Contents

1 Welcome to the Forum Trajanum Game Rules!

Welcome to the Forum Trajanum Game Rules!

Setting Up the Game

Before we delve into the exciting world of Forum Trajanum, let’s set up the game first. Place the game board in the center of the play area.

Each player will receive a player board, which they should place in front of them. Take the appropriate colored meeples and place them on the player boards. The resource and victory point tokens should be placed within easy reach of all players. Finally, shuffle the cards and form a deck near the game board.

Gameplay Overview

Forum Trajanum is all about building the best city! Each player will take turns placing buildings on their player board and taking actions to earn victory points.

During your turn, you have two options: you can either place a building or take an action.

Placing a Building

To place a building, pay the required resources and place the building tile on your player board. Each building has a cost and provides various benefits. Some buildings also have special actions that can be taken later in the game.

When placing a building, you must follow adjacency rules. Certain buildings need to be next to specific other buildings or in specific rows. Be careful with your placement and plan ahead to maximize your points!

Taking an Action

If you choose to take an action instead of placing a building, you can perform various actions such as collecting resources, gaining victory points, or drawing cards. Each action has its own requirements and rewards, so choose wisely!

End of the Game

The game ends once all players have placed their buildings. Players count up their victory points and the player with the most points is declared the winner!

Enjoy playing Forum Trajanum!

There are 40 workers
5 mosaic boards
1 gameboard
12 Forum markers
20 coins
4 victory point markers 10 assistants 10 builders
1 starting player figure (Trajan)
3 column fragments (plinth, pillar, and capital)
4 player boards
4 slide bars
56 single building tiles
24 street cards
16 construction crane tiles
5 multiplication markers
12 Trajan cards
48 double building tiles
136 Colonia tiles (envoys)
2 player aids per language (no image)
Instructions

My Goal

I will use 1 Colonia tile, carry out 1 building action, and strive to win with the most victory points.

When I play the game, I want to make my Colonia the best it can be. At the start, each Colonia has a grid of streets covered in Colonia tiles.

Every round, we reveal 2 street cards. These cards tell us which streets we can take Colonia tiles from. We each pick 1 tile, but we can only keep one. The other tile must be passed to our neighbor on the right.

Now comes the tricky part. I have to decide between the tile I got from my left neighbor and the one I originally chose. This decision will let me use certain citizens or get resources.

These resources are important. They help me build things in my Colonia and accommodate envoys in the Forum of Trajan in Rome.

When I take actions during the game, I can earn victory points right away, or I can save them for the end of each cycle. There are also special tasks on the Trajan cards that can earn me even more victory points.

We’ll play the game in 3 cycles, with 4 rounds in each cycle. After every cycle, we’ll have a scoring phase where we’ll earn points based on our achievements in our Colonia and the Forum. And when we finish the third cycle, the player with the most victory points wins!

Getting Started

The Game Board

Put the game board in the middle of the table.
Mix up all the Street cards and make 3 piles of 8 cards each. Put one pile on each of the card spaces for the draw piles.

When playing Forum Trajanum, the number of players will determine how many mosaic boards are laid out on the Forum square. These boards can be arranged in any way.

img src=”/images/how-to-play-forum-trajanum-official-rules_6.jpg”

First, let’s start by sorting the double building tiles based on their colors. Take one pile of the tiles and place half of them with the front facing up and the other half with the back facing up. Do the same for each color, so you have one pile showing a gray building and a colored structure, and another pile showing two colored structures.

Next, take one Forum marker that matches your color and place it in front of the first space on each benefit track – the basilica, market, and library.

Each player should take their victory point marker in their color and place it on space “0” of the victory point track.

Now, let’s separate the single building tiles based on their back colors. Take one pile of the tiles and place half of them with the front facing up and the other half with the back facing up. Repeat this for each color.

Finally, take the multiplication markers, coins, assistants, Tribunes, builders, and workers and place them next to the gameboard as a supply.

Shuffle the Trajan cards for cycles I, II, and III separately and draw one card from each cycle. Put these cards face up next to the corresponding piles of street cards next to the gameboard. Put the remaining cards back into the box; you won’t need them for this game. Note! To make it easier, you can start with just 1 Trajan card in the introductory game. Just pick a card from pile III and put it in position III. If you want to use player aids, keep them next to the gameboard where everyone can reach them.

