Alaric the Goth: Fall of the Western Roman Empire is a grand-strategic board game published by Strategic Studies Games in 1980. It simulates the Barbarian invasions of the Western Roman Empire during the 4th and 5th centuries A.D. Players can control various barbarian hordes or the declining Roman Empire, maneuvering armies across a map of the late Roman world. The game features area movement mechanics and can be played solitaire.
Components
Game board (map of the Western Roman Empire and surrounding regions)
Unit counters (Roman legions, barbarian hordes of various tribes)
Area control markers
Event cards
Combat charts
Dice
Rules booklet
Setup
Place the game board depicting the Western Roman Empire.
Assign players to factions: Roman Empire and various barbarian tribes (Visigoths, Vandals, Huns, etc.).
Place starting units in their historical positions.
Set initial political and military conditions.
Determine turn order.
Turn Structure
Each turn represents a period of several years:
Political phase: Resolve internal Roman politics, barbarian tribal events, and diplomatic interactions.
Movement phase: Move armies using area-to-area movement across the map.
Combat phase: Resolve battles when armies occupy contested areas.
Settlement phase: Barbarian tribes may settle in conquered territories; Romans may cede or reclaim provinces.
Actions
Area Movement
Armies move from area to area on the map.
Movement is limited by army size, terrain, and political factors.
Strategic positions (mountain passes, river crossings) control movement corridors.
Combat
Battles are resolved when opposing forces occupy the same area.
Combat results depend on army strength, leadership, and terrain.
Siege warfare applies when attacking fortified Roman cities.
Diplomacy and Politics
Roman players manage internal political instability.
Barbarian players may negotiate with Rome for federate status or launch invasions.
Alliances between barbarian tribes are possible but tenuous.
Scoring / Victory Conditions
Barbarian victory: Capture and control key Roman provinces and cities.
Roman victory: Maintain control of the empire and defeat or assimilate the barbarian invaders.
The game is abstract rather than a strict simulation, allowing for alternate-history outcomes.
Special Rules & Edge Cases
Solitaire play: Can be played solo by controlling the Romans and defending against programmed barbarian invasions.
Multiple barbarian tribes: Up to 7 players can each control different barbarian factions, creating complex multi-sided conflict.
Historical figures: Alaric and other historical leaders provide combat and diplomatic bonuses.
Empire collapse: The Roman Empire’s decline is modeled through diminishing resources and political instability.