Senators of Rome

Senators of Rome is a political thriller negotiation game for 4–8 players, lasting approximately one to two hours. It is set in the Roman Republic, when annually appointed consuls and an expanding Senate governed a state under constant internal and external threat. Crises repeatedly tested the balance of power between ambitious senators. Success in confronting these events brought honor and influence; failure could destroy political careers—or destabilize the Republic itself. Players assume the roles of newly elevated senators seeking both to preserve Rome and to position themselves for ultimate authority. The objective of the game is to accumulate the most Victory Points before the Republic collapses into Civil War. Each round, one player serves as consul and selects a team of senators to address a historical event threatening Rome. A structured negotiation phase allows players to bargain for inclusion, form alliances, trade political favors, and leverage their influence to shape the outcome. Players commit limited Political Capital to secure positions, support initiatives, bribe rivals, or organize assassinations that can alter the balance of power. Cooperation is often necessary to pass events, but ambition ensures that alliances remain temporary. After each event, Victory Points are distributed based on the outcome. If the event succeeds, participating senators are rewarded; if it fails, abstaining senators instead benefit. With six possible end conditions, the Republic enters Civil War, which ends the game and triggers a final scoring. The senator with the most Victory Points is declared Emperor, claiming authority amid the ruins and restoring order under their rule. —description from the publisher