Rules

There are three broad types of rule used in Greek Fire. These are:

Preparation
Board notes
Combat

All of these rules may feature at any stage of the game, but they each form the principal character of their own specific 'chapter' of the game (see General Game Structure), as well as forming the basic game turn structure.

There are four chapters. The Prelude, sees Greeks engaged in rebellion against the Great King, fighting in Ionia (modern Turkey). This phase sets the context for the rest of the game - defining exactly what the position on the ground is, but also giving players a chance to seize each other up. It is also usual in getting the hang of the rules before the main game commences - particularly for those new to Greek Fire. All of the rule types are used in this phase.

Broadly, the Preparation rules (diplomatic negotiations, raising forces, preliminary dispositions) are used most in the second phase of the game, as the shadows of Persian invasion gather, and the Greeks ready themselves.

Board notes are used mostly during the invasion phase, as forces gather, and seek advantage for the battle to come as the Persian empire advances.

Combat rules are principally a feature of the end stage of the game - the final confrontation between the Greeks and Persians.