Commands & Colors: Ancients Expansion Pack #4 – Imperial Rome

About this expansion

Commands & Colors: Ancients Expansion Pack #4 – Imperial Rome is a two-player expansion for battles lasting about 60 minutes, released in 2009. It extends the Commands & Colors: Ancients system with scenarios covering Rome’s wars and internal conflicts from 43 AD through approximately 325 AD.

The expansion revisits several important Roman campaigns. Fight at Medway against the Britons, face Boudica at Watling Street, or take part in the Roman victory at Mons Graupius. The collection also includes the battles of Philippi, where Antony and Octavian confront Cassius and Brutus during the Second Triumvirate.

Much of the focus falls on Rome’s conflicts with the Parthian Empire, Teutonic Barbarians, and rival Roman forces during the civil wars that continue until Constantine becomes the undisputed Roman Emperor. The scenarios use the original game system, adding only slight rule modifications for historical abilities and battlefield importance.

• Cataphracted cavalry for heavily protected mounted forces
• Wagon laager forts representing defensive wagon formations
• Massed units of horse archers
• Light infantry equipped to toss caltrops

These concepts give Imperial Rome distinctive tactical challenges while remaining familiar to players of the core game. The new special rules are limited, so owners of Commands & Colors: Ancients should have little difficulty learning them.

To play the expansion’s scenarios, you need the basic Commands & Colors: Ancients game, plus Expansion Nr. 1 Greek vs The Eastern Kingdoms and Expansion Nr. 2 Rome vs The Barbarians. Other armies can substitute in some scenarios, but battles requiring forces such as large numbers of horse archers may be difficult to recreate without the specified armies.