left to be eliminated. Eliminated fortresses are placed along with available fortresses counters (they are not maintained).
Leaders are eliminated with the last troop / squadron or fortress of the stack, and are placed with the available ones (they are not maintained if eliminated).
Following the previous example, the first side eliminates an enemy unit with its two casualties. The second side has only scored one casualty, so it does not eliminate any enemy unit.
Dispersed units. Now the number of dispersed units is calculated. The winner of a combat disperses as many enemy units as the difference in battle points between sides.
Additionally, a side that obtained an odd number of casualties will gain one additional disband result against the enemy.
As a general rule, each side will disperse one of its own troops by every two disband results scored by the enemy (although there are exceptions).
Fortresses are not eligible to be dispersed.
In our example, the difference in the number of battle points is 2 (3-1). Therefore, the second side also suffers two disband results. Furthermore, the second side transformed the odd casualty result (which did not result in any enemy units being eliminated) into one disband result that needs to be applied to the first side.
13.1.8 Consequences of combat
After resolution, depending on the type of combat, the losing side must make a withdrawal and may be forced to deliver a morale counter to the winner (see "21.3.5 Causes of morale loss"). Some troops may also become veterans. All this is detailed below for each type of combat.
13.1.9 Conscripts
This rule reflects the hurried levies of civilians and criminals that were made in sieges, or immediately prior to land battles; or merchant ships that were temporarily rigged for specific naval operations. It also includes the enlistment of colonial militias.
Under certain circumstances major powers can recruit a conscript (that is, add a single Q1 die to the combat, without exceeding the maximum marked by the battlefield); in naval or land battles as well as in sieges.
This rule is used especially by a side with a number of troops or squadrons smaller than the size of the battlefield.
To recruit conscripts, the following conditions must be met:
- In land combats there must be a leader present.
- In naval combats in addition to a leader being present, there must be a commercial port that has not been razed (see "19.2.4 Merchant surplus adjustment") in the sea where the combat takes place.
If this conscription is done on the main map, the unrest of the major power increases by 1.
Note that in sieges there is no need for a leader to be present, and that this unrest is not taken into account in the mini-maps.
Casualties and disband results affect squadrons, troops and fortresses, but not conscripts.
13.2 Naval combats
These are combats between fleets.
13.2.1 When naval combat occur
Naval battles occur in the following cases:
- When a fleet (or a squadron) makes a tactical move to a sea and announces that it attacks an enemy fleet, which decides not to retreat to port.
- When two enemy fleets announce that they want to support a land battle, an assault in a siege or a subjugation. There is no order for major powers to announce this interception, but once announced it cannot be canceled, and in case of battle it must be fought.
- As a result of the interception of a strategic movement of troops by sea.
- As a result of a piracy action.
13.2.2 Attacker and defender
In this type of battle there is no difference between being the attacker or the defender.
13.2.3 Advantages and disadvantages
Squadrons in port that intercept pirates (or corsairs) have a disadvantage.
13.2.4 Battlefield
- The battlefield for naval combats as a result of tactical fleet actions is two dice.
- The battlefield for naval combats as a result of interceptions of strategic movements of troops by sea is also two dice.
- The battlefield for naval battles as a result of interceptions for the support of tactical operations of troops is three dice.
- The battlefield for piracy combats is one die.
In the first three cases, this battlefield can be modified by an organizer leader, or by some combat cards (but is always between two and five). In the case of piracy combat, it is always one die and cannot be modified.
13.2.5 Damaged fleets
Every two disband results damage a squadron, which must retreat to its naval base (on the "under repair" side). The other squadrons, if they have lost the naval combat, must also retreat to their naval base, although they can go back to sea with the corresponding action (or without cost at the beginning of the next impulse of the player).
13.2.6 Morale
As in all cases, if the loser of a naval combat threw at least two dice in combat, this major power must deliver a morale counter to the winning side.
13.3 Land combats
These are combats between armies.
13.3.1 When they occur
Land battles occur in the following cases:
- When an army enters an area where there is an enemy army that does not retreat.
- When an army intercepts the movement of an enemy army entering an area controlled by the former.
- When a besieged army decides to make a sortie and give open battle to a besieging force. At the start of a player's impulse, this can be done without cost; if it is done later, it requires a tactical action.
13.3.2 Attacker and defender
The player who is conducting the impulse is the attacker.
13.3.3 Advantages and disadvantages
They are the following:
- The attacker has a disadvantage if the area is mountainous terrain or marshland.
- If there is an enemy fleet giving support, the army has a disadvantage.
- An army making an amphibious landing has a disadvantage.
- In case of a besieged force sortie, this force has a disadvantage for each siege casualty (see "13.4 Siege combat").
13.3.4 Battlefield and fortresses
As a general rule, the battlefield in land combats is four dice. However, the defender can reduce it as described below.
- In wooded land it can be reduced to a maximum of three.
- In marsh and mountain, or if the attacker enters the area through rough pass, it can be reduced to a maximum of two.
- In case of amphibious landing, it can be reduced to a maximum of three in open terrain, or of two for the rest.
- In case of sorties or relief battles, it can be reduced to a maximum of three in open terrain.
An organizer leader and some combat cards may also modify the battlefield, but may never be less than two or more than five.
Fortresses can participate in land battles by rolling a Q3 die (which can be modified later for advantages and disadvantages in the usual way), but cannot be eligible to be eliminated. However, fortresses cannot participate in sorties.
This is to represent the works of fortification that were also undertaken by the besieging forces and that in this case "cancel" the enemy fortifications.
13.3.5 Relief battles
These occur when an army enters an area where a siege is taking place. In this case, the stacking limits are examined separately (relief army, besieged and besiegers) (see "15.1.1 Stacking armies and Fortresses").
If the relief army and the besieged army belong to the same major power, the besieged troops can join the fight, but in this case they will take as many disadvantages as siege casualties (which will apply to the whole army). If the attacker is defeated, the besieged units that participated in the combat must retreat to the fortress. As always, the owner of the units will decide how casualties are applied to the two contingents (i.e., the relief army and the besieged army).
In case of victory of the attacker, if the besieged force belongs to a different major power with which he is not at war, the attacker must withdraw his full force to the area he entered. If they are from the same major power, he can withdraw all troops he wants (including the besieged) to the area they entered (normally in order to not exceed stacking limits).
13.3.6 Dispersed and withdrawn troops
Unlike other types of combat, each disband result in a land combat disperses a troop (the usual is one for every two disband results). Troops that did not participate in the combat are exempt from being dispersed.
After the fight, the losing army must retreat. If it is the attacker, to the area where he entered; if it is the defender, to one or several adjacent controlled areas (but not to where the attacker has just entered if that is the case). If there are no such controlled areas, he must disperse the rest of the army (even those troops that did not participate in the combat because of the size of the battlefield).
If there is a fortress, the surviving defenders can retreat to it, thus counting from now on as besieged.
In the case of defeat of a besieged force that made a sortie, the survivors also remain besieged.
13.3.7 Control of the area
The winner of a field battle takes control of the area automatically (if desired); this may have political consequences that are added to those caused by the battle.
If the area belonged to a third side with which the winner is not at war, this creates a Casus Belli for the third side against the major power (see "21.3.2 Casus Belli (CB)"); as in all these cases, the major power must eliminate the control marker (if still retained) at the end of the turn, returning it to the nominal owner.
This can happen if major power A takes control of an area of major power B, and then loses it to major power C. If major powers B and C were not at war, B now has a Casus Belli against C.
13.3.8 Veterans and morale
The loser of a combat that rolled at least two dice must deliver a morale counter to the winning major power.
Both sides can veteranize one troop (by turning the counter) if they have eliminated at least one enemy unit; any troop that participated in the battle can be chosen.
13.4 Siege combat
This represents each of the assaults that a besieging force performed on the defenders of a fortress.
13.4.1 When they occur
As we have seen, when a force enters an area with a fortress, tactical movement must end (even if its intention was merely to cross the area). With subsequent actions it can conduct this type of battle, if it wishes. A major power can make as many siege battles as it wants (even in the same impulse), as long as it spends subsequent tactical actions.
Troops defending the area can announce that they join the fortress (respecting the stacking limits). If they do not do this, they must retreat or conduct a land battle.
13.4.2 Besieged, besieger and siege casualties
Obviously, the besieging force is the attacker, and the besieged is the defender. Unlike other types of battle, victory or defeat does not end the siege, but contributes to eroding the strength of the enemy.
Eliminated units are removed in the usual way, but in this case no besieged troops are dispersed; instead siege casualties are added (use the corresponding siege markers).
As in the general case, every two disband results will disperse one besieger troop, or will add a siege casualty for the besieged. If there has not been a tie, the losing side must disperse at least one troop (or increase siege casualties by one), although as a result of the combat it was not compulsory to do so (for example if the defeat had only been by a point of battle without casualties).
Note that for the duration of the siege, accumulated siege casualties are not eliminated; since the victories of the besieged eliminate or disperse besieging troops, but they do not remove these siege casualties.
13.4.3 Advantages and disadvantages
They are the following:
- If there is an enemy fleet giving support, the army has a disadvantage.
- The besieged side has a disadvantage for each accumulated siege casualty.
13.4.4 Battlefield, fortresses and fleets
As a general rule, the battlefield in siege battles is three dice. However, the support of an own fleet allows the player to increase or decrease it by one at his choice (cumulative with others).
Usually the besieger will increase the battle size in order to resolve the siege faster, and the besieged will reduce it to make the siege longer.
An organizer leader and some combat cards may also modify it, but it may never be less than two or more than five.
The fortress can also fight like a Q3 troop (modifiable by advantages and disadvantages).
13.4.5 Capitulations
A siege ends when the besieging force is removed (or is completely eliminated or dispersed); or when the besieged force capitulates.
Capitulation occurs immediately when the besieged has accumulated more siege casualties than the troops remaining in the fortress. It also occurs when the fortress has been eliminated as a result of combat. The fortress is only eligible to be destroyed if there are no troops left to be destroyed.
Before rolling the dice, the besieged can also announce that he capitulates voluntarily.
After capitulation, the besieger gains control of the area, the fortress is destroyed if it had not been destroyed before, and the surviving besieged troops are dispersed.
After the siege, siege casualty markers are eliminated.
13.4.6 Veterans and morale
After each siege battle (regardless of whether there is a capitulation or not), troops can gain veteran status as in land battles.
13.4.7 Control of the area
During the siege the besieger and besieged troops share the same area; but for the purposes of strategic movement, the area belongs to the besieger.
After capitulation, the winner gains complete control of the area. This can have political consequences.
13.5 Subjugation combats
They represent the combats of small forces; groups of scouts, foragers, irregular forces, etc.
13.5.1 When they occur
They occur when an army ends its movement over an area controlled by an enemy major power (whether it started in the area or moved to it), and announces that it wishes to take control of that area. If the major power controlling the area wishes to oppose such control (and can do so), a subjugation combat occurs. Note that for these combats, the area must be free of defenders, as this would lead to a land battle. It is also the procedure used to fight the rebellions that may occur in their own territories, or to annex independent areas (see "18.3 Rebellions (or revolts)" and "18.2.2 Active independent areas").
13.5.2 Opposition to subjugation
The major power that controls the area can oppose enemy control of the area (thus leading to subjugation combat) using troops or fortresses placed in controlled areas. If both are present, the player must announce if he opposes with the troops or with the fortress (that is, a passive defense from the castles of the area, or an active one with maneuvering troops).
The opposing troops or fortresses must be adjacent to the defended area, or two areas away (as long as the intermediate area is controlled and it does not have supplied enemy troops, or a rebellion).
Areas with a rebellion are assumed to be controlled by rebels, and in this case opposition is not possible by the major power that nominally controls the area.
13.5.3 Advantages and disadvantages
They are the following:
- If the subjugation force has moved all the troops in the area in that action (for example, to reach the area), it has a disadvantage.
