Play as one of the great patrician families which held great power and influence. Gain control over the seven factions of the city which hold control over many aspects of Roman culture.

In Tribune, you try to become the most powerful family in Rome. Will the Legions stay faithful? Will you be honored with the favor of the Gods? Will you even get the title of Tribune? Get ready to rewrite history!

A new Schmiel game, fantastic news!

Was this the game being demoed at Essen? Everyone who played it thought it was the best game of the show…

Yes, Mike, it is indeed that game.

You know, I hate to point these things out, but the most powerful families in Rome were legally barred from becoming Tribunes, so technically the answer to that last question is “no”. The Tribunes were always plebians (it is the Tribune of the Plebs after all), while families of name became Consuls, Praetors, and the like.

I think if a game is going to have a historical theme, they should at least get the basics right.

Wow! Lots of great game news lately!

So how is it played?

Alas, Doug, according to Chris, we can’t play it. We just stare at the board saying, “Man, I wish I could be a Tribune...” and shaking our heads in sorrow.

In other words, no details from Fantasy Flight about game play for now.

Well I played the game at Essen, and really liked it, I just have no idea at all how that game (based on collecting) gets anywhere near this theme. Perhaps we are gathering votes or support?

Oh well, we shall see.

It is a Schmiel game, and for that we should be grateful.

I got the product sheet for this game last week, but it didn’t mention Schmiel at all. Now I’m actually interested!

I’m pleased Chris has pointed out the impossibility of a Patrician becoming a Tribune at the time of the Roman Republic.  If it is true that the publishers have incorporated this concept into the game it is hopeful that there is still time to correct it. (It doesn’t yet feature on their ‘in development’ list I notice.)

Not that these things make any difference to game-play, of course, but a blatant historical error can not only reflect adversely on the game but also on the often totally undeserving designer.  And Karl-Heinz is so extremely talented that his long-awaited game doesn’t deserve any error of this nature.

Whilst some designers do try to simulate an actual set of (historical) circumstances in their game (e.g. The Ragnor Bros ‘Canal Mania’), others merely invent a sort of abstract game and publishers then superimpose a theme upon it, depending on the current flavour of the year. 

But all too frequently the developers at the publisher have, understandably, skant knowledge of the theme the marketing guys selected.  And whilst some designers insist on having to approve any rule changes their control doesn’t normally extend to this sort of thing.

I faced this problem when my ‘Blood Royal’ was being developed by Games Workshop.  Ideas put forward by them not only demonstrated an imperfect knowledge of medieval history but the final product also demonstrated a lack of knowledge of European languages - both in their suggestions for names for the foreign royal children plus that dreadful final ‘E’ that turned my ‘Blood Royal’ into ‘Blood Royale’ (possibly an attempt to achieve a sort of “Ye Oldie Countrye Fayre” effect!!!)

- Derek