SPQR - a Clash of Heroes

Yep these were the last factions Warlord got round to promoting in the original edition before they decided to release the Revised Edition and drop most of the faction boxes while they repackaged them and updated the unit cards.

It is good news in a way because it means they've finally finished reboxing the factions they originally produced boxes for and they can now get on and release stuff for the other factions, including those new releases coming up for Imperial Romans. All good signs that SPQR is still in their good books.

The Campaign aspect of SPQR is nicely-detailed. You start off with 500 Denarii, and the victor of every battle earns 30% of the enemy warband's value in Denarii, and the loser earns 25% of the enemy warband's value. There is huge customisability for leaders, with talents for using melee and missile weapons and leadership skills that you can purchase with experience points your Heroes gain with every battle. Heroes who are wounded roll on an injury table while slain/wounded troops return on a 4+.

There are a fair few negative opinions on this game, I won't lie about that, but it's fine so long as you apply common sense to any part of the rules that is disputed, or even ask about it on here if you're really stuck, you should be fine. It is fast-paced, easy to learn, tactical and cinematic in its action. Most of the complaints come from moaners who want something more 'complex' or people who don't have the common sense to work around ambiguities themselves (and most games have rules ambiguities, including Warhammer, so their complaints specifically toward SPQR are largely unfounded). This game is also very easy to get into as everything is in the one book, and all the main factions of the Ancient World are there and playable. I also find it very easy to write additional fan-made army lists for SPQR because of the rules' simplicity and moddability.

Also worth noting is that Warlord Games has listened to the complaints about the rules and released a 2nd edition last year. Most of the rules issues/ambiguities have been ironed out in it. Also the factions were made more balanced compared to each other.

If you want a complex system with lot's of rules and depth, this is not it. It is meant to be a fun and easy game with not too many rules that is quick to set up and play. And the campaign system makes it a lot of fun!

SPQR is certainly a fast, furious, easy-to-learn game that can definitely be played in 3 hours.

I also had a look at Dux Britanniarum in my search for decent non-SAGA Dark Ages rules, though I read a review that stated most units seem to behave the same way in that game. Don't know if it's true, I'd be interested to hear what you have to say about that game when you and your club play it, though if you're looking for a fast and furious Dark Ages game system I'd recommend Ravenfeast, in particular because the rules are free to download. At its core it's designed for Late Saxons Vs Vikings, but it has a wonderful open points architecture that has allowed me to write rules for other factions too, as well as expand it to include SPQR-style unit Vs unit combat (because it's a model Vs model skirmish system at it's base). If you're interested I'd be happy to PM you with these expansion PDFs to use with it.

Painted all the Romans in the the starter set + a scorpio. I did 8 with gladius and 8 with pilum. Quite happy with how they turned out 

I would add that this bodes well for the Imperial Romans Warlord intend to release (eventually it seems, after releasing everything else they planned at Christmas first plus other stuff they didn't mention ), because now that I can confirm Warlord Resin is good stuff it means they'll be good, affordable sculpts regardless of which medium they are in - plastic or resin.