- If the subjugation force is in a forest, mountain or marsh, it has another disadvantage.
- If there is an enemy fleet giving support (from a major power at war obviously), the opposite side counts a disadvantage.
- The opponent has a disadvantage if the area he opposes from is not adjacent to the area being opposed.
Note that a fleet at war with a major power subjugating a rebellion could navally support the defender (in its case, giving a disadvantage to the subjugation force).
13.5.4 Combat and battlefield
In subjugations, each side rolls a single die: Q3 the subjugator and Q2 the opponent, applying the appropriate disadvantages. If the subjugator wins, he takes control of the area (there is no direct consequence in case of a tie or defeat). In the case of rebellions (or independent areas), those marked as R2 (or A2) oppose with a Q2 die, and those marked as R3 (or A3) with a Q3 die (the die can be thrown by any other player).
If the subjugator does not win, he may optionally disperse one troop if the result was a tie, or two troops if the result was a defeat, in order to gain control of the area. If the subjugator decides against this, he may use other tactical actions to repeat the subjugation attempt. The subjugator can conduct as many subjugation combats as he wishes (as long as his action points allow him to do so).
13.5.5 Dispersed troops, leaders and fortresses
A force without a leader will disperse a troop if it suffers one disband result; if a leader is present, two disband results will be required to disperse one troop.
As in previous cases, the owner of the force receiving the disband result is the one that selects the unit to be dispersed.
If opposition to subjugation has been done with a fortress, there is no pursuit for either side (i.e., disband or eliminate results are ignored).
13.5.6 Control of the area and rebellions
If the subjugator wins, he will take control of the area, eliminating the rebellion if there is one. Note that if a major power enters an enemy area with a rebellion, in addition to not being able to be intercepted, a subjugation attempt cannot be opposed by the enemy (although the attacker must subdue the rebellion if he wants to take control of the area).
In case of neutral areas, the attacker becomes the owner of the area (see "18.2.2 Active independent areas").
13.5.7 Opposition to subjugation in mini-maps
Opposition to subjugation in mini-maps areas may not be done with troops (note: the East areas in the India mini-map are considered to be part of the main map). Instead, these areas must always be subjugated (even if there was a victory as a result of a field battle). Home areas count as A3, and the rest as A2.
14. Repatriations
They occur when, due to some diplomatic event, some military units must leave the area or sea where they are located. They also take place to recover any expeditionary corps at the end of the turn (see "21.2.2 Expeditionary Corps"). This movement is carried out troop by troop and squadron by squadron, and does not require the use of any action (in fact, many times it is conducted in the impulse of another player).
14.1 Repatriation of troops
The player can choose any of the three options for each troop separately, although sometimes not all of them will be available (due to conditions not being met):
- Make a tactical move that ends in a controlled area.
- Make a strategic move (see below).
- Disperse it in the theater of operations where it is.
14.1.1 Strategic movements to repatriate troops
These strategic movements are carried out with each troop, therefore it cannot be used for general redeployment, even if the troop is with a leader.
If the troop is in an area owned by a minor power, all the areas of that minor power can be counted as if belonging to an ally (for strategic movement purposes).
If the troop is in an area owned by a major power, all areas of the major power can be counted as if belonging to an ally (for strategic movement purposes).
During this movement it is not possible to cross areas with enemy troops.
If the movement takes place by sea and is aborted by losing in a naval interception battle, the troop is dispersed.
14.2 Repatriation of squadrons
Fleets that have been left without naval bases within naval operation distance are treated as if the control of a port was lost (see "11.6 Fleets in port").
14.3 Repatriation of fortresses and leaders
Fortresses cannot be repatriated; instead, they are eliminated. Leaders in fortresses that must be destroyed (or in a minor power's fortresses) are removed and assigned to any other troop, squadron or own fortress that is not besieged.
The same also applies to leaders who were commanding armies entirely of allies, and that were left without troops because they were no longer allies.
15. Logistics
Logistics has always determined the way to maintain armies and fleets in the field, limiting their size and operability. In uRR this is covered with two simple rules: Stacking and supply.
15.1 Stacking
The stacking limit in all areas of the main map, and in those of The East theater of operations (except Ormuz and Aden) is 4. This also applies to all home areas of the mini-maps.
Stacking in the mini-map domains is 2.
For all other areas, including Ormuz and Aden (usually independent areas in the mini-maps), the stacking limit is 1.
15.1.1 Stacking armies and Fortresses
The size of the armies is determined by this limit. It can only be surpassed for armies that are moving (with tactical or strategic movement) as long as they do not finish their movement overstacked. In relief battles (see "13.3.5 Relief battles") this limit can also be temporarily exceeded.
When a player finishes an action, overstacked troops must be dispersed.
Leaders and non-besieged fortresses do not count for stacking. In case of a siege, the fortress does count for stacking.
An organizer leader increases stacking limit by 1.
15.1.2 Fleet stacking
Fleets at sea have the same stacking limit as the naval base from which they operate. This means that, if at any given moment a major power has 5 fleets using as naval base a domain at a mini-map (stacking limit 2), it can only make stacks of up to 2 squadrons (for example 2 fleets of 2 squadrons each and 1 fleet of 1 squadron).
15.2 Supply
Subjugations and sieges are only possible if any of the following conditions are met:
- The area is adjacent to a controlled one.
- The area is adjacent to an area with a supplied troop (and there is no enemy fortress).
- The area is a port connected with some sea without enemy fleets (that is, belonging to powers with whom one is at war).
16. Veterans
Given that the psychological component is fundamental on the battlefield, veteran troops have prevailed throughout history even in a situation of great disproportion.
In uRR troops have two sides: The face with the highest number corresponds to a veteran troop (they are better in combat). As we have seen, troops are always built on their regular face. There are two ways to convert them to veterans: in combat and with some events or scenario rules.
16.1 Veteran status
Troops become veteran mainly in land combats and in assaults to fortifications. If at least one enemy troop is destroyed, a single participating troop can be veteranized. To do this, the troop must have participated explicitly in the battle (troops not selected to fight cannot be veteranized).
In addition to combat, there are two more circumstances where troops can win the veteran status:
- At the beginning of a scenario (troops that start as veterans).
- By an event card.
16.2 Loss of veteran status
As a general rule, at the end of the turn major powers lose half of their veterans rounded up (they must be turned to the regular side).
Military units lose this outstanding capability over time, either due to veteran soldiers being dismissed from the army, or due to a long period of peace.
17. Leaders
They represent both the specific commander and his staff, and also the logistics and specialized units that were part of an army or a fleet. Although they can be stacked with a single squadron or troop, most often they are used to conduct strategic or tactical movements with several squadrons or troops, i.e., with fleets or armies.
17.1 Movement of leaders
They must always be attached to a single squadron, troop or fortress, that is, no leader can be alone on the map. The leader follows this unit, whether it is dispersed or eliminated (this is the only way of eliminating an enemy leader in the game).
However, the leader may be attached to any own troop or fortress in the area, or to a squadron of the fleet, at any time (even during or right after a combat) and at no cost.
17.2 Building leaders
Leaders have two sides: one ordinary, and one extraordinary; the latter has some special ability.
Just like for fortresses, the available leaders are shared by all the major powers. It is recommended to place them in a bag or cup, as they are chosen randomly.
By using the corresponding action, a major power can announce the construction of a leader; to do so, he randomly selects one of the available ones, and places it on a squadron, fortress or troop that is not besieged. If desired, it is also possible to use him to replace one of the leaders already present on the game board (even if besieged); the replaced leader must be returned to the leader pool, since replaced leaders are not maintained at the end of the turn.
When a player builds a leader (and before placing him on the game board), he first checks the leader's special ability and, if he wants to (and if the conditions described below are fulfilled), he may place him on his "extraordinary" side.
17.3 Extraordinary leaders
They represent exceptional commanders that distinguished themselves over their peers. When a player builds a leader (and before placing him on the game board), he first checks the leader's special ability and decides if he wants to place the leader on his "ordinary" side or on his "extraordinary" side.
To place a leader on his extraordinary side, the major power must have an unrest level that does not exceed its vitality. By doing so this unrest level increases by 3.
This represents the enormous difficulties that could exist at a time so marked by birth when giving important commands to people prioritizing talent over social class.
17.3.1 Historical leaders
Another way to have extraordinary leaders is with some events, which represent historical figures such as Farnesio, Hawkins or Godunov. In this case there are no consequences as far as unrest is concerned. These leaders are separated from the rest, so they enter the game only with the corresponding event card.
17.3.2 Abilities
Extraordinary leaders differ by having one of the special abilities described below.
Although there may be more than one extraordinary leader in a force, only one is the commander (if there are several, the commander is chosen following the order in this list).
- Tactical: After throwing the dice in a field or siege combat where he is present, and after modifying the roll by its category, the player may add +1 to one of the dice (which obtained less than 6).
- Admiral: After throwing the dice in a naval combat (including corsair / piracy) where he is present, and after modifying the roll by its category, the player may add +1 to one of the dice (which obtained less than 6).
- Determined: After throwing the dice in a subjugation combat where he is present, and after modifying the roll by its category, the player may add +1 to the die (if he has rolled less than 6). He can make interceptions with several troops at 2 areas of distance (the normal case is with a single troop). In land combats where he is intercepted he fights as a tactical leader.
- Creative: The leader can increase by 1 the category of one own die (categories below 4) in any type of battle. This is done before the dice are rolled, and after having decided how to apply advantages and disadvantages.
- Organizer: The leader can stack an additional troop or squadron (see "15.1 Stacking"). He can also increase or decrease by 1 the battle size of naval, land and siege battles; with the restrictions described before: absolute minimum battle size is always two and maximum size is five. It does not affect piracy or subjugation, which always throw a single die.
17.3.3 Duration of extraordinary leaders
At the end of the turn, all extraordinary leaders are turned to their ordinary side and will remain that way until the counter is replaced or retired from the game board. Sic transit gloria mundi.
18. Special areas
18.1 Dispersion areas
Each theater of operations has a box for placing the troops (with or without leader) that have been dispersed. The main reasons for this to happen are:
- As a result of combat (or in withdrawals).
- At the end of the turn, due to social unrest (see "23.2 Social agitation").
In these boxes, the player may attach and unattach leaders among the dispersed troops of that same dispersion area at any time and with no cost.
At the end of each impulse, each major power can, if desired, move a single troop (with its possible assigned leader), from any dispersion area to the dispersion area of the theater of operations where it has more home areas (i.e., "Bring the unit home").
In the Western Europe theater of operations there are two dispersion areas: one for continental areas, and another for insular areas.
18.2 Independent areas
They represent areas controlled by entities that have no effect on the game. These areas may or may not be active (this is described in the scenarios).
18.2.1 Inactive independent areas
For game purposes, they are treated as if they did not exist (as if they were not even printed on the map). Normally, they become active with an event. According to scenarios, there may even be entire inactive theaters of operations.
18.2.2 Active independent areas
Unlike the previous ones, major powers can enter these areas and subjugate them. If successful, the major power immediately gains control of this area (placing a control marker on the dotted side). For the purposes of subjugation, these areas appear as A2 or A3 (depending on their bellicosity).
Areas possessed by major powers that disappear become independent active areas that defend themselves with A3 (see "21.6 Collapse").
18.3 Rebellions (or revolts)
They can appear due to the following reasons:
- In some scenarios.
- An event card.
- At the end of the turn, due to social unrest.
As stated above they can be of two different levels; R2, and R3 for the most severe.
When a rebellion appears in an area, the major power remains the nominal holder, although it stops controlling the area (it cannot, for example, trace strategic movements).
Unless explicitly specified (in the event or scenario), rebellions cannot be located in key areas or commercial ports, nor in the last area without revolt of a province or minor power, nor in areas with military units (fortress, troops or squadrons in port). If it is not possible to place it in the areas specified in the event card, the previous requirements are ignored (and thus they could be placed in an area with troops, for instance).
