Strada Romana (2009) Board Game

Strada Romana is a board game that was released in 2009 and designed by Seyyed Ghassem Farhany and Paula Simonetti. The game is set in ancient times and revolves around transportation and travel in the Roman empire. Players take on the role of Roman merchants looking to establish trade routes and deliver goods to different cities along the Roman roads.

Game Components of Strada Romana

Game board featuring roads separated into three areas

10 wagons, each with its own name and designated tiles

36 cubes representing six different goods

36 wear tiles, also representing the six goods

20 yellow cones for buying victory points and special wagon moves

20 black Victory tokens for bonus scoring

A black bag for randomly picking wear tiles and cubes

Wagon tiles for betting on which wagons will arrive first

How To Setup Strada Romana

To set up the game, players randomly place the 10 wagons on the starting squares, with five at Ostia and five at Rome. Each wagon must face the road. Next, all wear tiles and cubes are placed in the black bag, and six wear tiles are randomly picked and placed on designated squares on the board. Cubes are then drawn and placed on the board’s goods or marketplaces. The wagon tiles are shuffled, and one tile is removed without looking and put back in the box. Players are given coins based on their player order: the second player gets one coin, the third player gets two coins, and the fourth and fifth players each get three coins.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Move Wagons: Players can move one or more wagons up to three spaces, splitting the movement between multiple carts.

Special Moves: Players can spend coins to perform special moves like moving sideways, diagonally, or through other wagons.

Pick Wagon Tile: Players can take a wagon tile to bet on which wagon will arrive first.

Pass: Players can pass to collect a coin.

Goal: The objective is to score points by completing contracts (matching cubes and tiles of the same color) and correctly guessing which wagons will arrive first. The game ends when four wagons reach their destinations or when there are no more Victory tokens left.

Player Experience

Playing **Strada Romana** starts off relatively simple, with players freely moving carts and collecting goods. However, as the game progresses and carts start crossing paths, it becomes more complex and strategic. Players must plan their moves carefully, navigating traffic and competing for resources. The game becomes even more intriguing as players try to predict which carts will arrive first and make strategic bets.

Pros

Engaging Mechanics: The game combines action points, betting, and pick-up and deliver mechanics, making it engaging and strategic.

Thematic Immersion: Players feel like ancient Roman merchants navigating the busy Roman roads.

Visual Appeal: The game features fine artwork and good production quality.

Increased Complexity with More Players: The game becomes more challenging and interesting with 3 or more players.

Cons

Traffic Jams: As the game progresses, traffic jams can slow down gameplay.

Less Competitive with Two Players: The game can feel too even and less competitive when played with just two players.

Personal Thoughts on Strada Romana

**Strada Romana** is a game that shines with 3 or more players, offering a rich and strategic experience. It is ideal for those who enjoy games with action points, betting, and resource management. While it may not be as engaging with just two players, it still provides a fun and thematic experience. For fans of ancient history and logistical challenges, **Strada Romana** is a great addition to any board game collection.

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