Player Boards

When we start playing, each of us gets a player board called Colonia. We all use the same front side (A) for the first game because the symbols are in the same positions on all 4 boards.
Put the slide bar on the top left of the prestige track, making sure that the basic side is facing up.

When you play this game, each player gets one construction crane for each color. You need to put the four differently colored construction crane tiles in the four corners of your Colonia. You can choose which color goes where.

Let me tell you about a fun game called 34 Colonia! You start with 34 tiles all in your color, and the first thing you need to do is find the 3 tiles that have female envoys. These tiles are important because they have special abilities.

When you play this game, start by mixing your 3 tiles. Keep them face down and draw out one tile. This tile will reveal a symbol that represents one of the three social classes:

Hey there! Let’s get started on building your Colonia. First things first, grab a tile and place it face up on the left side of one of the rows. This is where the special ability of your citizen will come into play.

Now, take the other two tiles and place them face up on the two construction cranes diagonally across from each other in your Colonia. Nice work!

Okay, next step. Grab all the remaining Colonia tiles and mix them up real good. Then, place one tile face down on each empty Colonia space, except for the four temples that are already there. Those temples are off-limits and can’t be built on during the game.

Oh, by the way, take a look at this image to get a better idea of what I’m talking about:

Great! Remember those two tiles we placed on the construction cranes earlier? Now, flip them over so that the front side is facing up. Now, you’ve got one face-up tile in each corner. Looking good!

There you have it! You’ve successfully laid the foundation for your Colonia. Keep up the good work!

Hey there! Let’s dive into the wonderful world of Forum Trajanum! But first, don’t forget to gather all the necessary information to ensure a smooth gaming experience.

We have one extra Colonia tile – put it with the back facing up on the designated spot by the river. Feel free to take a sneak peek at the front of this tile before doing so!
Each player will receive a set of starting resources: 1 Tribune, 1 builder, 1 assistant, and 1 coin. These should be placed in the storing space of your own Colonia. You’ll also each get one worker of every color. Randomly assign a worker to each player. Any extra workers return to the supply. The player who was last to be in a city center will become the starting player and receive the starting player figure.

Time to Play!

Hey there! Let me break it down for you. This game has 3 cycles, and each cycle has 4 rounds. Once a cycle is done, we have a scoring phase where we tally up points for different things. We score for the construction cranes, the Colonia, the envoys on the Forum square, and fulfilling conditions on the Trajan card. It’s all about strategizing and making the most out of each round!

Let’s Begin Again

Adding to the Story – Placing the Next Column Piece

When we start a new round in cycles II and III, it’s time to place the next piece of the column on top of the one we previously added. It’s like adding another chapter to the story we’re building.

The number on the top piece tells us the smallest amount of victory points we’ll earn for building a grand triumphal column in our own Colonia during this round.

A Brand New Round

Discovering New Streets – Unveiling 2 Street Cards

Every time a round begins, it’s time to uncover some fresh streets. Draw 2 cards from the deck (the one that doesn’t have a column piece on it anymore). Flip them over and place them side by side in the street card display for all to see.

When it’s time to reveal the cards in this game, the symbols on those cards will show you which streets in your own Colonia you need to choose a Colonia tile from.

How a round progresses

Once the street cards are revealed, the round is divided into 2 phases:

At the same time – Each player selects 1 Colonia tile from both streets. Give one of the tiles face down to the player on your right, and receive a new tile from the player on your left.
In clockwise order – Each player
1. must use one of their Colonia tiles on their turn, and
2. can perform a building action.
1. Choosing Colonia Tiles

So, here’s the deal: I found some cool street cards that revealed a fun game. When we play, each of us gets 2 Colonia tiles from our set. Now, here’s where it gets interesting – you get to pick one tile to keep, and pass the other one to your neighbor on the right. Yep, face down so it’s a surprise!

Oh, and here’s a little secret tip: you can actually sneak a peek at the first tile you take from your Colonia. Just make sure you don’t cheat and switch tiles after looking!

Once everyone has passed their tile, it’s time to take a look at the one you received from your neighbor on the left. Exciting, right?