If it is a key area, the major power does not lose morale, unless the area is controlled later by an enemy major power.
In areas with a revolt, troops or squadrons cannot be recruited or regrouped, and fortresses cannot be built. Fortresses cannot attack revolts.
Rebellions in minor powers that become neutral are eliminated immediately.
At the end of the turn, each rebellion increases the major power's maintenance by 1 (see below).
18.4 Theaters of operations and major power interests
A theater of operations is a group of areas that appear on the map separated from others with a different color. As a general rule, each theater of operations has its own dispersion box (except for Western Europe which has two), and usually has a trading center associated with it.
18.4.1 Major power interests
As indicated in the scenarios, in the major power card, or as a consequence of certain events, major powers have an interest in some theaters of operations; this means that the major power can only intervene in these theaters.
In other words, when a major power does not have interest in a theater of operations, that major power:
-
Cannot ally with minor powers located in this theater (see "20.3 How to ally with minor powers").
-
Cannot request any type of war reparations involving territories or minor powers in that theater (see "21.5.3 Peace conditions").
-
Cannot place merchants in maritime trade centers connected with these theaters (unless the trade center also includes an area of a theater where the major power does have interest).
-
Cannot use the theater's areas to conduct strategic or tactical moves, or use these areas as a naval base.
-
The exceptions to all these are the theater areas bordering other theater areas where the major power does have interest. This is explained below.
One of the ways to "guide" players to follow the historical policies of their major powers is by using this concept of interest in a theater of operations. For example, if England did not colonize America before, it was not due to technical impediments, but because "it was not interested" (in this case for political reasons).
18.5 Border areas
In order to blur a little the boundaries between theaters of operations, these special rules are applied to the areas connected to areas of other theaters of operations:
- Troops dispersed in these areas can be placed in the dispersed boxes of either of the two theaters of operations.
- Minor powers can operate in areas bordering theaters where they can operate normally, but cannot go further, and cannot disperse outside the theaters where they normally operate.
- During a war, these areas can be controlled normally even if the major power has no interest in that theater (as long as it has interest in a connected theater). At the end of the war, however, these areas must be returned.
18.6 Special naval areas
18.6.1 Galleys
Until a historical event indicates otherwise, fleets built in the Mediterranean cannot move (or have naval bases) out of this sea and vice versa, either tactically or strategically. For these purposes Gibraltar counts as Mediterranean (that is, a fleet in the port of Gibraltar cannot move to the Atlantic).
18.6.2 Transoceanic expeditions
When counting the naval operation distance between the main and secondary maps, the Baltic, North Sea and East Atlantic count as one sea.
18.6.3 Strategic ports
The following coastal areas allow naval units based in them to consider the two indicated seas as a single one for the purposes of interceptions to strategic movement and piracy. These areas are:
- Corfu or Malta: Central and Eastern Mediterranean Seas.
- Constantinople: Eastern Mediterranean and Black Seas.
- Portsmouth: North Sea and Eastern Atlantic.
- Copenhagen: Baltic and North Seas.
18.7 Overseas home areas and domains (mini maps)
These areas have some peculiarities: For stacking, home areas count as areas of the main map (stacking limit of 4), while domains have a stacking limit of 2.
In these areas, opposition to subjugation with friendly troops is not possible; in contrast, they must always be subjugated (even if there had been a victory in a land battle). Home areas defend as A3, and all others as A2.
Additionally, as already seen, conscriptions in the mini-maps do not increase unrest; and only interceptions between adjacent areas and with a single troop are possible.
Home areas represent important colonies, whereas domains represent trade posts.
19. Economy
19.1 Unrest
In uRR all major powers have a level of unrest, which indicates not only the degree of social cohesion, but also the progress of their economy. This marker summarizes both the unrest caused by a lost war, and the collection of special taxes to be able to cover certain expenses such as technology or diplomacy, or to pay war reparations.
High levels of unrest limit or prevent the acquisition of technology, diplomacy and the recruitment of extraordinary leaders. Additionally it can cause the major power to collapse (see below).
Unrest may increase due to the following reasons:
- Acquisition of technology or minor powers (see "19.3.1 Technology auction" and "20.3.1 Alliance by alliance event card").
- Conscriptions (see "13.1.9 Conscripts").
- Piracy (see "11.5.2 Procedure for piracy").
- At the end of a war (war weariness) (see "21.5.2 Adjusting unrest").
- At the end of a war (payment of war reparations) (see War Reparations Table).
- At the end of the turn, for each rebellion in the major power's possessions.
And decreases due to the following:
- An action of lowering unrest or allied subsidies (see below).
- At the end of a war (receiving war reparations) (see War Reparations Table).
- At the end of the turn, the difference between the major power's income and expenditure is directly added to or subtracted from the unrest.
- Some events can also increase or decrease the unrest of a major power.
19.1.1 Action to lower unrest
With this action, the major power lowers unrest by one level.
Causes of unrest
Causes that increase unrest:
- The defending power loses a piracy combat → 1 (or 2)
- Promote an exceptional leader → 3
- At the end of a war not won by the power → 1 for each lost morale
- At the end of a war won by the power → 1 for every two lost morale
- At the end of a war, due to peace conditions
- At the end of the turn, for each rebellion → 1
- At the end of the turn, for each expenditure that exceeds income → 1
Causes that diminish unrest:
- The corresponding lowering action
- The attacking power wins in a piracy combat → 1 (or 2)
- At the end of a war, due to peace conditions
- At the end of the turn, for each income that exceeds expenditure → 1
19.1.2 Action to subsidize an ally
With this action, the major power lowers the level of unrest of the allied major power chosen by the player.
19.2 Commerce
A cause of many wars, it is one of the aspects represented in uRR. It has an important impact on the economy of a major power, but it can also give VP directly.
19.2.1 Trade centers
Trade centers represent the different commercial routes, normally maritime, that existed in the Modern Age.
Trade centers located in a sea include all commercial ports adjacent to that sea (often from several theaters of operations). Those in Africa and Asia include all areas of these theaters.
In Eastern Europe, where commerce is basically river-based, they cannot be attacked by pirate or corsair squadrons.
19.2.2 Merchants
In the initial setup and during its impulse, the major powers can place merchants in the different trade centers (using the "build merchant" action). However, when a major power enters the game for the first time, it may place its merchants directly at the trade centers; for all other major powers, this action takes place in one turn. The normal procedure for placing merchants in trade centers is as follows:
- By using the corresponding action, control markers with the number 1 are placed in a dispersion area of the theater where the trade center is located (two markers of 1 must be changed by one of 2). This still has no effects on the game. It represents the creation of infrastructure for commerce. To do so, the major power must have some possession, in some coastal area adjacent to the sea zone where the trade center is located (or possess an area, in the case of Eastern Europe).
- At the beginning of the next turn, these merchants are placed in the corresponding trade centers. It is not compulsory for the major power to do this, but if the merchants are not placed there, they must be removed from the dispersion area. At the most, each major power may have 2 merchants in each trade center (this is represented by placing a control marker with number 2).
- Merchants who enter a new trade center give a Casus Belli (see "21.3.2 Casus Belli (CB)") to all major powers already present in the trading center against those powers that just entered the center (even if they were already present with only one merchant).
19.2.3 Capacity of trade centers
There is a limit to the number of merchants that may be in a trade center. This limit may be exceeded during the turn, but at the end of the turn the number of merchants must be adjusted, and any excess merchants must be eliminated.
This number is printed on the map, although it may vary in some scenarios, and be modified by events.
19.2.4 Merchant surplus adjustment
At the end of the turn, trading centers holding a number of merchants above their capacity must adjust them following a procedure that is explained below and that is called commercial competition.
Commercial ports. Do not confuse with (just) ports. They are also ports but with great commercial relevance because they channel most of the trade in the area. Commercial ports in areas adjacent to two seas count as being in both.
All the fortresses in the mini-maps are also considered commercial ports (if it is not already the area).
When a commercial port changes control (due to a combat), a neutralized commerce control marker is placed on it, and it will remain there until the next turn. This indicates that the area has momentarily ceased to be a commercial port. This can also happen as a consequence of a war reparation (see below).
Commercial competition. To eliminate excess merchants in the commercial centers, the following procedure is followed on the merchant counters that will be on the side of 1 or 2 according to the number of merchants for each power:
- The merchant counters of powers without coastal areas in the center are eliminated first.
- If there is still excess, reduce to side 1 (if they were on side 2) the merchant counters of powers with only 1 coastal area.
- If there is still excess, the merchant counters are ordered following these criteria:
- Number of commercial ports without the "neutralized commerce" counter of the trade center, arranged from lowest to highest.
- In case of a tie, the merchants of major powers with less vitality are placed first.
- If the tie persists, the major power of the player with the highest game order number (defined at the beginning of the game) are placed first.
- Following this order, 1 merchant is eliminated for each major power (by eliminating the counter or lowering it from 2 to 1) until the number of merchants has been adjusted.
- If, after going through all the list, there are still more merchants than allowed, the previous procedure is repeated a second time.
19.2.5 Impact of trade
At the corresponding end of turn phase, a single merchant in a trading center provides the major power with two additional incomes. Two merchants of the major power in the trading center provide it with three additional incomes and 1 VP.
19.3 Technology
The Modern Age was a time of constant technological innovations that had great effects on the military. In uRR this is represented with the following generic event cards:
- Siege Technology.
- Land Technology.
- Naval Technology.
- Industrial Technology.
The specific advantage provided by each one is described in the card itself. In the first three, this advantage has a duration limited to the rest of the turn for the major power that has achieved it. The advantage is lost at the end of the turn (representing that the other major powers have copied or canceled it).
When a player has any of these cards in hand and decides to play it, the game is stopped and an auction is started. At the end of the auction, the card is taken and is placed next to the major power that has won, to remember that it has the advantage. At the end of the turn, the card is returned to the deck of played cards (and will be available for the next turn).
19.3.1 Technology auction
Any major power of the player who has played the card may, if it wishes, bet points against its unrest. The maximum number of points it can bet is its vitality. This limit is decreased by each unrest point exceeding its vitality. The minimum bet is 1.
Following the order of play, the next player can select one of his major powers and surpass this bet. In this way, players bid against the unrest of any of their major powers (if they wish), until no more players decide to increase their bet.
The major power that has won the bid increases its unrest by the amount wagered and takes the technology. If no major power has placed a bet, the event is ignored.
As with any other card, the player who has played it can spend the actions on the card (whether he has won the bet or not).
20. Diplomacy with minor powers
In uRR, minor powers are small kingdoms or lordships, independent cities, or leagues, etc. that are not directly led by any player, but indirectly allied with player-led major powers. They also have a card similar to those of major powers, which in case of alliance is placed next to the allied major power to indicate this relationship.
20.1 Neutral minor powers
Minor powers not allied with any major power have little impact on the game. Their areas can only be used to plot strategic movements if they are occupied by troops of the major power. Tactical movements in these areas are allowed (they can even be the scene of battles between major powers).
20.2 Consequences of alliance with minor powers
As a general rule, areas and units from allied minor powers are treated as if they were from the major power; with the following exceptions:
- The troops and squadrons of the major power cannot be recruited in the areas of the allied minor power, and those of the allied minor power can only be recruited in the areas belonging to that minor power. This restriction does not apply to fortresses, hence a major power can build them in the areas of the allied minor power (although they will be destroyed as soon as the alliance ends).
- Although the areas of the allied minor power do not contribute anything to the economy of the major power, the units of the allied minor power do not have to be maintained (see "23.1.1 Accounting of income and maintenance").
- As a general rule (there are some exceptions detailed in the cards), the allied minor power's troops cannot leave the theater of operations to which the minor power belongs (except for border areas of the theater); and its fleets cannot use naval bases outside this theater.
20.3 How to ally with minor powers
Major powers can ally themselves with minor powers by some of the following ways:
- Alliance cards: They represent the usual diplomatic way, whereby the major powers weave their network of alliances.
