Vox Populi Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• 1.0 Using the Components
• 2.0 Preparation
• 3.0 Turn Structure
  • 3.1 Phase 1: Placing a Supporter and a Gladiator
  • 3.2 Phase 2: Organising a Match
  • 3.3 Phase 3: End of the Player's Turn
• 4.0 Cards and Other Pieces
  • 4.1 Using the Cards
  • 4.2 Using the Assassination Markers
  • 4.3 Using the Cleopatra's Lover Marker
  • 4.4 Using Sesterces
  • 4.5 Using Decoys
• 5.0 End of the Game
  • 5.1 The Last Turn of Play
  • 5.2 The Winner
• 6.0 Optional Rules
  • 6.1 "Hands in Play, Villains at Bay!"
  • 6.2 "No Bluff, No Remorse"
• 7.0 Some Tips
• Quick Reference Summary
  • Turn Sequence
  • Setup
  • Turn of Play
  • End of Game
  • Component Sizes
• Card Reference

1.0 Using the Components

• 1 game board (the map of Rome, divided into six districts, each of eight spaces)

• 1 Popularity Board, with six slots into which the Stars are slid

• 1 black storage tray (the "black box"), with six compartments, one under each slot of the Popularity Board

• 6 Club boards, one per club, showing the club name, its crest and the coach's name

• 6 resin figures of the Giant Coliseum, the largest Roman arena. These mark the presence of an arena on a space of the board.

• 6 Applause meters: round counters with Applause (a supporter with arms raised) on one side and Boos (a thumb pointing down) on the other

• 6 laurel wreath counters, which show the Popularity of each politician

• 30 decoy counters (6 sets of 5), marked "?". Decoys are given to politicians together with Stars to mislead the other players.

• 6 round counters bearing the portrait of each of the six Roman politicians

• 6 triangular counters bearing the name of each of the six politicians

• 3 "Assassination" counters, marked with a dagger

• 1 "Cleopatra's Lover" counter, marked with a man sticking out his tongue

• 55 cards. Cards cause events when played.

• A quantity of 1-sesterce and 5-sestertius coins (the source's component list gives 25 coins of 1 and 11 coins of 5)

Translator's note on the piece count: the rules text (sections 1.0, 2.0 and the Setup summary) says each player takes 14 numbered pieces. The component list in the source, however, gives per-value counts (5, 4, 4, 3, 2 and 1 pieces, for 19 per colour) and a figure of "6 series of 19 pieces". The source is inconsistent; the figure given in the rules text (14) is used in the Setup section below, and the component list is transcribed as printed.

2.0 Preparation

Set up the game board with the map of Rome in the centre of the table. Shuffle the cards and place the deck face down beside the board. Take all the components out of the box, separate the pieces of each colour, and set aside all the markers.

Then each player:

• chooses a Club and places its Club board in front of them, in the colours of that Club.
• takes the 14 numbered pieces in their colours and places them on their Club board (the arrangement of the pieces on the board does not matter).
• takes one Applause meter.
• takes 3 decoy counters in their colour.
• receives 7 sesterces of public subsidy.
• draws 4 cards without showing them to the other players.

Then place the Popularity Board on the black storage tray so that each slot is above a compartment. Take the 6 triangular politician counters and insert each one into the slot belonging to its politician. When the Popularity Board is removed at the end of the game, this makes it possible to tell with certainty which politician each compartment belongs to.

Insert a round politician counter, bearing the portrait of one politician, into each of the six Giant Coliseum figures. This counter shows which politician will attend the matches held in that arena.

Now that each figure is topped with a politician counter, place them on the game board. The player who arrived first to play chooses a Giant Coliseum and places it on the space of their choice. The player to their left does the same, but there may be only one Giant Coliseum per district. Recall that the map of Rome is divided into 6 districts. Continue in this way until all six figures are placed.

Place the 6 laurel wreath counters under each space 1 of the Popularity Board. Note that these counters are not placed on space 1 itself but just below it. The politicians start with 0 points of popularity.

The youngest player may begin the first Turn of Play. THE GAME CAN NOW BEGIN.

3.0 Turn Structure

The player whose turn it is carries out various actions during three successive phases.