2.a How to Use a Colonia Tile

When I start playing, I place my two tiles face up on the matching spots on my Colonia.

Then, I get to choose which of the two tiles I want to use. The other players flip their tiles when it’s their turn.

Why the Colonia tiles are helpful

Resources and people

The front of the Colonia tiles shows either resources or people.

The Resources at Your Disposal

Let’s take a look at the different resources you can find in the Colonia tiles: builders, workers, assistants, coins, Tribunes, and upgrades. When you use a tile that displays any of these resources, you get them right away.

Here’s what each resource represents:
- Builder: Builders allow you to construct gray buildings. You can spot these buildings by their symbol on the parchment.
- Worker: Workers are used to build colored structures. You also have the option to convert 2 workers of the same color into 1 builder.
- Assistant: Assistants give you the power to change the color of a worker.
When I play Forum Trajanum, I always remember the importance of coins. They’re necessary to pay my citizens before the scoring phase. So, make sure you have enough coins to keep your city running smoothly.

Now, let’s talk about the Tribune. It’s a special card that gives you extra flexibility in two ways:
- First, you can use a Tribune to ignore a street card. Just give up 1 Tribune and you’ll be able to take a Colonia tile from anywhere in your Colonia. This can be a strategic move that helps you optimize your city’s layout.
- Second, if you have two Tribunes at the beginning of your turn, you can use both Colonia tiles. But remember, you need to have both Tribunes in your possession before you can take advantage of this option.
So, always keep an eye on your coins and consider the Tribunes as valuable cards that can give you the upper hand in the game.

Upgrade: When you want to improve your position, you have the option to slide the bar on your prestige track one space to the right.

Multiplication markers: If you are supposed to get a certain resource, like an assistant, but there aren’t any available, you can take a multiplication marker if you already have multiple assistants.

When I play this game, I always make sure to place the marker under the assistant I have, so I can keep track of them. This way, I can easily backfill any assistants to the general supply when I need to.

The People in the Colony

Superpowers and boosts to victory points

Hey there! Let’s talk about the cool Colonia game and how citizens play a big role in it. In Colonia, each player has 34 tiles, and 6 of them represent citizens from 3 different social classes. When you place one of these citizen tiles in a citizen row of your Colonia, it becomes active and ready to help you out.

Active citizens are pretty awesome because they support you in two cool ways:

Every time you build a triumphal column, you gain points. The more active citizens you have in your Colonia, the more points you get. The citizens also help you earn more points when you construct gray buildings. And they may even be required for the Trajan scoring at the end of a cycle.

Each citizen row grants you a special ability, and you receive a bonus when you place the second citizen in that row.

Now, let’s talk about where to place the Colonia tiles.

When I use a tile (either mine or one I got from another player) that has a citizen symbol, I always put it in my own Colonia in a citizen space that matches. It’s important to remember this rule!

I then take all the other tiles from the other players, whether they were used or not, and place them face up on the right side of my Colonia. This way, I can keep track of what tiles are available to me.

So here’s what you do: you take all your other tiles, the ones you’ve used or haven’t used, and put them face down on the ship space in your Colonia. Don’t worry, you’ll need them later as envoys for the Forum square. The tiles you’ve already put on citizen spaces in your Colonia won’t count for the Forum square, though. Just keep that in mind.

The Mighty Construction Cranes

When I play the game Colonia, I have an interesting strategy that involves using the face-up Colonia tiles in the corners. I try to make the most of these tiles and even score points for structures of a certain color in the next scoring phase.

At the start of the game, each player has a Colonia tile lying face up in each of the four corners of their Colonia. If you choose to take one of these tiles on your turn, you’ll reveal a colored construction crane tile underneath it.

Then, when the next scoring phase comes around, you’ll earn victory points for each structure in your Colonia that matches the color of the construction crane. However, you can only score these points once. In the first scoring phase, you’ll get 3 points for each matching structure, in the second phase, you’ll earn 2 points, and in the final phase, you’ll receive 1 point.

If I score for a construction crane, I will flip it over to its colorless back side. It’s important to note that construction cranes, regardless of which side is up, cannot be built on top of.

A Special Case:

Uh-oh! It seems like you don’t have any Colonia tiles available on the specified streets.

