Colosseum (2007) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Colosseum is a board game that was released in 2007, designed by Cyrille Daujean, Jacqui Davis, Julien Delval, and Mihajlo Dimitrievski. The game is set in ancient Rome and revolves around players managing their own colosseum and putting on grand spectacles for the public.

Game Components of Colosseum

Game Board: A six-panel board depicting the center of Rome, serving as a focal point for auctions and event setups.

Nobles: Six unique wooden pawns, including 3 senators, 2 consuls, and 1 emperor, each with distinctive painted details.

Event Programs: Colorful, linen-textured cardboard bits detailing events, including costs, values, and required assets.

Asset Tokens: Color-coded tokens representing various assets like gladiators, comedians, musicians, and more.

Coins and Medals: Used for scoring and tracking, with notable mentions of upgraded components in later versions.

How To Setup Colosseum

Each player starts by taking a colosseum and placing it on the board. They receive a starting supply of 30 coins and 5-8 random asset tokens. The six nobles are placed at their starting positions, and the five marketplaces are filled with lots of three assets each. One player is chosen as the first player, a role that rotates throughout the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Phases

Invest: Players can expand their arena, construct an emperor’s loge, buy a season ticket, or purchase a new event.

Acquire Event Assets: Players initiate auctions for asset tokens, with each auction lot containing three assets.

Trade Event Assets: Players can trade, buy, or sell asset tokens.

Produce an Event: Players roll dice to move nobles and then put on an event using their collected assets and event programs.

Closing Ceremonies: Players discard used asset tokens, and the leading player earns a podium while the losing player requests an asset token from the winner.

Game Objective

The objective is to attract the most spectators to your events over five rounds, with the highest single-event spectator count determining the final score.

Player Experience

Colosseum offers a dynamic experience with multiple paths to victory, emphasizing forward planning and resource management. Players must balance investing in their arena, acquiring the right assets, and strategically timing their events to maximize spectator numbers.

Pros

Multiple Paths to Victory: Encourages diverse strategies and forward planning.

Engaging Mechanics: Combines auction, trading, and set-collection elements for a rich gameplay experience.

Attractive Components: High-quality components, especially in later versions, enhance the game’s visual appeal.

Cons

Component Size: Later versions have smaller components, which might be less appealing to some players.

Complexity: The game requires a good understanding of its mechanics, which can be overwhelming for new players.

Personal Thoughts on Colosseum

Colosseum is ideal for players who enjoy strategic games with a blend of auctioning, trading, and resource management. It is suited for those who appreciate games that require planning ahead and adapting to changing circumstances. While it may not be the best fit for casual gamers due to its complexity, experienced players will find it engaging and challenging.

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