Slitherine

ilpars wrote: Fri Jun 05, 2026 9:41 pm In Planning Season conducting diplomacy phase what is the diplomacy order?
Do we conduct our all 3 diplomacy actions first then Etruscans do their 1 or is it 1 Roman, 1 Etruscan, 2 more Roman?

=> "The Major Faction with the most Momentum starts, conducting its Diplomacy (if equal, Romans are going first)."

But first we will suggest and discuss rule changes in a PM thread that I just started.

Rules updated to v0.99: [LINK]

... So now it's time for Year 2 and its Planning Season, and the Momentum Diplomacy. Romans, victorious last year, go first doing all their Momentum Diplomacy rolls. Good luck but not too much good luck.

The Major Faction with the most Momentum goes first conducting all its Diplomacy rolls (if equal, Romans are going first). Momentum levels do not modify Diplomacy rolls during the Planning Season.

Just like that, Roman momentum vanishes!

Three attempts at City Diplomacy on Vulci (@ at =0, with offsetting single connections to friendly and hostile cities) yielded a 1, 2 and 6 - we needed to enter the planning season with 4 momentum!

Year 2 - Planning Season - Faction Diplomacy Operation

As we cannot win alone, we try to rally the Samnites to our cause !

- Roll a nine, so Samnite's allegiance is adjusted by +1 (0 -> 1).

A few contingents of fierce warriors come to support the upcoming Etruscan campaign.

The Romans raise three armies and place their armies first, as follows:
Roman I - Tarquinii
Roman II - Roma
Gauls - Luna

Etruscan I: Pisae
Etruscan II: Clusium

Year 2 Roman 1st Operation: All armies in supply.
Gallic army move SE on the road. Terrain is hilly. Rolled 3+1 road= 4. Not greater than 2*threshold.
Allow move and end Operation for that Army.

Roman II gets a rousing send off from the crowds in Rome and marches smartly up the main road towards Clusium:
NW (crossing River on friendly road) DR 5+2=7 > 2x2 continues
N (on friendly road) DR 7+2=9 >1x2 continues
into Sutrium (on friendly road) DR 3+2=5 >1x2 continues
N from Sutrium (on friendly road) DR 4+2=6 >1x2 continues
NW (hills, on friendly road) DR 6+2=8 >2x2 continues
into Voisinii (on friendly road) DR 6+2 > 2x2 continues
NW (on road) DR 6+1 > 2x2 - continue, but stops to find out if the Etruscans are ready for an early start to their campaign?

Waiting for intercept decision.

Sorry for the delay.

The Second Etruscan Army will intercept the Second Roman Army !

Romans, do you want to bring allies to their doom in this already lost battle ?

My understanding is that non-major faction allies are determined when the battle is set up (which is after all movement for an operation). One question to determine before we get there is when in the battle setup this choice is made - in particular, before or after the roll for terrain.

While we are waiting for that determination, Roman I will advance! Over to the First Consol.

Chris Townsend wrote: Sat Jun 20, 2026 1:34 am One question to determine before we get there is when in the battle setup this choice is made - in particular, before or after the roll for terrain.

I’d say after the roll of terrain. Because otherwise the choice of allies can easily backfire, which defeats the purpose of it being beneficial of having allies available.

Makes sense.

Which side made the roll for the terrain ?

Let’s make it the defender. (Unless the rules state differently.)

kronenblatt wrote: Sat Jun 20, 2026 10:55 am Let’s make it the defender. (Unless the rules state differently.)

It's not specified.

So, we have a SIX = Terrain in Defender’s hex = Clusium in on hills = Mediterranean Hilly.

The Rule wrote:Allies: Major Faction Armies may, but are not obliged to, use allies, in that case
selecting from among their Allegiant Non-Major Factions. The Attacker makes the
decision first and then the Defender. Non-Major Faction Armies never use allies.

Now that the terrain is known, what do the Romans choose ?

In the meantime, Roman Army I tries to move NE from Tarquinii, without any luck Some soldiers had a brawl with local patricians killing one by accident, trials need to be carried on before moving on.

As Etruscan II chose to attack Roman II during one of it lawful patrols of the ROMAN countryside, I believe that it is actually the Etruscan's who chose first whether or not they need allies to be successful against Roman armies.

Chris Townsend wrote: Sun Jun 21, 2026 2:59 pm As Etruscan II chose to attack Roman II during one of it lawful patrols of the ROMAN countryside, I believe that it is actually the Etruscan's who chose first whether or not they need allies to be successful against Roman armies.

It's clearly preventive self-defense but regards to the Rules, you're right.

So, our army will have Samnites allies and rockmanbob as leader.

And the Romans choose to include their new Gallic allies.

Battle has been set up with Etruscans moving first as attacker. Since we were attacked, the Romans are calling this the battle of Voisinii