3.1 Phase 1: Placing a Supporter and a Gladiator

a. Placing a Supporter:

The player whose turn it is must take one piece from their Club and place it in Rome. To do so, they first ask the player on their left to designate one of the six districts of Rome that has at least one empty space. The player whose turn it is then chooses an empty space in that district (no piece and no Giant Coliseum) and places their piece on it, Supporter side up. The piece thus placed becomes a Supporter whose value is 1 to 5 according to the number printed on it. A space can hold only one Supporter, whatever its colour and value.

b. Placing a Gladiator:

The player whose turn it is must then choose another piece from their Club and send it to training under the eyes of one of the Roman politicians, in one of the arenas of their choice. This piece is placed Gladiator side up, on one of the spaces below that arena's politician on the Popularity Board. The piece is now a Gladiator, and its value can vary from 1 to 5 according to the number it bears. An arena can hold an unlimited number of Gladiators.

Each arena is also located in Rome by a figure.

3.2 Phase 2: Organising a Match

A Match may be organised under certain conditions. If one takes place, the behaviour of the Supporters will have more or less happy consequences.

a. Conditions required to organise a Match.

After placing his two pieces, the player whose turn it is may decide to organise a Match in the arena of their choice, provided that 3 or more Supporter pieces can attend it.

The Supporter pieces that attend the Match are all the pieces placed on:

• spaces adjacent to the arena's space.
• spaces connected to the arena's space through other spaces occupied by a Supporter.

The Supporters placed on these spaces all attend the Match, whatever their colour or value. The dividing line between two districts does not prevent two spaces from being adjacent to each other.

Note: it is the number of Supporter pieces that must be 3 or more, not the value of those pieces.

If the player cannot, or does not wish to, organise a Match, they go directly to Phase 3 and end their turn.

Example: It is your turn. You ask the player on your left to designate one of the six districts of Rome. They say, "The yellow district!" Since you want influence in this district, you take a piece of value 3 from your Club. You place this piece on one of the spaces of the yellow district, Supporter side up.

You then take another piece from your Club and place it on an arena. You choose to place this piece in the arena of Crassus, Gladiator side up.

If the player can and wishes to organise a Match, they announce to all players that the Match is taking place, the Giant Coliseum where it will be held, and whether it is a Cup Match, a Championship Match or an International Match.

The player immediately pays the price of the Match:

• a Cup Match costs 1 sestertius.
• a Championship Match costs 3 sesterces.
• an International Match costs 6 sesterces.

Play tip: The paying player places the coins spent on the board of Rome, right next to the arena where the show takes place. This way everyone can easily see the situation. The coins are removed from the board after the show.

b. Behaviour of the Supporters.

Each player must decide how their Supporters will behave during the Match. The players may discuss freely among themselves before taking this decision. There are two possible behaviours: Applause or Boos. Each player places their Applause meter on the table, hiding it with their hand and leaving the chosen behaviour face up.

All players reveal their Applause meters at the same time.

Each player totals the values printed on their Supporter pieces that attend the Match and assigns that total to the Applause side or the Boos side, according to the choice they made.

The side with the greater total wins.

In case of a tie, Applause always wins.

Note: it is the total of the values of the Supporter pieces that counts, not the number of these pieces.

c. Consequences of the Match.

It is in your interest to have chosen the side that wins.

If Applause wins:

The killjoy Supporters are thrown from the stands and the Gladiators of the Match become Stars. In addition, the politician who attended the Match gains Popularity.

In game terms, this means that:

• Each player who chose Boos eliminates one of their Supporter pieces that attended the Match. (If a player had no Supporters, this consequence does not apply to them.) Eliminated pieces are removed from the game and are certainly not returned to the Clubs.
• Each player who chose Applause takes all of their Gladiator pieces placed in the arena where the Match was held, and slides them into the slot or slots of their choice. (You may hide the value of the pieces you insert, but not the slot into which you insert them.)

These Gladiators become Stars, which the players offer as bribes to one or more politicians in order to win their favour. Players may also insert decoys at this point (see section 4.5).

