Roma Game Rules

In the intriguing world of ancient Rome, a fascinating game awaits to be discovered. Let me guide you through the rules of Roma, a game that will transport you back to a time when emperors ruled and gladiators fought for glory.

To begin, let’s familiarize ourselves with the game board. It is divided into two parts: the Senate section and the Forum section. Each player will have their own set of cards representing various characters from ancient Rome. These characters hold different positions of power and can be used strategically to control different areas of the game board.

Your goal in Roma is to earn victory points, which can be achieved by gaining control of sections of the game board or by using special abilities of the characters. Each character card has a unique ability that can be activated by spending resources called sestertii. These abilities can help you gain an advantage over your opponent or hinder their progress.

During your turn, you will have a variety of actions available to you. You can play character cards from your hand to the game board, activating their abilities and gaining control of sections. You can also recruit new characters or draw additional cards to strengthen your hand. However, be careful, as your actions may also benefit your opponent.

One crucial aspect of Roma is the timing of your actions. Some character abilities can only be activated during specific phases of the game, so you must plan your moves carefully. Additionally, each character has a limited number of activation slots, which means you must strategically decide which abilities to use and when.

The game progresses through a series of rounds, with each round consisting of multiple phases. During each phase, players will take turns performing their actions until both players have passed. The round ends when both players have passed, and victory points are calculated based on the control of game board sections and character abilities.

As you play Roma, you will learn to devise clever strategies, adapt to changing circumstances, and outwit your opponent. The game offers a unique blend of strategy and tactics, where every decision matters and can impact the outcome.

Now that you understand the basics of Roma, gather your friends, immerse yourself in the rich history of ancient Rome, and experience the thrill of this captivating game. May the gods be with you as you step into the world of Roma!

• 52 playing cards
• 6 dice discs
• 1 “money” disc
• 1 “card” disc
• 36 victory points
• Money
• 3 action dice in each of the players’ colors
• 1 white battle die
• 1 set of instructions

Let the Game Begin: Unraveling the Secrets of Ancient Rome

Are you ready to step into the world of ancient Rome? A city in chaos, where the Senate and the Guard are locked in fierce debates, and the citizens are divided. But amidst the turmoil, there is an opportunity for power and victory. Do you have what it takes to navigate the treacherous Roman political landscape?

There are many paths to success in Rome, my friend. You can wield the mighty Turris and Praetorianus cards to protect your power and accumulate victory points. Or, you can master the art of manipulation and strategize with the Consul and Tribun cards behind the scenes. It is up to you to form the connections and play your cards wisely to claim the ultimate prize – the laurels of victory.

The First Steps: Preparing for the Battle

First, let’s get the game set up. We’ll start by placing the 6 dice discs in a row between the two players, arranging them in ascending order. The “money” and “cards” discs go on either end.

Now it’s time to distribute the starting resources. Each player will receive 10 victory points and 3 action dice in their chosen color. We’ll also set aside the money, remaining 16 victory points, and the battle die for later.

Next, we need to deal out the cards. We’ll shuffle them up and give each player 4 cards for their hand. Then, we’ll have each player secretly give the other player 2 cards face-down. The rest of the cards will form a face-down pile on the table. Any cards that get discarded during the game will be placed face-up in a shared discard pile.

So, here’s how the game goes: I start as the younger player and place my cards face-down on my side of the play area. I can put the cards next to any dice disc, but I can’t have more than one card next to any disc on either side.

Then, it’s the other player’s turn. They lay down their 4 cards on their side. Just like me, they can pick any 4 dice discs. Once we’re both done, we turn our cards over, and I kick off the game.

Now, let’s talk about the actual gameplay:

We take turns making moves, and each move is made up of 3 phases:

• Phase 1: I add up the scores for any dice discs that don’t have cards on them.
• Phase 2: We throw the dice.
• Phase 3: We carry out the actions based on the dice rolls.

Step 1: Counting Points for Empty Dice Discs

If you don’t have cards on all of your dice discs, you need to return 1 victory point to the general stockpile for each empty disc.

When I first start playing, I have a disadvantage. I only have 4 cards, which means that there are only 4 dice discs occupied. During my first turn, I must put 2 victory points back in the stockpile. It’s a bit annoying, but it’s important for balancing the game.

Taking My Chances: Rolling the Dice

First things first, I grab my trusty action dice – three dice that hold the key to my fate in this game. With a flick of my wrist, I send them flying, and eagerly await the result. If all three dice land on the same number, I get to throw them again. Talk about a lucky break!

Just a little tip: sometimes, having all three dice show the same score can work in my favor. But I won’t always know if it’s the right move until I assess the current state of the game.

Time to Get Things Moving: Carrying Out the Actions

Now comes the fun part – putting my chosen actions into motion. There are four different actions I can take, and the best part is, I can do them in any order or as many times as I like. The number on the dice doesn’t matter here.