- Conquest: After occupation, the major power imposes a puppet government.
- Peace conditions: After a war, the losing major power may be forced to break some alliances with minor powers (or even "give" this minor power to the winner).
- Historical events.
20.3.1 Alliance by alliance event card
When the alliance event card is played, the major powers interested in allying with the minor power can start an auction identical to the technology auction in order to try to ally with the minor power. Only the major powers with interest in the theater where the minor power is located can participate in this auction.
Although the unrest limit that each major power can bet is calculated in the same way as in the technology auction, any major powers that win the auction to ally with a minor power with which they were previously allied reduce the unrest increase by one point.
It was usually easier to renew an alliance than to start a new one.
Immediately after the alliance, the newly allied major power will deploy the minor power's units as reinforcements (see below). If there are units of other major powers in the minor power areas, proceed according to "20.4.2 Units of other major powers in minor powers that change alliance".
20.3.2 Minor power reinforcements
After an alliance by card, the major power can take all the military units of the minor power that are not destroyed (even if they are besieged), and place them on the map as reinforcements (see "9.1 Troop construction"). The minor power's fortresses appearing in his card are reconstructed immediately if they were destroyed.
20.3.3 Alliance by conquest
If a major power completely occupies a minor power that was allied with another major power with which it was at war, it immediately becomes allied with that minor power. If the minor power does not have a key area, the major power losing the minor power must give a morale to the newly allied major power (see "21.3.4 Morale of major power and war status").
All the minor power's units are placed in the eliminated units box.
If the minor power is entirely occupied by several enemy major powers, the allied major power continues to be allied with it (and therefore does not lose morale).
20.3.4 Other forms of alliance
Alliances achieved as a condition of peace or by event card are treated in the same way as those obtained by alliance card.
At the beginning of the scenarios, there are powers that start with allies. These start with all their military units deployed.
20.4 Consequences of a change in a minor power's status
Changes in the alliance status of minor powers may result in situations that are resolved as follows.
20.4.1 Minor powers who become neutral
This can happen if no major power bets in the auction of a minor power, or as a condition of peace.
In this situation, the minor power's troops are removed from the board (including those eliminated) and placed as available for future alliances. Rebellions in the minor power's areas are eliminated.
Any major power military units are repatriated if the player decides so (see "20.1 Neutral minor powers").
20.4.2 Units of other major powers in minor powers that change alliance
When a minor power becomes allied with another major power, the military units of the former ally (or from other major powers that were in its territory at that time) must be repatriated (see "14.1 Repatriation of troops").
This repatriation is optional for these major powers if the minor power's new ally is at war with them. Non-repatriated units at war maintain possible control of the areas they occupy; the minor power's military units and any minor power fortresses (see "20.3.2 Minor power reinforcements") may only be placed in the minor power's controlled areas.
Units of the new ally that were in the territory prior to the alliance remain where they are, but control markers are removed (as the minor power's areas now count as belonging to the new ally).
20.5 Independent minor powers
As already seen, minor powers are little more than appendages of the major power that controls them. If the major power is at war with another major power, so do any allied minor powers. There is nevertheless a type of (independent) minor powers that have special rules, as indicated in their card.
The main difference is that major powers may declare war to these minor powers as if they were any major power (as long as they are allied with major powers with which they are not in forced peace (see "21.5.4 Forced peace").
When a major power that controls one of these minor powers enters a war, it must immediately announce which allied independent minor powers enter the war with it. Any minor powers entering the war start operating like any other minor power.
For major powers that are at war and later become allied with one of these minor powers, it is right after the alliance when it must be declared if the minor power enters the war or not. If the major power decides not to drag the minor power into the war, then first proceed as if the minor power becomes neutral (see "20.4.1 Minor powers who become neutral"), and then treat it as if it is neutral until the end of the war (see "20.1 Neutral minor powers").
When these minor powers go to war with a major power, they drag the allied major power with them, which automatically also enters the war.
20.6 Mercenary minor powers
German and elite mercenaries function as a minor power with a couple of exceptions: they do not have a home territory (therefore they can only be lost in an auction), they enter the game as the major power's own reinforcements, and in the case of a new alliance, the units are immediately rebuilt if any had been destroyed.
21. Diplomacy between major powers
Since players normally control several major powers, and for historicity reasons, diplomacy in uRR is quite limited.
The status of the diplomatic relations between two major powers may be any of the following:
- Alliance.
- War.
- Casus Belli (this is usually reciprocal).
- Forced peace.
- No relations (for the purpose of game rules).
21.1 Alliance between major powers
At the beginning of the impulse of a player, he may declare that one of his major powers is allied with another one (with his acquiescence and if they are not at war); and as long as it is expressly permitted by any event card or scenario rule.
The alliance is marked with two control markers on the alliances track of the map.
Two allied major powers are considered to be in forced peace with each other (for instance they cannot perform actions resulting in a CB, see "21.5.4 Forced peace"). Any CBs resulting from an event card are ignored.
Whenever two major powers are at war, their allies can (if they wish so) announce that they will also enter the war (likewise with the independent minor powers). This is done immediately and does not require any action. As in the case of independent minor powers, if the alliance takes place after the beginning of the war, it is when the alliance is announced that the major powers allied must announce if they will enter the war or not.
21.2 Effects of alliances
In addition to being able to enter a war against another power at the same time as the ally, and of being in forced peace with the ally, the alliance also provides some strategic support to the ally, and makes it possible to send expeditionary corps to help the ally, or to form combined fleets.
21.2.1 Allied strategic support
It is possible to trace strategic movements through areas controlled by the ally, and for purposes of supply (see "15.2 Supply"), they count as own areas (with or without the consent of the ally).
They cannot be used for tactical movement, nor their ports can be used as naval bases.
21.2.2 Expeditionary Corps
A major power can "cede" a single troop to each of its allies. These ceded troops can be transferred to the ally with a strategic movement, which can be carried out by either of the two allied major powers (always with the acquiescence of both).
In this "transfer" strategic movement, where the troop will move from one area of a major power to one area of the other, for the purpose of naval interception the troop will count as belonging to the major power that receives it as soon as it leaves the possessions of the major power that cedes it.
Once the troop is in an area controlled by the ally, it will count as belonging to it for all purposes. The original owner can only recover the unit following a procedure identical to that of the transfer strategic movement (although in this case the ally's permission is not necessary).
At the end of the turn all expeditionary corps are repatriated (see "14.1 Repatriation of troops").
21.2.3 Combined fleets
In the impulse of a player, and with the ally's consent, he can add squadrons to his fleets (the commander's counter must remain on top of the stack to remember under which flag the fleet is acting). These fleets can take actions in the sea where they have been formed, but cannot move away from it.
These combined fleets count for all intents and purposes as if they belong to the major power whose leader is on top of the stack.
A combined fleet may be dissolved by any of the major powers whose units form the fleet at any time, except during the resolution of a battle. Combined fleet dissolution is compulsory when squadrons are present in a battle against a major power with which they are not at war.
21.3 War between major powers
Wars are always between two major powers; the historical wars between coalitions are represented in uRR with wars between each of the major powers of the coalition, against each and every one of the major powers of the enemy coalition.
Two major powers can be at war in three different ways:
- Event cards.
- By the action of declaring war.
- When an ally (whether a major power or an independent minor power) goes to war.
Two powers carried by the same player cannot go to war under any circumstances. If war breaks out by card (this only happens in some very long scenarios with few players), the event is ignored.
21.3.1 War and Victory Points
The events that make two major powers go immediately to war provide 1 VP to the winner of the war. Some general events, or other later historical events resulting in war between those two major powers, may further increase this VP gain.
It is recommended to leave these cards visible on the side of the map as a reminder.
21.3.2 Casus Belli (CB)
It is the justification that one major power could have to declare war on another. These causes are usually reciprocal, although not necessarily so.
They are not essential for a major power to declare a war, but they make this declaration much easier.
In uRR they appear due to the following reasons:
- Event cards.
- As a result of placing new merchants in trade centers.
- By taking control of areas belonging to third major powers with whom the major power is not at war (for example if an area is taken from an enemy that had previously taken it from a third major power).
If a major power has a CB against another, it is indicated by leaving the event card that created it in sight on one side of the map, or by placing a control marker from the major power causing the CB over the card of the major power receiving it.
CBs disappear if the war breaks out, or at the end of the turn. If a major power has a CB against another, any subsequent CBs are ignored.
21.3.3 Declarations of war
By using the corresponding action, one major power can declare war on another. This declaration can be done with a CB or not. If done without a CB, the major power must immediately give one morale point to the enemy, and this declaration must be done with the last action point of the impulse.
Even the absolutist monarchs of the time could have problems getting involved in wars that were unpopular or difficult to justify.
When an ally enters a war, or when an alliance is established with a major power that is itself at war, the ally can also declare war on the enemy. If the ally is an independent minor power, the major power always has to declare war. These wars start without extra VPs for the winner.
A war of a major power against an independent minor power is marked by placing a control marker of the major power over the minor power's card.
21.3.4 Morale of major power and war status
A major power has as many morale points as its vitality; these points indicate its capacity to resist defeats in a war. Whenever a major power suffers a great defeat at the hands of an enemy, it must give one of these morale points to the victorious major power.
A major power cannot run out of morale points. With peace, major powers recover all lost morale points.
The war status determines who is winning the war, and is equivalent to the difference in the number of morale points exchanged between the two major powers that are at war.
21.3.5 Causes of morale loss
A major power must give a morale point when the following occurs:
- Each time a major power loses a land or naval combat, where it threw at least two dice.
- Each time a major power (or an allied minor power) loses a key area at the hands of an enemy at war. Specific areas that appear as objectives for one of the contenders count as key areas (in wars between them).
- For losing an allied minor power without key areas as a result of being totally conquered (controlled) by the enemy.
- For declaring war without a CB (this does not apply when going to war to help an ally).
21.4 Peace
Peace (or truce, if you prefer to call them so) ends wars. Once peace is signed (see below), some geopolitical adjustments will be made in favor of the winner, who will be able to control new areas, minor powers, trade, etc. VPs and unrest level will also be adjusted.
There are three ways to end a war:
- By an event card.
- When the end of the turn is reached. In this case, although it does not have any special effects on the game, we would rather speak of a truce.
- When the major power decides (or is forced) to enter into peace negotiations. The opponent cannot refuse, but he will be in a better position in these negotiations (as it will be seen, he receives a morale point from the enemy).
21.4.1 Major powers that voluntarily decide to open peace negotiations
To do this, the major power must meet two conditions:
- It must have lost at least half of its morale points at the hands of the major powers it is at war with.
- It must be done at the beginning of the major power's impulse.
It is not compulsory to enter into peace negotiations with a major power you are losing the war against. Sometimes it is more interesting to do so with a major power you are winning the war against.
Once the peace negotiations are over, the power can repeat the process with other enemies, as long as it continues to lose half or more of its morale.
21.4.2 Major powers that are forced to open peace negotiations
This happens the instant the major power loses its last morale point, or when the power loses control of its last possession. At this moment the game is stopped and a period of peace negotiations begins to allow this major power to recover at least 1 morale point.
It is not mandatory to enter negotiations with the major power that has received the last point. Normally it is more interesting to do it with the one that has received more morale points.
When the negotiations are over, the impulse continues if it was not over (the part that was not affected by the outcome of the negotiation); for example, if after a victorious battle it was left to occupy an area controlled by a power with which, after the negotiations, it is still at war.
21.5 Peace negotiations
In reaching negotiations, both powers may have received and delivered morale points to the other. This difference (morale taken away from the enemy minus morale taken away by the enemy) is called the war march.
The procedure is as follows:
- The war status is adjusted by the differential of non-key areas taken from one major power to the other.
- The war status against the player who asked for negotiations is re-adjusted, regardless of whether this was done voluntarily or not. If the war ends because it is the end of the turn, this phase is ignored (these two points are explained in more detail in the following section).