When you choose tiles from the streets in your Colonia, there might come a point where you won’t have any tiles left on the streets mentioned on the street cards. This means you’ll only be able to take one tile or maybe even none at all.

If you find yourself in this situation, don’t worry! You have a few options:

Option 1: Getting 2 tiles with the help of Tribunes

If you decide not to take any tile, you can use the one tile you receive from your neighbor.

Option 2: Building Action

Using single or double building tiles – constructing with builders, workers, and/or assistants

If you have the right people and maybe some helpers, you can put down 1 building tile every turn in your Colonia. You can only put building tiles on empty spots in the street grid of the Colonia.

Attention: Before we begin, please note that you cannot build on the 4 spaces of the Colonia that already have temples. Now, let’s talk about the basic rules of building in the Colonia.

To construct a gray “building” (represented by the gray icon on parchment), you must send a builder back to the supply.

For colored structures, you need to return a worker of the matching color back to the supply.

If you don’t have the necessary colored worker to build a specific colored building, you can return an assistant to the supply. The assistant will support the “non-specialist” worker, allowing them to build a building of a different color.

Now, let’s move on to the single building tiles.

When it comes to building your city, there are different types of tiles you can use. These tiles come in two sides – one side shows a gray building, and the other side shows a colored structure. Depending on the type of building you want to construct, you will place the tile in your street grid with the corresponding side facing up.

If you want to add a gray building to your city, such as a library, basilica, market, or triumphal column, you will need to give up one builder. On the other hand, if you prefer to add a colored structure like a fountain, house, stable, or park, you will need to return one worker.

When playing the game “Forum Trajanum,” I can use one worker and one assistant to construct a structure of any color. This is an important move that allows me to progress in the game. To make this move, I must choose a single building tile from the available options and place it on an empty space in my street grid. The building tiles come in different colors, and I have the freedom to choose any color that I want for this move. It’s an exciting opportunity to strategize and make progress in the game.

When you flip over a double building tile, you’ll find two sides that offer different actions. Each side allows you to perform a double building action, but the specific actions differ based on which side is facing up.

On one side, you can build a gray building and a structure of a specific color. On the other side, you can build two neighboring structures of the same color.

However, there’s a catch. Depending on the combination of buildings you choose, you’ll need to give up something in return.

For example, if you build 1 gray building and 1 colored structure:

Building a tile requires a combination of resources. For instance, if you’re looking to construct a tile with a triumphal column and a park, you have a few options. One possibility is to sacrifice a gray builder and a green worker. Another option is to give up a builder, a non-green worker, and an assistant. Alternatively, you can trade in two workers of the same color (to replace a builder) along with one green worker.

For 2 structures of the same color:

In the game, there’s an interesting mechanic that helps you build your street grid. It involves workers and assistants. Let me explain to you how it works.

First, let’s talk about workers. There are workers of different colors. For example, there are blue workers, red workers, and green workers. You can give up two workers of the same color. So, let’s say you give up two blue workers. What happens next? You get to build a blue double building tile into your street grid. It’s a cool way to add some variety to your grid!

But what if you want to use workers of different colors? Well, that’s where the assistants come in. If you have two workers of different colors and you also have one assistant, you can change one of the workers into the color you want. This gives you more flexibility in building your grid.

Now, here’s the best part. If you have two workers of any color and you also have two assistants, you can use the assistants to change the colors of both workers. This means you can build any color you want in your street grid. It opens up a whole world of possibilities!

So, to sum it all up, there are three ways you can use workers and assistants to build your street grid: by giving up two workers of the same color, by using an assistant to change the color of a worker, or by using two assistants to change the colors of both workers. Each of these methods gives you a different outcome, allowing you to create a unique and diverse street grid. Isn’t that fascinating?

Now that you know how this mechanic works, it’s time for you to dive into the game and start building your own amazing street grid!
2 workers of the same color: If you give up 2 blue workers, for example, you can build a blue double building tile into your street grid.
2 workers of different colors + 1 assistant: The assistant changes 1 worker into the color you want.
2 workers of any color + 2 assistants: The assistants change the colors of both workers, so you can build any color.

