Alea Iacta Est (2013) Board Game

Alea Iacta Est is a board game that was released in in 2013. Designed by Pascal Da Silva, this game is set in ancient times and falls under the wargame category. Players take on the role of ancient leaders, strategizing and rolling dice to conquer territories.

Game Components of Alea Iacta Est

40 colored dice (eight for each player)

Five cardboard buildings: Templum, Senatus, Castrum, Forum, and Latrina

19 Senate tiles

25 Province tiles

36 Patrician tiles

30 Fortune tokens

30 reroll chips

Start player marker

How To Setup Alea Iacta Est

To set up the game, each player receives eight dice in their color and one player gets the start token. The game setup varies with the number of players: the Senatus, Castrum, Forum, and Latrina are always used, but the Templum is only included in games with four to five players. The Forum consists of up to five puzzle pieces, with the number of pieces increasing with the number of players. For two players, only the first and last puzzle pieces are used.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Dice Allocation: Players roll their dice and choose where to place them among the five buildings.

Templum: Players use one die for the first placement, then subsequent players must use more dice to total a higher value, earning random victory points from the Goddess Fortuna.

Castrum: Players place sets of dice to select provinces to conquer, with higher numbers of dice selecting first.

Senatus: Players place dice in a run to earn Senate cards, which are secret bonuses.

Forum: Players place single dice or pairs (1-4 or 2-3) to select patricians to govern the provinces.

Latrina: Unused dice end up here, providing reroll chips that can be used to reroll dice or traded for points at the end.

Game Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most prestige points by strategically placing dice and managing resources.

Player Experience

Alea Iacta Est offers a strategic and fun experience with a good balance of interaction and resource management. Players must carefully decide where to place their dice to maximize their benefits while keeping an eye on their opponents’ moves. The game is not overly complex, making it accessible to new players, yet it provides enough depth for seasoned gamers.

Pros

Highly strategic gameplay with multiple tactical possibilities

Good interaction among players

Easy to learn but deep enough for experienced players

Compact gameplay that doesn’t require a large table space

Fun and engaging with lots of dice rolls

Cons

Some players may dislike the mechanism where everyone gets the same number of turns

Can feel repetitive if not managed correctly

Personal Thoughts on Alea Iacta Est

Alea Iacta Est is a great choice for anyone looking for a strategic yet accessible dice game. It is ideal for players who enjoy Eurogames and are looking for a game with unique mechanics that separate it from other dice allocation games like Kingsburg or Alien Frontiers. This game is suitable for both new and experienced gamers, making it a versatile addition to any game collection. If you’re looking for a game that’s fun, strategic, and doesn’t take up too much space, Alea Iacta Est is definitely worth considering.

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