Punic Island: Campaign Commander Volume III

About this board game

Punic Island: Campaign Commander Volume III is a two-player operational game of the First Punic War, designed for approximately 240 minutes of play. One player commands Rome, while the other leads Carthage, including Syracuse, in a campaign across Sicily and North Africa.

Rome begins on the offensive, seeking to conquer the island, while Carthage works to disrupt Roman plans with ambushes, sallies, and bad weather. The Roman player must carefully plan each offensive, gathering troops and resources while building a fleet from the start of the war. The Carthaginian player must recruit an army and rely on attrition, fortresses, and opportunities to spoil enemy campaigns.

The area-based map supports both land and naval operations. Siege warfare is central, as every city is walled and has its own intrinsic garrison. At sea, players must contend not only with enemy fleets but also with bad weather, which can sink ships and strongly influence the contest for control.

Play uses a two-sided system of cards and counters. Cards trigger events, provide reinforcements and resources, and influence battles, but this is not a card-driven game. Players earn victory points through their use of forces and resources, the elimination of enemy units, and the occupation of cities.

• 80 × 60 cm map of Sicily and North Africa
• 176 unit counters and two ten-sided dice
• 70 cards in two decks, plus help cards
• Series rules, exclusive game rules, historical notes, and designer notes

With straightforward rules and highly interactive decisions, Punic Island presents the long struggle between Rome and Carthage in a compact campaign format. Players must balance land offensives, naval warfare, sieges, reinforcements, and resources to shape the outcome of the war.