Let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a guy named Tom. One day, Tom decided to build a blue double building tile. In order to do that, he had to make a sacrifice. He gave up 1 blue and 1 green worker, along with 1 assistant. But here’s the twist – Tom could have also given up 1 yellow and 1 green worker, along with 2 assistants. This would have allowed him to change the color of both workers, just so he could build the blue double building tile.

Now, you might be wondering, what’s the big deal about building a building tile? Well, as soon as you put a building tile into your street grid, you get a special benefit. It’s like a little reward for all your hard work. And who doesn’t love a good reward?

Why Gray Buildings are Beneficial

The Triumphal Column: You might wonder why a column would be considered beneficial. Well, let me explain. When you construct a Triumphal Column in your city, it brings you victory points right away. These points are calculated based on the value shown on the fragment of the famous Trajan’s Column that’s depicted on the gameboard. But that’s not all! You also get an extra point for each citizen living in your Colonia.

Example: In the first part of the game, I built a triumphal column. As a result, I gained 3 victory points and an additional 2 points for the citizens in my Colonia. I moved my victory point marker 5 spaces ahead.

Now, let’s talk about the Library, Basilica, and Market. Whenever you reach space 2 on each benefit track, you have the option to use the benefit you just unlocked or any previous one. As you move your Forum marker forward on the track, you can choose to activate the depicted benefit.

Library:

1st Library: Gain 1 worker and 1 Tribune.
2nd Library: Gain 1 builder.

When it comes to playing Forum Trajanum, there are different buildings you can construct. Each building provides you with unique benefits that can help you in the game. Let’s take a closer look at two of these buildings: the Library and the Basilica.

First, let’s talk about the Library. There are four libraries in the game, each offering its own advantages. When you place an envoy on an eagle space on the Forum square, you can activate the ability of the 3rd Library. This ability allows you to gain a valuable resource or take a powerful action. It’s like having a secret weapon up your sleeve!

Now, let’s move on to the Basilica. This building has three levels, and each level offers its own rewards. When you construct the 1st Basilica, you gain two assistants to assist you in your endeavors. These assistants can be a great help in achieving your goals. The 2nd Basilica grants you two Tribunes, who will support you in your political endeavors. And when you reach the 3rd Basilica, you get to upgrade your prestige track, giving you an edge over your opponents.

Choosing the right buildings to construct is a crucial strategic decision in Forum Trajanum. Understanding the unique benefits of each building can give you an advantage in the game. By carefully considering your options and utilizing the abilities of the Library and the Basilica, you can elevate your gameplay and increase your chances of success.

So, if you’re looking to enhance your Forum Trajanum experience, consider the Library and the Basilica. These buildings offer a range of benefits that can help you excel in the game. With their unique abilities and advantages, they are sure to enhance your strategy and elevate your gameplay. So go ahead, construct these buildings, and reap the rewards they offer!

4th Basilica: One More Building Action

With the 4th Basilica, I have the chance to carry out an additional building action. It’s like getting a bonus action that lets me construct something extra. All I need is at least one builder and/or worker available, and then I can take advantage of this special ability. This can come in handy when I want to quickly expand my city and maximize my options.

Market: A Place for Trade and Rewards

The Market is a bustling hub of activity where I can find various benefits. Here are the different rewards I can get from the different Market stalls:

1st Market: If I visit the 1st Market, I will receive 1 coin. This can be useful for purchasing resources or activating other abilities.
2nd Market: The 2nd Market offers me a choice of area bonuses. These bonuses provide additional advantages that can help me in various aspects of the game. If I have the right citizens activated, I might even be able to choose two bonuses instead of one!
3rd Market: At the 3rd Market, I can place one of my envoys on any colored space in the Forum. There’s a special rule here that allows me to ignore the usual color placement rule. However, I can’t place my envoy on an eagle space.

In the game of Forum Trajanum, there is a special action called the “4th Market.” This action allows you to take a Colonia tile from your street grid and use it right away. It is an important move that can greatly impact your gameplay.

As you progress in the game and reach the end of the benefit track, you will notice a symbol with a picture of a Colonia tile. This indicates that the 4th Market action is available to you. By taking advantage of this action, you can gain immediate benefits and further your strategy.

So, how can you use the 4th Market action effectively? Well, it all starts with your street grid. You must carefully plan and manage your grid to ensure you have Colonia tiles available to use. These tiles can provide various advantages, such as extra resources or special abilities. By selecting the right tile at the right time, you can strengthen your position and increase your chances of success.

