The Downfall of Pompeii Game Rules

In the city of Pompeii, located in ancient Rome, a disaster of epic proportions occurred. The mighty volcano Mount Vesuvius erupted, unleashing a torrent of ash and lava that buried the city in its fiery embrace. Now, in this captivating board game, you have the chance to experience the chaos and destruction of this catastrophic event firsthand.

As I journeyed into the world of Pompeii, I discovered that the game consists of two main phases. In the first phase, players strategically place their colored game pieces, representing their citizens, onto various tiles in the city. Careful planning is crucial, as the goal is to position your citizens in the safest possible areas.

But beware! For in this game, the wrath of the volcano is never far away. In the second phase, the volcano begins to erupt, and players must evacuate their citizens and flee to safety. The eruption is simulated by drawing lava tiles, which determine which areas of the city become engulfed in destruction. This element of uncertainty brings an exciting and nerve-wracking aspect to the gameplay.

One of the most intriguing aspects of The Downfall of Pompeii is the ability to sacrifice your opponents’ citizens to the volcano. When you draw a lava tile that matches a specific area with your opponent’s citizens, those poor souls become entombed in ash, with no chance for survival. This ruthless action adds a layer of strategy as players must balance protecting their own citizens while also exploiting the misfortune of others.

The game comes to a thrilling conclusion when all the citizens have been evacuated, and the city lies in ruins. At this point, players tally their points, which are awarded for both the number of their citizens that survived and for the valuable artifacts they managed to save. The player with the highest score is declared the winner.

The Downfall of Pompeii is a captivating game that combines strategy, luck, and a touch of treachery. It transports you to a time long ago and allows you to relive the historic events of Pompeii in a unique and immersive way. Are you ready to face the fury of Mount Vesuvius and try your hand at saving the citizens of Pompeii?

Imagine a city called Pompeii, nestled at the foot of a mighty mountain called Vesuvius. One day, this city is struck by a powerful earthquake, causing significant damage. Fearing that the volcano may erupt, many of the city’s 20,000 inhabitants flee in a state of panic. However, some brave souls choose to stay behind and start the arduous process of rebuilding the city.

Despite these challenges, Pompeii manages to rise from the ashes and becomes a thriving center of trade. In recent years, the city has seen an influx of Roman citizens, famous gladiators, and wealthy Patricians, all eager to enjoy the new and magnificent buildings that have sprung up in the shadow of Vesuvius.

Over time, the fear of the volcano subsides, and life in Pompeii returns to normal. On August 24, as the citizens go about their daily routines, blissfully unaware of the impending disaster, the world suddenly changes. By the next morning, Pompeii is completely buried beneath layers of ash and lava.

Building Blocks

I quit using this account. I don’t find this fun anymore and it’s just not worth my time. I need to spend my limited time in better ways.



In the game “Pompeji,” there are two phases to play. First, I try to bring as many of my game pieces into the city by using Pompeji cards. For example, if I play a card with the house number 3, I can place one of my game pieces in a building with that number. There’s also a special card that says “A.D. 79.” When this card is played for the second time, Mount Vesuvius erupts, and the second phase of the game begins.

In the second phase, all players try to move their pieces out of the city through the gates before Pompeji gets covered by lava tiles. The goal is to save as many playing pieces as possible. At the end of the game, the player who has saved the most pieces wins.

To set up the game, we need to put the game board in the middle of the table. Each player will have game pieces in their chosen color. If there are two players, we use red and black pieces, and each player gets 36 pieces.

The Exciting Game of Pompeii: Prepare to Uncover Ancient Treasures!

Welcome to the captivating world of Pompeii! Today, I’ll be your guide as we embark on a thrilling adventure to discover ancient treasures buried beneath the volcanic ash.

In this game, each player will receive a certain number of game pieces depending on the number of players. Let me break it down for you:

• If there are three players, each player will receive 30 game pieces. The colors available are red, black, and yellow.
• If there are four players, each player will receive 25 game pieces. You’ll have all the colors at your disposal – red, black, yellow, and blue. Take your pick and place your pieces on the table in front of you.

Let’s move on to the next step: preparing the stockpile.

The player who owns the game will take charge as the dealer. To start, the dealer needs to separate the “A.D. 79” card and the “Omen” cards from the rest of the Pompeii cards, which feature the house numbers. Once separated, the dealer will shuffle the Pompeii cards and create seven piles, with each pile containing four cards. All the piles are placed face-down.

