The Great City of Rome (2018) Board Game

The Great City of Rome board game was released in 2018 and designed by Matthew Dunstan and Brett J. Gilbert. It is a city-building game set in ancient Rome, where players compete to construct the most impressive structures and monuments in the city.

Game Components of The Great City of Rome

Building cards

Resource tokens

Victory point tokens

Player boards

Drafting tokens

How To Setup The Great City of Rome

To set up the game, each player receives a player board and a set of drafting tokens. The building cards are shuffled and a certain number are drawn and placed face-up on the table. Each player starts with a few resource tokens. The objective of the setup is to prepare the environment where players can begin drafting and building their city.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Length: The game lasts 14 rounds.

Drafting Mechanic: In each round, players draft one of the building cards in play and add it to their hand.

Resource Management: Players manage resources to construct buildings and other structures.

Victory Points: The goal is to accumulate the most victory points by constructing buildings, providing services, and maintaining a balanced economy.

Game Category: City-building, resource management, and drafting.

Player Experience

Playing The Great City of Rome involves a blend of strategic planning and tactical execution. Players must balance their resource intake with the need to construct buildings that provide various benefits. The game requires attention to detail and forward thinking, as the choices made in early rounds can significantly impact the final outcome. The drafting mechanic adds an element of unpredictability, as players must adapt to the cards available each round.

Pros

Engaging Gameplay: The combination of drafting, resource management, and city-building keeps players engaged throughout.

Strategic Depth: The game offers a good balance of short-term and long-term strategies.

Replayability: The random draw of building cards ensures each game is unique.

Cons

Learning Curve: The game has a moderate to high complexity level, requiring several plays to fully understand the rules and strategies.

Setup Time: Setting up the game can take a bit of time due to the need to shuffle and layout the building cards.

Personal Thoughts on The Great City of Rome

The Great City of Rome is ideal for fans of city-building and resource management games. It is suited for players who enjoy strategic games with a medium to high level of complexity. If you’re looking for a game that challenges your planning and adaptation skills, this could be an excellent addition to your board game collection. However, it may not be the best choice for new board game players due to its learning curve.

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