
- BGG rank
- BGG #227
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Memoir '44
- 2–4 players
- 30–45 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 2004

Expansion for Commands & Colors: Ancients
Rules assistance for Commands & Colors: Ancients Expansion Pack #2 – Rome vs the Barbarians
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Commands & Colors: Ancients Expansion Pack #2 – Rome vs the Barbarians is an expansion for Commands & Colors: Ancients released in 2007 for 2 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Richard Borg and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Dice Rolling, and Modular Board.
Imperial Rome and The Barbarians is the second expansion to Commands & Colors: Ancients. In this second expansion you will find historical battles that focus on Rome and the early Gallic invasion, invasion of the Northmen, the Servile War (Spartacus), Caesar's conquest of Gaul, the Roman Civil Wars and much more. Showcased in the second expansion, are over 20 scenarios that range from 390 BC (Allia River) to 9 AD (Teutoburger Wald), and all the blocks and labels you need to field the Roman and Barbarian forces to fight out these battles. By now, you know we can do this, because Commands & Colors: Ancients by design is a unique historical game system that allows players to effectively portray stylized Ancient battles that play to a conclusion in less than an hour. Imperial Rome and The Barbarians will feature at least one new unit type as well as several "specialty" units and leaders (Briton Chariots, Legionaries using the pilum, and Caesar, for example). Each of these operates within the confines of the original system rules, with only slight modifications to reflect their historical abilities and importance. So, rules-wise, if you've played Commands & Colors: Ancients, you'll have no trouble at all learning the few special rules for these new types of units. The battle dice resolve combat quickly and the Command cards provide an element of luck that creates a fog of war and presents players with both challenges and opportunities for victory. Yet the tactics you need to execute conform remarkably well to the advantages and limitations inherent to the various Ancient units, their weapons, terrain and the history. Expands: Commands & Colors: Ancients
Commands & Colors: Ancients Expansion Pack #2 – Rome vs the Barbarians supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Commands & Colors: Ancients Expansion Pack #2 – Rome vs the Barbarians is 60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Commands & Colors: Ancients Expansion Pack #2 – Rome vs the Barbarians for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Commands & Colors: Ancients Expansion Pack #2 – Rome vs the Barbarians has a complexity rating of 2.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Commands & Colors: Ancients Expansion Pack #2 – Rome vs the Barbarians belongs to these categories: Wargame, Ancient, and Expansion for Base-game. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Dice Rolling, and Modular Board. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Commands & Colors: Ancients Expansion Pack #2 – Rome vs the Barbarians are: Richard Borg. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Commands & Colors: Ancients Expansion Pack #2 – Rome vs the Barbarians as an expansion for Commands & Colors: Ancients. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Commands & Colors: Ancients to use it. Check that your edition of Commands & Colors: Ancients is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.