- The final war status is now determined (i.e., who has won and by how much, and the unrest markers and VPs are adjusted). The war is won by the power with a favorable war march. In case of a tie, neither wins.
- The winner can choose peace conditions.
- Conquered territories not included in the peace conditions are returned, and troops are repatriated from enemy territories.
- A period of forced peace begins.
21.5.1 Adjusting war status
The differential of non-key areas taken from one major power to the other is calculated first (key areas, or those that count as key areas for being objectives, are not taken into account, since this morale loss is immediate and has already been taken into account). A major power must give its opponent one morale point for every two areas of difference lost, or for each lost colony in the mini-maps (if there are no more morale points left, then a previously taken morale point must be returned).
Next, the power that has called for the peace negotiations (both voluntarily and mandatory) must deliver another morale point. As before, if there are no morale points of its own left, it must deliver morale points it has taken away.
If, during the war status adjustment, a power cannot deliver morale points because there are none left (its own or taken away), this difference is also taken into account for the calculation of the differential, which in no case can exceed the vitality of the losing power.
For example, we have a power A with vitality 5, at war with 2 others (B and C) with which it has lost 2 morale points with each one (therefore it still has 1 morale point). Let's suppose also that it has taken 1 morale point from power C, and 2 morale points from power B, with which A decides to open peace negotiations (A can do it because it has lost at least half of its initial morale points, and being voluntary, it must be done at the beginning of its impulse). Let's suppose that the difference of non-key areas taken by B is 2 against power A.
The negotiations would be as follows: It would start A vs B: 2-2 (morale points that have been taken from each other). After counting the difference in non-key areas we would have 2-3 (the power has given up the last morale point it had left, the other two are in possession of the power C). Now, having asked for negotiations A must deliver another morale, as it doesn't have any left, it will return one of the taken away, with negotiations ending at 1-3 (defeat by 2).
Complicating the previous example, we had A vs B: 2-2, and A vs C: 1-2. Let's suppose power A loses a battle in a key controlled area (without a fortress) with power C. Losing the battle, A delivers C its last morale point (A vs C: 1-3) and it is forced to open peace negotiations. A decides to do it again with power B. Let's suppose that in this second case B had captured a difference of 6 areas from A. The negotiations would have gone as follows: We'd have A vs B: 2-2 initially; because of the difference in areas, another 3 morale points must be delivered to B. As there are no morale points left, the 2 captured ones must be returned 0-2. There is still one more point that is not delivered (because there is nothing left) but it is taken into account 0-3. There is still another morale point that must be delivered for asking negotiations 0-4. As the power has vitality 5, the negotiations would remain like this. If the power had had for example a vitality 3, this difference would have been reduced to 0-3.
Since peace has been made with power B, the impulse resumes. After the battle, C automatically captures the key area where the battle was fought, so A must deliver one of its newly recovered morale (A vs. C: 1-4).
21.5.2 Adjusting unrest
If the final differential of morale points taken and lost against the enemy (i.e. war status) is zero, there has been a draw and neither side has won. Both major powers increase unrest by as many points as the morale points lost at the hands of the enemy.
If there has been a winner (one side has taken more morale points from the enemy than it has been taken from it), the winner increases its unrest by one point for every two lost morale points (the loser increases it by one point for every lost morale point).
21.5.3 Peace conditions
With the difference of taken morale points, the winner can consult the table and choose the conditions that he wishes. The condition of 1 VP for 1 condition (instead of 1 VP for every 2) is chosen if it is included in the winning major power card, as is the case of Spain ("military victory against the Netherlands"). Note that these gained VPs are not lost by the losing major power.
The winning major power will also win any special VPs in the war.
After this, both players return the control of any enemy areas they still controlled and repatriate their troops (see "14.1 Repatriation of troops"). Third major powers that controlled areas that became the possession of the winning major power as a result of peace conditions may be repatriated if they are at war with the new owner. If they are not at war, repatriation is mandatory (similar to the case of minor powers who change ally).
Reparations of war
| Reparation | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 VP | 2 conditions |
| 1 VP (with the condition of military victory against the defeated power) | 1 condition |
| Break the alliance with a minor power (in a theater where the winner has interest) and ally with the winner | 2 conditions |
| Break the alliance with a minor power (in a theater where the winner has interest) | 1 condition |
| Breaking the alliance with an independent minor power | 1 extra condition |
| Cede a conquered domain | 1 condition |
| Cede a non conquered domain that started the war as a border area (minor powers excluded) | 2 conditions |
| Eliminate an opposing merchant (where you have merchants built or under construction) | 2 conditions |
| Change an enemy merchant for one of the winner | 3 conditions |
| Decrease own unrest by one and increase the loser's unrest by one |
21.5.4 Forced peace
Allies, or major powers that have just ended a war, are in forced peace. These major powers cannot declare war, or perpetrate piracy one against the other. This situation lasts until the end of the turn. Forced peace can be indicated by placing a control marker of one major power over the other in the alliance box (although players usually remember it and this is not necessary). However, if a war between the two major powers should occur again due to a historical event, the forced peace ends.
21.5.5 Order for peace negotiations
Peace negotiations are resolved as they begin. In the case of the end of the turn where all the wars end at the same time, start with those that have come by card according to the order of appearance during the turn (if there are several contending powers on the card, the peace negotiations are resolved first with those printed first). After finishing the wars that start directly by card, continue with the rest of the wars (also according to the order in which they broke out).
21.6 Collapse
Some events specify the collapse of a major power. Under these circumstances, the major powers cannot end the war voluntarily. The applicable rules are as follows, and always apply if the major power loses a war:
- Proceed with peace negotiations in the usual way, but in this case the loser (the collapsing major power) does not recover the areas controlled by the winner, but these pass directly as its possessions. The areas that the collapsing major power took away are returned normally.
- The major power that collapses is now forced to negotiate peace with any other major powers with which it was at war (even if it was winning), proceeding in the manner described above.
- Once at peace with all its enemies, ... rest in peace! Eliminate all its military units, along with the rest of the markers, and finally place independent (active A3) counters in all the territories it still controlled, and the major power card is discarded. Any allied minor powers are now neutral.
22. Victory Points
In Ultima Ratio Regis the player who gets the most victory points during the game is the winner. These points may be scored during impulses, or at the end of the turn, and may come from different sources.
During an impulse:
- Wars that end with victory for a contender, and that appeared as a direct consequence of a card.
- Most "Casus Belli" events give 1 VP bonus to the wars between two contenders if they appeared during the war.
- As a consequence of peace conditions. Normally, with two peace conditions, the victor can win 1 VP.
- Some major power objectives indicate "military victory" against another major power. In these cases, 1 VP may be earned for each peace condition (instead of two peace conditions).
Major power card objectives (end of turn):
- For controlling specific areas.
- For controlling provinces. For this it is necessary to possess (including allies) more than half of the areas.
- For possessing a specific number of areas in a territory.
- Normally each objective provides 1 VP, although sometimes, when the objectives are summed "+", it is necessary to have all of them in order to earn them.
- Sometimes the text "Pass to posses" appears in front of the name of an area. In this case, the VP is only earned on the turn in which that area started not being owned by the major power, and ended up being possessed by the major power.
- By trade: Generally by ending the turn with merchants in the requested trading centers, or by having a total number of merchants on the map.
- Others, detailed in the card itself. For example, by having a certain number of imperial voters.
Other VPs (end of turn):
- For commercial monopolies, that is, for having 2 merchants in a trading center.
- Objectives in event cards, detailed in the card itself and that normally have a duration of one turn.
- Minor power objectives. Some minor powers have their objectives, which are achieved by the allied major powers that fulfill them.
23. End of turn
After the last card has been played, the half-turn ends and the end of the turn begins. At the end of the turn, the following sequence is followed:
- All wars and alliances are terminated (see "21.4 Peace") and the expeditionary corps are repatriated (see "21.2.2 Expeditionary Corps").
- Commercial competitions in trade centers are resolved (see "19.2.4 Merchant surplus adjustment").
- The economic phase is completed.
- Units are degraded or eliminated, as well as some control markers (Casus Belli, ...).
- The unrest level is checked (with the possibility of dispersing units to prevent rebellions). If applicable, dynastic changes are resolved.
- VP are counted.
- Once this phase is over, the turn marker can be moved forward and a new turn can be started, or a winning player can be declared (if it was the last turn). Any ties, as always, are resolved by the game order.
23.1 Economic phase
In this phase the economy of all the major powers controlled by the players is assessed.
23.1.1 Accounting of income and maintenance
For income, the major powers add the number indicated in its card (maintenance), adding 2 for each trade center with a single merchant and 3 for each with two merchants. Another additional income point is given for each non-home key area controlled by the major power (home areas are considered to be part of the maintenance printed on the major power card). Key areas of allied minor powers are not counted.
Then expenses are checked: Each troop, leader or fortress on the map adds 1, and each fleet adds 2 (units belonging to minor powers are not included here). This includes troops that are dispersed and destroyed, squadrons in repair (or destroyed), and fortresses under construction.
Each rebellion in own territory also increases maintenance by 1 (in fact, income would decrease by 1, which is the same).
Next, unrest is adjusted. If there is more income than maintenance, this difference is subtracted from unrest (which cannot be less than 0). Otherwise it is added to it.
23.1.2 Degradation and elimination of units and controls
Each major power must now turn half (rounded up) of its veteran units to its regular side. Exceptional leaders are turned to their ordinary side.
Major powers can now eliminate (return to their reserve of available units) the units they do not want for the next turn. They can also degrade them (i.e. pass naval squadrons E3 to E2, for example) if they wish.
For example: Spain throughout the turn managed to veteranize 3 troops, and had 2 extraordinary leaders. Half of the veterans rounding up (2 troops) are turned to their regular side. The two extraordinary leaders are also turned to their ordinary face. Next Spain decides to eliminate one of its leaders.
The units eliminated during the turn are also collected as available, including those belonging to minor powers (each player does it with his minor powers; for neutral ones, this can be done by anyone, placing these units on top of their card).
23.1.3 End of turn victory points
During the half turn, some VPs have already been counted (by wars, or those listed as counted immediately). Now end of turn VPs are added.
23.2 Social agitation
Major powers that have an unrest exceeding twice their vitality have problems of a social nature. For each level of unrest that exceeds twice its vitality, the major power must place one R2 revolt in one of its possessions (obviously one without a previous revolt). The major power can disperse troops. Each dispersed troop factor cancels the appearance of one of these revolts (that is, if a Q3 troop is dispersed, the appearance of 3 revolts is avoided). These troops must be dispersed (do not count those that were already dispersed), and do not lower the level of unrest, which remains as it was.
Major powers that in this phase reach (or surpass) 20 points of unrest (or that have rebellions in all its territory) collapse, leading to a dynastic change. Players can also announce that they voluntarily wish to make a dynastic change now.
23.3 Dynastic changes
When a dynastic change occurs, the player controlling the major power loses as many VPs as the power's vitality; twice if dynastic change occurs as a result of a collapse.
All the military units of the major power are eliminated together with all the merchants, and all the revolts. Unrest is adjusted to the vitality level of the major power. Any allied minor power becomes neutral.
In the next turn, the major power will be displayed as if entering the game for the first time. The deployment will be done in the usual way by counting the maintenance that appears on the card as points to acquire new units. For every two points of vitality of the major power, the player will place a R3 revolt.
23.4 Last end of turn
After finishing the End of turn, if it corresponds to the last turn (that is, the game ends now), any major powers with social agitation must make a dynastic change (that is, in the last turn this is mandatory, not optional).
24. Deployment of a major power
According to scenarios, at the beginning of the game the players deploy their major powers; in later turns, new major powers may appear that must be deployed before the turn starts. In case of dynastic changes, the major power is also deployed (with the differences described above).