Remember, the 4th Market action is just one of many strategies you can employ in Forum Trajanum. It is important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each action and consider how they align with your overall game plan. By adapting and adjusting your tactics as the game progresses, you can increase your chances of victory.

So, if you’re ready to dive into the world of Forum Trajanum, be sure to keep the 4th Market action in mind. It can be a game-changer that propels you towards triumph. By carefully managing your street grid and utilizing Colonia tiles effectively, you can harness its power and create a winning strategy. Good luck and may the best player win!

So, you’ve just finished constructing your fourth market, basilica, or library. That means the corresponding benefit track is done for you. Once you’ve reached this milestone, it’s time to move your marker from that track to the space next to Trajan’s Column.

Now, here’s the exciting part. As soon as you do this, you earn victory points based on the triumphal column you’ve built. To calculate your points, add up the victory points for the current value of the column, and then add the number of your active citizens. This will give you an immediate boost to your score!

Just a quick reminder: even though you can still build buildings of this type later on, you won’t receive any more benefits for them. Keep that in mind as you plan your strategy. The Trajan scoring is something to consider.

Now, let’s talk about the benefits for colored structures.

If you place 1 or 2 envoys on the Forum square,

Once you’ve constructed a colorful building in your Colonia, you can send an envoy to Rome. This envoy is represented by one of your Colonia tiles, which is located at the bottom right of your Colonia.

To send the envoy, flip the tile so that the envoy is visible, and place it on an empty mosaic space in the Forum square. Make sure to choose a space that matches the color of the building you just constructed.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when placing envoys:

1. The Blank Color Zone:

You see, the colored areas on the mosaic boards have different sizes. A color area is made up of a bunch of squares that are all the same color and connected to each other either horizontally or vertically. They might be on one board or spread out across multiple boards, but that’s not important right now.

Anyway, if there hasn’t been any color area started in a particular color yet, you can go ahead and put your envoy on any empty space of that color on the mosaic. It’s kind of like marking your territory, you know?

2. Getting Started with Color Areas:

If there are already one or more envoys (no matter whose) lying in a color area that has not yet been completed (that means there are still empty mosaic spaces), you have to put your envoy in that color area as well if you’ve built a structure of that color.

(Exception: If you’ve activated the citizen Patrician I, you can disregard this rule and place your envoy anywhere).

Important: you don’t have to put your envoy next to existing envoys.

3. Complete a color area:

If you finish a colored area (an area can even include multiple mosaic boards) by placing 1 or 2 envoys there, you get to choose an area bonus. You can immediately take either:

You can get the following rewards when placing envoys on the Forum square:
1 Tribune
1 assistant
1 coin
1 upgrade
2 victory points

Note: If you don’t have any envoys left to place on the Forum square, you can still build colored structures in your street grid (which is important for Trajan scoring), but you won’t receive a reward.

Attention: There is a limit to the number of building tiles in each color. Once there are no more tiles of a certain color, you can no longer build with that type of tile. However, if only one of the two piles of one tile type has been depleted, you can still take tiles from the second pile and build with them, using the back side of the tile.

Welcome to Eagle Spaces!

Hey there! Normally, you can’t place envoys on eagle spaces, except if you use the appropriate benefit on the library track. But guess what? It’s actually a smart move to put an envoy next to or on eagle spaces. Why? Because each of your envoys that’s next to an eagle space earns you 1 victory point every time we score. And if you have an envoy on an eagle space, you score a whopping 2 victory points! Pretty cool, right?

Oh, and here’s another tip for you. If you activate the citizen Patrician I, your envoys that are diagonally adjacent to eagle spaces also give you 1 point each. So keep that in mind!

End of the Turn and End of the Round

Speaking of turns, once the starting player has finished their turn, we keep on going clockwise. Then, their left neighbor reveals their two tiles and decides which one to use. After that, they get to take a building action. And the cycle continues!

Once everyone has taken their turn, the round comes to an end. The player who started the round passes the figurine to the next player on their right, and a new round begins by revealing two fresh street cards.