Now that the stage is set, I can’t wait to delve into the game of Pompeii with you. Get ready to excavate, strategize, and claim victory as we uncover the hidden wonders of this ancient city!



So here’s what you do. First, you take all the “Omen” cards and mix them up with the remaining Pompeji cards you still have. Put this pile next to the game board, face-down. On top of that, put the “A.D. 79” card, also face-down. Now, grab any two of the 4-card-piles and stack them on top, still face-down. This is your stock pile.

Alright, now it’s time for each player to choose one of the 4-card-piles. Take the cards into your hand. Depending on how many people are playing, there might be one to three piles left over. Don’t worry about those – just put them back in the box without peeking at them.



Let’s get started by setting up the volcano and placing it on the game board.

We’ll also need to prepare the lava tiles. Shuffle them in the cloth bag and keep it nearby.

How to Play

We begin with the player to the left of the dealer and take turns clockwise.

First Step: New Citizens Arrive in Pompeji

On your turn, you have three actions to take in the following order:

1. Play one card from your hand.
2. Put one of your game pieces in a building that matches the number on the card you played.
3. Draw a new card from the deck.

Place any played cards face-up in the discard pile. The first player’s card will start the discard pile, next to the game board.

When you look at a Pompeji card, you’ll notice a number at the bottom. This number tells you how many cards with the same house number are in the game. Keep in mind that not all of them may be in play.

Pompeji cards come in different colors – grey, turquoise, brown, and purple. Each card also has a number called the ‘house number’ which ranges from 1 to 11. On the game board, you’ll find buildings of different sizes, matching the colors and numbers on the cards. You’ll also see neutral beige buildings on the board, but we’ll talk about those later under “Relatives”.

All of these buildings have small, round spaces where you can place your game pieces.

Note: The Pompeji game board is like a giant puzzle with small squares. Some buildings in the game are small, taking up only one square, like building number 9. Other buildings are bigger and take up two squares, like building number 2. When playing the game, it’s really important to place your game pieces exactly on the small, round spaces within the buildings. You can’t just put your pieces anywhere in the buildings without those spaces.



Example: Imagine this: you’re playing a game called Jurgen. It’s your turn, and you have a grey card with the number 1. You decide to play it. So you take one of your red pieces and place it on the grey building with the ‘house number’ 1. But that’s not all. After playing the card, you also get to draw one card from the stock. Exciting, right?

Important: Now, here’s something you need to remember: the house numbers 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 11 are special. They each mark two buildings. So when you play a card with any of these numbers, you get to choose a free round space in either one of the two buildings marked by that number. It’s like having two options to choose from. How cool is that?



Wow, check out this crazy game I found! It’s called Vesuvius Seethes, and it’s a real thrill. Let me break it down for you:

Picture this: Oliver, the player, has a turquoise card with the number 6. He’s got a yellow game piece ready to go. Now, he’s faced with a decision – which building should he place his game piece on? There are two buildings to choose from, and Oliver picks the one with three spaces. Exciting, right?

But wait, there’s more! Oliver isn’t done just yet. After making his move, he reaches into the stock of cards and pulls out a new one. Talk about suspense!

Hold on tight – Vesuvius is rumbling!



Hey there, when you draw the “A.D. 79” card from the stock, guess what? You get another card right away to replace it! Pretty neat, huh?

But wait, here’s what you do with the “A.D. 79” card – toss it back into the stockpile. First, count off the bottom 15 cards from the stock. After that, mix in the “A.D. 79” card and put the shuffled cards back under the stock. All set!

Now, let’s talk about some extra rules you need to keep in mind:

The Omen



When I draw an “Omen” card from the stock, I quickly place it on the discard pile. After that, I select a player’s game piece from any building and toss it into the volcano. That piece is now eliminated from the game. Then, I draw a new card to replenish my hand, ensuring that I have four cards again. Now, it’s the next player’s turn to take their actions.

Family Members

When you move one of your game pieces into a building that already has another game piece, you have the option to add another piece, called a “relative,” to a different building in the same move. The relative can be the same color as your piece or a neutral beige one. It’s worth noting that the “relatives” rule doesn’t apply if a house number belongs to two buildings, in which case the game pieces on the other building don’t count.



