Catan Histories: Struggle for Rome (2006) Board Game

Catan Histories: Struggle for Rome is a board game designed by Klaus Teuber and released in in 2006. The game is set in ancient Rome during the time of the Roman Republic, where players take on the roles of influential Roman families vying for power and control over the city.

Game Components of Catan Histories: Struggle for Rome

Gameboard featuring a hexagonal grid with Roman cities

Four terrain types, each producing different resources

Number tokens

Arrows on the board indicating movement paths

Coins (gold resource)

Plunder tokens

Supply wagons

Warriors and horsemen figures

Development cards, including “Diplomats”

Terror of the Legions expansion (optional)

How To Setup Catan Histories: Struggle for Rome

To set up the game, each player selects a barbarian tribe, consisting of warriors and horsemen, and places them outside the Roman Empire on the board. The gameboard is arranged with cities and hexes, each with a specific terrain type and number token. Plunder tokens are placed on the cities, and each player receives initial resources.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Start: Players roll the dice to collect resources if the number matches the tokens on the hexes adjacent to their cities or nomadic tribes.

Resource Collection: Players can only gain one resource per hex, unlike in Settlers of Catan.

Roman Legionnaire: If a 7 is rolled, the Roman Legionnaire is moved, allowing a player to steal resources or gold.

City Sacking and Conquering: Players must have enough warriors or horsemen to exceed the city’s defense value to sack or conquer a city.

Victory Points: Earned by sacking and conquering cities, establishing cities in different provinces, and using certain development cards.

Game End: The game ends when a player reaches 10 victory points, with the player having the most victory points (or most gold in case of a tie) winning.

Player Experience

In **Catan Histories: Struggle for Rome**, players embark on a strategic adventure, managing resources, expanding their barbarian tribes, and tactically conquering Roman cities. The game combines the familiar mechanics of Settlers of Catan with a historical twist, adding a layer of complexity and depth. Players must balance resource collection, military strength, and strategic movement to achieve victory.

Pros

Historical Theme: Offers a unique historical setting that adds depth to the gameplay.

Strategic Depth: Combines resource management with tactical conquests.

Familiar Mechanics: Builds upon the well-known mechanics of Settlers of Catan.

Replayability: Variable setup and multiple paths to victory ensure high replayability.

Cons

Complexity: May be overwhelming for new players due to additional rules and components.

Resource Limitations: The restriction on resource collection per hex can be limiting.

Rule Differences: Versions in different languages may have slight rule variations.

Personal Thoughts on Catan Histories: Struggle for Rome

**Catan Histories: Struggle for Rome** is ideal for fans of the Settlers of Catan series looking for a new challenge and a historical twist. It suits experienced players who enjoy strategic gameplay and resource management. However, new players may find the additional complexity and unique rules challenging to grasp initially. The game is perfect for those who appreciate a mix of strategy, history, and interactive gameplay.

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