The major power places a control marker in the unrest track, at the level of its vitality. If necessary, the home areas and domains on the map are also marked with control markers. If it matches the ones already marked on the map, there is no need to place the markers. Any rebellions in these areas are eliminated.
Take the troops and squadrons that are indicated in the major power card as available. If it has any allied minor powers (see "20. Diplomacy with minor powers"), take the cards and place them close to the major power card, with the troops and squadrons of the minor power on top. If the scenario states that the major power is allied with another, one marker of each major power is located in the corresponding track (see "21. Diplomacy between major powers").
Next, the player takes the initial points that are indicated by the scenario, and uses them as explained in the actions chapter (see "9. Actions") to build troops, squadrons, leaders, fortresses, merchants or lower the unrest. The minor power's forces are also deployed according to rules (see "20.3.2 Minor power reinforcements").
Leaders can be built in the usual way, so it is possible to place them on their extraordinary side (thus increasing unrest, see "17. Leaders").
There are two exceptions to the general construction rule: Squadrons and Fortresses can be built at once (paying 2 points), and merchants can be located directly in the trade centers (instead of placing them first in the dispersion zone as usual).
If the major power places merchants in commercial areas where there already were other merchants in previous turns, this major power gives a Casus Belli (CB) to those major powers. This of course does not affect the start-of-game deployment, but rather those in later turns.
Playbook: Glossary
- Powers: Or major powers, these are those controlled by a player.
- Minor: Or minor powers, small states that are normally allied with major powers. For most purposes they count as extensions of the major power that controls them.
- Independent Minors: Similar to the above, but with some special characteristic.
- Home areas: Marked in solid color. They cannot be lost as a consequence of a war.
- Domains: Marked in grated color. They may change ownership as a result of wars or some events.
- Possession: Refers to the nominal control of the area (although it may not be temporarily controlled during a war or rebellion).
- Control: Indicates which power effectively possesses the area. During a war, it is often the case that one power possesses an area, and another has its effective control as a result of a military action.
- Naval Operating Distance: This is defined by the scenario and may vary throughout the game. It limits the distance at which a fleet can operate from a naval base.
- Naval base: Coastal area controlled by the power, essential for fleet operations.
- Leader: Includes an Admiral or General of the age, as well as his entire staff and the logistics of large fleets or armies. At all times they are assigned to a single troop or squadron from the stack.
- Army: Formed by a single troop, or by a stack of troops with a leader.
Playbook: 9. Scenarios
Instructions for using the scenarios
Each scenario (with the exception of "The Rise of Portugal") consists of three parts:
- A heading with turns, theaters of operations and number of players.
- A table indicating the group of powers each player controls.
- Special rules and scenario deployment.
Often the "Special Rules and Deployment" section refers players to the turn-by-turn instructions in section 34 (printed reference; the turn-by-turn instructions are Playbook "10. TURNS").
When the scenario has its own setup and special rules, these have priority over those of the turn where the scenario begins (those of the turn are ignored). For example, the "Wars of Religion" scenario has its own rules and setup for Turn 6, so the rules listed under "34. Turns" are ignored, but they apply to Turns 7 and 8 (in this case the setup and rules for Turn 6 apply when players play the Great Campaign).
Theater of operations keys are listed in the Playbook Glossary above.
9.1 The rise of Portugal (1490-1564)
Turns: 1 to 5 Players: 1 (Portugal) Theaters: WM, TE, Sa, Af, In, As
| Power | Points | Interest | Home areas | Domains | Allies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 6 | Af, In, TE | Home areas in WM |
Special rules:
- It is played without cards, the player has 5 turns, with 3 impulses of 2 actions each to get the maximum of VPs.
- Place an independent A3 control marker in Cape Colony.
- Place A2 control markers in those areas marked as Portuguese in the mini-maps.
- Only the Portuguese areas are active on the main map.
- Trade Centers capacity: Africa 1, Persian Gulf & Red Sea 1, Indian Ocean 1, Sea of China 2. Rest 0.
- Each area marked on the map as Portuguese that becomes owned provides 1 VP.
- TURN 5: At the end of the turn add 12 VP and subtract as many as the unrest level.
Emirates Rules:
- The troop begins in the area of Aden and the fleet deployed in the Indian Ocean. It only intercepts attacks on the area.
- After each Portuguese Impulse, the minor acts according to the following list:
- If it has the fleet at sea -> Piracy to Portugal.
- If it has the fleet in port -> Take it out to sea.
- If it has the fleet destroyed and it is the beginning of the turn -> Place it damaged in port.
- If Aden is taken by Portugal, the minor power disappears.
- Portugal does not need CB to attack the minor power.
Turn 2 (1505):
- Portugal gains interest in: Sa, As.
- The impulses of this turn have 3 actions.
Turn 5 (1550):
At the end of the turn, the following list is consulted:
- Less than 15 VP -> Defeat
- Between 15 and 19 VP -> Draw
- Between 20 and 25 VP -> Victory
- More than 25 VP -> Epic victory
Active events: Treaty of Tordesillas, Treaty of Zaragoza.
9.2 New order (1490-1534)
Turns: 1 to 3 Players: 3 to 6 Theaters: All the main map
| Number of players | Seat | Countries per player | Starting VP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1st | SPAIN-POLAND-AUSTRIA-HUNGARY-MAMLUKS | 0 |
| 3 | 2nd | OTTOMANS-FRANCE-CRIMEA-BARBARY C. | 4 |
| 3 | 3rd | VENICE-RUSSIA-ENGLAND-PERSIA | 2 |
| 4 | 1st | SPAIN-AUSTRIA | 3 |
| 4 | 2nd | OTTOMANS-ENGLAND-CRIMEA-BARBARY C. | 0 |
| 4 | 3rd | VENICE-RUSSIA-PERSIA | 2 |
| 4 |
Special rules: See turn 1.
Deployment: See turn 1.
9.3 The Italian Wars (1490-1564)
Turns: 1 to 5 Players: 3 to 7 Theaters: All the main map
| Number of players | Seat | Countries per player | Starting VP | VP per turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1st | SPAIN-POLAND-AUSTRIA-DENMARK-MAMLUKS | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | 2nd | OTTOMANS-FRANCE-CRIMEA-BARBARY C.-SWEDEN-SCHMALKALDIC L. | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | 3rd | VENICE-RUSSIA-ENGLAND-PERSIA-HUNGARY | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 1st | SPAIN-AUSTRIA-DENMARK-MAMLUKS | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 2nd | OTTOMANS-CRIMEA-BARBARY C.-SWEDEN-SCHMALKALDIC L. | 3 |
Special rules: See turn 1.
Deployment: See turn 1.
9.4 Catholics and Protestants (1565-1609)
Turns: 6 to 8 Players: 2 or 3 Theaters: WE, CE, WM, CM and mini-maps
| Number of players | Seat | Countries per player | Starting VPs | VP per turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1st | SPAIN-FRANCE-PORTUGAL | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 2nd | ENGLAND-NETHERLANDS-HUGUENOTS-BARBARY C. | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | 1st | SPAIN-CATHOLIC LEAGUE | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | 2nd | FRANCE-PORTUGAL-BARBARY C. | 3 | 1 |
| 3 | 3rd | ENGLAND-NETHERLANDS-HUGUENOTS | 0 | 0 |
Scenario special rules:
- All minor power cards except Scotland, Elite mercenaries, German Mercenaries, Genoa, Regional ally and Savoy are removed from the game.
- The events FALL OF THE HOSPITALLERS, LITTLE WAR IN HUNGARY, WAR VENICE vs OTTOMAN, WAR OF LIVONIA, NORTHERN SEVEN YEARS WAR, OPRICHNINA, WAR RUSSIA vs CRIMEA, GODUNOV, LONG TURKISH WAR, WAR POLAND vs SWEDEN, TIME OF TROUBLES, WAR POLAND vs RUSSIA, WAR OTTOMANS vs PERSIA, SHAH ABBAS, WAR PERSIA vs MUGHALS, JELALI REVOLT, are removed from the game.
- The generic events Regional ally, Eastern Allies, Central European ally, German states, Bavaria, Continental ally, Overseas allies, Imperial election and the Casus Belli where Austria, the Ottomans or Russia appear, are removed from the game.
- Ravenna belongs to the Papacy.
- Until war breaks out, the Netherlands and Spain are allied.
- The Dutch merchants of North Sea and Baltic Sea remain (without cost) and are treated in the usual way (there is 1 in each place from turn 1).
- Naval operations distance: 2 in Mediterranean Sea and 1 in the rest.
- Persian Gulf & Red Sea trade center capacity: 3.
- Caribbean Sea trade center capacity: 2.
- Rest of the trading centers of the mini-maps capacity: 0.
- The following parts of the map are inactive:
- Theaters of operations: Africa, Baltic, Eastern Europe, South Eastern Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, The East.
- Provinces: Portugal, Mughal Empire.
- The areas of CE with the exception of those marked as Dutch or Spanish, and Switzerland, count as inactive minors except for Spain, which counts them as allies (for purposes of supply and strategic movement).
- Areas marked as Venetian or Ottoman are inactive, as well as Malta.
- Place two Venetian merchants in CM (which can not be removed by commercial competition).
Deployment (Scenario: Catholics and Protestants):
| Power | Points | Home areas * | Domains ** | Allies | Interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 16 | European home areas (except for Gibraltar), Cuba, Panama, Cartagena and Mexico | All areas of the color of Spain in the mini-maps minus home areas, and with the exception of Florida, La Plata and Philippines (which are independent A2) | Papacy, Genoa, Florence | WM, CM, CE, Ca, Sa, As |
| France | 12 | Home areas | CM, WE, CE | ||
| England | 14 | Home areas | Ireland | Scotland | WE, CE |
| Barbary C. | 5 | Home areas |
* Home areas are the areas on the map in the solid color of the power (do not place control markers).
** Often they are already in the color of the power, and thus it is not necessary to put control markers. The names in italics are entire provinces (italics are not reproduced here).
Special rules: French Wars of Religion (Turns 6, 7 and 8):
- Peace between the opponents is not compulsory (war can be declared again in the turn).
- Declarations of war between the French contenders do not cause moral loss.
- All CB cards where France appears are ignored. Instead they are treated as CB between France, Huguenots and Catholic League (without the extra VP if they are already at war).
- Powers at war with French powers can not enter French home areas (except for Calais, if it is not French).
- Expeditionary troops can be sent in the usual way.
- In peace conditions (between French powers), areas taken from opponents who lose the war are not returned (except for key areas in France in Turn 6). French powers without possessions disappear immediately.
- The contenders count VPs for military victory among them.
- Turn 6: French powers that collapse start turn 7 with the remaining possessions.
- Turn 7: Huguenots and Catholic League apply collapse rules (provided that peace is not reached with the card Catherine de Medici).
- Turn 8: French contenders apply the collapse rules.
- The French Wars of Religion end when there is only one contender left, or at the end of T8, in which case the winner is the power that has not collapsed and has the highest number of areas in France (ties are resolved using vitality).
- Turn 9: At the end of the turn, independent A3 areas in France become R3 rebellions.
End of the war:
- If the winner is not France, replace all of its military units with France's (respecting veteranship) and replace France's unrest with his own. The player who controlled France immediately takes it over (but may now be Protestant for the rest of the game).
- If the Protestants win, during the next turn France will be allied with England and Holland. If the Catholic League wins, it will be allied with Spain.
9.5 French Wars of Religion (1565-1609)
Turns: 6 to 8 Players: 3 to 8 Theaters: All
| Number of players | Seat | Countries per player | Starting VP | VP per turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1st | SPAIN-POLAND-AUSTRIA-DENMARK-PORTUGAL-CATHOLIC LEAGUE | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | 2nd | OTTOMANS-FRANCE-CRIMEA-BARBARY C.-SWEDEN-MUGHALS | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | 3rd | VENICE-RUSSIA-ENGLAND-PERSIA-NETHERLANDS-HUGUENOTS | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 1st | SPAIN-AUSTRIA-SWEDEN-CATHOLIC LEAGUE | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 2nd | OTTOMANS-CRIMEA-BARBARY C.-DENMARK-HUGUENOTS-MUGHALS | 0 |
Special rules: See turn 6.