Example: Imagine this: I’m playing a game, and I just played a purple card with the number 3. Surprisingly, both buildings with the same number already have a game piece in them. So, I decide to put my black game piece in the right-hand building. But that’s not all! Thanks to the “relatives” rule, the red piece that’s already in that building lets me place another piece in a different purple building or in a neutral (beige) one. Unfortunately, the yellow piece in the left-hand building with the same number doesn’t count. So, what do I do? I strategically put my relative (2) in a neutral building. Genius move, if I do say so myself!

When I move one of my game pieces into a building that already has two or three other pieces, I have a special ability. I can also put some of my other pieces, which I call “relatives,” into other buildings of the same color or into neutral buildings. But I can’t put any relatives into the building that triggered this special rule. I can only put one relative into each building. It’s a cool strategy that lets me spread out my pieces and make my presence known in multiple places at once!



Let’s imagine a game called “Building Blocks.” In this game, I’m going to show you how to play step by step.

First, I play a card with the number 6. This card corresponds to two buildings in the game. I decide to choose the building on the right side, which has four available spaces. There are already three game pieces in that building. But wait, there’s more! I can add one of my own yellow pieces (1) to the building, and I also have the option to move three additional pieces to different buildings. These extra moves are like adding “relatives” to the game. So, I decide to move one yellow piece to building number 6, another to building number 9, and the last one to any neutral building I choose.

Let’s Talk Joker Cards

Now, picture a situation where all the spaces in a building with a certain number are already occupied. In that case, the player who plays a card with that number can use it as a “Joker.” Being able to use a Joker card means that I can place one of my pieces in any free space of my choice, regardless of the color of that building. It’s a powerful card that allows me to bypass the usual rules. However, do keep in mind that if I move pieces into a building using a Joker card, it doesn’t trigger the “relatives” rule we talked about earlier.



Once upon a time, I played a card that was turquoise in color and had the number 6 on it. Interestingly, both buildings with the number 6 were already occupied. What a predicament! But fear not, I had a solution up my sleeve. I had a black game piece, and I had the freedom to place it not only in another turquoise building but also in a purple, grey, brown, or neutral one. I opted for a neutral beige building – a wise choice, indeed.

The Volcanic Eruption

The first phase of the game reaches its conclusion when the “A.D. 79” card makes its second appearance from the stockpile. At that moment, all players are required to swiftly discard all of their cards onto the discard pile. As for the game pieces that still reside in front of the players, they must be returned to their rightful place inside the game box. And no, we don’t throw them into the volcano!

However: Allow me to present you with an exception. If, by chance, a player finds themselves with a hand full of cards exclusively dedicated to buildings that are already occupied (which, in other words, means they only have Joker cards remaining), that player can boldly declare “The volcano erupts!” at any given moment, even if it’s not their turn. Of course, it’s essential to substantiate this claim by revealing their cards to the other players.

The Lava is Here!

Guess what? It’s time to reveal the first batch of lava tiles. But here’s the twist – no peeking! We have to draw the tiles from the cloth bag without sneaking a look.

Each lava tile has a special symbol on it. There are six symbols in total: scroll, vase, helmet, mask, coin, and column.

Now, here’s the fun part. On the game board, there’s a special square for each symbol – we call it the “first lava square.” These squares are a bit darker than the others.

When we draw a tile with a specific symbol, we place it on the corresponding “first lava square.” And here’s the catch – every new tile we draw must be placed next to a tile with the same symbol. But remember, no diagonal moves allowed!

Okay, so who gets to start this fiery adventure? It’s the player who drew the “A.D. 79” card! They take the first lava tile, and they put it on the “first lava square” that matches the symbol on the tile. Exciting, right?

When it’s my turn to play, I draw a lava tile and put it on the board. I have to be careful because if I put the tile on a city square with game pieces, those pieces will be thrown into the volcano!

The game continues with the other players taking turns in a clockwise direction. They also draw a lava tile and place it on the board. We keep doing this until there are a total of six tiles on the board.

It’s fun to see the board slowly fill up with lava tiles and watch out for any game pieces on city squares. If I’m lucky, I might even cause a chain reaction and have multiple game pieces thrown into the volcano at once!



Phase Two: Run For Your Lives

Once there are six lava tiles on the board, the game enters its second phase. Now, my turn has two steps:

1. I draw a lava tile from the bag and place it on the board.
2. Then I move two of my game pieces.

The player sitting to the left of me, the one who placed down the sixth tile, starts the second phase.