• The player who organised the Match immediately gains 4 sesterces. This sum is fixed whatever type of Match was organised.
• The politician who attended the Match gains Popularity:
  • If it is a Cup Match, the politician who attends gains 1 point of Popularity.
  • If it is a Championship Match, the politician who attends gains 2 points of Popularity.
  • If it is an International Match, the politician who attends gains 3 points of Popularity.

Advance the laurel wreath counter by the number of spaces corresponding to the Popularity points gained.

If Boos win:

Some Gladiators meet a premature end to their careers, and the dissatisfied Supporters receive compensation.

In game terms, this means that:

• Each player who chose Applause eliminates one of their Gladiator pieces in the arena where the Match was held. (If a player had no Gladiators in that arena, this consequence does not apply to them.) Eliminated pieces are removed from the game and are certainly not returned to the Clubs.
• Each player who chose Boos draws a card and adds it to their hand.

There are no other consequences. (The organiser of the Match does not gain money because they put on a bad show, and the Politician neither gains nor loses Popularity.)

Example: As always it is your turn to play, and you decide to organise a Championship Match. You cannot hold it in Caesar's arena, because only one Supporter piece could attend there. You therefore choose Crassus's arena, because 4 Supporter pieces can attend there, and you control 2 of them. You announce a Championship Match in the arena of Crassus and immediately pay 3 sesterces.

You urge the other players to Applaud your Match: "If you help me now, I will remember it! You wouldn't want my sword in your face, would you?" You then place your Applause meter on the table, hiding it with your hand, and all the other players do the same. Since you hope the Match will be a success, you turned your behaviour piece to the Applause side before hiding it. When everyone reveals their vote, you total the Applause as 3+1+1 = 5, and the total of the Boos is 5. Since it is a tie, Applause wins. In this case the player who had chosen Boos eliminates their Supporter piece that attended the Match. You and the other player who had chosen Applause take all your Gladiator pieces from the arena of Crassus and slide them into the slots of the black box of the politicians. Finally, you gain 4 sesterces and Crassus gains 2 points of Popularity. (It would be wise to put this Crassus in your pocket before others do..)

3.3 Phase 3: End of the Player's Turn

If the player did not organise a Match during their turn, they gain either 1 sestertius or 1 card, drawn from the deck, as they choose.

If the player did organise a Match during their turn, they gain nothing more than the consequences of their Match.

The player has finished their turn. The player to their right begins their own turn, following the same phases in the same order.

4.0 Cards and Other Pieces

4.1 Using the Cards

The cards are used to cause events that disrupt the flow of the game. Each card explains the event it causes. There are two types of cards, the blue cards and the red cards.

• Red cards (marked with an A for Arena) may only be played during Phase 2 of a Turn of Play, that is, during a Match and before the players reveal their Applause meters. After that, it is no longer possible.
• Blue cards (marked with an F for Forum) may only be played during Phase 1 or Phase 3 of a Turn of Play, that is, before or after a Match.

Players are free to use, keep, exchange or give their cards to one another as they wish.

If the deck of cards is exhausted during the game, players can no longer draw cards.

Translator's note: the source text does not state which individual cards are red and which are blue, so the card entries in the Card Reference below are not so classified.

4.2 Using the Assassination Markers

An Assassination marker may be put into play as a result of the use of the cards: A MADMAN IN THE CITY, SEX SCANDAL and TRAMPLED. If the effect of one of these cards applies, an Assassination marker is placed immediately on the politician concerned. Because of this unfortunate incident, that politician will never be elected Emperor. Matches may still be organised in their arena with the usual consequences, but this politician gains no further Popularity points, since they are... dead!

4.3 Using the Cleopatra's Lover Marker

The Cleopatra's Lover marker is put into play as a result of the use of the cards: REPRESSION IN THE GAULISH DISTRICT, LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT and MY HERO!

In this case, the Cleopatra's Lover marker is placed on the politician designated by the card.

4.4 Using Sesterces

There are two types of coin, the 1-sestertius coins and the 5-sestertius coins. Money is used to organise Matches or to pay for actions indicated on the cards. It is also used to buy additional decoy pieces. At any time during the game, any player may buy one or more additional decoy pieces at the price of 1 sestertius per piece. It is possible to buy decoys of any colour.

Players are free to keep, exchange or give their sesterces as they wish.