Deployment (French Wars of Religion):
| Power | Points | Home areas * | Domains ** | Allies | Interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 18 | European home areas (except for Gibraltar), Cuba, Panama, Cartagena and Mexico | All areas of the color of Spain in the mini-maps minus home areas, and with the exception of Florida, La Plata and Philippines (which are independent A2) | Papacy, Genoa, Florence | WM, CM, CE, Ca, Sa, As |
| France | 12 | Home areas | CM, WE, CE | ||
| England | 10 | Home areas | Ireland | Scotland | WE, CE |
| Austria | 8 | Home areas | Pressburg, Zagreb, Košice |
* Home areas are the areas on the map in the solid color of the power (do not place control markers).
** Often they are already in the color of the power, and thus it is not necessary to put control markers. The names in italics are entire provinces (italics are not reproduced here).
9.6 The 16th century campaign (1490-1609)
Turns: 1 to 8 Players: 3 to 7 Theaters: All
| Number of players | Seat | Countries per player | Starting VP | VP per turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1st | SPAIN-POLAND-AUSTRIA-DENMARK-HUNGARY-CATHOLIC L.-MAMLUKS | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 2nd | OTTOMANS-FRANCE-CRIMEA-BARBARY C.-SWEDEN-SCHMALKALDIC L.-PORTUGAL-MUGHALS | 6 | 0 |
| 3 | 3rd | VENICE-RUSSIA-ENGLAND-PERSIA-NETHERLANDS-HUGUENOTS | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 1st | SPAIN-AUSTRIA-SWEDEN-CATHOLIC L.-MAMLUKS | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | 2nd | OTTOMANS-CRIMEA-BARBARY C.-DENMARK-HUGUENOTS-MUGHALS |
Special rules: See turn 1.
Deployment: See turn 1.
9.7 Wars of Religion (1565-1654)
Turns: 6 to 11 Players: 4 to 8 Theaters: All
| Number of players | Seat | Countries per player | Starting VPs | VP per turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1st | SPAIN-POLAND-AUSTRIA-CATHOLIC L.-ROYALISTS | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 2nd | OTTOMANS-CRIMEA-BARBARY C.-DENMARK-PORTUGAL-MUGHALS | 5 | 0 |
| 4 | 3rd | VENICE-ENGLAND-PERSIA-SWEDEN-HUGUENOTS | 6 | 0 |
| 4 | 4th | FRANCE-RUSSIA-NETHERLANDS-PROTESTANT U. | 4 | 0 |
| 5 | 1st | SPAIN-AUSTRIA-CATHOLIC L.-ROYALISTS | 0 |
Special rules: See turn 6.
Deployment: See turn 6.
9.8 The Thirty Years' War (1610-1654)
Turns: 9 to 11 Players: 4 to 8 Theaters: All
| Number of players | Seat | Countries per player | Starting VP | VP per turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1st | SPAIN-POLAND-AUSTRIA-ROYALISTS | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 2nd | OTTOMANS-CRIMEA-PROTESTANT U.-NETHERLANDS | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | 3rd | VENICE-ENGLAND-PERSIA-SWEDEN | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | 4th | FRANCE-RUSSIA-PORTUGAL-DENMARK-MUGHALS | 1 | 2 |
| 5 | 1st | SPAIN-AUSTRIA-ROYALISTS | 0 |
Special rules: See turn 9.
Deployment (Thirty Years' War):
| Power | Points | Home areas * | Domains ** | Allies | Interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 20 | Home areas in Europe (including Portugal). Cuba, Panama, Cartagena, Mexico, Hispaniola, Quito, Cusco. | Philippines and the rest marked on the map. | Papal States, Genoa, Florence | WM, CM, CE, Ca, Sa, As, WE |
| France | 12 | Home areas | Quebec | CM, WE, CE, Na | |
| England | 12 | Home areas | Scotland | WE, CE, WM, Na | |
| Austria | 8 | Home areas | Pressburg, Zagreb, Košice |
* Home areas are the areas on the map in the solid color of the power (do not place control markers).
** Often they are already in the color of the power, and thus it is not necessary to put control markers. The names in italics are entire provinces (italics are not reproduced here). Interest entries that the source prints in red (the "Na" entries for France and England, and the Netherlands entries from "Na" onward) are printed here as plain text.
Playbook: 10. Turns
Turn 1 (1490)
Deployment
| Power | Points | Home areas * | Domains ** | Allies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 14 | Home areas in WM | Sicily & Sardinia | Papacy, Florence |
| France | 12 | Home areas minus Calais | Savoy, Scotland, Switzerland | |
| England | 12 | The natives | Ireland, Calais | |
| Austria | 6 | Home areas, Flanders, Holland | Franche Comte | Holy Roman Empire |
| Venice | 20 | Home areas | Corfu, Ravenna, Candia, Cyclades, Nicosia |
Interest
| Power | Interest |
|---|---|
| Spain | WM, CM, CE |
| France | CM, WE |
| England | WE |
| Austria | EC |
| Venice | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Poland | CE, EE, SEE |
| Hungary | SEE |
| Ottomans | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Mamluks | EM, TE |
| Persia | EM, TE, In |
| Russia | EE |
| Crimea | EE |
* Home areas are the areas on the map in the solid color of the power (do not place control markers).
** Often they are already in the color of the power, and thus it is not necessary to put control markers. The names in italics are entire provinces (italics are not reproduced here).
Special rules:
- Naval operation distance: 2 in the Mediterranean and 1 in the rest.
- Capacity of the Eastern Mediterranean trade center: 4 (Reduced with the event "Portugal reaches China" and "Nautical Astrolabe").
- Capacity of the Persian Gulf & Red Sea trading center: 3 (Reduced with the "Nautical Astrolabe" event).
- The American trade centers capacity begin at 0.
- Place a Danish and a Dutch merchant in the North Sea trade center. These merchants can not be removed until these powers are activated.
- Place independent A2 markers in Kandahar and in all areas of Persia (main map and mini-map) except Tabriz, Yereban and Shirvan.
- Place independent A3 markers in Granada, Mexico, Quito, Cusco and Cape Colony.
- The other areas of the mini-maps, except the Portuguese areas and the Hispaniola, Java and Borneo, are independent A2. As they are activated, A2 markers can be placed to remember it.
- The following parts of the map are inactive (they will be activated by event or at the beginning of subsequent turns):
- Theaters of operations: Baltic, North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Siberia, The East (except the 3 Persian areas)
- Provinces: South Italy, Golden Horde, Astrakhan, Portugal, Mughal Empire
- Areas: Milan, Georgia, Kabul
- Place an R2 marker in Sarajevo.
- The Palatinate area is part of the German States.
- No fleet can enter or leave the Mediterranean (until a future event says otherwise).
- Mamluks and Hungarians start with an initial unrest of 6 (instead of 2).
- The countries marked as Protestant on the map are currently Catholic until the "Calvin" event.
- The cost of diplomacy between Christians and Muslims is increased by 1 (not the maximum bet).
Turn 2 (1505)
Interest
| Power | Interest |
|---|---|
| Spain | WM, CM, CE, Ca |
| France | CM, WE |
| England | WE |
| Austria | EC |
| Venice | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Poland | CE, EE, SEE |
| Hungary | SEE |
| Ottomans | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Mamluks | EM |
| Persia | EM, TE, In |
| Russia | EE |
| Crimea | EE |
Special rules:
- Remove from the deck the card of alliance with the Papacy (only this turn).
- If Grenada remains independent, it becomes a Barbary Coast domain.
Active events: Vasco de Gama; Treaty of Tordesillas.
Turn 3 (1520)
Interest
| Power | Interest |
|---|---|
| Spain | WM, CM, CE, Ca |
| France | CM, WE, CE |
| England | WE |
| Austria | CE, CM |
| Venice | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Poland | CE, EE, SEE |
| Hungary | SEE |
| Ottomans | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Mamluks | EM, TE |
| Persia | EM, TE, In |
| Russia | EE |
| Crimea | EE |
Special rules:
- The South America theater of operations is activated.
- The Asia theater of operations is activated (it has no practical effect until the NAUTICAL ASTROLABE). The areas of Java and Borneo remain inactive.
- Remove the card of alliance with Genoa from the deck (only this turn).
- The minor power Palatinate appears (it is no longer part of the German States).
- Fall of the Hospitallers: With this card, if the Ottomans come to possess Rhodes, they gain 1 VP. At the beginning of the next turn the knights appear in Malta (if Christian possession), gaining the former holder 1 VP (if not, they disappear). If in the future the Ottomans come to possess Malta, the order disappears from the game (the Ottomans gain 1 VP).
Active events: Vasco de Gama; Treaty of Tordesillas; Luther.
Turn 4 (1535)
Deployment
| Power | Points | Home areas * | Domains ** | Allies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schmalkaldic League | 4 | German States, except Cologne and Wurtemberg | Palatinate, Brandenburg |
Interest
| Power | Interest |
|---|---|
| Spain | WM, CM, CE, Ca, Sa, As |
| France | CM, WE, CE |
| England | WE |
| Austria | CE, CM, SEE |
| Venice | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Poland | CE, EE, SEE |
| Hungary | SEE |
| Ottomans | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Mamluks | EM, TE |
| Persia | EM, TE, In |
| Russia | EE |
| Crimea | EE |
Special rules:
- The theater of operations of Siberia is activated (all areas with A2 markers).
- Cologne and Wurtemberg are possessions of the Holy Empire. The rest of the minor power "German States" now becomes the Schmalkaldic League.
- At the beginning of each turn, as long as the Schmalkaldic League is in play and until the end of the game, remove from the deck the card of alliance with the German States. Also remove from the game the minor's "home" card (if it was allied with some power, the alliance is broken).
- If the Schmalkaldic League has been defeated by a morale difference of 2, the German States become allied with Austria.
Active events: Vasco de Gama; Treaty of Tordesillas; Luther; Treaty of Zaragoza.
Turn 5 (1550)
Deployment
| Power | Points | Home areas * | Domains ** | Allies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 8 | Home areas | Kalmar, Viborg, Reval | |
| Denmark | 7 | Home areas | Malmö, Bohus, Pernau | |
| Poland | Add Gdansk | Add Königsberg and Riga | ||
| Russia | Add Psok, Ivangorod and Ladoga |
Interest
| Power | Interest |
|---|---|
| Spain | WM, CM, CE, Ca, Sa, As |
| France | CM, WE, CE |
| England | WE, CE |
| Austria | CE, CM, SEE |
| Venice | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Poland | CE, EE, SEE, BT |
| Hungary | SEE |
| Ottomans | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Mamluks | EM, TE |
| Persia | EM, TE, In |
| Russia | EE, BT, Si |
| Crimea | EE |
Special rules:
- The Baltic theater of operations is activated.
- The Siberia theater of operations is activated. Add A2 independents in all these areas.
- Mecklenburg and Pomerania become part of the Empire.
- The Danish merchant of the North Sea begins to be treated in the standard way (can be eliminated).
- Poland and Russia gain interest in the Baltic theater of operations.
- Place 1 Dutch merchant in the Baltic Sea trade center. This merchant can not be removed until the Netherlands are activated.
Active events: Vasco de Gama; Treaty of Tordesillas; Luther; Treaty of Zaragoza; Acts of Supremacy; "Tercios".