The Unique Abilities of the Citizens

The Leading Citizen (to the Left) in a Row

Hey there! So, when you decide to put your first citizen in a row (you know, on that left space), something cool happens! You get this special ability, and your victory points for gray buildings in that row get doubled, making them worth even more!

Now, let’s talk about the special abilities of our citizens:

Patrician I – This one’s fancy! When you place an envoy in the Forum, you can ignore the usual rule about colors. Instead, you have the freedom to start a whole new color area of your choice. Plus, at the scoring time for the Forum, you score an extra victory point for each of your envoys that’s diagonal to an eagle on the Forum square. So, not only do you get to break the rules, but you also rack up some extra points while you’re at it! How cool is that?
Patrician II – If you complete a color area or reach the second level on the market track, you have the option to choose not just one, but two different area bonuses. These bonuses include the Tribune, the assistant, coins, upgrades, and two victory points.
Merchant I – When you activate the Merchant I, you move the slide bar on your prestige track. This bar will remain on this side for the rest of the game, even if the Merchant I is no longer active. Additionally, every time you receive an upgrade, you can move forward to the next cypress.

I’m a Merchant II. This means that during my turn in the building phase, I can swap one resource coin, Tribune, or assistant for something else. For example, I can trade an assistant for a builder in the same round if a craftsman helps me out.

There’s also the Craftsman I. Twice per turn, I can exchange one assistant for a worker of any color. It’s a handy skill to have when I need some extra help.

Then there’s the Craftsman II. Once per turn, I can trade one assistant for a builder. It’s another useful ability that comes in handy.

Now, let’s move on to the Second Citizen on the right.

When you place a second citizen in a row, it doesn’t double the special ability, but it does increase the victory point multiplier. However, you do get an extra one-time bonus right away:

1. Place an envoy from your ship into the Forum (if available).

2. Get 1 area bonus (the first citizen doesn’t give you a second bonus at this point).

3. Choose either 1 coin or 1 Tribune.

4. Choose either 1 coin or 1 assistant.

5. Choose 1 worker of your choice.

Hey, guess what? You’ll get 1 builder. Cool, right?

So, here’s the deal. If you don’t want those lazy citizens to become inactive, you gotta pay up at the start of each scoring phase. This way, you can still use the victory point multiplier for Colonia scoring and keep enjoying that special ability in the next cycle.

Citizens, listen up! If you haven’t paid your dues, it’s time to face the consequences. Your inactive status will be revealed by turning your citizen tiles to the back side. However, there’s a chance for redemption. You can reactivate your social class by paying a small fee of 1 coin at the start of the next scoring face.

Now, here’s a special situation to keep in mind. If the first citizen of a row is inactive and you happen to place the second citizen in that same row, the first citizen will magically regain their active status.

It’s the end of the cycle – Scoring Phase

Pay your dues before the scoring begins

Once we’ve finished going through all the street cards in one pile, the cycle comes to an end. Here’s the important part: if you want your citizens in Colonia to stay active, you need to pay up!

Keeping your citizens active comes with its perks. They have special abilities that can be used, and they also multiply your victory points. However, keeping them active comes at a small cost of 1 coin per row with at least 1 citizen. It doesn’t matter if there’s 1 or 2 citizens in the row, the cost remains the same.

If you can’t or won’t pay certain citizens, just turn them over with the envoy facing up. This makes them inactive and useless. It’s like they don’t even exist (see, Inactive citizens).

After paying your citizens (or not), we move on to the scoring phase:

Construction crane scoring
Colonia scoring
Forum scoring, which includes eagle scoring and area scoring
Trajan scoring (with limitations in the introductory game)

1. Construction Crane Scoring

Scoring structures in the crane’s color

Take a look and see if there’s a colored construction crane visible in one or more corners of your Colonia. If there is, and you took the Colonia tile from that space in the current cycle, then it’s time to score points for it.

Once I finish the first round, every building in my Colonia that matches the color of the construction crane will earn me 3 victory points. In the second round, I’ll get 2 victory points for each matching structure, and in the third round, I’ll earn 1 victory point per structure.

Once I score for a construction crane, I flip the tile over to its colorless side. It stays that way until the game ends, and I can’t build on top of it.

If I grab multiple Colonia tiles from the construction cranes in my Colonia during this round, I’ll get points for each colored construction crane I can see.