Step One: Draw Lava Tiles

I draw a lava tile from the bag without peeking. I place it on the board next to a tile that already has the same symbol. If it’s the first tile of that symbol, I put it on the “first lava square” of that symbol.

If I put a lava tile onto a city square where there are game pieces, all of them are thrown into the volcano, even if some of them are mine.



Have you ever wondered what happens to game pieces that get trapped by lava in a volcano? Well, let me tell you, it’s not pretty. When a game piece becomes surrounded by lava tiles, it’s like being trapped in a fiery prison with no way out. The piece can’t reach any of the city gates, no matter how much it tries.

So what do we do with these poor, lava-trapped pieces? Well, we don’t just leave them to suffer. Oh no, that would be too cruel. Instead, we make the tough decision to throw them into the volcano. That’s right, we give them a one-way ticket to molten doom.

Once a game piece is completely enclosed by lava, it is deemed unfit to continue the game. It’s like a checkmate situation, but with lava instead of a king. So we gather up these unfortunate pieces and toss them into the heart of the volcano, where they join a fiery grave with their fellow vanquished comrades.

It may sound harsh, but it’s necessary for the game to continue. Plus, it adds an extra layer of excitement and strategy. As you play, you must be careful not to let your pieces get trapped by lava, or else they’ll end up as sacrifice to the volcano gods.

So the next time you play a game and see a piece getting dangerously close to the lava, remember the fate that awaits it. Will you be able to save it, or will you be forced to say goodbye as it disappears into the fiery abyss? The choice is yours.



Move Your Game Pieces

When it’s your turn, you have two moves. You can move two different game pieces. You can move a game piece forward by as many city squares as there are game pieces (yours or others’) on the starting square.

Remember: In buildings that cover two city squares, game pieces count as being in two separate squares.

You can move your game piece up, down, left, or right, but not diagonally. You can change direction during your move, and you can do it more than once. But you can’t move back and forth.

Hey there! Let me explain how the game works. You have the freedom to move your game piece to any city square, except for the ones with lava tiles. If you don’t feel like moving as many squares as you can, that’s totally fine! You can leave some “move points” unused.

It’s important to note that there’s no limit to how many game pieces can be on the same square. The round spaces on the buildings don’t have any significance in this phase of the game.

If you decide to move your game piece out of the city through one of the gates, congratulations! It’s safe from the volcano. You simply place it in front of you. Just remember, going through a gate counts as moving one square, so it costs one “move point”.



Example: So, there are these four game pieces chilling out on a city square. It’s Oliver’s turn, and he’s ready to make a move. He chooses his first yellow piece (1) and decides to move it out of the city square. This piece has four “move points”, which means it can go quite a distance.

Oliver goes ahead and puts the piece down in front of himself. Now, for his second move, he can only move the other yellow game piece (2) three squares. It’s all about those move points!

Now, here’s the thing: the next player who wants to move a game piece (either red or black) away from this square will only have two move points left. It’s like a game of give and take.

Usually, during their turn, players have to move two different game pieces. It’s all part of the rules.

However: There is one exception. If a player finds themselves with a game piece all alone on a city square at the start of their first move, they can go ahead and move that same piece again with their second move. It’s like getting a bonus!



It’s now my turn. On my first move, I slide one of my black game pieces to the right, onto the square where there are already three pieces. Now, there are four pieces on that square, and each of them has four move points.

This allows me to move another game piece out of the square and through one of the city gates on my second move. I place that piece in front of me, saving it for later.

Here’s an important rule: If I only have one game piece left in the city, I can use both of my moves to move that piece. But if I have no game pieces left in the city, I can only draw and place lava tiles on my turn.

Now, let’s talk about the end of the game. It happens when the player who draws the last lava tile from the bag. That player gets to finish their turn, and then all the game pieces left on the board are thrown into the volcano.

When you play the game, it can end before you expect it. This happens when there aren’t any game pieces left in the city, or when you can’t move any pieces out of the city because the lava tiles have blocked all the gates or pathways. It’s a bit of a puzzle trying to figure out the best moves!

The person who moves the most game pieces out of the city and to safety is the winner. It’s all about strategy and planning! You want to keep your game pieces safe from the volcano.

If there’s a tie and two players have moved the same number of game pieces out, the player with fewer pieces in the volcano wins. That’s one way to break the tie!