Turn 6 (1565)
Deployment
| Power | Points | Home areas * | Domains ** | Allies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huguenots | 8 | Bordeaux, Clermont, Orleans, Toulouse, Narbonne | ||
| Netherlands | 10 | Home areas on the main map |
Interest
| Power | Interest |
|---|---|
| Spain | WM, CM, CE, Ca, Sa, As |
| France | CM, WE, CE |
| England | WE, CE |
| Austria | CE, CM, SEE |
| Venice | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Poland | CE, EE, SEE, BT |
| Hungary | SEE |
| Ottomans | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Mamluks | EM, TE |
| Persia | EM, TE, In |
| Russia | EE, BT, Si |
| Crimea | EE |
Special rules:
- Until war breaks out, the Netherlands and Spain are allied.
- The Dutch merchants of North Sea and Baltic Sea are treated in the standard way, they can be eliminated (there is 1 in each center from turn 1).
- Naval operations distance: 2 in the Mediterranean Sea and 1 in the rest.
- Eastern Mediterranean trade center capacity: 3.
- Persian Gulf & Red Sea trade center capacity: 3.
- Caribbean Sea trade center capacity: 2.
- Rest of the mini-map trade centers capacity: 0.
- The following parts of the map are inactive:
- Theaters of operations: Africa
- Provinces: Portugal, Mughal Empire
- Areas: Georgia, Kabul, Java, Borneo
- No fleet can enter or leave the Mediterranean (until a future event says otherwise).
- Those who have the symbol of the cross in their capital are Protestants, and the rest are Catholics.
- The cost of diplomacy between Christians and Muslims is increased by 1 (not the maximum bet).
Active events: Treaty of Tordesillas; Luther; Treaty of Zaragoza; Acts of Supremacy; "Tercios"; Scottish Reformation; Calvin.
Special rules: French Wars of Religion (Turns 6, 7 and 8)
- Peace between the opponents is not compulsory (war can be declared again in the turn).
- Declarations of war between the French contenders do not cause moral loss.
- All CB cards where France appears are ignored. Instead they are treated as CB between France, Huguenots and Catholic League (without the extra VP if they are already at war).
- Powers at war with French powers can not enter French home areas (except for Calais, if it is not French).
- Expeditionary troops can be sent in the usual way.
- In peace conditions (between French powers), areas taken from opponents who lose the war are not returned (except for key areas in France in Turn 6). French powers without possessions disappear immediately.
- The contenders count VPs for military victory among them.
- Turn 6: French powers that collapse start turn 7 with the remaining possessions.
- Turn 7: Huguenots and Catholic League apply collapse rules (provided that peace is not reached with the card Catherine de Medici).
- Turn 8: French contenders apply the collapse rules.
- The French Wars of Religion end when there is only one contender left, or at the end of T8, in which case the winner is the power that has not collapsed and has the highest number of areas in France (ties are resolved using vitality).
- Turn 9: At the end of the turn, independent A3 areas in France become R3 rebellions.
End of the war:
- If the winner is not France, replace all of its military units with France's (respecting veteranship) and replace France's unrest with his own. The player who controlled France immediately takes it over (but may now is Protestant for the rest of the game). [Source typesetting as printed; "may now is" appears to be a slip for "may now be".]
- If the Protestants win, during the next turn France will be allied with England and Holland. If the Catholic League wins, it will be allied with Spain.
Turn 7 (1580)
Deployment
| Power | Points | Home areas * | Domains ** | Allies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catholic League | 8 | St. Quintin, Calais (if not English), Rouen, Rennes, Brest | Savoy |
Interest
| Power | Interest |
|---|---|
| Spain | WM, CM, CE, Ca, Sa, As, WE |
| France | CM, WE, CE |
| England | WE, CE, WM |
| Austria | CE, CM, SEE |
| Venice | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Poland | CE, EE, SEE, BT |
| Ottomans | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Persia | EM, TE, In |
| Russia | EE, BT, Si |
| Crimea | EE |
| Barbary C. | WM, CM |
| Sweden | BT |
Special rules:
- Special rules for French Wars of Religion (see turn 6).
Active events: Treaty of Tordesillas; Luther; Treaty of Zaragoza; Acts of Supremacy; "Tercios"; Scottish Reformation; Calvin; Nautical astrolabe.
Turn 8 (1595)
Deployment
| Power | Points | Home areas * | Domains ** | Allies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mughals | 4 | Home areas | Kabul | |
| Portugal | 14 | Home areas | Zanzibar, Hormuz, Ceylon, Malacca, Sumatra |
Interest
| Power | Interest |
|---|---|
| Spain | WM, CM, CE, Ca, Sa, As, WE |
| France | CM, WE, CE |
| England | WE, CE, WM |
| Austria | CE, CM, SEE |
| Venice | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Poland | CE, EE, SEE, BT |
| Ottomans | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Persia | EM, TE, In |
| Russia | EE, BT, Si |
| Crimea | EE |
| Barbary C. | WM, CM |
| Sweden | BT |
Special rules:
- Special rules for French Wars of Religion (see turn 6).
- The Mughals start with an initial unrest of 6.
- The Africa theater of operations is activated (place independent A2 in all independent areas).
- Indian Ocean trade center capacity becomes 1.
- African trade Center capacity becomes 1.
- South Atlantic trade center capacity becomes 2.
- Sea of China trade center capacity becomes 2.
- The Portuguese home areas in the Iberian Peninsula count as Spanish home areas according to the result of the card "ANTONIO PRIOR DE CRATO".
Active events: Treaty of Tordesillas; Luther; Treaty of Zaragoza; Acts of Supremacy; "Tercios"; Scottish Reformation; Calvin; Nautical astrolabe; Iberian Union / Prior of Crato.
Turn 9 (1610)
Deployment
| Power | Points | Home areas * | Domains ** | Allies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protestant Union | 9 | Palatinate, Wuzburg, Hesse, Bohemia | Brandenburg |
Interest
| Power | Interest |
|---|---|
| Spain | WM, CM, CE, Ca, Sa, As, WE |
| France | CM, WE, CE, Na, Ca, Sa |
| England | WE, CE, WM, Na, Ca, Sa |
| Austria | CE, CM, SEE |
| Venice | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Poland | CE, EE, SEE, BT |
| Ottomans | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Persia | MOr, EE, In |
| Russia | EE, BT, Si |
| Crimea | EE |
| Sweden | BT |
| Denmark | BT |
Interest entries that the source prints in red (changes from the previous turn) are printed here as plain text.
Special rules:
- If the Hospitallers still exist, they disappear, and the Malta area becomes inactive. The rest of its areas become level 3 independent areas.
- The Barbary Coast major power disappears and is replaced by the minor power of the same name. Possessions of the power become part of the minor power.
- The minor power Florence disappears (its areas become inactive).
- The minor power Palatinate disappears (the area is reincorporated into the German states) and the minor power Saxony appears (no longer part of the previous one).
- The minor power Bohemia disappears.
- If the Schmalkaldic League continues to exist, for the purpose of the events it counts as the Protestant Union, incorporating in its case the native ones of the Protestant Union. Otherwise the new power appears.
- The minor power Catholic League appears, allied with Austria.
- The minor power Native Americans appear.
Thirty Years' War special rules (Turns 9, 10 and 11):
- The minor power alliance cards of Bavaria, German States and Brandenburg are removed from the deck.
- The Imperial Election card is removed from the deck.
- During the Thirty Years' War the minor powers Bavaria and German States disappear (Reminder: All the imperial areas not controlled by a power belong to the empire, but they are no longer home areas).
- The powers allied with the previous ones cease to be allied.
- Austria is The Emperor.
- If not allied with Austria or Spain, the Catholic League allies with Austria.
- Spain can only make tactical moves in German States if Austria has a unrest level greater than 10.
End of turn:
- 2VP for the power with the most possessions in the province German States.
- 1VP for the power with the most possessions in the province Bohemia.
- (in both cases, if there is a tie, no one wins the VPs).
Active events: Treaty of Tordesillas; Luther; Treaty of Zaragoza; Acts of Supremacy; "Tercios"; Scottish Reformation; Calvin; Nautical astrolabe; Iberian Union / Prior of Crato; Galleon.
Turn 10 (1625)
Special rules:
- Pomerania passes to Swedish control (non-Swedish troops in the area must make a strategic retreat).
- The Protestant Union disappears. All its holdings become Independent level 3 areas.
- Catholic League minor power: If not, allies with Austria.
- Brandenburg minor power: If not, allies with Sweden.
- Swedish subjugations in independent areas of Central Europe are automatic (even without supply).
Thirty Years' War special rules (Turns 9, 10 and 11): See turn 9.
Interest
| Power | Interest |
|---|---|
| England | WE, CE, WM, Na, Ca, Sa, Af, TE, In, As |
Interest entries that the source prints in red are printed here as plain text.
Active events: Treaty of Tordesillas; Luther; Treaty of Zaragoza; Acts of Supremacy; Scottish Reformation; Calvin; Nautical astrolabe; Iberian Union / Prior of Crato; Modern Army; Galleon.
Turn 11 (1640)
Deployment
| Power | Points | Home areas * | Domains ** | Allies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royalists | 7 | York, Newcastle, Chester, Wales, Bristol, Plymouth | Irish Confederation | |
| Parliamentarians | 7 | Rest of home areas in England | Scotland |
Interest
| Power | Interest |
|---|---|
| Spain | WM, CM, CE, Ca, Sa, As, WE |
| France | CM, WE, CE, Na, Ca, Sa |
| Austria | CE, CM, SEE |
| Venice | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Poland | CE, EE, SEE, BT |
| Ottomans | CM, EM, TE, SEE |
| Persia | MOr, EE, In |
| Russia | EE, BT, Si |
| Crimea | EE |
| Sweden | BT |
| Denmark | BT |
| Netherlands | CE, WE, BT, Na, Sa, Ca, In, Af, As, TE |
Interest entries that the source prints in red are printed here as plain text.
Special rules:
- The minor power Emirates disappears (its areas are still active but level 3 independents).
- The minor power East Indies Sultanate appears (the Borneo area is activated).
- The minor power Irish Confederation appears.
- If peninsular Portugal is a Spanish domain, now it becomes Portugal's again (together with the E3 fleet). Until war breaks out, Portugal and Spain are allies.
- Brandenburg: If not, allies with Sweden.
Thirty Years' War special rules (Turns 9, 10 and 11): See turn 9.
Wars of the Three Kingdoms special rules (Turn 11):
Start of turn:
- All British fortresses and troops are removed from the British Isles (which are left as available).
- Parliamentarians inherit England's counters, unrest, allies, and everything outside the British Isles.
- Deploy first the Parliamentarians and then the Royalists.
- All references in the cards to England refer to the Parliamentarians.
- No foreign power may enter the British Isles during the war.
- Scotland allies with the Parliamentarians (1VP to the player carrying it if different from the Parliamentarians).
- The Irish Confederation allies with the Royalists. It possesses all Ireland.
Outbreak of war:
- Place a level 3 rebellion in Inverness.
- As long as this revolt is in place: Royalists subjugations in this area are automatic (even without supply).
- Place level 3 rebellions in Ulster and Cork. As long as these revolts are in place: Parliamentary subjugations in these areas are automatic (even without supply).
- Both sides apply collapse rules.
End of war / end of turn:
- Peace is made normally (if at the end of the turn there is a tie, for the following effects the Parliamentarians are considered winners).
- The winner becomes the owner of the enemy areas and merchants.
- All enemy military units become available, or are eliminated if Royalist (maintenance free).
- If the Parliamentarians win, areas controlled by the Confederation of Ireland (if still allied with the Royalists) become level 3 rebellions.
- If the Royalists win, they are taken by the player who controlled the Parliamentarians (after counting VPs).
- Areas of Scotland (if still allied with the Parliamentarians) become level 3 rebellions.
- Royalist tokens are replaced by English ones.
- If not, the winner allies with Scotland.
- The unrest level is set to 8.
- After the war, events concerning England apply to the winner.
Active events: Treaty of Tordesillas; Luther; Treaty of Zaragoza; Acts of Supremacy; Scottish Reformation; Calvin; Nautical astrolabe; Modern Army; Galleon.