This is a scenario set in the Late Empire. You are a consul appointed to frontier duty in a town on the River Rhine. But your ambition is much higher than merely serving the empire. A Gaul by birth, you long dream of declaring independence from Rome and build your own kingdom in your homeland. The turmoil stirred up by the Hun invasion, and internal power struggles give you just such an opportunity. At first, you continued to be an obedient subject of Rome. But one day, you kingdom will flourish up and down the Rhine, or will it?

Bad news:

Once known of your treacherous intentions, Some caesars in Rome aren't particularly impressed. They will make frequent unreasonable requests and use them as pretexts to get rid you with their legions. Some other caesars, on the other hand, might enlist your help in defeating the approaching Huns. Oh yeah, the Huns, they might be giving you some trouble from time to time too. Some other times, they might even gang up on you. Politics make strange bed fellows.

Good news:

Your town is well situate on trade routes, and the craftsmen you brought here are best known for the well-crafted weapons they produce (which, by the way, will see rising demand at this time of turmoil, *hint, hint*). Your trading partners, though still nominally a part of the Empire, will continue to trade with you in spite of imperial embargo out of greed and their own inclination to break away from Rome.

Goal:

You have fourty years to impress your subjects on the legatemacy of your claim to the throne. Otherwise your heir, that good for nothing playboy, might have hard time commanding the respect of the people.

Historical context:
By the time of the late empire, many soldiers, even commanders, on the frontier is barbarian by birth. Their loyalty to Rome is at best questionable. Frequent power struggles and many Caesar changes greatly weaken Roman grid on the western frontier.

Historical consistency:

1. In the game, you continue to pay tribute to Rome. Consider that the price you pay to bride your trading partners into breaking the imperial embargo.
2. In the game you will sea many Caesar changes. Well that's what happen in history.
3. In the game

Deisgner's Note:

1: Natives. Some might ask why I don't allowed the building of missions. The native sites are used diliberately as obsticles. I might also add, you can used them also to your defensive advantage.
2: I strongly suggest you help your fellow cities. A triumphal Arch help a lot in desirability.

I HAVE NOT FINISH THIS THING YET. There might be a problem here and there. I have once get 10,000 in Cathago within 35 years. I am not sure about this one. Send me your city when you finish.

Pontifex Maximus
e-mail me your comments
George@iqlabs.com