Hints for New Ludi Romani Players

Are you excited to sign up for Ludi Romani (The Roman Game) but not sure where to start? We've got you; we'll even help you learn how to wear a toga!

  • First, all mortal roles (Senators, Generals, Matrons, Kings) are open to all students.
  • Second, decide how you want to interact with other players during the Game.

Mortal Roles

Senatores (Senators)

These players vote in Rome, buy legions, collude and plot with other Senators to eliminate their enemies. Buy as many legions as you can as soon as possible. Then eliminate other Senators, Generals, and Foreign Kings as fast as possible, using either your political power in Rome or your armies. Rome's peace will not last and you must be prepared, or you won't survive.

Imperatores (Generals)

These players grow their armies, do battle with War Gods and other players, and annihilate their enemies through combat. They have no votes in Rome but will need allies there. Build your military might through any means necessary.

Virgines/Matronae/Amazones (Vestal Virgins, Matrons, Warriors)

These players enter alliances through marriage and have the power to protect and hold their spouse’s resources. Marry early! You can either support a Senator, General, or Foreign King throughout the game –  or you can attempt to murder your “beloved spouse” and become an Amazon, a warrior who commands armies.

Reges (Foreign Kings)

These players gather armies, repel mortal and divine invaders, make alliances, and conquer through tactical savvy and military might. You will need allies in Rome, and they will need your armies.

Figure out who you want to be and sign up for a role by emailing Professor Damen (mark.damen@usu.edu). Then start plotting!

Advice for All Mortal Players

How to tip the scales in your favor:

  • Bring bribes or gifts! Liberi (Children), messengers, the Fates, the gods, and even other mortal players – they all like treats. Talk is cheap and armies fail, but you'd be surprised how far a bag of Starbursts, chocolate bars, or shiny trinkets can take you.
  • Study the rules! A little preparation can ensure you don't get cheated out of tribute, armies, or other resources. It can also save you from death if you know the right people to appeal to!
  • Know the gods! They have powers that can help or hinder mortals. Know who's who and what they can do for you!
  • Have a bag! You’ll need something to carry all the stuff you’ll accumulate during the Game and to store your phone which you can use to access the rules while you’re playing.

What do I wear?

It’s up to you! Some people wear what they were wearing that day. Others put on costumes, sometimes something Roman, sometimes something that reflects the way they see their character. If you’re interested in how to dress in ancient style, here are some helpful hints:

Movement

If you need to get out of town quick to avoid a battle or want to boot a rival out of the region, appeal to Minerva, Athena,  Mercury, or Hermes to force a player (including yourself) to vacate their seat and move to another region. If enemy forces are overwhelming you, appeal to Pan to force your foe to flee (and leave a few armies behind for you to claim).

Properties

If you’ve got cash to burn, seek out one of the gods to see what they have available for purchase. Legions (dice) and fleets are the only properties that can be used in the Battle of Actium at the end of the Game, so get as many as you can!

  • Legiones Curiales (white dice): sold by Juppiter, Juno, Minerva, Athena, Apollo, Helios, Diana, Artemis, Vesta, Vulcan, and Hephaestus.
  • Legiones Clientarum (red dice): sold by Tyr, Wotan, Montu, Ishtar, Isis, Mithras, Mars, Ares, Dionysus, Bacchus, Ariadne, and Silenus.
  • Classes (fleets): sold by Neptune, Poseidon, Amphitrite, and Oceanus

Battle Bonuses

If you’re looking to fight with formidable force, appeal to the gods or a dearly departed ancestor (ghost) to bolster your armies in battle.

Gods to Know

  • Vulcan/Hephaestus: May grant you a 10-sided die to use in a battle until your enemy defeats it.
  • Fortunus/Fortuna: May add or subtract from a mortal’s die, depending on what they roll at the same time as the mortal.
  • Pluto/Persephone: May grant you the Ring of Gyges, bestowing invisibility which allows you to move freely and attack up to three of a single opponent’s legions during winter when battle is normally not permitted. The ring-bearer also does NOT lose their own die in any of the attacks, no matter the result.
  • Pythia/Sybil (Oracles): May give you various quests to complete throughout the Game, some of which can grant you the status of a Demigod, if accomplished, which allows you to roll your die alongside a fellow mortal in battle. Demigods also win tied rolls during the Battle of Actium at the end of the game. 

Death

If you encounter an enemy and have no legions to defend yourself outside of Rome, your enemy may decide to kill you – but death is not the end or your only option!

  • Imagines (Ghosts): Appeal to Pluto or Persephone to grant you admittance to their Legion of the Dead. Ghosts are given a single black die that they can use to aid a mortal once per battle by adding that score to the result of a living player’s roll. They also don’t have to worry about movement or seating restrictions since they don’t have a physical body anymore. 
  • Bacchantes (Bacchants): If you’re about to die, appeal to Dionysus, Bacchus, Ariadne, or Silenus to rescue you and accept you as a follower. While under the direction of a Bacchanal god, you must do their bidding, whether it be in battle or in making a fool of yourself by performing a foreign dance. But if you bide your time and if they abandon you or lose track of you, you can escape the band and roam as a free citizen of Rome again.
  • Nuptiae (Marriage): If you are a Roman citizen (not a foreign king), appeal to a Vestal Virgin to save your life by marrying you immediately. Keep an eye out though, because a married Roman may find their spouse attempting to poison them sooner or later in the Game!

Divinely Compelled Actions

Beware! If you don’t make bold moves, the gods may start to impose their will on you, if only to amuse themselves.

  • War Gods (Mars, Phobos, Deimos, Bellona, Ares): May force you to fight another mortal in the same region – but they may also force you to fight them and you can’t win their dice in battle!
  • Pazuzu: May possess you and control all of your actions for a season if the god rolls a higher number than yours at the start of the season.