4.5 Using Decoys

When you slide a Gladiator piece into the slot of a politician's black box, you may at the same time slide a decoy piece into the slot of another politician. In this way your opponents will not know, until the end, which politician you are backing.

5.0 End of the Game

5.1 The Last Turn of Play

The last Turn of Play is either the one during which a politician reaches or exceeds 10 points of Popularity, or the one during which the Clubs of all players are emptied. In both cases, the players finish the turn that has begun, and the game ends at the end of that turn.

5.2 The Winner

At the end of the last Turn of Play, the living politician with the best Popularity is named Emperor. Politicians who are tied on Popularity points are separated according to the following order of precedence: 1st Pompey, 2nd Crassus, 3rd Caesar, 4th Antony, 5th Octavian, 6th Brutus.

Once the Emperor is determined, the players remove the Popularity Board in order to count the values of their pieces in the black box of the politician who has become Emperor.

The player whose pieces in the Emperor's compartment total the most points of value becomes the Lanista of Rome and is declared the winner of the game.

In case of a tie, the tied players are separated by adding together the values of their Supporters present in the districts of Rome; the highest total designates the winning player.

If there is still a tie, the tied players are declared joint winners.

Decoy pieces have no value.

Example: At the end of the game, the politicians have the following Popularity:

Pompey (assassinated): IX points, Crassus: IV points, Caesar: VIII points, Mark Antony: IV points, Octavian: VII points, Brutus: VIII points.

Thanks to Pompey's death, Caesar therefore becomes Emperor, since he comes before Brutus in the order of precedence.

The player whose pieces in Caesar's compartment total the most points of value wins the game.

6.0 Optional Rules

6.1 "Hands in Play, Villains at Bay!"

If there are no bad players around the table (or if there are, but you want some atmosphere), you may, instead of using the Applause meters, indicate the behaviour of your Supporters during Matches by showing a raised thumb if you want to vote for Applause, or a lowered thumb if you want to vote for Boos.

Beware of thumbs that are not quite raised, nor quite lowered...

6.2 "No Bluff, No Remorse"

The mechanics of Vox Populi rest largely on the uncertainty the players have about who controls whom. Another amusing variant is instead to play "with cards face up": instead of slipping your Stars into the politician's black box, place your Stars face up in full view of everyone on his portrait. You will then know at every moment who controls whom, and you will see that the Assassinations quickly multiply...

7.0 Some Tips

Vox Populi hides an original game mechanism that you may take some time to master. Here are some basic points that will help you better plan your strategy.

• Only the Stars you have offered to the Emperor will count when victory is awarded.
• It is better to control one politician for certain than to try to spread your Stars across several.
• If you choose to place your biggest pieces as Supporters, you will more easily determine who will be elected Emperor, but you will have fewer Stars during the game.
• If you choose to place your biggest pieces as Gladiators, you may have a lot of Stars to offer, but you will influence the Popularity of the politicians very little.

Last tip: Vox Populi takes place in Rome, so serve it with pasta or pizza...

Quick Reference Summary

Turn Sequence

(The source presents this as a flowchart; the steps are given here in order.)

• Phase 1: Placing a Supporter and a Gladiator.
• Phase 2: Organising a Match.
  • A) Choice of Match type.
  • B) Behaviour of the Supporters.
  • C) Consequences of the Match.
• Phase 3: End of the player's turn.

Setup

• Each player chooses a Club and places its 14 pieces of their colour on it.
• Each player takes 1 Applause meter, 3 decoys, 7 sesterces and draws 4 cards.
• Place a politician's portrait in each arena figure and in each of the six compartments.
• Place the perforated board above the compartments.
• Place the laurel wreath counters on their starting spaces.
• Shuffle the deck of cards and choose the player who begins the first turn.

