of the opposing forces. A fortified city gives the defending legions an additional advantage of +1 for this calculation, and the fortifications/catapults cannot attack. When the player with the combat advantage attacks, the advantage is added to their die roll to determine if that roll eliminates a combat unit. To battle, starting with the attacker, each player alternates turns in which they declare an opposing piece to attack and roll a die. If the number rolled (including any combat advantage) equals or exceeds the attacked piece's strength, the attacked piece is removed from the board. An attacker may attack with more than one legion at a time, and from more than one direction. Only the attacking forces have the option of retreating to their original position(s) (with each general having their own option). If a force has been completely destroyed, the losing general(s) is/are captured by the ultimate winner of the battle, and the loser's triremes destroyed, although the die must be rolled for this to occur in a naval battle, and a trireme can only be attacked after all legions have been destroyed. Since an overwhelming number of catapults can effectively increase their advantage through eliminating the opposing catapults, experienced game players feel that the catapult piece is too powerful, hurting the game's playability. Reception Allen Varney reviewed the 1984 Milton Bradley version of Conquest of the Empire in Space Gamer No. 72. Varney commented that "Conquest of the Empire is a superb contest of skill - not strong on simulation, but very good at capturing the grandeur that was Rome." 2005 version The 2005 re-release featured a tweaked version of the original rules as Conquest of the Empire: Classic. In this version the combat system was changed. Dice now featured images on all sides which represented your units. If you'd roll an infantry, an infantry unit from your army would make a hit. Catapults are now more balanced. Conquest of the Empire II The 2005 re-release contains two rulesets and is therefore in a sense 'two games in one'. Besides the classic rules, there is also a new ruleset heavily inspired by another Eagle game, Struggle of Empires by Martin Wallace, and represents a more 'modern' type of board game. Players now fight for influence in key provinces and troops are not limited in their area movement any more. New concepts include forced alliances, chaos points, action cards