What could be better than four like-minded individuals spending five hours drinking, eating and playing out the history of Dark Age Britain in the form of dice rolling and pushing miniature figurines? Turns out nothing.
For our review playtest of Britannia that’s exactly what myself and my muckers, Rick Priestley, John Stallard and Pete Brown did. And what fun we had.
As the only one of our quartet who had any idea how to play I took on the “most complicated” nation in the form of the Romans. Pete began with the Brigantes (northern Celts), Rick the Welsh and John the Belgae (southern Celts). Over the course of the next five hours the story of Britain was played out before us on the superbly illustrated map board. Several rules were ignored. (“Let’s not bother with tribes summitting to Rome, that sounds too complicated”). Several rules were missed (“oh, the Saxons can build forts!”) and several rules were not fully understood (Says Rick: “so if I’m a raider does that mean I can’t land?”. Says I: “yes, that’s definitely the case”. Says Rick: “so how is it I get points for occupying territory then?” Says I: “… never mind that. Right, who’s turn is it next?”)