Player chemistry, that is. We know the "novice" games didn't work. So what we have brewing (sticking with the chemistry metaphor) are some changes to bring up the understanding of brand new players, and some other changes to make regular games more competitive for veteran players.

First, we'll be requiring new players to play the new tutorial game of Centurion before they can sign up for Fall of Rome. This is a risk, we know, and it means regular games won't start about one a day as it is now. However, we think we owe our players the best experience we can possibly offer, and the idea here is that a player that makes it through the one hour tutorial game of Centurion will know how to launch his game, how to issue commands, and how the turn cycle works - all of which seem to be obstacles to success in players who just jump into Fall of Rome without adequate understanding of how a real strategy game works.

Next, novice players will be in regular games, not isolated in their own games. However, they will have advantages in these games similar to that of a standby player. That is, they will start with no fog of war in their "home" region, and they'll have a high initial treasury. Novices will be indicated in the Kingdom roster screen with their own icon, likely a cute little sprout.

Veteran personas, those with 25k plus status points can still play in regular games, but now they will be considered Mentors. Mentors will have an icon next to their persona name in the Kingdom roster as well, an inscribed white M on a field of black. Mentors begin with significant penalties, including influence of about 102 instead of 122, Rulership of 11 instead of 13, lower starting treasury, with no Prince, and with two less starting brigades. We hope this gives Mentors a reasonable challenge and encourages them to take at least one novice under their wing in alliance to help them survive their initial disadvantages and to teach the novice the ropes.

Everyone else in a regular game will see no difference, ie, it will be "regular".

We also now have Veterans Games. While these presently are played with existing Fall of Rome rules, rather than the planned Veterans Game advanced rules, they will have only personas with at least 5000 status points. Experienced players, those with 5000 but fewer than the Veteran minimum of 25k, will be given a choice as to which game type they prefer, Regular or Veteran. (Veterans get the choice too, but are at the Mentor status if in a Regular game). Veterans games give 150% of status points in Valhalla, and provide more Imperator points in that listing, as well as giving Imperator points to those finishing 2nd and 3rd.

We hope you embrace these changes, intended to make every Fall of Rome game a better experience for you.