Turn of Play

• The player whose turn it is must place one piece from their Club on an empty space in a district of Rome chosen by the player on their left. This piece becomes a Supporter.
• The player whose turn it is must also place one piece from their Club on the arena of their choice on the perforated board. This piece becomes a Gladiator.
• Does the player want to organise a Match?
  • No: The player gains 1 sestertius or 1 card.
  • Yes: At least 3 Supporter pieces must attend the Match. A Supporter attends if it is on a space adjacent to the arena's space, or on a space connected to the arena by other spaces occupied by a Supporter. If fewer than 3 Supporter pieces attend, the Match is impossible, and the player gains 1 sestertius or 1 card.
  • If the Match is possible, the price is: Cup Match 1 sestertius; Championship Match 3 sesterces; International Match 6 sesterces.
  • The players discuss freely, then each decides secretly on the behaviour of their Supporters, using their Applause meter, which is hidden with the hand. All players reveal their Applause meters at the same time. Each player totals the values of their Supporters that attend the Match and assigns the total to the Applause side or the Boos side according to their decision. The side with the greater total wins. In case of a tie, Applause wins.
  • If Boos win:
    • Each player who chose Applause eliminates 1 of their Gladiator pieces in the arena where the Match took place.
    • Each player who chose Boos draws a card.
  • If Applause win:
    • Each player who chose Boos eliminates 1 of their Supporter pieces that attended the Match.
    • Each player who chose Applause takes all their Gladiator pieces from the arena where the Match took place and slides them into the slots of the politicians. These pieces become Stars offered to the politicians. Decoys may be used to mislead the other players.

End of Game

The game ends when a politician reaches or exceeds 10 points of Popularity, or when the players have placed all their pieces. The politician with the most Popularity points becomes Emperor.

Politicians tied on Popularity are separated in order of precedence: 1 Pompey, 2 Crassus, 3 Caesar, 4 Antony, 5 Octavian, 6 Brutus.

Remove the perforated board. The player whose Stars offered to the Emperor have the greatest total value becomes the Lanista and wins the game. Players tied on this are separated by adding together the values of their Supporter pieces in the districts of Rome.

Component Sizes

(From the source's captions.)

• Club boards: actual size 21 x 15 cm
• Popularity Board: actual size 26 x 36 cm
• Game board: actual size 50 x 35 cm

Card Reference

Card titles below are translated from the French. The source's card descriptions are rendered in full, in source order. The French original of each title is given where the translation is not self-explanatory.

RIGGING (French: MAGOUILLE) When a die has just been rolled and the result does not suit you, ignore it and choose the number that suits you instead.

CENSORSHIP (French: CENSURE) You may play this card only when a vote by show of hands takes place. Designate a player; that player's vote is cancelled and the vote is held without them. (No arms... no vote!)

HONORARY PRESIDENT (French: PRÉSIDENT D'HONNEUR) All players vote by show of hands, and each has one vote. Each votes for one of the six politicians. The politician who obtains the most votes becomes honorary president of the association of retired crippled gladiators and gains one point of Popularity. Politicians tied on votes are separated according to their position in the order of precedence.

DREAM TEAM You may not play this card if the Cleopatra card is active. All the most famous gladiators are invited to an exceptional tournament. A star match may be organised this turn instead of a traditional match. It costs 8 sesterces and will earn 4 points of Popularity for the politician who attends, if Applause wins.

LATE TRANSFER (French: TRANSFERT TARDIF) You must pay 2 sesterces to play this card. Take one of your pieces that has been eliminated and immediately put it back into play as a Gladiator in the arena of your choice.

CHEATING (French: TRICHERIE) Play this card when a vote by show of hands takes place. Your vote counts for two votes instead of one.

SCANDAL SHEET (French: PRESSE À SCANDALES) Lepidus is a powerful banker who opposes the politicians. The satirical pamphlets he has printed at his own expense are a great success. All politicians each lose points of Popularity. Roll the die: 1, 2, 3, 4 they each lose 1 point. 5, 6 they each lose 2 points. (A politician cannot have negative points.)

EXPULSION Cicero denounces in the press the scheming of the supporters' clubs. The Supporters involved are driven out of their district. You may take a Supporter already in play and place it on an empty district of your choice.

SUPPORTERS' CLUBS (French: AMICALES DES SUPPORTERS) The president of the club who is due to play is overwhelmed by the actions of his supporters' club. You decide in which district this player places his Supporter piece this turn. Draw another card.

FREE DISTRICT (French: QUARTIER LIBRE) This turn you may choose to place your Supporter piece wherever you wish, without taking into account the opinion of the player who usually chooses the district.

