THUNDERBOLT DELUXE (Special Order)

🛒 What's a Special Order? We don't keep this one on our shelves — it's a Special Order title we bring in from our distributor just for you. Add it to your cart like any other product; once you order, we place it with our distributor and ship it your way. Because it's ordered on demand, it arrives a little later than an in-stock item — expect at least 2 weeks before it reaches you, and we cannot promise a date.

🛒 C'est quoi une commande spéciale ? On ne garde pas cet article en stock — c'est un titre en commande spéciale qu'on fait venir de notre distributeur juste pour vous. Ajoutez-le au panier comme n'importe quel produit ; dès votre commande, on le commande chez notre distributeur et on vous l'expédie. Comme il est commandé sur demande, il arrive un peu plus tard qu'un article en stock — compte au moins 2 semaines avant de le recevoir, et on ne peut pas promettre de date.

⚠️ Special order — final sale: we order this specifically for you from our distributor, so it cannot be cancelled or refunded and ships a bit later than an in-stock item. If Poké Jeux is unable to fulfill it (e.g. distributor allocation), you are refunded in full — no fee.

⚠️ Commande spéciale — vente finale : nous commandons cet article spécifiquement pour vous chez notre distributeur ; il ne peut être annulé ni remboursé et est expédié un peu plus tard qu'un article en stock. Si Poké Jeux ne peut l'honorer (ex. allocation du distributeur), vous êtes remboursé en totalité — sans frais.

Prior to his passing, Richard H. Berg was hard at work completing the third volume in his The Ancient World series, Thunderbolt, covering the titanic 2nd Punic War between Rome and Carthage. Mark Herman has teamed up with series developer Alan Ray to finish the game.

For Thunderbolt Deluxe Edition, we have decided to enhance this package and include the first two volumes in the series: Rise of the Roman Republic and Carthage. Each will have its own exclusive rules and scenarios booklets, army and city display cards, and other displays relevant to those titles. The exclusive rules have been extensively revised based on player feedback. All these components will be brought up to the latest GMT graphic standards. The following scenarios from the first two volumes will be included:

• The Mercenary War: Mutiny in Carthage. One map, 5 Game Turns (241-237 BCE)

• Agathocles: The First Invasion of Carthage. Two maps, 5 Game Turns (311-307 BCE)

• Hiero, Hero, or Gyro?: The start of the 1st Punic War. One map, 2 Game Turns (264-263 BCE)

• The First Punic War: Two maps, 24 Game Turns (264-241 BCE)

• The Conquest of Central Italy: The Samnite Wars. One map, 10 Game Turns (320-311 BCE)

• The First Alexander Invasion: One map, 4 Game Turns (327-324 BCE)

• The Eagle Has Landed: The Invasion of Pyrrhus. One map, 10 Game Turns (280-271 BCE)

• Thunderbolt brings The Ancient World system to the mammoth 2nd Punic War. The game covers the action in the Western Mediterranean on updated Italy and Africa maps published in the prior two volumes, plus a connecting full-size map of Spain and western Mauretania, the last map design of Richard's long and illustrious career.

The Ancient World system uses a chit pull mechanic to drive the action with the better leaders having more opportunities to act. There are no movement allowances; instead attrition and the ability of a leader to continue to conduct operations govern how forces can move. Battles are straightforward, resolved with a couple of die rolls and an extensive list of modifiers to account for cavalry superiority, elite status, and leadership, as well as numbers of troops. The Battle Results Table features an "Unpredictable Result" which can turn the tables on the best laid battle plan. All the trappings around the decisive moment are there as well: Interception, Avoidance, Coordination, Retreat, Pursuit & Butchery, and after battle effects. Sieges are covered in detail, including rules for attrition, assaults, repair and reduction, treachery, and surrender. And what would a Richard Berg game be without random events—Auguries in this system.

The Ancient World system models the Roman and Carthaginian political systems which provide a framework for campaigning during the Game Turn/year. A hierarchy of magistrates commands the Roman Legions in the field: Consuls, Proconsuls, Praetors, and occasionally a Dictator. These magistracies are filled from a pool of over 60 historical personages meticulously assembled by Richard from the sources and individually rated for their capabilities (or lack thereof). Each magistrate is given an Imperium, one or two Legions to command, and a specific area on the map to conduct operations. Changes to the area of operations may change while campaigning but only by permission from the Senate.

The Carthaginians also have a hierarchy of army commanders: Overall Commander, Army Commander, and Subordinate Commander drawn from a pool of over 20 historical personages rated in the same manner as the Roman leaders. Unlike the Romans, the commanders are permanently assigned to a specific army unless recalled or other circumstances dictate otherwise. The Carthaginian family in power and the overall Carthaginian political climate is determined each Game Turn/year. The results determine how many armies the Carthaginians will field and where they can campaign. Hannibal and his army are an exception—he can come and go as he pleases.

New to The Ancient World system are the…