Age of Rome (2023) Board Game

Age of Rome is a board game released in 2023 by Teetotum Game Studios. Designed by Vangelis Efthimiou and Antonios Yannopoulos, the game immerses players in the ancient world of Rome where they must strategically build and expand their city while navigating political and economic challenges.

Game Components of Age of Rome

Player Boards: Each player has a unique hero board with secret quests and starting resources.

Resources: Denarii, Followers, Scheme tokens, Legions, and Votes.

Rotating Board: Represents different provinces that shift each turn.

Structures and Buildings: To be constructed in various provinces.

Metal Coins, Deluxe Tray, Premium Sleeves: Included in the Kickstarter bundle.

Core Game Components: Provinces, Pantheon, trade and religion tokens, and more.

How To Setup Age of Rome

Setting up Age of Rome involves assigning each player a hero with their respective player board, secret quests, and starting resources. The rotating board is placed in the center, and the provinces are aligned according to the game’s instructions. Players receive their initial Denarii, Followers, Scheme tokens, Legions, and Votes.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players place their Followers to perform various actions.

Rotating Board Mechanism: Provinces shift each turn, requiring constant adaptation.

Scheme Phase: Players activate their plans in turn order.

Building Phase: Players construct structures in assigned provinces.

Action Phase: Includes military conquest, politics, trade, religion, and farming actions.

Income Phase: Players earn resources based on their actions.

Objective: Earn the most Glory points by building structures, conquering regions, trading, completing secret quests, and other actions to become the new Emperor of Rome.

Player Experience

Age of Rome offers a dynamic and interactive experience, blending historical intrigue with innovative gameplay. Players must balance war, politics, trade, and religion while adapting to the ever-changing landscape of the rotating board. The game encourages player interaction, especially during the Scheme phase, and requires tactical thinking and flexibility.

Pros

Dynamic Gameplay: The rotating board ensures no two sessions are alike.

Asymmetrical Player Powers: Each hero has unique strengths and weaknesses.

Historical Twist: Set in ancient Rome, adding a layer of historical context.

High Replayability: Due to the combination of rotating board and secret quests.

Engaging Mechanics: Balances strategy and luck effectively.

Cons

Luck Element: May not appeal to purists of the Euro game genre.

Asymmetrical Balance: Some player powers can feel skewed, particularly in trade.

Complexity: Requires adaptability and tactical thinking, which can be challenging for some players.

Personal Thoughts on Age of Rome

Age of Rome is ideal for fans of dynamic, interactive board games with a historical twist. It is perfect for those who enjoy strategic worker placement games and are looking for a challenge that requires adaptability and tactical thinking. While it may not cater to players who prefer strict strategy or pure luck-based games, it strikes a great balance between these elements, making it a worthwhile experience for strategy game enthusiasts and history buffs alike.

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