BAD ORGANISER (French: MAUVAIS ORGANISATEUR) The player whose turn it is must organise a Match, unless they are not rich enough to do so or there are not enough Supporters.

A MADMAN IN THE CITY (French: UN FOU DANS LA VILLE) Designate a politician. All players vote for or against by show of hands, and each has one vote. If there is at least one vote against, nothing happens. Otherwise the designated politician is savagely assassinated.

SPORTS FIRST (French: PLACE AU SPORT) The anti-doping commission cleans house. Players may no longer play any card until the end of this turn, including yourself.

REPRESSION IN THE GAULISH DISTRICT (French: RÉPRESSION DANS LES QUARTIERS GAULOIS) You may play this card only if the Cleopatra card has been activated. Egyptian beer competes with Gaulish beer, and the Gaulish producers are furious. All politicians lose 1 point of Popularity for having drunk Egyptian beer, except Caesar, who only drinks Gaulish beer. Move the "Cleopatra's Lover" counter onto Julius Caesar.

SCORES SETTLED BETWEEN SUPPORTERS (French: RÈGLEMENTS DE COMPTES ENTRE SUPPORTERS) You may play this card only if the Cleopatra card has been activated. The supporters of the different clubs find themselves mixed together in the stands. A huge brawl breaks out between the supporters. Roll 1-2-3: Caesar, chief of police, is accused of incompetence and loses 2 points of Popularity. 4-5-6: Pompey, minister of sports, is accused of incompetence and loses 2 points of Popularity.

RIOT IN THE EGYPTIAN DISTRICT (French: ÉMEUTE DANS LES QUARTIERS ÉGYPTIENS) All politicians lose 1 point of Popularity, except Pompey, who supports the rioters' demands for lower ticket prices.

HOOLIGANS Place this card on the district of Rome of your choice. The district is ransacked by a band of furious hooligans. It is isolated from the rest of the city. This district is no longer considered adjacent to the other districts of the city during this turn.

BRAWLS IN THE BABYLONIAN SUBURBS (French: BASTONS DANS LES FAUBOURGS BABYLONIENS) You may play this card only if the Cleopatra card has been activated. The adventure of the "Gardens of Babylon" amusement park causes a scandal in Babylonian circles. Crassus holds shares in the park, and Brutus supports the Babylonians. Roll the die: 1-2-3: the scandal splashes onto Crassus, who loses two points of Popularity. 4-5-6: the ridiculous position of the Babylonians costs Brutus 2 points of Popularity.

SCUFFLE IN THE GREEK DISTRICT (French: ÉCHAUFFOURÉE DANS LES QUARTIERS GRECS) You may play this card only if the Cleopatra card has been activated. Egyptian counterfeits of club products compete with the Greek merchants, who hold the monopoly, and the Greeks are furious. Antony supports this trade. Octavian supports the Greek merchants' monopoly. Roll the die: 1-2-3: the counterfeits sell very well, Octavian loses 2 points of Popularity. 4-5-6: the consumers boycott the counterfeits, Antony loses 2 points of Popularity.

TV RIGHTS (French: DROITS TÉLÉS) The rebroadcasting of arena combats is a rather uncertain source of income, given the violent opposition of the "TV without violence" committee. Roll the die: 1-2: the committee runs a very virulent campaign, and each player loses 2 sesterces. 3-4-5-6: an unprecedented enthusiasm for arena combats allows you to make a profit and gain 6 sesterces.

MERCHANDISING The release of your products in the club colours (scarves, trainers, caps...) is a great success. Roll a die: 1-2: you gain 1 sestertius. 3-4: you gain 2 sesterces. 5-6: you gain 4 sesterces.

SPONSORS The sponsors' advertising interludes between each match disrupt the competitions. Roll the die: 1-2: the supporters demand their removal, and all players must pay 1 sestertius. 3-4-5-6: your pom-pom girls make a sensation, and you receive a bonus of 3 sesterces.

ROTTEN ARENA (French: ARÈNE POURRIE) The increase in the number of supporters requires the restoration of the old arenas. To do this, the players must chip in and gather a sum of 5 sesterces. As long as this sum is not paid, the boos increase by 3 points at each of the following matches of the game. Discard this card once the sum has been paid.