Here are the actions:

• Lay cards
• Take money
• Take card(s)
• Activate a card

So here’s the thing. When you’re playing this game, you get to choose how you want to use the dice scores from phase 2. But there’s a catch – you can’t split up the score from one die, and you can’t use one score for multiple actions. Each score can only be used for one action, plain and simple!

An example of a complete move: It’s my turn now. I’ll start by returning 1 victory point, which means I have 1 unoccupied dice disc. Now it’s time to roll the dice. I got a “3”, a “4”, and a “6”. Let’s see what actions I can take with these results.

First, I’ll use my “3” to draw three cards. Out of the three, I’ll choose one to keep in my hand, which happens to be a “Legat” card. The other two cards go back to the discarded pile.

Next, I’ll use my “6” to take money from the stockpile. This means I’ll receive 6 sestertii.

Now, I’ll play the “Legat” card that I just drew. I’ll place it next to the dice disc with four dots. The good news is that I don’t need a die for this action. However, I do need to pay the price shown on the card, which is 5 sestertii. I’ll take that amount from my stash and give it back to the stockpile.

Lastly, I’ll use my remaining die, the “4”, to activate the “Legat” card that’s next to the 4. This move will earn me 2 victory points.

And that wraps up my turn for now. Remember, each move is a strategic decision that brings me closer to victory. It’s all about making the right choices and utilizing the resources I have.

For example: If I want to play the “Aesculapinum” card, it will cost me 5 sestertii.

Let me explain the actions:

Playing Cards

You take the cards from your hand and put them face-up on the table. But remember, you can only put them on your own side and you must choose a dice disc to place the card on.

Replacing Cards

Now, let’s say you want to place a card next to a dice disc that already has a card next to it. In this case, you have to remove the existing card and put it in the discard pile.

Earning Money

Taking Card(s)

When you play the game, you’ll need to decide which action to take next. You can choose from a variety of options, but one of them is placing your action dice on the “Cards” disc. This will allow you to draw a certain number of cards based on the value of your die. You’ll then get to keep one of these cards and add it to your hand.

However, there’s a catch. You’ll have to discard the rest of the cards face-up. Don’t worry, though – you’ll get a chance to use them later. If the pile of cards you draw from runs out, the discarded cards will be reshuffled and turned face-down to create a new pile.

Here’s the exciting part: there’s no limit to the number of cards you can have in your hand. So go ahead and collect as many as you want! They might come in handy later in the game.

For example: When I take this action, I get to draw 4 cards from the pile and then choose one to use.

Using a Card

First, I need to place one of my action dice on the dice disc that matches the number rolled. This activates the card next to that disc, and I get to carry out the instructions on the card. If I roll the same number on multiple dice, I can activate the card more than once!

Battle

Some cards give me the power to attack my opponent’s cards. During a battle, I am the attacker and I get to roll the battle die once. If I roll a number that is equal to or higher than the defence value of the card I’m attacking, I win the battle, and the card is discarded. If my roll is lower, nothing happens and the battle continues.

Example: I roll a “3” and use it to activate my “Onager” card, attacking one of my opponent’s cards. Let the battle begin!

I roll a “4” with the battle die, and the defense value of my opponent’s card is only “3.” I emerge victorious, and my opponent’s card is discarded.

Remember: you can alter the attacking and defense values by playing more cards. All changes count!

Keep in mind: the following cards can initiate a battle: Legionarius, Velites, Centurio, and Onager.

Although Sicarius, Gladiator, and Nero cards affect the cards your opponent has played, they don’t result in a battle.

The Game’s End

The game concludes immediately under one of the following scenarios:

• I have no victory points remaining

Welcome to Victory Points!

In this game, I want to talk about something really important: victory points. You may be wondering, what are they? Well, let me tell you!

Victory points serve as a measure of success in the game. They are the currency that determines who the winner is. The more victory points you have, the closer you are to winning.

Now, how do you earn victory points? You earn them by completing certain actions or achieving specific goals in the game. It’s like a reward for your accomplishments. The more you accomplish, the more victory points you gain.

But here’s the thing, victory points are not unlimited. There are only a set number of victory points available in the game. Once all the victory points are claimed, there are no more left for anyone else to earn.

So, if you want to win, you need to be strategic and make sure you grab as many victory points as you can before they run out. This adds an element of competition and excitement to the game as you try to outsmart your opponents and snatch up those precious victory points.

The player with the most victory points at the end of the game is crowned the winner. It’s that simple. Victory points are the ultimate goal, and the player who has the most of them is the one who emerges victorious.

Just remember, if there are not enough victory points left in the game for the final payout, the missing points will be credited to the player who deserves them. So, every victory point counts and could make all the difference in the end.