>>95943637
The big moving key is that the game is a simplification of the Republic's political system.
>there's a shitload of senators, and they all have the right to give their opinion and vote. Each player represents an entire political faction and has several senators, each with their own stats, influence, etc.
>everything must be approved by a simple majority in the senate, or it won't happen
>each year, two senators are elected as Consuls. No senator can be elected twice as consul; after being consul, you become Proconsul for life, which has some other benefits and allows you to reach some other offices, like the Censor, in charge of denouncing corruption and shit
>of the two consuls, one is the foreign consul and can be sent abroad to fight wars. Winning wars is the highest you can reach in Roman society, and has plenty of benefits to you personally
>the other consul is the domestic one: his job is to decide what the senate can vote on, in the first place. Including who will be each consul next year
>if the consul doesn't propose your senator for consul, he simply can't become consul
>dude probably wants to name another of his senators plus whoever else anyways
>cue everyone being at each other's throats, exchanging threats, gifts, bribes, favors, promises, and whatever else is available to try to convince the consul to call the vote you want, and everyone else to vote on it the way you want them to
Winning condition is to either hold Rome unconquered for a few centuries, AND be the richest guy at the end, OR rebel and conquer Rome to declare yourself Emperor. If Rome falls to barbarians, everyone loses.
Shit gets absolutely insane. The simple mechanics mean everyone understands the consequences of whatever you're voting over. It's just enough rope to hang yourself (or someone else) with.
It does take pretty long. Fighting for an hour over a single decision isn't rare.