MY HERO! (French: MON HÉROS!) You may play this card only if the Cleopatra card has been activated. The most popular politician becomes Cleopatra's lover. In case of a tie, the politicians are separated according to their position in the order of precedence. Place the "Cleopatra's Lover" counter on that politician.

CLEOPATRA (French: CLÉOPÂTRE) You may play this card only if you have 4 pieces or fewer left in your club. Cleopatra supports your club, and you gain 5 sesterces. WARNING: once played, the Cleopatra card activates other cards in the game. This card must remain on the table, face up.

C.O.J.C. (Comité d'Organisation des Jeux du Cirque) You may play this card only if the Cleopatra card has been activated. Octavian denounces Antony's corruption and discovers that Cleopatra and her children hold fictitious jobs on the Organising Committee of the Circus Games. All players vote for or against Antony by show of hands, and each has one vote. If there is a majority of votes against Antony, he loses one point of Popularity.

FAMILY AFFAIR (French: AFFAIRE DE FAMILLE) You may play this card only if the Cleopatra card has been activated. Antony denounces Octavian for trafficking in forged arena tickets, Cleopatra becomes Antony's mistress and abandons Octavian. Place the "Cleopatra's Lover" counter on Antony. All players vote for or against Octavian by show of hands, and each has one vote. If there is a majority against, he loses one point of Popularity.

SEX SCANDAL (French: SCANDALE SEXUEL) The prosecutor Splaf launches an investigation into the politician who is "Cleopatra's Lover". The senatorial commission meets, and all players vote by show of hands for or against removing the politician from office. Each has one vote. If there are at least 2 votes against, nothing happens. Otherwise, his career is broken, and the politician is eliminated from the game, as if he had been assassinated.

KEPT WOMAN (French: POULE DE LUXE) You may play this card only if the Cleopatra card has been activated. The politician who is Cleopatra's lover asks all players to chip in to raise the sum of 5 sesterces and give it to him so that he can keep his mistress. If the players do not raise the sum, this politician loses 2 points of Popularity.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT (French: COUP DE FOUDRE) You may play this card only if the Cleopatra card has been activated. A politician succumbs to Cleopatra's charms. Move the "Cleopatra's Lover" counter onto the politician of your choice. Be aware that Cleopatra is a woman who attracts trouble.

UNREASONABLE EXPENSE (French: DÉPENSE INCONSIDÉRÉE) After a player decides which type of match they are organising, the price of that match increases by 3 sesterces this turn. If the player cannot pay, they immediately end their turn.

BOOKMAKER Play this card only when a Cup Match is organised this turn. Bets are open: first spend a stake of between 1 and 5 sesterces. Then roll the die. If the result is 5 or 6, you win 3 times your stake.

UNBEARABLE SUSPENSE (French: SUSPENSE INSOUTENABLE) Play this card only when a Cup Match is organised this turn. Then roll the die. 1-2: the champion exterminates all the other gladiators, +1 for Applause. 3-4: the champion is eaten by lions, +3 for Applause. 5-6: the champion and the referee kill each other, +5 for Applause.

INTERVIEW The organiser of the match makes a public commitment at the forum in front of all the TV crews. The player who organises the match must decide in favour of Applause this turn.

ROUND OF DRINKS (French: TOURNÉE GÉNÉRALE) The beer flows freely. You spend 3 sesterces to buy a round for everyone. Applause increases by 3 points this turn.

ENEMY BROTHERS (French: FRÈRES ENNEMIS) Designate a politician. This turn this politician attends the match at the same time as the politician who owns the arena. Each of them will gain the points of Popularity provided for if Applause wins.

EPIC MATCH (French: MATCH ÉPIQUE) This match will remain in everyone's memory, won't it, my little Thierry? You may play this card if a Championship Match is organised this turn. Roll the die: 1-2-3-4: Applause increases by as many points as there are Arena cards played this turn (this one included). 5-6: the effect of the cards FRIENDLY MATCH, REFEREE IN THE TOILETS and TICKET PRICE INCREASE is cancelled this turn.

ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD (French: PUBLIC ENTHOUSIASTE) Play this card only when a Championship Match is organised this turn. Roll the die: 1-2: a one-eyed gladiator with no legs wins with his bare hands, +1 for Applause. 3-4: an albino gladiator kills two tigers and eats them, +2 points for Applause. 5-6: a one-armed gladiator blows everyone away, +4 for Applause.

POLITICAL RECOVERY (French: RÉCUPÉRATION POLITIQUE) The politician who attends the match hands out pin badges bearing his likeness. This action earns him 1 extra point of Popularity, if Applause is in the majority this turn.

DO NOT DISTURB (French: NE PAS DÉRANGER) You may play this card only if the politician who is due to attend the match is Cleopatra's lover. This politician is held back by Cleopatra's charms and does not attend the match. He cannot gain any Popularity points this turn.

PAX DEORUM (the peace of the gods) The match is organised in honour of the gods. The match earns no Popularity points for the politicians this turn. The other consequences of the match are played normally. The effect of the cards POLITICAL RECOVERY and MEDIA LYNCHING is cancelled this turn.

REPLACEMENT (French: REMPLAÇANT) You have no confidence in the behaviour of the supporters. You may take one of your Gladiator pieces in the arena where the match takes place and place it in another arena of your choice.

VOX POPULI, VOX DEI (The voice of the people is the voice of the gods) With the exception of this card, all other ARENA cards played this turn return to the hands of the players who played them. Players recover them after the end of this turn.

PANEM ET CIRCENSES (bread and games) The sweets and popcorn are of poor quality. This turn the value of each supporter is 1 instead of the printed figure.

FREE ARENA (French: ARÈNE GRATUITE) Open-day: all the supporters from all the districts of Rome go to the match this turn, whatever district they are in. The HOOLIGANS card is cancelled this turn.

TRAMPLED (French: PIÉTINE) If the boos win, the politician who attends the match is trampled by the furious supporters. Place the assassination counter on this politician. If the ENEMY BROTHERS card is played this turn, the second politician is not trampled.

MEDIA LYNCHING (French: LYNCHAGE MÉDIATIQUE) The politician who attends the match is drunk, and his antics cost him 2 points of Popularity if the boos are in the majority this turn. If the ENEMY BROTHERS card is played this turn, both politicians each lose 2 points of Popularity if the boos are in the majority this turn.

VAE VICTIS (Woe to the defeated) If the boos win this turn, eliminate all the Gladiator pieces in the arena where the match takes place.

TICKET PRICE INCREASE (French: AUGMENTATION DU PRIX DES BILLETS) You must spend 3 sesterces to be able to play this card. The boos of the furious public increase by 3 points this turn.

RESERVE TEAM (French: ÉQUIPE RÉSERVE) Play this card only when a Cup Match is organised this turn. The first team is ill after a meal at the Chinese restaurant, and it is the team of substitutes who enter the arena. Roll the die: 1-2: the gladiators are clumsy, the boos increase by 1. 3-4: the gladiators are hesitant, the boos increase by 3. 5-6: the gladiators pretend, the boos increase by 5.

FRIENDLY MATCH (French: MATCH AMICAL) The gladiators' union has decided to organise a "friendly match" day to make its demands heard about the working conditions of gladiators. Roll the die: 1-2-3-4: the gladiators play Vox Populi, the boos increase by 1 point this turn. 5-6: the gladiators play blind man's buff, the boos increase by 3 points this turn.

BAD SOUND SYSTEM (French: MAUVAISE SONORISATION) If Applause and Boos are tied this turn, Boos wins.

REFEREE IN THE TOILETS (French: AUX CHIOTTES L'ARBITRE) Play this card only when a Championship Match is organised. The referee of this match is particularly useless; it looks as though he has been bought. Roll the die: 1-2-3: the referee is drunk, the boos increase by 2 points. 4-5-6: the referee falls asleep, the boos increase by 1 to 6 points (roll the die again).

MOUTHING OFF (French: PÉTAGE DE GUEULE) You may play this card only when an International Match is organised. Roll the die once for each Gladiator piece present in the arena. If the result of the die is 4, 5 or 6, the gladiator concerned is devoured and its piece is removed from the game.

MATCH RIGGED (French: MATCH TRUQUÉ) When a die has just been rolled and the result does not suit you, ignore it and choose the number that suits you instead.