Example: In the second game round, I stumbled upon a green construction crane lurking in the top left corner. Lucky me! I already have 4 green structures in my Colonia, which means I get to snatch a bunch of victory points and move ahead on the victory point track. Sweet!

Now, it’s time to give that green crane a little twist. I flip it over, revealing its colorless back. Voilà!

2. Colonia Scoring

Let’s talk about how the scoring works in the game of Colonia. It’s actually quite simple, but there are a few factors to consider.

Citizen Rows: This is where it all begins. The game has six rows for citizens.
Active Citizens: In each citizen row, you need to count how many active citizens there are.
Gray Buildings: Look at the street that belongs to each citizen row. Count how many different types of gray buildings you see there.

Now, here comes the interesting part!

You’re going to multiply the number of different gray building types by the value of the row it’s associated with. Let me explain:

If there are no citizens in a row, you earn 1 point for each different type of gray building you spot (maximum of 4 points).
If there is 1 active citizen in a row, you earn 2 points for each different type of gray building you spot (maximum of 8 points).
If there are 2 active citizens in a row, you earn 3 points for each different type of gray building you spot (maximum of 12 points).

When it comes to scoring points in the game, there are different ways to earn them. Let’s take a look at one of the important scoring mechanics: the Forum scoring.

3. Forum Scoring

Envoys on the Forum square

Scoring in the Forum is influenced by various factors:

The number of my envoys that are next to or on eagle spaces on the Forum square.
The position of the slide bar on my prestige track.
The number of my envoys on the Forum square that form the largest connected area of my color, both horizontally and vertically (but not diagonally).

Eagle Spaces

If any of my envoys on the Forum are orthogonally adjacent to an eagle space, I earn 1 victory point for each envoy. Alternatively, if one of my envoys is on an eagle space, I earn 2 victory points.

Furthermore, if I have activated Patrician I in my Colonia, I also earn 1 victory point for each envoy positioned at the corners of the eagle spaces.

Biggest Group

See that slider on your fancy progress bar? Well, it tells you how many points you’ll get for having the most envoys connected on the Forum square. The number on the slider matches up with the number of envoys in your biggest group, and that’s how many points you’ll earn. The points you get are shown right below that number.

For example: Let’s say you, Tom, have a group of 6 envoys connected on the Forum. Well, that means you just scored yourself 6 victory points. Nice!

4. Trajan Scoring

Building patterns and collecting resources

Hey there! Let’s talk about Trajan Scoring. You know that Trajan head on your slide bar? Well, it actually tells you how many points you get for completing one of the two tasks listed on the Trajan card. The number above the Trajan head shows you the actual points you’ll receive.

During each scoring round, there’s a Trajan card displayed with two different tasks. Your job is to try and complete these tasks before the round is over. This way, you’ll know right from the start what you need to do to score points during the Trajan Scoring rounds.

Now, in the introductory game, there’s only one Trajan scoring and it happens at the very end of the game, after the third round. So, keep that in mind!

Beginning a New Cycle

Hey there! Let me break down what happens next in this game. Grab the next fragment of the Trajan’s Column and place it on the gameboard. After that, pass the starting player figure to the person sitting on the right of the current starting player. Don’t forget to reveal the first two street cards from the new draw pile. Cool? Now let’s keep going!

The End of the Game

All good things must come to an end, and so does this game. After the third cycle’s scoring phase (that’s 12 rounds in total), it’s time to determine the winner. The player with the most victory points takes home the glory. If there’s a tie, though, we look at who has the most active citizens in their Colonia. Let the bragging rights begin!

If there’s still a tie after that, don’t worry. We’ll settle it. We’ll see who has the most resources left. If there’s still a tie after that (wow, talk about a close game!), all the players involved get to share the sweet taste of victory. Teamwork makes the dream work!

For Mixed Player Groups

If you’re an experienced player who’s playing with beginners, you can give them a little boost to even the playing field. The beginners can start with an extra coin and two active citizens, which means they’ll have two special abilities right from the start.

Once the game is set up, each beginner can choose a second citizen from one of the two open tiles in the corners of their Colonia.

Remember, the structures that match the color of the uncovered construction crane will give you three victory points each during the first scoring phase.

How to play Forum Trajanum Official Rules